Metempsychosis
conceptMetempsychosis was the belief that souls transmigrate after death into new bodies — human or animal — central to Orphic and Pythagorean thought.
The Myth
Pythagoras and the Orphic mystery religion taught that the soul (psyche) is immortal and passes through multiple incarnations. The soul's journey was a cycle of purification: virtuous lives led to better rebirths, vicious lives to worse ones. Only through Orphic initiation and ritual purity could the soul escape the cycle entirely and reach the Isles of the Blessed. Plato adopted this framework in the Myth of Er (Republic) and the Phaedrus. The concept influenced Hindu and Buddhist ideas of reincarnation through possible Indo-European cultural exchange.
Symbols
Fun Fact
James Joyce structured Ulysses around metempsychosis — Molly Bloom famously asks "met him pike hoses?" trying to remember the word.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Aegis
conceptThe aegis was a divine shield or breastplate belonging to Zeus and wielded by Athena, fringed with...
Aidos
conceptAidos was the Greek concept of shame, reverence, and the inner sense of propriety that restrained...
Ajax (Shield)
conceptAjax's shield was a massive tower shield of seven ox-hides layered with bronze — the largest...
Amazonomachy
conceptThe Amazonomachy was the legendary battle between the Athenians and the Amazons who invaded Athens...
Ambrosia
conceptAmbrosia was the food of the Olympian gods — anyone who consumed it became immortal, but mortals...
Anagnorisis
conceptAnagnorisis was the moment of recognition in tragedy — when the hero discovers the truth about...