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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 18, lines 1–3 · Zeus of the underworld
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Hymn 18 · To Plouton
ΕΙΣ ΠΛΟΥΤΩΝΑ
To Plouton
18.1
The Orphic Hymns 18.1 · Zeus of the underworld
A hymn to the king of the dead, with no incense named. He is called by his title, Plouton, and as the Zeus who rules below the earth.
· · ·
ΕΙΣ1
eis
To
ΠΛΟΥΤΩΝΑ2
Ploútōna
Plouton
. Ὦ3
Ô
O
ναίων4
naíōn
you who dwell in
τὸν5
tòn
the
δόμον6
dómon
house
ὑποχθόνιον7
hypochthónion
under the earth
, λειμῶνα8
leimôna
the meadow
Ταρτάριον9
Tartárion
of Tartarus
, βαθύσκιον10
bathýskion
deep-shadowed
ἠδὲ11
ēdè
and
λιπαυγῆ12
lipaugê
lightlessdeserted by light
, ὀβριμόθυμε13
obrimóthyme
strong of spirit
, Ζεῦ14
Zeû
Zeus
χθόνιε15
chthónie
of the underworldof the earth
, σκηπτοῦχε16
skēptoûche
sceptered
, δέξο17
déxo
receive
τάδʼ18
tád’
these
ἱερὰ19
hierà
offerings
προθύμως20
prothýmōs
gladly
, To Plouton. O you who dwell in the house under the earth, the meadow of Tartarus, deep-shadowed and lightless, strong of spirit, Zeus of the underworld, sceptered, receive these offerings gladly,
To Plouton. O you who dwell in the house under the earth, the meadow of Tartarus, deep-shadowed and lightless, strong of spirit, Zeus of the underworld, sceptered, receive these offerings gladly,
Interpretation
To Plouton. O you who dwell in the house beneath the earth, strong of spirit, in the deep-shadowed, lightless meadow of Tartarus, Zeus of the underworld, sceptered, receive these offerings gladly,
The god is addressed by other names than Hades: Plouton, "the wealthy one," and, as here, "Zeus of the underworld." Homer already speaks this way; in the ninth book of the Iliad a father's curse is carried out by "Zeus under the earth and dread Persephone." A lightless meadow is a strange pairing of words, but Greek pictures of the world below often had meadows in them, like the meadow of asphodel where the shades of the dead walk in the Odyssey.
18.4
The Orphic Hymns 18.4 · The keys of the earth and the gift of wealth
Plouton holds the keys of the earth and enriches mortals with the harvest.
· · ·
Plouton, you who hold the keys of the whole earth, enriching the mortal race with the fruits of the years;