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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 32, lines 4–7 · Stinging souls with madness
32.4
The Orphic Hymns 32.4 · Stinging souls with madness
The goddess of the mountains and wild places, who loves weapons and can drive mortals mad.
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ἣ1
hḕ
you who
κατέχεις2
katécheis
dwell on
ὑψηχέας3
hypsēchéas
the high-echoingloud-ringing
ἀκρωρείας4
akrōreías
ridges
ὄχθων5
óchthōn
of the hills
ἠδʼ6
ēd’
and
σκιόεντα7
skióenta
the shadowy
ὄρεα8
órea
mountains
, τε9
te
and
τέρπεις10
térpeis
delight
σὴν11
sḕn
your
φρένα12
phréna
heart
νάπῃσί13
nápēisí
in the glens
, ὁπλοχαρής14
hoplocharḗs
delighting in arms
, οἰστροῦσα15
oistroûsa
stinginggoading like a gadfly
ψυχὰς16
psychàs
the souls
βροτῶν17
brotôn
of mortals
μανίῃσι18
maníēisi
with madness
, γυμνάζουσα19
gymnázousa
athleticexercising
κόρη20
kórē
maiden
, ἔχουσα21
échousa
with
φρικώδεα22
phrikṓdea
an awe-inspiringcausing shudders
θυμὸν23
thymòn
spirit
, you who dwell on the high-echoing ridges of the hills and the shadowy mountains, and delight your heart in the glens, delighting in arms, stinging the souls of mortals with madness, athletic maiden, with an awe-inspiring spirit,
you who dwell on the high-echoing ridges of the hills and the shadowy mountains, and delight your heart in the glens, delighting in arms, stinging the souls of mortals with madness, athletic maiden, with an awe-inspiring spirit,
Interpretation
you who dwell on the high-echoing ridges of the hills and on the shadowy mountains, and delight your heart in the glens; you who love arms, stinging the souls of mortals with madness, athletic maiden with a spirit that makes men shudder,
The goddess of the city is also at home in the wild, on echoing ridges, shadowy mountains and wooded glens. The strangest title is oistrousa, "stinging" mortal souls with madness. The verb comes from oistros, the gadfly whose sting drives cattle wild, and Plato uses it in the Phaedrus for the stung and aching soul of the lover as its wings begin to grow. Athena is usually the goddess of clear thinking, yet in Sophocles' Ajax it is she who drives the hero mad.
32.8
The Orphic Hymns 32.8 · Frenzy for the wicked, wisdom for the good
Gorgon-slayer, virgin, mother of the arts: she brings frenzy to the wicked and wisdom to the good.
· · ·
Gorgon-slayer, shunning marriage, mother of the arts, rich in blessings, rouser, sender of frenzy to the wicked, but wisdom to the good;