> [Dodge, Erick](dodge.md). *Orpheus, Odin, and the Indo-European Underworld: A Response to Bruce Lincoln's Article “Waters of Memory, Waters of Forgetfulness"*. Honors Thesis, B.A. (Classical Studies). University of Houston Honors College, 2020.
> [doi](https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15131.90402) (researchgate PDF)
> [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/erick_james_dodge_thesis)
> [pdf](dodge2020-thesis.pdf)
> **Extracts:**
> [pdf](a/dodge2020-thesis-liquids.pdf) on [[functionally-equivalent-liquids]]
## Abstract
> In 1982, in an article titled “Waters of Memory, Waters of Forgetfulness”, the Indo-Europeanist Bruce Lincoln reconstructed the following Proto-Indo-European (henceforth PIE) narrative from Platonic (Republic, 614B - 621D), Orphic (Gold Tablets), Indic (Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad 1.4), Nordic (Gylfaginning 4, 15; Grímnismál 28; Vǫluspá 28); and Celtic (Feis Tighe Chonáin) written sources. See Table I in Lincoln’s article for a summary.
>
> "On the way to the otherworld, souls of the dead had to cross a river, the waters of which washed away all of their memories. These memories were not destroyed, however, but were carried by the river's water to a spring, where they bubbled up and were drunk by certain highly favored individuals, who became inspired and infused with supernatural wisdom as a result of the drink." (Lincoln, 1982: 30. [researchgate.net](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249927289-Waters-of-Memory-Waters-of-Forgetfulness), [academia.edu](https://www.academia.edu/32367336/Waters-of-Memory))
>
> Lincoln briefly traced the development of this proto-narrative in the various Indo- European (henceforth IE) branches. See Table II “Transformations” in Lincoln’s article for a summary. While Lincoln’s article was foundational, it was also only a preliminary sketch. In light of this, we will build on his work and refine his reconstruction by gathering additional Graeco- Roman, Indo-Iranian, Germanic, Celtic, and Hittite sources. Additionally, once we have established the PIE background, we will follow this narratives’ development in the myths and cults of two IE figures: the Germanic Odin and Greek Orpheús. Lastly, we will consider possible Finno-Ugric and Laurasian connections. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to arrive at a greater understanding of the development of IE culture, from its primordial roots to its various local manifestations.
>
## Referenced by
[[rowsell-dec-1-2021-shaman]]@[18:45](https://youtu.be/gWfv23T2wc4?t=1124)
[[dodge-leeming-j2020]]
[[dodge2022-03-01]]
## Additions
[YouTube: Chinese Parallel](https://youtu.be/TWib6bPZzy0?t=222)
[Wikipedia: Meng Po](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meng_Po)
- Functionally Equivalent Liquids may have a ritual aspect (in addition to the cosmological and mythical aspects I wrote about), see: [[rolinson2022-03-01]].
- Axis Mundi & white liquids: Shiva Linga & milk ([[rolinson2022-03-01]]).
## Table of Contents
```
Part 1 - Introduction 1
Part 2 - Sources 6
2.1 Graeco-Roman 6
2.1.1 Lincoln’s Data 6
2.1.2 Hā́idēs 6
2.1.3 Orpheús 7
2.1.4 The Orphic Gold Tablets 9
2.2 Indo-Iranian 15
2.2.1 Lincoln’s Data 15
2.2.2 The Drink (PII *sáwHmas) 16
2.2.3 Scythian, Sarmatian, and Ossetian 17
2.2.4 Alexander’s Journey in the Šâhnâme 18
2.2.5 Indic Texts 19
2.3 Germanic 22
2.3.1 Lincoln’s Data 22
2.3.2 Hel 22
2.3.3 The Odinic Head 23
2.3.4 The World Tree and Structurally Equivalent Liquid Variants 26
2.3.5 Later Germanic Folklore 28
2.4 Celtic 29
2.4.1 Lincoln’s Data 29
2.4.2 Tech Duinn 29
2.4.3 Head and Well Cult 29
2.4.4 The English AT-480 Folktale “The Three Heads of the Well” 31
2.5 Hittite 34
2.5.1 Lincoln’s Data 34
2.5.2 Tenawas 34
Part 3 - Comparison 36
3.1 The Underworld 36
3.1.1 The Watery Way 37
3.1.2 The Nexus 38
3.1.2.1 The Prophetic Guardian Head 40
3.1.2.2 The Bright White World-Tree 41
3.1.2.3 The Hall 42
3.1.2.4 Liquids 43
3.1.2.5 Drinking 45
3.2 The Upperworld, Middleworld, and Axis Mundi 46
3.3 The Traveller 47
3.3.1 Types of Travellers 47
3.3.2 Eyes 48
3.3.2.1 The Journeyer’s Sacrificial Eye 49
3.3.2.2 The Moon as Eye and Nexus 50
3.3.3 The Journeyer’s Decapitated Head 51
3.3.4 Case Study: The Myths and Cuts of Odin and Orphéus 53
3.3.4.1 The Bodies of the Living Dead Travelers 53
3.3.4.2 Eschatology, Initiation, Asceticism, and Sexuality 56
3.3.4.3 Orality and Writing 61
Part 4 - Conclusions 64
Part 5 - Postscript: Laurasia 68
5.1 Turkic 68
Bibliography 70
```
## Biblio
[[lopez-c]]