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The Hymns of Orpheus
"The Hymns of Orpheus" is a collection of hymns and verses attributed to the legendary Greek musician and poet Orpheus, translated and compiled by the 18th-century English philosopher and scholar Thomas Taylor. Orpheus was considered a master of music and poetry in ancient Greek mythology, and his works were revered as sacred texts.
Taylor's translation of the hymns was part of a larger effort to revive interest in ancient Greek philosophy and religion in 18th-century England. Taylor believed that the hymns of Orpheus contained deep insights into the nature of the universe and the divine, and he saw them as a source of wisdom and inspiration.
The hymns themselves are a mixture of praise and invocation, addressed to various gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon. They are characterized by their musicality and poetic beauty, as well as their mystical and esoteric themes. Many of the hymns deal with themes such as creation, the afterlife, and the mysteries of the universe.
In addition to his translation of the hymns, Taylor also provided extensive commentary and analysis, drawing on his knowledge of ancient Greek philosophy and religion. He saw the hymns as a key to unlocking the deeper mysteries of the universe, and he believed that they held valuable insights into the nature of the divine.
Taylor's translation of the hymns was part of a larger effort to revive interest in ancient Greek philosophy and religion in 18th-century England. Taylor believed that the hymns of Orpheus contained deep insights into the nature of the universe and the divine, and he saw them as a source of wisdom and inspiration.
The hymns themselves are a mixture of praise and invocation, addressed to various gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon. They are characterized by their musicality and poetic beauty, as well as their mystical and esoteric themes. Many of the hymns deal with themes such as creation, the afterlife, and the mysteries of the universe.
In addition to his translation of the hymns, Taylor also provided extensive commentary and analysis, drawing on his knowledge of ancient Greek philosophy and religion. He saw the hymns as a key to unlocking the deeper mysteries of the universe, and he believed that they held valuable insights into the nature of the divine.
- GenresPoetry
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
10 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Taylor
144 books33 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database
Thomas Taylor was an English translator and Neoplatonist, the first to translate into English the complete works of Aristotle and of Plato, as well as the Orphic fragments. He published prolifically for over 50 years.
Thomas Taylor was an English translator and Neoplatonist, the first to translate into English the complete works of Aristotle and of Plato, as well as the Orphic fragments. He published prolifically for over 50 years.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 1, 2025
Bland det bästa jag har läst i hymnväg. Jag har fått flera insikter kring grekisk tro såväl som filosofi från boken, alldeles bortsett från att lyriken, eller i alla fall översättningen, är så vackert skriven att det är skrämmande.
April 4, 2024
I'm gonna be honest: i didn't read the footnotes or the endnotes, but the hymns were really great.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews