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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 20, lines 1–3 · I call the loud-thundering one
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Hymn 20 · Zeus of the Lightning
ΔΙΟΣ ΑΣΤΡΑΠΙΟΥ, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν
Of Zeus of the Lightning · incense: frankincense powder
20.1
The Orphic Hymns 20.1 · I call the loud-thundering one
A short hymn to Zeus of the lightning, one sentence long. It begins with a pile of titles for the god of the flash.
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ΔΙΟΣ1
Diós
Of Zeus
ΑΣΤΡΑΠΙΟΥ2
Astrapíou
of the Lightning
. θυμίαμα3
thymíama
Incensewhat is burned
λιβανομάνναν4
libanománnan
frankincense powder
. Κικλήσκω5
Kiklḗskō
I call
the
μέγαν6
mégan
great
one
,ἁγνόν7
hagnón
holy
, ἐρισμάραγον8
erismáragon
loud-thundering
, περίφαντον9
períphanton
renownedseen all around
, ἠέριον10
ēérion
high in the air
, φλογόεντα11
phlogóenta
flaming
, πυρίβρομον12
pyríbromon
roaring with fire
, ἠεροφεγγῆ13
ēerophengê
shining through the air
, ἀστράπτοντα14
astráptonta
flashing
σέλας15
sélas
a blaze
νεφέων16
nephéōn
from the clouds
with a
παταγοδρόμῳ17
patagodrómōi
clatteringclattering as it runs
αὐδῇ18
audêi
voice
, Of Zeus of the Lightning. Incense: frankincense powder. I call the great one, holy, loud-thundering, renowned, high in the air, flaming, roaring with fire, shining through the air, flashing a blaze from the clouds with a clattering voice,
Of Zeus of the Lightning. Incense: frankincense powder. I call the great one, holy, loud-thundering, renowned, high in the air, flaming, roaring with fire, shining through the air, flashing a blaze from the clouds with a clattering voice,
Interpretation
Of Zeus of the Lightning. Incense: frankincense powder. I call the great one, holy, loud-thundering, renowned, high in the air, flaming, roaring with fire, shining through the air, who flashes a blaze from the clouds with a voice that clatters as it runs,
Hymns 19 and 20 are a pair, one for the thunderbolt that strikes (keraunos) and one for the lightning that is seen (astrapē). This short hymn is almost all sound and light. Erismaragos, "loud-crashing," is Hesiod's epithet for Zeus in the Theogony, and the next line heaps up new compounds of fire and air: pyribromos, "roaring with fire," and ēerophengēs, "shining through the air."
20.4
The Orphic Hymns 20.4 · A sweet end of life
The god of the lightning is named at last, and the hymn asks him for one thing: a gentle death.
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dread, heavy in wrath, the invincible holy god, Zeus of the Lightning, father of all, greatest king, kindly to bring a sweet end of life.