⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 0, lines 14–16 · I call the Nymphs, Pan and Hera
0.14
The Orphic Hymns 0.14 · I call the Nymphs, Pan and Hera
The verb arrives at last, "I call," and after it comes the long list of the gods the singer calls by name.
· · ·
καὶ1
kaì
and
κικλήσκω2
kiklḗskō
I call
τὸ3
tò
the
μέγʼ4
még’
great
ὄνειαρ5
óneiar
blessingprofit, help
Δικαιοσύνης6
Dikaiosýnēs
of Justice
τε7
te
—
καὶ8
kaì
and
Εὐσεβίης9
Eusebíēs
Pietyreverence
, τε10
te
—
κλυτὰς11
klytàs
the famous
Νύμφας12
Nýmphas
Nymphsyoung brides
καὶ13
kaì
and
Πᾶνα14
Pâna
Pan
μέγιστον15
mégiston
the greatest
, τʼ16
t’
and
Ἥρην17
Hḗrēn
Hera
, θαλερὴν18
thalerḕn
the blooming
παράκοιτιν19
parákoitin
wifebedfellow
αἰγιόχοιο20
aigióchoio
of aegis-bearing
Διὸς21
Diòs
Zeus
; and I call the great blessing of Justice and Piety, the famous Nymphs and Pan the greatest, and Hera, the blooming wife of aegis-bearing Zeus;
and I call the great blessing of Justice and Piety, the famous Nymphs and Pan the greatest, and Hera, the blooming wife of aegis-bearing Zeus;
Interpretation
and I call the great blessing of Justice and Piety, the famous Nymphs and Pan the greatest, and Hera, the blooming wife of aegis-bearing Zeus;
Kiklēskō, "I call," is the working verb of these hymns: the singer calls a god by name and asks the god to come. Justice and Piety, which we would call virtues, stand in the list beside the Nymphs and Pan. Later in the book Justice has two hymns of her own (62 and 63), and Law has one (64).
0.17
The Orphic Hymns 0.17 · Memory, the Muses, the Graces, the Seasons
Memory and her daughters the Muses, then the gods of grace and of time, then two mothers of gods.
· · ·
and lovely Mnemosyne, and I call on the holy Muses, nine, and the Graces and the Seasons and the Year, and lovely-haired Leto, divine, and revered Dione,