Orpheus and Greek Religion: A Study of the Orphic Movement

by William Keith Guthrie, L. Alderlink

Overview

The tales told of Orpheus are legion. He is said to have been an Argonaut—and to have saved Jason's life. Rivers are reported to have stopped their flow to listen to the sounds of his lyre and his voice. Plato cites his poetry and Herodotus refers to "practices that are called Orphic." Did Orpheus, in fact, exist? His influence on Greek thought is undeniable, but his disciples left little of substance behind them. Indeed, their Orphic precepts have been lost to time.


W.K.C. Guthrie attempts to uncover and define Orphism by following its circuitous path through ancient history. He tackles this daunting task with the determination of a detective and the analytical rigor of a classical scholar. He ferries his readers with him on a singular voyage of discovery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691024998
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	10/10/1993
Series:	Mythos: The Princeton/Bollingen Series in World Mythology , #557
Edition description:	With a New introduction by Larry J. Alderink
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	727,637
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

W.K.C. Guthrie was Professor of Classics at Cambridge University. His books include the six-volume History of Classical Philosophy (Cambridge) and The Greeks and their Gods (Methuen).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations
Foreword to the Mythos edition
Preface
Ch. I	Famous Orpheus
Ch. II	What Is Meant by Orphism?
Ch. III	Orpheus and His Story
Ch. IV	The Creation and the Gods as Presented by Orpheus
Ch. V	The Future Life as Seen by Orpheus
Ch. VI	Life and Practices of the Follower of Orpheus
Ch. VII	Orpheus and Other Greek Religious Thinkers
Ch. VIII	Orpheus in the Hellenistic and Graeco-Roman World
Bibliography
Notes
General Index
Bibliographical Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Absolutely indispensable. . . . written for both scholars and general readers. It is admirably lucid and well-organized, and is fully accessible—indeed, fascinating—for anyone interested in the ancient world."—David Ulansey, Boston University

David Ulansey

Absolutely indispensable. . . . written for both scholars and general readers. It is admirably lucid and well-organized, and is fully accessible—indeed, fascinating—for anyone interested in the ancient world.
— David Ulansey, Boston University

Editorial Reviews

"Absolutely indispensable. . . . written for both scholars and general readers. It is admirably lucid and well-organized, and is fully accessible—indeed, fascinating—for anyone interested in the ancient world."—David Ulansey, Boston University

From the Publisher