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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 2, lines 5–8 · Unseen, yet seen in every birth
2.5
The Orphic Hymns 2.5 · Unseen, yet seen in every birth
The goddess of the threshold holds the keys, lives in every house, and shares the pain and the joy of birth.
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κλῃδοῦχʼ1
klēidoûch’
keeper of the keys
, εὐάντητε2
euántēte
easy to approachgracious
, φιλοτρόφε3
philotróphe
lover of nursing
, προσηνές4
prosēnés
kindgentle
πᾶσι5
pâsi
to all
, ἣ6
hḕ
you who
κατέχεις7
katécheis
dwell inhold
οἴκους8
oíkous
the homes
πάντων9
pántōn
of all
τε10
te
and
γέγηθας11
gégēthas
delight
θαλίαις12
thalíais
in the feastsgood cheer
, λυσίζωνʼ13
lysízōn’
loosener of beltsloosing the girdle
, ἀφανής14
aphanḗs
unseen
, δὲ15
dè
yet
φαίνῃ16
phaínēi
you appear
ἅπασι17
hápasi
to all
ἔργοισι18
érgoisi
in your works
; συμπάσχεις19
sympáscheis
you suffer with
ὠδῖσι20
ōdîsi
the labor pains
καὶ21
kaì
and
γέγηθας22
gégēthas
delight
εὐτοκίῃσι23
eutokíēisi
in easy births
, keeper of the keys, easy to approach, lover of nursing, kind to all, you who dwell in the homes of all and delight in the feasts, loosener of belts, unseen, yet you appear to all in your works; you suffer with the labor pains and delight in easy births,
keeper of the keys, easy to approach, lover of nursing, kind to all, you who dwell in the homes of all and delight in the feasts, loosener of belts, unseen, yet you appear to all in your works; you suffer with the labor pains and delight in easy births,
Interpretation
keeper of the keys, easy to approach, lover of nursing, kind to all, you who dwell in the homes of all and delight in feasts, loosener of belts, unseen, yet seen by all in your works; you suffer with the labor pains and delight in easy births,
A woman giving birth loosened her belt, and brides loosened theirs on the wedding night, so lysizōnos, "she who loosens the belt," is a title for the goddess of both moments. The hymn gives her a paradox: she cannot be seen, yet she shows herself to everyone in what she does, every time a child is born. She is not a distant power either. The verb sympascheis says she suffers along with the mother.
2.9
The Orphic Hymns 2.9 · Rest of the soul
Eileithyia, the old goddess of childbirth, is the one women call on, and in her the pain is eased.
· · ·
Eileithyia, releasing pains in terrible straits; for women in labor call on you alone, rest of the soul; for in you the pains of childbirth are eased.