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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 0, lines 23–25 · Night the eldest, and Day who brings the light
0.23
The Orphic Hymns 0.23 · Night the eldest, and Day who brings the light
Hermes the herald, then some of the oldest powers: Themis, Night and Day, Faith and Justice.
· · ·
Ἑρμείαν1
Hermeían
Hermes
κήρυκα2
kḗryka
the herald
, θʼ3
th’
and
Θέμιν4
Thémin
ThemisRight
, ἱεροσκόπον5
hieroskópon
the seerwho inspects the sacrifices
ἀνδρῶν6
andrôn
of men
; τε7
te
and
καλέω8
kaléō
I call
Νύκτα9
Nýkta
Night
, πρεσβίστην10
presbístēn
the eldest
, καὶ11
kaì
and
φωσφόρον12
phōsphóron
light-bringing
Ἦμαρ13
Êmar
Day
, Πίστιν14
Pístin
FaithTrust
τʼ15
t’
—
ἠδὲ16
ēdè
and
Δίκην17
Díkēn
Justice
καὶ18
kaì
and
ἀμύμονα19
amýmona
the blameless
Θεσμοδότειραν20
Thesmodóteiran
Lawgivergiver of ordinances
, Hermes the herald, and Themis, the seer of men; and I call Night, the eldest, and light-bringing Day, Faith and Justice and the blameless Lawgiver,
Hermes the herald, and Themis, the seer of men; and I call Night, the eldest, and light-bringing Day, Faith and Justice and the blameless Lawgiver,
Interpretation
Hermes the herald, and Themis, the seer of men; and I call Night, the eldest, and Day who brings the light, Faith and Justice and the blameless Lawgiver,
Night is called the eldest, presbistē, and Hymn 3 will call her the mother of gods and men. Themis, the goddess of what is right and customary, is a hieroskopos, one who inspects the sacrifices, because in Greek religion the gods' will was read in the entrails of the victims. The blameless Lawgiver, Thesmodoteira, is probably Demeter, who was worshipped as Thesmophoros, the bringer of laws.
0.26
The Orphic Hymns 0.26 · Rhea and Kronos, and the strength of Atlas
The older generation of gods, from Rhea and Kronos to the strength of Atlas and of Aion.
· · ·
Rhea and Kronos and dark-robed Tethys, and great Ocean, and with them the daughters of Ocean, and the far surpassing strength of Atlas and of Aion,