⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 10, lines 25–28 · You are all things
10.25
The Orphic Hymns 10.25 · You are all things
Nature is mightier than kings; she is destiny and eternal life and providence. Then the list closes in one sentence: she is everything, and she alone makes everything.
· · ·
βαρυβρεμέτειρα1
barybreméteira
loud-thundering
, κρατίστη2
kratístē
mightiest
ἐφύπερθε3
ephýperthe
above
σκηπτούχων4
skēptoúchōn
sceptred kings
, ἄτρομε5
átrome
fearless
, πανδαμάτειρα6
pandamáteira
tamer of all
, πεπρωμένη7
peprōménē
destined
αἶσα8
aîsa
lotallotted share
, πυρίπνους9
pyrípnous
fire-breathing
, ἀίδιος10
aídios
eternal
ζωὴ11
zōḕ
life
ἠδʼ12
ēd’
and
ἀθανάτη13
athanátē
immortal
τε14
te
—
πρόνοια15
prónoia
providenceforethought
; σὺ16
sỳ
you
ἔσσι17
éssi
are
πάντα18
pánta
all things
; γὰρ19
gàr
for
σὺ20
sỳ
you
μούνη21
moúnē
alone
τεύχεις22
teúcheis
make
τὰ23
tà
—
πάντα24
pánta
all
τάδε25
táde
these things
. loud-thundering, mightiest above sceptred kings, fearless, tamer of all, destined lot, fire-breathing, eternal life and immortal providence; you are all things; for you alone make all these things.
loud-thundering, mightiest above sceptred kings, fearless, tamer of all, destined lot, fire-breathing, eternal life and immortal providence; you are all things; for you alone make all these things.
Interpretation
loud-thundering, mightiest, above sceptred kings, fearless, tamer of all, destined lot, fire-breathing, eternal life and immortal providence: you are all things, for you alone make all these things.
Line 28 is the center of the hymn. Panta sy essi, "you are all things," is an editor's correction; the manuscripts have panta soi eisi, "all things are yours." In the manuscripts' reading Nature owns everything, and in the corrected text she is everything. The titles just before lead up to it. Aisa is the share of life given to each person, and pronoia, "providence," is the forethought that arranges things in advance. The Stoics, among the most influential philosophers of the age, taught that Nature, Fate and Providence are one and the same power under different names.
10.29
The Orphic Hymns 10.29 · Bring peace and health
After all her titles, the request: peace, health, and growth for all things.
· · ·
But, goddess, I pray you to bring peace, health, and the growth of all things together, in prosperous seasons.