Thomas Taylor, who translated these hymns for the first time into English in the late eighteenth century, was an avowed Neoplatonist, and in his voluminous notes and introduction to his translation, made an argument that the Orphic hymns were essentially allegorical and symbolic arguments for his own particular Neoplatonism. The fact that he was able to make this probably inaccurate argument—and do so convincingly—shows the degree to which these hymns are richly woven syncretic tapestries. I think it likely that the original cult that used these texts as their liturgy had a more complete and coherent theology external to the hymns themselves. None of these hymns is a credo or a philosophical argument such as one finds in Proclus or Plotinus. And no one should expect them to be: they are hymns, designed for effect, not for catechism. So, returning to the initial question of this section, what makes these hymns Orphic? The glib answer is that they say they are written by Orpheus, both in the introductory comment to Mousaios and in the hymn to the Fates. Orpheus, the singer of mythology, whose music was inspired directly by the gods, is a paramount Pagan prophet, suitable to any sect or group that wishes to claim divine authority. A less glib answer is that the hymns reference ideas, albeit with a light touch, that appear in the Orphic theology. Phanes, for example, is given two hymns…but then again, only two. On the other hand, there are fourteen hymns that mention Dionysos or Bakchos. The goddess Night or Nyx, one of the central deities in the Orphic cosmology, is also referenced repeatedly. Yet other gods also appear, including Hera, whose relatively villainous role in the myths is never touched upon. And even stranger deities like Hipta and Melinoe make their appearances here and almost nowhere else. Maybe what makes these hymns Orphic is that they borrow from everything around them. Maybe that’s the essence of Orphism, as it is of most of the syncretic ancient Greek mystery cults.
18 • What Makes an Orphic Hymn Orphic?