Cercops

Cercops was an ancient Greek poet associated with the Orphic traditions and was also referred to as a Pythagorean philosopher. Clement of Alexandria, in his work "Stromata", identifies Cercops as the author of an Orphic epic poem known as the "Descent to Hades" and another work titled "Holy Discourse" (ἱερός λόγος). These works were apparently still in circulation during the Alexandrian period. However, the attribution of "Holy Discourse" is not universally agreed upon, with some sources suggesting it was written by Prodicus of Samos, Herodicus of Perinthus, or Orpheus of Camarina. Cicero also mentions that the Pythagoreans attributed an Orphic poem to a figure named Cercops.