The Severed Speaking Head
The Severed Speaking Head

Summary/Abstract: In this essay I examine one aspect of Orpheus, that of his severed head, which continued to sing and utter prophecies long after it had been cut off. Many instances of severed heads (or skulls) are recorded in the cultures of many peoples, but the head that continues to sing and speak advising or prophesying forms a distinct case or category, found only in some Indo-European traditions of which the Greek legend of Orpheus is but one example. Here I examine this mythologem in the Celtic, Germanic and Vedic traditions too.

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