⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 35, lines 3–5 · Her on Ortygia, him on Delos
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.
· · ·
λαχοῦσα1
lachoûsa
who receivedwho got by lot
Ζηνὸς2
Zēnòs
from Zeus
γονίμην3
gonímēn
a fruitful
ὠδῖνα4
ōdîna
labor
εὔτεκνον5
eúteknon
of fine childrenblest with children
, γειναμένη6
geinaménē
who bore
Φοῖβόν7
Phoîbón
Phoebus
τε8
te
—
καὶ9
kaì
and
Ἄρτεμιν10
Ártemin
Artemis
ἰοχέαιραν11
iochéairan
the archerarrow-pourer
, τὴν12
tḕn
her
μὲν13
mèn
—
ἐν14
en
on
Ὀρτυγίῃ15
Ortygíēi
OrtygiaQuail Island
, δὲ16
dè
and
τὸν17
tòn
him
ἐνὶ18
enì
on
κραναῇ19
kranaêi
rocky
Δήλῳ20
Dḗlōi
Delos
; 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;
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;
Interpretation
you who received from Zeus a fruitful labor, rich in fine children, and bore Phoebus and Artemis the archer, her on Ortygia and him on rocky Delos;
The last line is borrowed whole from the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, which says the same thing in the same words: Leto bore Artemis on Ortygia and Apollo on rocky Delos. Ortygia, "Quail Island," was an old name for Delos itself or for its neighbor Rheneia, and other places claimed it too, so the line may name one birthplace or two. Delos, a small bare rock among the Cyclades, became one of the holiest places in Greece because of this birth.
35.6
The Orphic Hymns 35.6 · Come to the rite for all the gods
The prayer: come kindly to the rite and bring it a sweet end.
· · ·
Hear, goddess, lady, and with a gracious heart come to the rite for all the gods, bringing a sweet end.