Neue Orpheusverse auf dem Derveni-Papyrus

Abstract

The Papyrus found in 1962 contains a commentary on an Orphic Theogony including the quotations of more than two dozen epic verses of «Orpheus», several of them being already known as such, whilst others are new. Amongst these are five verses known hitherto only from «Homer»: two of them were from the very beginning acknowledged as «Orpheus», the resting ones being considered as quotations from Homer, against the Commentator’s assertion. In the following paper it will be demonstrated that these verses, too, are «Orpheus». The clue to the problem’s solution: The Last Homeric Poet is a member of the famous γένος Λυκομιδῶν in Phlya in Attica, and since this Genos had of old a genuine Orpheus-Traditio, there are more traces of this kind of poetry in the Last Poet’s components in «Homer» than is generally realized.