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The Orphic Hymns

the Orphic tradition · Hymn 11, lines 13–17 · Earth, sea, air and fire obey you

11.13

The Orphic Hymns 11.13 · Earth, sea, air and fire obey you

The hymn explains why Pan is the All: every element, from the earth up to the highest fire, depends on him.

· · ·

γὰρ¹

gàr

For

σοὶ²

soì

by you

ἀπειρέσιον³

apeirésion

the boundless

πέδον⁴

pédon

plain

γαίης⁵

gaíēs

of earth

ἐστήρικται⁶

estḗriktai

is set fast

δʼ⁷

d’

and

τὸ⁸

tò

the

βαθύρροον⁹

bathýrroon

deep-flowing

ὕδωρ¹⁰

hýdōr

water

ἀκαμάτου¹¹

akamátou

of the tireless

πόντου¹²

póntou

sea

εἴκει¹³

eíkei

yields

to you

τε¹⁴

and

Ὠκεανός¹⁵

Ōkeanós

Ocean

ἑλίσσων¹⁶

helíssōn

winding

πέριξ¹⁷

périx

all round

γαῖαν¹⁸

gaîan

the earth

ἐνὶ¹⁹

enì

ὕδασι²⁰

hýdasi

his waters

τε²¹

and

ἠέριόν²²

ēérión

the airy

μέρισμα²³

mérisma

portionpart

τροφῆς²⁴

trophês

of nourishment

the

ἔναυσμα²⁵

énausma

spark

ζωοῖσιν²⁶

zōoîsin

for living things

καὶ²⁷

kaì

and

ἐφύπερθεν²⁸

ephýperthen

above

κορυφῆς²⁹

koryphês

the summit

ὄμμα³⁰

ómma

the eye

ἐλαφροτάτου³¹

elaphrotátou

of the lightest

πυρὸς³²

pyròs

fire

For by you the boundless plain of earth is set fast, and the deep-flowing water of the tireless sea yields to you, and Ocean, winding all round the earth in his waters, and the airy portion of nourishment, the spark for living things, and above the summit the eye of the lightest fire.

Interpretation

For by you the boundless plain of earth is set fast, and the deep-flowing water of the tireless sea yields to you, and Ocean, who winds his waters all round the earth, and the airy portion of nourishment, the spark of life for living things, and above the summit the eye of the lightest fire.

The lines go through the elements in order, from the bottom of the world to the top: earth, which stays fixed; water, the sea and the river Ocean that circles the earth; air, which living things breathe and are fed by; and fire, the lightest, which rises highest. This is the order in which Greek philosophers stacked the elements, the heaviest at the center. Homer's Ocean, a river running round the edge of the world, takes its place among them.

11.18

The Orphic Hymns 11.18 · You change the natures of all things

All these parts of the world move at Pan's command. He changes their natures and feeds the human race as a herdsman feeds his flock.

· · ·

For these things, widely separate, move easily at your commands; and you change the natures of all things by your providence, feeding the race of men throughout the boundless world.

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