The Fortune of the Orphic Tradition: An Overview of the Sinai Palimpsest Ar. NF 66

Keywords:

Dionysus, palimpsest, Orphic Tradition, Orphic Hymns

Abstract

Orphic studies specialists have recently been fortunate due to Giulia Rossetto’s discovery of an unknown hexameter text within a palimpsest, which had Arabic script on its surface. This text stands out for its artificial literary language, typical of the epic tradition, and the presence of direct speech. Its archaic style is characterized by the reuse of Homeric formulas and echoes phrases from various texts, such as the Rhapsodies, Nonnus’ Dionysiaca, and the Orphic Hymns (Rossetto, 2021). The intertextual links between the Sinai hexameters and these texts, especially the direction of their influence, are yet to be established. This paper will detail the codex’s condition, describe the text’s material features, summarize its content, and explore the academic discussion it has ignited.

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Author Biography

Luisina Abrach, CONICET / Universidad de Buenos Aires

Doctora en Letras Clásicas y Licenciada y Profesora en Letras por la Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). Es docente en el Área de Griego y Literatura Griega Antigua en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UBA, y en la Facultad de Humanidades de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Actualmente, es Becaria Posdoctoral del CONICET con el proyecto de investigación “Traducción y comentario del Palimpsesto Sin. ar. NF 66, y su relación con las Rapsodias, los Himnos órficos y la tradición órfica”. Ha recibido dos Becas Fulbright (2018 y 2024) para realizar estancias de investigación en Bryn Mawr College.

Published

2024-06-30