Orphism is the
teachings of an
ancient Greek philosophical cult which
exerted great
influence on Greek
culture, and later on Western
mysticism and
occultism, as well as
alchemy.
It began in the sixth century BC, and is attributed to the
mythical Orpheus. The chief teachings are of reincarnation, a Greek
version of Karma, a history of the universe which was formed by Chronos who formed an egg and created the first king of the gods, whom Zeus supplanted and fathered Dionysus, the divine child.
Other teachings are that the body is the prison of the soul, animals were not to be killed or eaten, the good were to be rewarded while the evil were to be punished in netherworld, and teachings of self-denial and seriousness in religious matters. Apollo was the kindered god who demanded purification and righteousness.