I am parched with thirst and I perish.
But give me to drink from the ever-flowing spring on the right, by the cypress.
“Who are you? Where are you from?”
I am the son of Earth and starry Heaven.

-- "Orphic" Gold Tablet B4, Crete | OF 479 (Bernabé 2004–07)

A mysterious tradition which descended from the legendary figure of Orpheus, promising an utter transformation of the soul through such Gods as Dionysos and Persephone...
Ancient peoples across the Mediterranean brought this mystic and controversial way of life with them to the grave - and beyond.
Today, Orphism captivates as much as it confounds.
Luckily, through a rich archaeological and literary legacy, the voices of Orphic initiates still echo across time!

You are invited to listen in this eight week online course: An Intro to Orphic Mysticism.

curriculum

  • Myth and Mysticism: The Persona of Orpheus
  • Cosmic Egg of Creation: The Orphic Theogonies
  • Zagreus-Dionysos: The Orphic Anthropogenies
  • Wheel of Rebirth: The Orphic Philosophies of Soul
  • Passcodes of Persephone: The Orphic Gold Tablets
  • Holy Secrets and Science: The Derveni Papyrus
  • Orphikos Bios: The Orphic Life & Ritual Market
  • Good Shepherd: The Orphic Influence on Christianity

This course is an engaging archaeological and historical introduction to Orphism and a welcoming space for modern practitioners of ancient Mediterranean mystery traditions. Together we will explore the sources for Orphic mysticism, including...

  • Classical Greek & Roman literature like Hesiod, Aristophanes, Euripides, Pindar, Ovid, and Virgil
  • Philosophical works from Empedocles and Plato
  • Epigraphical & Papyrological Evidence like the Derveni Papyrus, Orphic Gold Lamellae, and Olbia Bone Tablets
  • Later Classical receptions like Plutarch, Diogenes Laërtius, Eusebius of Caesarea, and fragments of the Rhapsodic, Hieronymian, and Eudemian Theogonies

instructor

Bria Melitta is an Hiereia (Ritual Specialist) of Ariadne-Aphrodite, Melissa (Bee) of Demeter & Kore Thesmophoros, and Classical Archaeologist of Mediterranean Mystery Religion. With her family, she lives and works on the shores of the sacred Mediterranean Sea.

After receiving her degree in Religious Studies in 2016, she continued her studies in Classical Greek with H.M. Classics Academy, Ancient Hellenic Religion with the Artemis Research Center, and a 2-year Priestess Training with the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple, where she now serves as an Oread of Aphrodite Kubileya and as a Priestess on the Council of Wisewomen.

Bria holds a MA With Distinction in Classical Mediterranean History and Archaeology from the University of Leicester. 

This course will meet via Zoom from 20:00-21:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on the following Mondays:

24 August
31 August
7 September
14 September
21 September
28 September
5 October
12 October

All course materials will be recorded and uploaded to an online portal for those who cannot make the sessions live. Live attendance is not required.

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Cost: €129
Course inquiries: courses@mtnysa.com

register here