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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 11, lines 4–6 · Playing the harmony of the world
11.4
The Orphic Hymns 11.4 · Playing the harmony of the world
Pan is asked to come: the leaping, goat-limbed god of revels and caves, who plays the harmony of the world in his songs.
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ἐλθέ1
elthé
Come
μάκαρ2
mákar
blessed one
, σκιρτητά3
skirtētá
leaper
, περίδρομε4
perídrome
roamerrunning round
, σύνθρονος5
sýnthronos
thronedsharing the throne
Ὥραις6
Hṓrais
with the Seasons
, αἰγομελές7
aigomelés
goat-limbed
, βακχευτά8
bakcheutá
reveler
, φιλένθεος9
philéntheos
lover of inspired frenzy
, ἀντροδίαιτε10
antrodíaite
cave-dweller
, κρέκων11
krékōn
playingweaving
ἁρμονίην12
harmoníēn
the harmony
κόσμοιο13
kósmoio
of the world
φιλοπαίγμονι14
philopaígmoni
in playful
μολπῇ15
molpêi
song
, Come, blessed one, leaper, roamer, throned with the Seasons, goat-limbed, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, cave-dweller, playing the harmony of the world in playful song,
Come, blessed one, leaper, roamer, throned with the Seasons, goat-limbed, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, cave-dweller, playing the harmony of the world in playful song,
Interpretation
Come, blessed one, leaper, roamer, throned with the Seasons, goat-limbed, reveler, lover of inspired frenzy, cave-dweller, playing the harmony of the world in playful song,
The verb krekō meant first to weave, beating the threads home on the loom, and then to strike the strings of an instrument; here it means to play. In Hymn 8 the Sun drew the world along its tuned course with a golden lyre. Pan, the herdsman, plays the same harmony of the world, in a song made for play.
11.7
The Orphic Hymns 11.7 · Friend of Echo, dancer with the nymphs
Pan sends visions and stirs up fears, and he is also the friendly god of herdsmen, springs, hunting and dance.
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helper with visions, and terrible in mortal fears, delighting in goatherds and oxherds by the springs, keen-sighted, hunter, friend of Echo, dancing partner of the nymphs,