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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 23, lines 4–6 · Shaker of the earth's foundation
23.4
The Orphic Hymns 23.4 · Shaker of the earth's foundation
Nereus is the floor of the sea and the boundary of the land, and he shakes the earth when he shuts the winds up underground.
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πυθμὴν1
pythmḕn
floorbottom
μὲν2
mèn
—
πόντου3
póntou
of the sea
, πέρας4
péras
boundary
γαίης5
gaíēs
of the earth
, ἀρχὴ6
archḕ
beginning
ἁπάντων7
hapántōn
of all things
, ὃς8
hòs
you who
κλονέεις9
klonéeis
shake
the
ἱερὸν10
hieròn
holy
βάθρον11
báthron
foundationbase
Δηοῦς12
Dēoûs
of Deo
, ἡνίκα13
hēníka
when
ἀποκλείεις14
apokleíeis
you shut in
πνοιὰς15
pnoiàs
the winds
ἐλαυνομένας16
elaunoménas
driven
ἐν17
en
in
the
μυχίοις18
mychíois
inmost
κευθμῶσιν19
keuthmôsin
hollowshiding places
; floor of the sea, boundary of the earth, beginning of all things, you who shake the holy foundation of Deo, when you shut in the winds driven in the inmost hollows;
floor of the sea, boundary of the earth, beginning of all things, you who shake the holy foundation of Deo, when you shut in the winds driven in the inmost hollows;
Interpretation
floor of the sea, boundary of the earth, beginning of all things; you who shake the holy foundation of Deo when you shut in the winds that are driven into the inmost hollows;
Deo is a name of Demeter, and her "holy foundation" is the earth itself. The hymn explains earthquakes the way Aristotle did in his Meteorology: wind driven into the hollows under the ground is trapped there and shakes the land as it struggles to get out. Nereus, who holds the roots of the sea, is the one who shuts the winds in, and so the god of the sea can shake the earth.
23.7
The Orphic Hymns 23.7 · Turn earthquakes away
The prayer to Nereus: keep earthquakes away, and send the initiates prosperity, peace and health.
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But, blessed one, turn away earthquakes, and send to the initiates prosperity and peace and gentle-handed health.