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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 28, lines 8–10 · The dread weapon of the tongue
28.8
The Orphic Hymns 28.8 · The dread weapon of the tongue
Hermes of Korykos, the helper in every kind of work, a friend in hard times, and the god of persuasive speech.
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Κωρυκιῶτα1
Kōrykiôta
Korykianof Korykos
, μάκαρ2
mákar
blessed
, ἐριούνιε3
erioúnie
bringer of luck
, ποικιλόμυθε4
poikilómythe
of varied speech
, ἐπαρωγέ5
eparōgé
helper
ἐργασίαις6
ergasíais
in worklabors, trades
, φίλε7
phíle
friend
θνητοῖς8
thnētoîs
to mortals
ἐν9
en
in
ἀνάγκαις10
anánkais
their neednecessities
, δεινὸν11
deinòn
dread
ὅπλον12
hóplon
weapon
γλώσσης13
glṓssēs
of the tongue
, τὸ14
tò
—
σεβάσμιον15
sebásmion
revered
ἀνθρώποισι16
anthrṓpoisi
by men
; Korykian, blessed, bringer of luck, of varied speech, helper in work, friend to mortals in their need, dread weapon of the tongue, revered by men;
Korykian, blessed, bringer of luck, of varied speech, helper in work, friend to mortals in their need, dread weapon of the tongue, revered by men;
Interpretation
god of Korykos, blessed, bringer of luck, of varied speech, helper in our work, friend to mortals in their need, dread weapon of the tongue, revered by men;
Hermes is the god of words, "the dread weapon of the tongue." The people of Asia Minor knew him that way. In the Acts of the Apostles, when Paul heals a lame man at Lystra, the crowd takes Paul and Barnabas for gods and calls Paul Hermes "because he was the chief speaker." Korykos was the name of more than one place, and which one this title means is uncertain; eriounios, Homer's word for Hermes, was already debated by ancient scholars and is usually taken as "luck-bringing."
28.11
The Orphic Hymns 28.11 · A good end of life
The prayer: a good end to life, grace in speaking, and memory.
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Hear me as I pray, granting a good end of life in my labors, with the charms of speech and with memory.