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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 35, lines 1–2 · Dark-robed Leto, mother of twins
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Hymn 35 · Leto
ΛΗΤΟΥΣ, θυμίαμα σμύρναν
Of Leto · incense: myrrh
35.1
The Orphic Hymns 35.1 · Dark-robed Leto, mother of twins
The hymn to Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, sung over myrrh.
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ΛΗΤΟΥΣ1
Lētoûs
Of Leto
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
σμύρναν3
smýrnan
myrrh
. κυανόπεπλε4
kyanópeple
Dark-robeddark-veiled
Λητοῖ5
Lētoî
Leto
, θεὰ6
theà
goddess
διδυματόκε7
didymatóke
mother of twinstwin-bearing
, σεμνή8
semnḗ
revered
, Κοιαντίς9
Koiantís
daughter of Koios
, μεγάθυμε10
megáthyme
great-hearted
, πολυλλίστη11
polyllístē
much-entreatedsought with many prayers
βασίλεια12
basíleia
queen
, Of Leto. Incense: myrrh. Dark-robed Leto, goddess, mother of twins, revered, daughter of Koios, great-hearted, much-entreated queen,
Of Leto. Incense: myrrh. Dark-robed Leto, goddess, mother of twins, revered, daughter of Koios, great-hearted, much-entreated queen,
Interpretation
Of Leto. Incense: myrrh. Dark-robed Leto, goddess, mother of twins, revered, daughter of Koios, great-hearted, queen to whom many prayers are made,
Leto is the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and her hymn stands between theirs. Hesiod makes her the daughter of the Titans Koios and Phoibe and calls her "dark-robed," the very epithet she has here, and "gentle from the beginning." Her worship was strong in Asia Minor: in Lycia, on its south coast, her sanctuary near Xanthos, the Letoon, was the religious center of the whole region.
35.3
The Orphic Hymns 35.3 · Her on Ortygia, him on Delos
She bore the twins, Artemis on Ortygia and Apollo on rocky Delos.
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who received from Zeus a fruitful labor of fine children, who bore Phoebus and Artemis the archer, her on Ortygia, and him on rocky Delos;