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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 34, lines 1–3 · Come, blessed Paian, god of the golden lyre
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Hymn 34 · Apollo
ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣ, θυμίαμα μάνναν
Of Apollo · incense: frankincense powder
34.1
The Orphic Hymns 34.1 · Come, blessed Paian, god of the golden lyre
The hymn to Apollo, sung over frankincense powder. It opens with a long run of his titles, many of them taken from the places where he was worshipped, from Delphi to Memphis in Egypt.
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ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣ1
Apóllōnos
Of Apollo
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
μάνναν3
mánnan
frankincense powder
. Ἐλθέ4
Elthé
Come
μάκαρ5
mákar
blessed one
, Παιάν6
Paián
Paianthe Healer
, Τιτυοκτόνε7
Tityoktóne
slayer of Tityos
, Φοῖβε8
Phoîbe
Phoebusthe Bright One
, Λυκωρεῦ9
Lykōreû
Lykoreusof Lykoreia
, Μεμφῖτʼ10
Memphît’
Memphiteof Memphis
, ἀγλαότιμος11
aglaótimos
splendidly honored
, ἰήιος12
iḗios
hailed with iē
, ὀλβιοδῶτα13
olbiodôta
giver of blessings
, χρυσολύρη14
chrysolýrē
golden-lyred
, σπερμεῖος15
spermeîos
lord of seeds
, ἀρότριε16
arótrie
god of the plough
, Πύθιε17
Pýthie
Pythian
, Τιτάν18
Titán
Titan
, Of Apollo. Incense: frankincense powder. Come, blessed one, Paian, slayer of Tityos, Phoebus, Lykoreus, Memphite, splendidly honored, hailed with iē, giver of blessings, golden-lyred, lord of seeds, god of the plough, Pythian, Titan,
Of Apollo. Incense: frankincense powder. Come, blessed one, Paian, slayer of Tityos, Phoebus, Lykoreus, Memphite, splendidly honored, hailed with iē, giver of blessings, golden-lyred, lord of seeds, god of the plough, Pythian, Titan,
Interpretation
Of Apollo. Incense: frankincense powder. Come, blessed one, Paian, slayer of Tityos, Phoebus, Lykoreus, god of Memphis, splendidly honored, hailed with the cry iē, giver of blessings, golden-lyred, lord of seeds and of the plough, Pythian, Titan,
The hymn opens with a stream of titles, many of them names of places where Apollo was worshipped. Paian was the healer of the gods in Homer, and the name passed to Apollo, along with the paean, the song of healing and thanksgiving sung to him. "Slayer of Tityos" recalls the giant who assaulted Apollo's mother Leto and was killed for it; in the Odyssey Tityos lies stretched out in the underworld while vultures tear at his liver. Two titles are unexpected for this god, "lord of seeds" and "god of the plough": in this hymn Apollo cares for the crops as well as for music and prophecy.
34.4
The Orphic Hymns 34.4 · Slayer of Python, Delphic seer
More titles: his shrines in Asia Minor and at Delphi, his music, and his bow.
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Gryneian, Smintheus, slayer of Python, Delphic seer, wild, light-bringing god, lovely, glorious youth, lyre-striker, leader of the dance, far-shooter, archer,