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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 34, lines 4–6 · Slayer of Python, Delphic seer
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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Γρυνεῖε1
Gryneîe
Gryneianof Gryneion
, Σμινθεῦ2
Smintheû
Smintheusof the mouse
, Πυθοκτόνε3
Pythoktóne
slayer of Python
, Δελφικέ4
Delphiké
Delphic
μάντι5
mánti
seer
, ἄγριε6
ágrie
wild
, φωσφόρε7
phōsphóre
light-bringing
δαῖμον8
daîmon
god
, ἐράσμιε9
erásmie
lovely
, κύδιμε10
kýdime
glorious
κοῦρε11
koûre
youth
, κρουσιλύρη12
krousilýrē
lyre-striker
, χοροποιός13
choropoiós
leader of the dance
, ἑκηβόλε14
hekēbóle
far-shooterwho hits his mark
, τοξοβέλεμνε15
toxobélemne
archer
, Gryneian, Smintheus, slayer of Python, Delphic seer, wild, light-bringing god, lovely, glorious youth, lyre-striker, leader of the dance, far-shooter, archer,
Gryneian, Smintheus, slayer of Python, Delphic seer, wild, light-bringing god, lovely, glorious youth, lyre-striker, leader of the dance, far-shooter, archer,
Interpretation
god of Gryneion, Smintheus, slayer of Python, Delphic seer, wild, light-bringing god, lovely and glorious youth, striker of the lyre, leader of the dance, far-shooting archer,
Apollo's titles keep pointing to his shrines. Gryneion was a sanctuary with an oracle of Apollo on the Aeolian coast of Asia Minor, not far from where these hymns were most likely composed. Smintheus is the name the priest Chryses uses at the start of the Iliad, when he prays to Apollo to punish the Greeks and the god sends plague with his arrows; the ancients explained it from a town in the Troad or from sminthos, a mouse. "Slayer of Python" is the founding story of Delphi: Apollo killed the serpent that guarded the place and made it his oracle.
34.7
The Orphic Hymns 34.7 · Lord of Delos and of the oracles
The list reaches his oracles at Didyma and Patara and his birthplace on Delos, and ends with his all-seeing eye.
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Branchian and Didymean, Patarean, Loxias, holy, Delian lord, with the all-seeing eye that gives mortals light, golden-haired, revealing pure sayings and oracles;