⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 12, lines 7–10 · Longing for peace that nurtures children
12.7
The Orphic Hymns 12.7 · Longing for peace that nurtures children
Heracles hunted down the savage creatures that threatened human beings because he longed for peace, and the hymn calls him the finest offspring of the earth.
· · ·
ὃς1
hòs
you who
κατέπαυσας2
katépausas
put an end to
ἀνήμερα3
anḗmera
the savage
φῦλα4
phŷla
tribes
θνητοῖς5
thnētoîs
for mortals
, διώξας6
diṓxas
by hunting
them down
,ποθέων7
pothéōn
longing for
εἰρήνην8
eirḗnēn
peace
κουροτρόφον9
kourotróphon
that nurtures childrenrearing children
, ἀγλαότιμον10
aglaótimon
splendidly honored
, αὐτοφυής11
autophyḗs
self-born
, ἀκάμας12
akámas
untiring
, φέριστον13
phériston
best
βλάστημα14
blástēma
offspring
γαίης15
gaíēs
of earth
, στράψας16
strápsas
flashing
πρωτογόνοις17
prōtogónois
with primalfirst-born
βολίσιν18
bolísin
boltsmissiles
, μεγαλώνυμε19
megalṓnyme
gloriousgreat-named
δαῖμον20
daîmon
power
, you who put an end to the savage tribes for mortals, by hunting them down, longing for peace that nurtures children, splendidly honored, self-born, untiring, best offspring of earth, flashing with primal bolts, glorious power,
you who put an end to the savage tribes for mortals, by hunting them down, longing for peace that nurtures children, splendidly honored, self-born, untiring, best offspring of earth, flashing with primal bolts, glorious power,
Interpretation
you who put an end to the savage tribes for mortals by hunting them down, longing for peace that nurtures children and is splendidly honored; self-born, untiring, best offspring of earth, flashing with primal bolts, glorious power,
The labors are explained as a service to human beings: Heracles cleared the world of savage creatures so that there could be peace. Eirēnē kourotrophos, "peace that nurtures children," comes from Hesiod: in the Works and Days, in the city where justice is done, "peace, the nurse of children, is over the land." The pair "self-born, untiring" was given to the Sun in Hymn 8.
12.11
The Orphic Hymns 12.11 · Twelve labors from east to west
Heracles wears dawn and night around his head and travels through his twelve labors from the east to the west, as the Sun travels across the sky.
· · ·
you who wear dawn and black night around your head, passing through twelve labors from the east to the west, immortal, of long experience, boundless, unshaken;