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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 19, lines 9–12 · The sharp heavenly shaft
19.9
The Orphic Hymns 19.9 · The sharp heavenly shaft
The thunderbolt itself, described like a living thing: sudden, invincible, holy, devouring all in its rush.
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αἰφνίδιον1
aiphnídion
sudden
, βρονταῖον2
brontaîon
thundering
, the
ἀνίκητον3
aníkēton
invincible
ἁγνὸν4
hagnòn
holy
βέλος5
bélos
shaft
, with
δινεύμασι6
dineúmasi
whirlings
of
ἀπειρεσίου7
apeiresíou
boundless
ῥοίζου8
rhoízou
rushing
, παμφάγον9
pamphágon
all-devouring
ὁρμῇ10
hormêi
in its rush
, ἄρρηκτον11
árrēkton
unbreakable
, βαρύθυμον12
barýthymon
heavy with wrath
, ἀμαιμάκετον13
amaimáketon
irresistible
, the
ὀξὺ14
oxỳ
sharp
οὐράνιον15
ouránion
heavenly
βέλος16
bélos
shaft
of the
καταιβάτου17
kataibátou
swoopingcoming down
αἰθαλόεντος18
aithalóentos
smoking
πρηστῆρος19
prēstêros
firestorm
, sudden, thundering, the invincible holy shaft, with whirlings of boundless rushing, all-devouring in its rush, unbreakable, heavy with wrath, irresistible, the sharp heavenly shaft of the swooping, smoking firestorm,
sudden, thundering, the invincible holy shaft, with whirlings of boundless rushing, all-devouring in its rush, unbreakable, heavy with wrath, irresistible, the sharp heavenly shaft of the swooping, smoking firestorm,
Interpretation
sudden, thundering, the invincible holy shaft, all-devouring in its rush, whirling with a boundless roar, unbreakable, heavy with wrath, irresistible, the sharp heavenly shaft of the swooping, smoking firestorm,
The bolt is given the titles of a god or a hero: invincible, unbreakable, heavy with wrath, and hagnos, "holy." The last word was meant. A place where a thunderbolt had fallen was set apart from ordinary use and called enēlysion, ground the god had touched. Zeus himself was worshipped as Kataibatēs, "he who comes down," the word in line 12, and Pausanias saw an altar of Zeus Kataibates at Olympia.
19.13
The Orphic Hymns 19.13 · Earth and sea shudder
The whole world fears the lightning: earth and sea shudder at its blaze, and wild beasts cower at its crash.
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which both earth and the sea shudder at as it blazes, and the beasts cower when its crash reaches their ears;