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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 30, lines 1–2 · First-born, thrice-born
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Hymn 30 · Dionysus
ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ, θυμίαμα στύρακα
Of Dionysus · incense: storax
30.1
The Orphic Hymns 30.1 · First-born, thrice-born
The hymn to Dionysus, sung over storax, opens with a list of his titles: first-born, of double nature, born three times.
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ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ1
Dionýsou
Of Dionysus
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
στύρακα3
stýraka
storax
. Κικλήσκω4
Kiklḗskō
I call
Διόνυσον5
Diónyson
Dionysus
, ἐρίβρομον6
eríbromon
loud-roaringloud-shouting
, εὐαστῆρα7
euastêra
revelerwho cries euoi
, πρωτόγονον8
prōtógonon
first-born
, διφυῆ9
diphyê
of double nature
, τρίγονον10
trígonon
thrice-born
, Βακχεῖον11
Bakcheîon
Bacchic
ἄνακτα12
ánakta
lord
, Of Dionysus. Incense: storax. I call Dionysus, loud-roaring, reveler, first-born, of double nature, thrice-born, Bacchic lord,
Of Dionysus. Incense: storax. I call Dionysus, loud-roaring, reveler, first-born, of double nature, thrice-born, Bacchic lord,
Interpretation
Of Dionysus. Incense: storax. I call Dionysus, the loud-roaring reveler, first-born, of double nature, born three times, the Bacchic lord,
The first titles sketch an Orphic life of Dionysus. Prōtogonos, "first-born," is the name of the first god of the Orphic creation story, who has a hymn of his own (6), and giving it to Dionysus most likely makes him one with that god. He is also trigonos, "thrice-born." Everyone knew of two births, from his mortal mother Semele and then from the thigh of Zeus; Orphic tradition added one more, most likely the birth from Persephone that the previous hymn has just mentioned.
30.3
The Orphic Hymns 30.3 · Wild, secret, two-horned
More titles: wild and secret, horned and bull-faced, wreathed in ivy and grapes, and eater of raw flesh.
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wild, unspeakable, secret, two-horned, two-formed, ivy-covered, bull-faced, warlike, Bacchic, holy, eater of raw flesh, triennial, grape-bearing, robed in young shoots.