⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 19, lines 1–4 · Father Zeus, driving the fiery world
⸻ · ⸻
Hymn 19 · Zeus of the Thunderbolt
ΚΕΡΑΥΝΙΟΥ ΔΙΟΣ, θυμίαμα στύρακα
Of Zeus of the Thunderbolt · incense: storax
19.1
The Orphic Hymns 19.1 · Father Zeus, driving the fiery world
The hymn to Zeus of the thunderbolt opens with the god at work in the storm: driving the sky, flashing, thundering, kindling fire in the rain clouds.
· · ·
ΔΙΟΣ1
Diós
Of Zeus
ΚΕΡΑΥΝΙΟΥ2
Kerauníou
of the Thunderbolt
. θυμίαμα3
thymíama
Incensewhat is burned
στύρακα4
stýraka
storax
. πάτερ5
páter
Father
Ζεῦ6
Zeû
Zeus
, ἐλαύνων7
elaúnōn
you who drive
the
ὑψίβρομον8
hypsíbromon
high-thundering
πυριαυγέα9
pyriaugéa
fire-bright
κόσμον10
kósmon
world
, στράπτων11
stráptōn
flashing
the
πανυπέρτατον12
panypértaton
supreme
αἴγλην13
aíglēn
gleam
of
αἰθερίου14
aitheríou
heavenlyof the upper air
στεροπῆς15
steropês
lightning
, τινάσσων16
tinássōn
shaking
ἕδρανον17
hédranon
the seat
παμμακάρων18
pammakárōn
of the all-blessed
with
θείαις19
theíais
divine
βροντῇσι20
brontêisi
thunders
, ἀναίθων21
anaíthōn
kindling
the
φλεγέθουσαν22
phlegéthousan
blazing
στεροπὴν23
steropḕn
lightning
in
παννεφέλοις24
pannephélois
all-cloudy
νάμασι25
námasi
waters
, Of Zeus of the Thunderbolt. Incense: storax. Father Zeus, you who drive the high-thundering, fire-bright world, flashing the supreme gleam of heavenly lightning, shaking the seat of the all-blessed with divine thunders, kindling the blazing lightning in all-cloudy waters,
Of Zeus of the Thunderbolt. Incense: storax. Father Zeus, you who drive the high-thundering, fire-bright world, flashing the supreme gleam of heavenly lightning, shaking the seat of the all-blessed with divine thunders, kindling the blazing lightning in all-cloudy waters,
Interpretation
Of Zeus of the Thunderbolt. Incense: storax. Father Zeus, you who drive the high-thundering, fire-bright world, flashing the supreme gleam of heavenly lightning, shaking the seat of the blessed gods with divine thunders, kindling the blazing lightning in waters thick with cloud,
For twelve lines the hymn never stops for a main verb. Participle follows participle, driving, flashing, shaking, kindling, hurling, hiding, and the storm builds as the sentence does; the prayer itself does not come until line 18. The opening title echoes Homer's "high-thundering Zeus" (hypsibremetēs). Line 4 holds a paradox: the god lights fire inside water, kindling the lightning in streams of rain cloud.
19.5
The Orphic Hymns 19.5 · Squalls, rainstorms, firestorms
Zeus hurls every kind of storm, and keeps his winged weapon, the thunderbolt, hidden in the clouds.
· · ·
hurling squalls, rainstorms, firestorms and mighty thunderbolts, all-blazing, swift, terrifying, fierce, rushing, fiery; hiding in clouds the winged weapon, terrible, heart-shaking, hair-raising,