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Orphic Poetry and Initiation Ritual. Elements of a « Sacred Discourse » ("Hieros Logos") in the Gold Leaves Many of the fascinating little gold leaves which have come to light so far are characterized by a peculiar mixture of verse and rhythmical prose. The lines in rhythmical prose have a distinctly performative ring and may be divided into two groups : one serving as a kind of secret password and commemorating an initiation ritual ; the other issuing from an adaption of the poetical narration in order to be used as a libretto for a performance in the course of the initiation. In the second case, it seems justified to include them in an attempt at reconstructing not the words, to be sure, but at least the rough outline of the « story » which was narrated, in the original « Sacred discourse ».

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