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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 20, lines 4–6 · A sweet end of life
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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φρικώδη1
phrikṓdē
dread
, βαρύμηνιν2
barýmēnin
heavy in wrath
, the
ἀνίκητον3
aníkēton
invincible
ἁγνόν4
hagnón
holy
θεὸν5
theòn
god
, Δία6
Día
Zeus
ἀστράπιον7
astrápion
of the Lightning
, παγγενέτην8
pangenétēn
father of all
, μέγιστον9
mégiston
greatest
βασιλῆα10
basilêa
king
, εὐμενέοντα11
eumenéonta
kindly
φέρειν12
phérein
to bring
γλυκερὴν13
glykerḕn
a sweet
τελευτήν14
teleutḗn
end
βιότοιο15
biótoio
of life
. 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.
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.
Interpretation
dread, heavy in wrath, the invincible holy god, Zeus of the Lightning, father of all, greatest king: I call him to bring, in his kindness, a sweet end to life.
The whole hymn is one sentence, and it asks for one thing. The god whose lightning kills in an instant is asked, kindly, for "a sweet end of life." The same request closes many hymns in this book, Pan's (11) and Kronos' (13) before this one and Proteus' (25) soon after: the worshippers ask the gods for a good death as well as a good life.
21.1
The Orphic Hymns 21.1 · Airy clouds, nurses of the crops
The Clouds are called as goddesses: wanderers of the sky, driven by the winds, full of thunder and fire.
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Of the Clouds. Incense: myrrh. Airy clouds, nurses of the crops, wanderers of the sky, rain-bearing, driven by the winds across the world, thundering, fiery, loud-roaring, on watery paths,