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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 27, lines 1–3 · Mother of the gods, come to our prayers
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Hymn 27 · The Mother of the Gods
ΜΗΤΡΟΣ ΘΕΩΝ, θυμίαμα ποικίλα
Of the Mother of the Gods · incense: various
27.1
The Orphic Hymns 27.1 · Mother of the gods, come to our prayers
The hymn to the Mother of the Gods, the great goddess of Phrygia whom the Greeks called Rhea. She is asked to come in her chariot drawn by lions.
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ΜΗΤΡΟΣ1
Mētrós
Of the Mother
ΘΕΩΝ2
theôn
of the Gods
. θυμίαμα3
thymíama
Incense
ποικίλα4
poikíla
variousmany-colored
. μῆτερ5
mêter
Mother
Ἀθανάτων6
Athanátōn
of the immortal
θεῶν7
theôn
gods
, θεότιμε8
theótime
honored by the gods
, τροφὲ9
trophè
nurse
πάντων10
pántōn
of all
, μόλοις11
mólois
may you come
τῇδε12
têide
here
, θεά13
theá
goddess
κράντειρα14
kránteira
who fulfillsshe who accomplishes
, πότνιʼ15
pótni’
lady
, ἐπʼ16
ep’
at the
εὐχαῖς17
euchaîs
prayers
σέο18
séo
to you
, ζεύξασα19
zeúxasa
having yoked
the
ταχύδρομον20
tachýdromon
swift-running
ἅρμα21
hárma
chariot
ταυροφόνων22
taurophónōn
of bull-slaying
λεόντων23
leóntōn
lions
, Of the Mother of the Gods. Incense: various. Mother of the immortal gods, honored by the gods, nurse of all, may you come here, goddess who fulfills, lady, at the prayers to you, having yoked the swift-running chariot of bull-slaying lions,
Of the Mother of the Gods. Incense: various. Mother of the immortal gods, honored by the gods, nurse of all, may you come here, goddess who fulfills, lady, at the prayers to you, having yoked the swift-running chariot of bull-slaying lions,
Interpretation
Of the Mother of the Gods. Incense: various kinds. Mother of the immortal gods, honored by the gods, nurse of all, may you come here, goddess who brings things to pass, lady, to the prayers we make to you, with your swift chariot yoked to bull-slaying lions,
The Mother of the Gods was the great goddess of Phrygia in Asia Minor, often called Kybele, and the Greeks identified her with Rhea, the mother of Zeus. Her images show her enthroned between lions or riding in a chariot that lions pull, and the hymn calls for that chariot. Its lions are "bull-slaying," the strongest of wild animals, and she drives them like a team of horses.
27.4
The Orphic Hymns 27.4 · The throne at the center of the world
She holds the scepter of the sky and sits at the center of the world, because the earth and its food are hers.
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scepter-holder of the famous heavens, many-named, revered, you who hold the middle throne of the world, because you yourself hold the earth, providing gentle nourishment to mortals.