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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 1, lines 1–4 · Hekate of the roads
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Hymn 1 · To Hekate
ΕΙΣ ΕΚΑΤΗΝ
To Hekate
1.1
The Orphic Hymns 1.1 · Hekate of the roads
The first hymn has no incense note, and it calls Hekate by her places, from the crossroads to the tombs.
· · ·
ΕΙΣ1
eis
To
ΕΚΑΤΗΝ2
Hekátēn
Hekate
. κλῄζω3
klḗizō
I callI celebrate
Ἑκάτην4
Hekátēn
Hekate
Εἰνοδίην5
Einodíēn
of the roadsby the wayside
, τριοδῖτιν6
triodîtin
of the crossroadsof the three ways
, ἐρεμνήν7
eremnḗn
dark
, οὐρανίην8
ouraníēn
of the sky
, χθονίην9
chthoníēn
of the earth
τε10
te
—
καὶ11
kaì
and
εἰναλίην12
einalíēn
of the sea
, κροκόπεπλον13
krokópeplon
saffron-robed
, τυμβιδίην14
tymbidíēn
of the tombs
, μεταβακχεύουσαν15
metabakcheúousan
who revelsraving in their company
ψυχαῖς16
psychaîs
with the souls
νεκύων17
nekýōn
of the dead
, Πέρσειαν18
Pérseian
Perseiadaughter of Perses
, φιλέρημον19
philérēmon
lover of lonely places
, ἀγαλλομένην20
agalloménēn
delighting
ἐλάφοισι21
eláphoisi
in deer
, To Hekate. I call Hekate of the roads, of the crossroads, dark, of the sky, of the earth and of the sea, saffron-robed, of the tombs, who revels with the souls of the dead, Perseia, lover of lonely places, delighting in deer,
To Hekate. I call Hekate of the roads, of the crossroads, dark, of the sky, of the earth and of the sea, saffron-robed, of the tombs, who revels with the souls of the dead, Perseia, lover of lonely places, delighting in deer,
Interpretation
I call Hekate of the roads, of the crossroads, the dark one, of the sky, of the earth and of the sea, saffron-robed, goddess of the tombs, who revels with the souls of the dead; Perseia, lover of lonely places, delighting in deer,
Hekate was worshipped where roads meet. Her images stood at crossroads and at the doors of houses, often with three faces looking down three ways, and triodītis, "of the crossroads," is the title that goes with them. In one line she belongs to the sky, the earth and the sea at once, which follows Hesiod, who says Zeus gave her a share in all three.
The rest of the list takes her to the edges: tombs, the restless souls of the dead, lonely places, wild deer. Perseia names her as the daughter of Perses, as in Hesiod. The deer and the lonely places belong as much to Artemis, and the hymn moves freely between the two goddesses.
1.5
The Orphic Hymns 1.5 · Queen of the night, keeper of the keys
More titles: the night, the hounds, the wild beasts, the bull, and the keys of the whole world.
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of the night, lady of the hounds, invincible queen, heralded by roaring beasts, unbelted, with an irresistible form, driver of bulls, key-holding queen of the whole world, guide, bride, nurse of the young, who roams the mountains,