Hermes’ Tablet (Nonnus D 41.343–44): An Allusion to the ‘Orphic’ Gold Leaves?
Hermes’ Tablet (Nonnus D 41.343–44): An Allusion to the ‘Orphic’ Gold Leaves?

Summary/Abstract: This paper concerns two lines from the epic poem Dionysiaca (Nonnus D 41.343–44): “The second is a gold tablet of Hermes, called Stilbon, upon which are wrought all the mystery laws.” Hermes’ tablet is said to contain a record of the mystic songs of Orpheus (D 41.375) and belong to the set of seven planetary tablets engraved by Ophion (D 41.340–99). The present study traces the literary and non-literary sources of this Nonnian passage, reconstructs its contents and establishes the material of which the Ophion’s tablets were made. The investigation leads to the conclusion that the quoted verses might be an indirect reference to the so called ‘Orphic’ gold leaves. Some parallels are found in the Petelia tablet (OF 476), the Caecilia Secundina tablet from Rome (OF 491), the ‘great tablet’ from Thurii (OF 492), the Pherai plaque (OF 493a), and the Posidippus’ leaf (OF 496b).

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