Orpheus and Greek Religion: A Study of the Orphic Movement (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780691024998)

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.

Author: William Keith Guthrie
ISBN-10: 0691024995
ISBN-13: 9780691024998
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Language: English
Published: 10/10/1993
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 8.53h x 5.59w x 0.86d