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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 17, lines 7–8 · The third share, won by lot
17.7
The Orphic Hymns 17.7 · The third share, won by lot
Poseidon received the sea as his share when the world was divided, and he delights in its waves and its creatures.
· · ·
ὃς1
hòs
you who
ἔλαχες2
élaches
won by lot
, as your
τριτάτης3
tritátēs
third
μοίρης4
moírēs
share
, the
βαθὺ5
bathỳ
deep
χεῦμα6
cheûma
flood
θαλάσσης7
thalássēs
of the sea
, τερπόμενος8
terpómenos
delighting
in the
κύμασι9
kýmasi
waves
θʼ10
th’
and
θηρσίν11
thērsín
in the beasts
ἅμα12
háma
alike
, δαῖμον13
daîmon
god
πόντιε14
póntie
of the sea
; you who won by lot, as your third share, the deep flood of the sea, delighting in the waves and in the beasts alike, god of the sea;
you who won by lot, as your third share, the deep flood of the sea, delighting in the waves and in the beasts alike, god of the sea;
Interpretation
you who won by lot, as your third share, the deep flood of the sea, delighting in its waves and in its beasts alike, god of the sea;
The "third share" is Homer's story. In the fifteenth book of the Iliad Poseidon reminds Zeus that the three sons of Kronos divided the world by casting lots: Zeus won the wide sky, Hades the murky dark below, and Poseidon the grey sea, while the earth and Olympus stayed common to all three. The beasts are the creatures of the sea; in the Iliad they come up from their lairs to play around him as he drives over the waves, because they know their lord. The next hymn, to Plouton, uses the same line for the god below.
17.9
The Orphic Hymns 17.9 · Keep the earth steady and the ships swift
The prayer to Poseidon: keep the ground from shaking, speed the ships, and bring peace, health and prosperity.
· · ·
May you keep safe the foundations of the earth and the swift course of ships, bringing peace, health and blameless prosperity.