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University of New Mexico

Plato's Orpheus: The Philosophical Appropriation of Orphic Formulae

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this project I explore Platos deployment and transposition of Orphic eschatological ideas through his incorporation of Orphic formulae, based on the Olbian Tablets and Orphic Gold Tablets, into his philosophical settings throughout his dialogues. I show how Plato deploys Orphic formulae throughout his dialogues in order to promote his philosophy, which points to Plato's knowledge of Orphic doctrine. First I analyze Plato's use of specific terminology and formulae in eschatological contexts. Then I look specifically at the Orphic term poinē in terms of the Orphic myth of Dionysus. I contend with the arguments of Edmonds who redefines the Greek word poinē as timé in order to discredit the existence of an Orphic doctrine. I survey the use of the Greek word poinē in Homer, Pindar, Plato, the Derveni Papyrus and the Gur\xf4b Papyrus in order to demonstrate that poinē points to the cohesiveness and integrity of the Orphic doctrine.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Year
2016

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hütwohl, Dannu
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Garcia Jr., Lorenzo
  • Monica, Cyrino
  • Osman, Umurhan

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

Language dc:language
English

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalrepository.unm.edu:fll_etds-1020

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of New Mexico
Base URL
digitalrepository.unm.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hütwohl, Dannu. Plato's Orpheus: The Philosophical Appropriation of Orphic Formulae. Thesis thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1928/32249