Orpheus

by G.R.S. Mead

Orpheus by G.R.S. Mead is a comprehensive study of the mythological figure Orpheus, who was a renowned musician and poet in Greek mythology. The book delves into the origin and evolution of the myth of Orpheus, tracing its roots from ancient Greece to the present day. Mead examines various aspects of the Orphic tradition, including its religious and philosophical underpinnings, its influence on art and literature, and its significance in the context of ancient mystery cults. He also explores the various myths and legends associated with Orpheus, including his famous journey to the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice. Mead's insightful analysis of the Orphic tradition sheds new light on this enigmatic figure and offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of ancient Greek Orphic Origins, Works, Theology, Theogony; Some Cosmogonical Details; Orphic Pantheon; On the Mysteries and Symbolism; Orphic Discipline and Psychology; The Doctrine of Rebirth; Bibliography.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

George Robert Stowe Mead, who always published under the initialism G.R.S. Mead, was a historian, writer, editor, translator, and an influential member of the Theosophical Society, as well as founder of the Quest Society. His scholarly works dealt mainly with the Hermetic and Gnostic religions of Late Antiquity, and were exhaustive for the time period.

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is, as a friend of mine once put it, worth all the tea in China. It presents in an accessible form an outline of the teachings of the semi-mythical Orpheus. That there was such a teacher is hard to dispute, but we know little about him for certain and his life has become wrapped in profound mythology.
His teachings have been gleaned from the so called Orphic Hymns and also other writers in his tradition who commented on his teachings. The inestimable Mead has summarised the teachings in this fairly concise book. There is enormous value in the diagrams that Mead provides. For those for whom the Ancient Wisdom is still seen as having a transcendent truth that is of value today, these diagrams provide wonderful clues and much to think about. Mead's text is not a difficult read and provides much to ponder.
This book should be on any philosophy student's shelf, if they wish to have some insight into the Ancient Mysteries.

[Ady ZYN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended.