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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 32, lines 10–11 · Born male and female
32.10
The Orphic Hymns 32.10 · Born male and female
Athena is both male and female, the mother of war, and Metis, cunning intelligence itself.
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ἔφυς1
éphys
you were born
μὲν2
mèn
both
ἄρσην3
ársēn
male
καὶ4
kaì
and
θῆλυς5
thêlys
female
, πολεμητόκε6
polemētóke
mother of war
, μῆτι7
mêti
Metiscunning intelligence
, αἰολόμορφε8
aiolómorphe
shimmering in form
, δράκαινα9
drákaina
she-serpent
, φιλένθεος10
philéntheos
inspiredfilled with the god
, ἀγλαότιμε11
aglaótime
splendidly honored
, you were born both male and female, mother of war, Metis, shimmering in form, she-serpent, inspired, splendidly honored,
you were born both male and female, mother of war, Metis, shimmering in form, she-serpent, inspired, splendidly honored,
Interpretation
you were born both male and female, mother of war, Metis, shimmering in form, she-serpent, inspired, splendidly honored,
"You were born both male and female." Athena dressed as a warrior, refused marriage and sprang from her father's head, and the hymn says plainly that she belongs to both sexes. The next title points to how she was born. Mētis means cunning intelligence, and in Hesiod Metis is also a goddess, the first wife of Zeus; when she was pregnant with Athena, Zeus swallowed her so that her wisdom would be inside him, and the child was later born from his head. Here the daughter is called by her mother's name.
32.12
The Orphic Hymns 32.12 · Destroyer of the Giants
She destroyed the Giants of Phlegra; she drives horses, frees mortals from evil and brings victory.
· · ·
destroyer of the Giants of Phlegra, driver of horses, Tritogeneia, deliverer from evils, victory-bringing goddess, bright-eyed, inventor of arts, much-entreated queen,