⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 0, lines 29–31 · Time, the Styx, the two Daimons
0.29
The Orphic Hymns 0.29 · Time, the Styx, the two Daimons
Time and the river of oaths, the gentle gods and Providence, and two Daimons of opposite kinds.
· · ·
καὶ1
kaì
and
ἀέναον2
aénaon
ever-flowing
Χρόνον3
Chrónon
Time
, καὶ4
kaì
and
τὸ5
tò
the
ἀγλαὸν6
aglaòn
bright
ὕδωρ7
hýdōr
water
Στυγὸς8
Stygòs
of the Styx
, τε9
te
and
μειλιχίους10
meilichíous
the gentlehoney-sweet
θεούς11
theoús
gods
, τʼ12
t’
and
ἐπὶ13
epì
besides
τοῖσι14
toîsi
these
ἀγαθὴν15
agathḕn
good
Πρόνοιαν16
Prónoian
ProvidenceForethought
, τʼ17
t’
and
ἠγάθεον18
ēgátheon
the most holy
Δαίμονά19
Daímoná
Daimon
καὶ20
kaì
and
Δαίμονα21
Daímona
the Daimon
πήμονα22
pḗmona
baneful
θνητῶν23
thnētôn
to mortals
, and ever-flowing Time, and the bright water of the Styx, and the gentle gods, and besides these good Providence, and the most holy Daimon and the Daimon baneful to mortals,
and ever-flowing Time, and the bright water of the Styx, and the gentle gods, and besides these good Providence, and the most holy Daimon and the Daimon baneful to mortals,
Interpretation
and ever-flowing Time, and the bright water of the Styx, and the gentle gods, and besides these good Providence, and the most holy Daimon and the Daimon who harms mortals,
The Styx is the river of the underworld by whose water the gods swear their most binding oaths. Then come two Daimons side by side: one is most holy, the other baneful to mortals. A daimōn is a divine power that hands out a person's portion in life, and the address calls on both, the giver of good and the giver of harm.
0.32
The Orphic Hymns 0.32 · Daimons of sky and fire; Semele and Ino
Daimons of every region of the world, then the family and company of Dionysus: his mother Semele and his revelers, and the sea gods Ino and Palaemon.
· · ·
the Daimons of the sky and of the air and of the waters, and of the earth and under the earth and moving in fire, and Semele, and all the fellow revelers of Bacchus, Ino Leukothea and Palaemon, giver of blessings,