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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 16, lines 5–8 · Without you nothing knows life
16.5
The Orphic Hymns 16.5 · Without you nothing knows life
Hera is mingled with the air that every living thing needs, and so she rules over everything.
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γὰρ1
gàr
For
χωρὶς2
chōrìs
without
σέθεν3
séthen
you
οὐδὲν4
oudèn
nothing
ὅλως5
hólōs
at all
ἔγνω6
égnō
has known
φύσιν7
phýsin
the nature
ζωῆς8
zōês
of life
; γὰρ9
gàr
for
κοινωνεῖς10
koinōneîs
you share
in
ἅπασι11
hápasi
all things
, κεκραμένη12
kekraménē
mingled
with the
σεμνῷ13
semnôi
holy
ἠέρι14
ēéri
air
; γὰρ15
gàr
for
you
μούνη16
moúnē
alone
κρατέεις17
kratéeis
rule
over
πάντων18
pántōn
all things
τʼ19
t’
and
ἀνάσσεις20
anásseis
are queen
πάντεσσί21
pántessí
over all
, τινασσομένη22
tinassoménē
tossed
by the
ῥοίζοισι23
rhoízoisi
rushwhirring
ἠερίοις24
ēeríois
of the air
κατὰ25
katà
over
χεῦμα26
cheûma
the flood
. For without you nothing at all has known the nature of life; for you share in all things, mingled with the holy air; for you alone rule over all things and are queen over all, tossed by the rush of the air over the flood.
For without you nothing at all has known the nature of life; for you share in all things, mingled with the holy air; for you alone rule over all things and are queen over all, tossed by the rush of the air over the flood.
Interpretation
For without you nothing at all has known what life is; you share in all things, mingled with the holy air. You alone rule over all things and are queen over all, tossed by the rush of the air over the flood.
Without air nothing breathes, and so "without you nothing has known the nature of life." The hymn speaks of Hera the way philosophers spoke of the elements: she is kekramenē, "mingled," with the air, the word for a blending of substances. The Stoics read the gods in exactly this way. Diogenes Laertius reports that for them the one god was called Athena as he reaches into the bright upper sky, Hera as he reaches into the air, Poseidon into water and Demeter into earth.
16.9
The Orphic Hymns 16.9 · Come with a lovely face
The closing prayer asks Hera, the many-named queen, to come kindly and with a glad face.
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But, blessed goddess, many-named, queen of all, may you come kindly, rejoicing, with a lovely face.