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To: classics@u.washington.edu
From: iversen.1@osu.edu (Paul A. Iversen)
Subject: RE: Roman lead coffin: Gammadia? Reference on various Gammadia.

>Dr. Iverson and listmembers:
>
>Do you imply that the crucifix was a symbol taken over from orphism.
>
>Randall Larsen
>Unviversity of Hawaii at Manoa


        It is widely believed that the Greek mystery religions, including
the Orphic and Dionysiac religions, had some influence on Christian thought
and practice, but I'm no expert in this area.  Perhaps Edgar Krentz still
frequents this list and he would be willing to comment further.  As for the
specific symbol of the crucifix, at this date (II-IV century) I'm sure
influence was a two-way street, so I suppose it's just as, or even more,
likely that the Orphics took it from the Christians.  Right now I'm too
busy to check out the bibliography myself, but the Matrocingque article I
mentioned in the previous post indicates that you'll find opinions
concerning this in:

-R. Eisler, _Orphisch-dionysische Mysteriengedanken in der christlichen
Antike_ (Leipzig-Berlin, 1925), p. 338 ff.

-J.M. Riviere, _Amuleti, talismani e pantacoli_ (Rome, 1984), p. 135-6.

-J. Reil, _Die fruhchristlichen Darstellungen der Kreuzignung Christi_
(Leipzig, 1904).

-A. Boulanger, _Orphee. Rapports de l'Orphisme et du Christianisme_ (Paris,
1925), p. 7.

-W.K.C. Guthrie, _Orpheus and the Greek Religion_, (London, 1952), p. 295 ff.


Paul A. Iversen, Lecturer
The Ohio State University
Dept. of Greek and Latin
Center for Epigraphical and
Palaeographical Studies


.