This collection of hymns by Orpheus also includes a biography of the great poet by the celebrated translator and scholar of antiquity, Thomas Taylor.
Termed by Pindar to be “the father of songs”, Orpheus is a legendary figure of ancient Greece, responsible for gifting the arts of music and singing to humanity. Renowned for his charm, Orpheus was said to be able to cast his allure upon any living thing with his exquisite voice and playing of the lyre. His existence in distant antiquity was a matter of debate among ancient Greek scholars; many – such as Aristotle – considered him to be purely a legend, while others asserted that Orpheus was based on real, living poets of yore.
As noted in the introductory biography, Orpheus was also renowned as a prophet and seer, being the originator of Orphism. The journey Orpheus made to the underworld, and his contributions to the mythos and mysteries of the Greek Gods, are explained in detail. With this religious context as grounding, Taylor proceeds to the hymns of Orpheus, many of whom allude to the mysticism and supernatural events iconic of classical mythology.
