⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 24, lines 6–8 · Dolphins, swimmers and leapers
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.
· · ·
θʼ1
th’
and
ἄλλοι2
álloi
others
οἳ3
hoì
who
ναίουσι4
naíousi
dwell in
βυθόν5
bythón
the deep
, the
οἶδμα6
oîdma
swell
Τριτώνιον7
Tritṓnion
of Triton
, ὑδροδρόμοι8
hydrodrómoi
swimmersrunning in water
, σκιρτηταί9
skirtētaí
leapers
, ἑλισσόμενοι10
helissómenoi
wheeling
περὶ11
perì
around
κῦμα12
kŷma
the wave
, ποντοπλάνοι13
pontoplánoi
sea-roaming
δελφῖνες14
delphînes
dolphins
, ἁλιρρόθιοι15
halirróthioi
sea-dashing
, κυαναυγεῖς16
kyanaugeîs
dark-gleaming
; and others who dwell in the deep, the swell of Triton, swimmers, leapers, wheeling around the wave, sea-roaming dolphins, sea-dashing, dark-gleaming;
and others who dwell in the deep, the swell of Triton, swimmers, leapers, wheeling around the wave, sea-roaming dolphins, sea-dashing, dark-gleaming;
Interpretation
and you others who dwell in the deep, the swell of Triton, swimmers and leapers wheeling around the waves, sea-roaming dolphins, dashing through the brine, gleaming dark blue;
The dolphins among these creatures have their own tie to Dionysus. In the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus, pirates seize the young god, thinking he is a king's son worth a ransom; on their ship he turns into a lion, and the sailors leap overboard in terror and become dolphins. In Greek stories dolphins were the friendly animals of the sea, like the dolphin in Herodotus that carried the singer Arion safe to shore (1.24).
24.9
The Orphic Hymns 24.9 · They first revealed the rites
The prayer to the Nereids: send blessings to the initiates, for they were the first to reveal the mysteries of Dionysus and Persephone.
· · ·
I call on you to send great blessing to the initiates; for you first revealed the solemn rite of holy Bacchus and pure Persephone, with Calliope, the mother, and lord Apollo.