Changes

Myths helped ancient people make sense of their world and explained aspects of their current society. These stories often developed over time and came to represent different things. Many myths played an important part in ancient’s societies Cosmology and religion. A good example of this is the cycle of myths concerning Orpheus. He was at once a hero, musician, poet, and religious prophet. His life and death demonstrated to the Greeks the importance of music and poetry. His stories inspired a cult and a Mystery Religion even developed around the life and supposed teachings of Orpheus. The stories about the singer and prophet were among the most important in the Classical World and have continued to be, to this day.

==Origin of Orpheus==

Little is known about the origin of the stories of Orpheus and his origins may lie in Mycenaean era or in Minoan Civilization. The myths of Orpheus often have a Thracian connection and the Orphic tales may have originated in that region. Some have proposed that his name is based on the Greek word for orphan. A late Roman writer argued that the name Orpheus comes from ‘best voice’ in Greek. The earliest reference that we have for Orpheus comes from a 6th-century poem. There are many allusions to the poet, musician and prophet in the 5th and 4th century BC. However, at an early date, there was some doubt expressed as to whether or not Orpheus was a real person. Most Greeks and later Romans viewed him as an important historical figure <ref>Detienne, M. The writing of Orpheus: Greek myth in cultural context (JHU, JHU Press, 2002), p. 14</ref>. They believed he was a singer or a magician who existed in the generation before the Trojan War. Commentators from the Roman period believed that there was more than one Orpheus. There were up to four individuals known as Orpheus, and they were Greek and Thracians who were magicians, seers, musicians’ or prophets. There were probably others, including poets and religious figures who adopted the name Orpheus. It is not known if these individuals simply assumed the name or whether Orpheus was a moniker or title of some sort. A large body of poem and religious writings were known as Orphic writings in the Graeco-Roman World, which were very popular. These were almost certainly not the work of one figure. The popular version of Orpheus and his life came into its current form in the work of Virgil and Ovid <ref>Detienne, Marcel. The writing of Orpheus: Greek myth in cultural context (JHU, JHU Press, 2002), p. 145</ref>.