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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 11, lines 21–23 · Send Pan's frenzy to the ends of the earth
11.21
The Orphic Hymns 11.21 · Send Pan's frenzy to the ends of the earth
The prayer: come to the libations, grant a good end of life, and send away the madness that Pan can bring.
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ἀλλά1
allá
But
μάκαρ2
mákar
blessed one
, βακχευτά3
bakcheutá
reveler
, φιλένθεε4
philénthee
lover of inspired frenzy
, βαῖνʼ5
baîn’
come
ἐπὶ6
epì
to
εὐιέροις7
euiérois
the holy
λοιβαῖς8
loibaîs
libations
, δʼ9
d’
and
ὄπασον10
ópason
grant
ἀγαθὴν11
agathḕn
a good
τελευτὴν12
teleutḕn
end
βιότοιο13
biótoio
of life
, ἐκπέμπων14
ekpémpōn
sending
Πανικὸν15
Panikòn
Pan's
οἶστρον16
oîstron
frenzygadfly
ἐπὶ17
epì
to
τέρματα18
térmata
the ends
γαίης19
gaíēs
of the earth
. But, blessed one, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, come to the holy libations, and grant a good end of life, sending Pan's frenzy to the ends of the earth.
But, blessed one, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, come to the holy libations, and grant a good end of life, sending Pan's frenzy to the ends of the earth.
Interpretation
But, blessed one, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, come to the holy libations, and grant a good end of life, sending Pan's frenzy away to the ends of the earth.
The English word panic comes from this adjective, Panikos, "of Pan." Greeks blamed Pan for the sudden, groundless terror that could seize a herd or an army camp. The hymn calls it an oistros, a gadfly: the insect whose sting drives cattle wild, and then any frenzy, as when the gadfly drove Io across the world. The prayer asks Pan to send it to the ends of the earth, far from those who pray.
12.1
The Orphic Hymns 12.1 · Heracles, father of time
Heracles, the hero of the twelve labors, is called a Titan and the father of time, as though he were a god of the whole world, like the Sun.
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Of Heracles. Incense: frankincense. Heracles, strong of spirit, mighty in strength, brave Titan, strong-handed, untamed, teeming with mighty labors, of changing form, father of time, eternal and kindly,