Abstract:
This project will examine Hecataeus of Abdera’s account regarding the Egyptian origins of Orphism. According to this fourth-century historian, the practices and beliefs associated with the poetry of Orpheus were inspired by the things that the Thracian bard had learnt while travelling through Egypt. Several scholars have already refuted Hecataeus’ claim that Orphism was first developed in Egypt. However, there has yet to be a study that considers why Hecataeus proposed such an argument in the first place. It is generally agreed that Hecataeus was a courtier of Ptolemy I Soter and that his history of Egypt was intended as royal propaganda. In order to glorify the kingdom of his patron, Hecataeus repeatedly emphasised the Hellenic debt to Egyptian culture. Therefore, as will be argued, one cannot examine Hecataeus’ account regarding the origins of Orphism without first considering his role as a propagandist for the Ptolemaic dynasty. In order to substantiate such an argument, this project will be divided into five chapters. The first chapter will consider the reliability of the Hecataean fragments preserved by Diodorus of Sicily. The second chapter will determine the extent of Hecataeus’ knowledge of Orphic doctrine. The third chapter will evaluate the veracity of Hecataeus’ hypothesis regarding the Egyptian origins of Orphism. The fourth chapter will discuss the emergence of Orphic-Dionysiac worship in Egypt during the early Ptolemaic period. The final chapter will consider the potential implications of Hecataeus’ role as a propagandist for the Ptolemaic dynasty. Each of these chapters will substantially improve our understanding of Hecataeus as a source for Orphism during the early Hellenistic period.
