Victoria, Jeju, March 2023
Reincarnation is commonly associated with religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but the concept also existed in Ancient Greece. To many, Ancient Greece conjures up ideas far from the concept of reincarnation as it is linked with the ideas of the twelve Olympians, polytheism, and worship of other Greek divinities. However, a largely unknown and unexplored branch of Greek religion remains, which is otherwise known as Orphism.
Though considered a significant movement by the 5th century BCE, it is difficult to gain a clear picture of Orphism due to insufficient historical evidence surrounding it. Nevertheless, scholars have managed to construct many theories on its derivation, beliefs, practices, and influences.
As suggested by its nomenclature, Orphism derives from the popular myth and supposed teachings of the hero Orpheus. Orpheus was known not only for his otherworldly musical talents, but also as the quintessential tragic hero in the timeless tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Those who espoused the Orphic religion at the time believed Orpheus to be the founder of the religion, and, hence, some of the Orphic rituals reflected the teachings and literature associated with Orpheus. For instance, the Orphics famously performed rituals that were poetic and oftentimes musical. They believed that music, poetry, and art were able to civilise the mind and facilitate its transcension of the material world, which led many to recite hymns and poems. Moreover, as followers of asceticism and the theorised teachings of Orpheus, Orphics not only declined uninhibited forms of pleasure, but also acted according to ethical codes, including vegetarianism, and practising charity.
However, such Orphic rituals and conducts are not purely based on the literature and fabled teachings of Orpheus; they are also rooted in eschatology. Orphism was founded on the belief that the soul was separate from our physical selves. It states that our souls are eternal and divine, whilst our bodies are what physically prevent us from metaphysically ‘transcending.’ This belief in the permanence of the soul perpetuated the concept of reincarnation for many Orphics. Since the soul cannot perish, the Orphics posited that the soul, at the death of one incarcerating physical body, would pass onto the next incarnation. For many endorsers of Orphism, the cyclical process of reincarnation was deemed as an unending chance at achieving a greater level of consciousness and spirituality. Thus, Orphics appear to have subscribed to the same ideals as Buddhists, notably karma. To transcend and gain karmic status, Orphics believed we must civilise and strengthen our minds to overcome the limitations imposed by our physical body – whence came the rituals, especially of reciting hymns and songs, which were deemed to elevate the mind and soul.
Even if the appellation of ‘Orphism’ was foreign, its ideas and concepts as illustrated are most likely familiar. It has undoubtedly influenced many famous figures and religions. One prominent figure that was influenced by Orphism was Pythagoras; in fact, his ideas are most deeply interconnected with the Orphic philosophy that they are practically indistinguishable, and many have called it the “Orphic-Pythagorean notion of the immortality” (On Pythagoreanism, 2013).
Pythagoras also claimed the immortality of the soul, as well as possibility of spiritual purification through prioritisation of ethical behaviour. Later, the renowned philosopher and mathematician was known to adopt many of the Orphic rituals, including prayer and recitation of hymns and poems. Some even go as far as to claim that Christianity was influenced by Orphism. Although it is important to highlight that the evidence presented by scholars who presented this argument is largely circumstantial, there are some parallels between Orphism and Christianity: symbolic use of rituals and the shared idea of the immortality of a soul. In these ways, Orphism not only influenced great individuals, but also major religious and philosophical movements. As such, though Orphism remains a great conundrum among scholars, its effects are seen widely throughout history, reverberating like echoes in a cave – echoes which have persisted, and will continue to persist.
Bibliography
Lecture 5: Orphic religious ideas (2016) The Gifford Lectures. Available at: https://www.giffordlectures.org/books/religious-teachers-greece/lecture-5-orphic-religious-ideas (Accessed: March 12, 2023).
aras.org. (n.d.). Orphism | ARAS. [online] Available at: https://aras.org/concordance/content/orphism [Accessed 12 Mar. 2023].
Anon, (n.d.). Reincarnation an Orphic Perspective – Hellenion. [online] Available at: https://www.hellenion.org/essays-on-hellenic-polytheism/reincarnation-an-orphic-perspective/.
Cornelli, G., McKirahan, R. and Macris, C. (2013). On Pythagoreanism. Walter de Gruyter.
www.britannica.com. (n.d.). Orphic religion | Britannica. [online] Available at https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion.
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