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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 17, lines 1–3 · Lord of horses, holder of the trident
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Hymn 17 · Poseidon
ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝΟΣ, θυμίαμα σμύρναν
Of Poseidon · incense: myrrh
17.1
The Orphic Hymns 17.1 · Lord of horses, holder of the trident
Poseidon, the sea god, is called with his oldest titles: earth-holder, dark-haired, lord of horses.
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ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝΟΣ1
Poseidônos
Of Poseidon
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incensewhat is burned
σμύρναν3
smýrnan
myrrh
. Κλῦθι4
Klŷthi
Hear
, Ποσείδαον5
Poseídaon
Poseidon
, γαιήοχε6
gaiḗoche
earth-holder
, κυανοχαῖτα7
kyanochaîta
dark-haired
, ἵππιε8
híppie
lord of horses
, ἔχων9
échōn
holding
the
χαλκοτόρευτον10
chalkotóreuton
bronze-wrought
τρίαιναν11
tríainan
trident
χείρεσσι12
cheíressi
in your hands
, ὃς13
hòs
you who
ναίεις14
naíeis
dwell in
θέμεθλα15
thémethla
the foundations
of the
βαθυστέρνοιο16
bathystérnoio
deep-chested
πόντοιο17
póntoio
sea
, Of Poseidon. Incense: myrrh. Hear, Poseidon, earth-holder, dark-haired, lord of horses, holding the bronze-wrought trident in your hands, you who dwell in the foundations of the deep-chested sea,
Of Poseidon. Incense: myrrh. Hear, Poseidon, earth-holder, dark-haired, lord of horses, holding the bronze-wrought trident in your hands, you who dwell in the foundations of the deep-chested sea,
Interpretation
Of Poseidon. Incense: myrrh. Hear, Poseidon, earth-holder, dark-haired, lord of horses, holding the bronze-wrought trident in your hands, you who dwell in the foundations of the deep-chested sea,
Hippios, "of horses," is one of Poseidon's oldest titles: the god of the sea was also the god of horses. Athenians worshipped Poseidon Hippios at Colonus, and in Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus the chorus praises him for first giving men the bit that tames the horse. His home is at the bottom of the sea, in its "foundations" (themethla), the word Hesiod uses for the foundations of Ocean.
17.4
The Orphic Hymns 17.4 · Driving his chariot over the sea
More titles for Poseidon, lord of the sea and shaker of the earth, as he drives his chariot through the waves.
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lord of the sea, sea-resounding, loud-thundering, earth-shaker, abounding in waves, graceful of face, driving a four-horse chariot, stirring the salt water with surges of the sea,