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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 2, lines 12–14 · Grant children and keep them safe
2.12
The Orphic Hymns 2.12 · Grant children and keep them safe
All her names together, Artemis, Eileithyia, Prothyraia, and the request: children, and their safety.
· · ·
Ἄρτεμις1
Ártemis
Artemis
Εἰλείθυια2
Eileíthyia
Eileithyia
, καὶ3
kaì
and
ἡ4
hē
the
σεμνὴ5
semnḕ
revered
Προθυραία6
Prothyraía
Prothyraia
, κλῦθι7
klŷthi
hear
μάκαιρα8
mákaira
blessed one
, δὲ9
dè
and
δίδου10
dídou
grant
γονὰς11
gonàs
childrenoffspring
, ἐοῦσα12
eoûsa
being
ἐπαρωγὸς13
eparōgòs
our helper
, καὶ14
kaì
and
σῶζʼ15
sôz’
save
them
,ὥσπερ16
hṓsper
as
ἔφυς17
éphys
you are by natureyou were born
, αἰεὶ18
aieì
always
σώτειρα19
sṓteira
the savior
προπάντων20
propántōn
of all
. Artemis Eileithyia, and the revered Prothyraia, hear, blessed one, and grant children, being our helper, and save them, as you are by nature, always the savior of all.
Artemis Eileithyia, and the revered Prothyraia, hear, blessed one, and grant children, being our helper, and save them, as you are by nature, always the savior of all.
Interpretation
Artemis Eileithyia, revered Prothyraia, hear me, blessed one: grant children and be our helper, and keep them safe, as you have always been the savior of all.
The last lines fold three goddesses into one. Artemis, the virgin huntress, was also the protector of women in childbirth, and here she is called by Eileithyia's name and by the title of the door. The prayer ends where a mother's prayer would: give children, and keep them safe.
3.1
The Orphic Hymns 3.1 · Night, mother of gods and men
The hymn to Night, one of the first powers of the world in the Orphic stories, sung over burning torches.
· · ·
Of Night. Incense: torches. I will sing of Night, the mother of gods and of men too. Night is the origin of all things; let us call her Aphrodite too.