A number of archaeological discoveries in the second half of the twentieth century have considerably supplemented our knowledge about Orphism.

Olbia Bone Plates

The bone plates, found in Olbia on the Black Sea and dated to the fifth century BCE, probably functioned as tokens for those who received initiation. The inscription on one of them suggests that initiates could identify themselves as Orphics, even if the initiation did not necessarily imply any radical reform in their lifestyles.

Gold Leaves

The gold leaves are tiny inscribed gold strips buried with the dead containing instructions on what to do and what to say in the underworld. Gold leaves were found in Southern Italy, in Thessaly, and on Crete. Though there was a period of skepticism, newly found specimens make it likely that gold leaves were used by Orphic initiates.

The Derveni Papyrus

The Derveni papyrus was found in...