The "Orphil" poetry prize, founded by Ilse Konell (1919-2012), was awarded for the first time in 2012. The name of the prize goes back to the hero of George Konell 's 1975 anti-war novel "Mr. Orphil, the Castle Rooster of Chaumes en Brie". The writer referred to the iron roosters on the roofs of town halls in France as "Orphil" and recalled the singer Orpheus and the ideals of the French Revolution of 1789 in his novel. The prize is endowed with €10,000 and was awarded on the occasion of George Konell's 100th birthday at the Villa Clementine House of Literature.

The "Orphil" poetry prize is the third literary prize in Wiesbaden after the George Konell Prize for authors living in Hesse and the George Konell Sponsorship Prize for young authors. It is awarded every two years to poets who demonstrate their independence from political and literary currents and take sides in their works. The jury also nominates the winner of the Orphil Debut Prize, which is endowed with €2,500.

The "Orphil" poetry prize was awarded for the first time to the poet Dr. Ursula Krechel, who is also the winner of the "Rheingau Literature Prize". In 2014, the prize went to Karin Kiwus and in 2016 to Ulrike Draesner. The Orphil Debut Prize was awarded to Simone Kornappel in 2012, Levin Westermann in 2014 and Rike Scheffler in 2016.