Orphism

Question 1

What is the archaeological evidence for Orphism?

Answer 1

Most of the evidence of this cult comes from golden tablets found in burials
They typically tell the dead what to do and how to pass a test in death, this being not drinking from spring but to find lake of memory and tell the guards you are son of earth and starry sky

Hipponian gold tablet (grave good, c. 400 BC)

Petelia gold tablet (grave good, 4th c. BC)

Thurii gold tablet (grave good, 4th c. BC)

Orphic communities: recorded on bone tablets (found in the Black Sea) as ‘Orphics’ - the ending ‘s’ is debated

Question 2

What does Theophrastus say on Orphism?

Answer 2

Theophrastus, characters 16
“He goes to the initiator of Orpheus every month to be inducted with his wife - if she has no time, he takes his children and their wet-nurse.”

Question 3

What papyrus can be used as evidence for Orphism?

Answer 3

Derveni Papyrus, col. 7
“…for having ordered them to put doors to their ears…”
Ears are by default closed, Orpheus allows them to open their ears??

Question 4

Where was Orphism based?

Answer 4

There was no central cult to this myth, typical initiation could happen anywhere if you paid
There must have been a meeting point though, but was likely more secretive
Myth of Dionysus being that he was reborn various times, e.g Zeus thigh, and ripped apart and Rhea restores him

Question 5

How did Orphism manifest in ritual?

Answer 5

There has to be a level of cult and organisation as the tablets mention whitening their faces with chalk, maybe to look like the Titans or to represent the ashes of Dionysus
Debates about Orphism as it has the basic criteria to be Christianity, some claim its made up
Orphic mythology seems to be weirder and darker than commonly accepted versions by Hesiod and Homer
Original sin of the Titans passed on to humans (possibly adapted by Christianity)

Question 6

What are the features of Ophism?

Answer 6

Orphism is:
- A religion of the book
- A way of life
- Worshipping a dying and rising god
- Based on a myth of original sin
- Mediated by experts in scripture
- Inspiring community formation
- Revolving around ritual mimesis
- Focused on the afterlife