Abstract

JIMENEZ SAN CRISTOBAL, Ana Isabel. ¿Hubo ritos de paso cruentos en el orfismo?. Synthesis (La Plata) [online]. 2009, vol.16. ISSN 1851-779X.

Orphic initiates led a way of life characterized by abstention from animated food and the rejection of bloody sacrifice. However, two texts that are considered key evidence for the study and reconstruction of Orphic rites and beliefs mention explicitly bloody sacrifice and consumption of meat. In order to overcome the apparent contradiction of both testimonies with Orphic doctrines it could be proposed that these practices were limited to a first ritual of initiation that would be a rite of passage between the status of profane and that of initiate. Nevertheless, it is necessary to examine the literary and iconographic parallels offered by other Greek or Eastern rituals to determine if the aforementioned Orphic evidence constitutes isolated cases or if, on the contrary, these practices can be considered rites of passage to reach the status of initiate.

Keywords : Bloody Rites; Myth; Orphism.

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