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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 28, lines 1–4 · Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus
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Hymn 28 · Hermes
ΕΡΜΟΥ, θυμίαμα λίβανον
Of Hermes · incense: frankincense
28.1
The Orphic Hymns 28.1 · Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus
The hymn to Hermes, sung over frankincense, begins with his old titles from Homer: messenger of Zeus, son of Maia, slayer of Argus.
· · ·
ΕΡΜΟΥ1
Hermoû
Of Hermes
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
λίβανον3
líbanon
frankincense
. Κλῦθί4
Klŷthí
Hear
μευ5
meu
me
, Ἑρμεία6
Hermeía
Hermes
, ἄγγελε7
ángele
messenger
Διὸς8
Diòs
of Zeus
, υἱέ9
hyié
son
Μαιάδος10
Maiádos
of Maia
, ἔχων11
échōn
with
παγκρατὲς12
pankratès
an all-powerful
ἦτορ13
êtor
heart
, ἐναγώνιε14
enagṓnie
lord of contestsof the games
, κοίρανε15
koírane
ruler
θνητῶν16
thnētôn
of mortals
, εὖφρον17
eûphron
cheerful
, ποικιλόβουλε18
poikilóboule
wilyof changeful counsel
, διάκτορος19
diáktoros
messengerminister
, Ἀργειφόντα20
Argeiphónta
slayer of Argus
, πτηνοπέδιλε21
ptēnopédile
with winged sandals
, φίλανδρε22
phílandre
friend of men
, προφῆτα23
prophêta
prophetone who speaks for a god
λόγου24
lógou
of speech
θνητοῖσι25
thnētoîsi
to mortals
, Of Hermes. Incense: frankincense. Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus, son of Maia, with an all-powerful heart, lord of contests, ruler of mortals, cheerful, wily, messenger, slayer of Argus, with winged sandals, friend of men, prophet of speech to mortals,
Of Hermes. Incense: frankincense. Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus, son of Maia, with an all-powerful heart, lord of contests, ruler of mortals, cheerful, wily, messenger, slayer of Argus, with winged sandals, friend of men, prophet of speech to mortals,
Interpretation
Of Hermes. Incense: frankincense. Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus, son of Maia, with your all-powerful heart, lord of contests, ruler of mortals, cheerful and wily, the messenger who slew Argus, wearing winged sandals, friend of men, prophet of speech to mortals,
Most of these titles come from Homer, where Hermes is the messenger of Zeus and Argeiphontēs, a name the Greeks understood as "slayer of Argus," the many-eyed watchman whom Hera set to guard Io and whom Hermes killed. In the Odyssey he ties on golden sandals that carry him over sea and land; Greek painters gave them wings, and the hymn calls him ptēnopedilos, "winged-sandaled." He is also enagōnios, "of the contests," the god who watched over athletes and their games.
28.5
The Orphic Hymns 28.5 · Interpreter of all things
Hermes the trickster and the trader, the interpreter, who holds the herald's staff of peace.
· · ·
you who delight in athletic exercise and in crafty tricks, wearer of the headband, interpreter of all things, lord of gainful trade, freeing from care, you who hold in your hands the blameless weapon of peace,