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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 18, lines 6–7 · The earth, queen of all
18.6
The Orphic Hymns 18.6 · The earth, queen of all
Plouton too won his share of the world by lot, and his share is the earth, the seat of the gods and the support of mortals.
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ὃς1
hòs
you who
ἔλαχες2
élaches
won by lot
, as your
τριτάτης3
tritátēs
third
μοίρης4
moírēs
share
, χθόνα5
chthóna
the earth
, παμβασίλειαν6
pambasíleian
queen of all
, ἕδρανον7
hédranon
the seat
ἀθανάτων8
athanátōn
of the immortals
, κραταιόν9
krataión
the strong
στήριγμα10
stḗrigma
supportprop
θνητῶν11
thnētôn
of mortals
; you who won by lot, as your third share, the earth, queen of all, the seat of the immortals, the strong support of mortals;
you who won by lot, as your third share, the earth, queen of all, the seat of the immortals, the strong support of mortals;
Interpretation
you who won by lot, as your third share, the earth, queen of all, the seat of the immortals and the strong support of mortals;
The line is built like the one in the hymn to Poseidon (17.7): each brother received his third of the world by lot. In the Iliad the earth stayed common to all three brothers and Hades got the murky dark below; here the lot gives Plouton the earth itself, the ground under the feet of gods and men. Hesiod calls Earth "the ever-sure seat of all the immortals" (Theogony 117), the same idea as the hymn's "seat of the immortals."
18.8
The Orphic Hymns 18.8 · Receiver of many
Plouton has set his throne in the dark, far-off world below, where he rules all mortals through death.
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you who set firm your throne down in the murky place and in far-off, tireless, deathly still, endless Hades, and dark Acheron, which holds the roots of the earth; you who rule mortals through death, O receiver of many;