Lesson plan
Cercops
Cercops ( ) was a poet to whom Orphic writings were attributed. He was called a Pythagorean by Clement of Alexandria who also states that Epigenes of Alexandria said that he was the author of an Orphic epic poem entitled the "Descent to Hades" and (English "Holy Discourse"), which seem to have been extant in the Alexandrian period. Others attribute the latter work to Prodicus of Samos, or Herodicus of Perinthus, or Orpheus of Camarina. According to Cicero, the Pythagoreans ascribe the Orphic poem to a certain Cercops. According to Aristotle, Cercops could not have been a Pythagorean, as the poet was a contemporary of Hesiod.
Article summary
Cercops ( ) was a poet to whom Orphic writings were attributed. He was called a Pythagorean by Clement of Alexandria who also states that Epigenes of Alexandria said that he was the author of an Orphic epic poem entitled the "Descent to Hades" and (English "Holy Discourse"), which seem to have been extant in the Alexandrian period. Others attribute the latter work to Prodicus of Samos, or Herodicus of Perinthus, or Orpheus of Camarina. According to Cicero, the Pythagoreans ascribe the Orphic poem to a certain Cercops. According to Aristotle, Cercops could not have been a Pythagorean, as the poet was a contemporary of Hesiod.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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