heton surmous, ou patageusan hala.]
[Greek: Oleo gar. kl.]

He is mentioned, as having been twice in a state of [1015]death; which is
represented as a twofold descent to the shades below. There is also an
obscure piece of mythology about his wife, and a serpent; also of the Rhoia
or Pomegranate: which seems to have been taken from some symbolical
representation at a time, when the purport was no longer understood. The
Orpheans dealt particularly in symbols, as we learn from Proclus.
[1016][Greek: Orphikoi dia sumbolon, Puthagoreioi dia eikonon, ta theia
menuein ephiemenoi.] His character for science was very great; and
Euripides takes particular notice of some antient tablets, containing much
salutary knowledge, which were bequeathed to the Thracians by Orpheus:
[1017][Greek: has Orpheie kategrapse gerus.] Plato styles his works
[1018][Greek: biblon homadon], _a vast lumber of learning_, from the
quantity, which people pretended had been transmitted from him. He one
while resided in Greece; and particularly at Thebes in Boeotia. Here he
introduced the rites of Dionusus, and celebrated his Orgies upon mount
[1019]Cithaeron. He is said to have been the first who instituted those
rites: and was the author of all mysterious worship. [1020][Greek: Protos
Orpheus musteria Theon paredoken.] All these were accompanied with science
of another nature: for he is reputed to have been skilled in many arts.

From Thebes he travelled towards the sea-coast of Chaonia, in order to
recover his lost Eurydice; who had been killed by a serpent. According to
[1021]Agatharchides Cnidius it was at Aorthon in Epirus, that he descended
for this purpose to the shades below. The same account is given by
[1022]Pausanias, who calls the place more truly Aornon. In the Orphic
Argonauts it is said to have been performed at Taenarus in [1023]Laconia. He
likewise resided in Egypt, and travelled over the regions of Libya; and
every where instructed people in the rites, and religion, which he
professed. In the same manner he went over a great part of the world.

[1024][Greek: Os hikomen epi gaian apeireton, ede poleas,]
[Greek: Aiguptoi, Libuei te, brotois ana thesphata phainon.]

Some make Orpheus by birth a Thracian; some an Arcadian: others a Theban.
Pausanias mentions it as an opinion among the [1025]Egyptians, that both
Orpheus, and Amphion, were from their country. There is great uncertainty
about his parents. He is generally supposed to have