⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 24, lines 4–5 · Riding the Tritons
24.4
The Orphic Hymns 24.4 · Riding the Tritons
The Nereids ride on the backs of the Tritons and other sea creatures.
· · ·
ἀγαλλόμεναι1
agallómenai
delighting
ἐπʼ2
ep’
on
ὄχοισιν3
óchoisin
the chariots
Τριτώνων4
Tritṓnōn
of the Tritons
, περὶ5
perì
on
the
νῶτα6
nôta
backs
of
θηροτύποις7
thērotýpois
beast-shaped
μορφαῖς8
morphaîs
forms
, ὧν9
hôn
whose
σώματα10
sṓmata
bodies
πόντος11
póntos
the sea
βόσκει12
bóskei
feeds
; delighting on the chariots of the Tritons, on the backs of beast-shaped forms, whose bodies the sea feeds;
delighting on the chariots of the Tritons, on the backs of beast-shaped forms, whose bodies the sea feeds;
Interpretation
riding with delight on the chariots of the Tritons, on their backs, creatures of beastlike shape whose bodies the sea feeds;
People of the hymns' time knew this picture well from art. Sea nymphs riding on the backs of Tritons, sea gods with fish tails, and of sea monsters with the fore-parts of horses, bulls or lions were a favorite subject of Hellenistic and Roman mosaics and carved stone coffins. Thērotypos means "in the form of a beast" (from typos, a stamp or figure); the creatures are part fish and part land animal.
24.6
The Orphic Hymns 24.6 · Dolphins, swimmers and leapers
The hymn also calls the other creatures of the sea, the swimmers and leapers, and the dolphins.
· · ·
and others who dwell in the deep, the swell of Triton, swimmers, leapers, wheeling around the wave, sea-roaming dolphins, sea-dashing, dark-gleaming;