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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 37, lines 1–3 · Titans, ancestors of our fathers
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Hymn 37 · The Titans
ΤΙΤΑΝΩΝ, θυμίαμα λίβανον
Of the Titans · incense: frankincense
37.1
The Orphic Hymns 37.1 · Titans, ancestors of our fathers
The hymn to the Titans, sung over frankincense. They are the children of Earth and Sky, imprisoned deep beneath the earth in Tartarus.
· · ·
ΤΙΤΑΝΩΝ1
Titánōn
Of the Titans
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
λίβανον3
líbanon
frankincense
. Τιτῆνες4
Titênes
Titans
, ἀγλαὰ5
aglaà
splendid
τέκνα6
tékna
children
Γαίης7
Gaíēs
of Earth
τε8
te
—
καὶ9
kaì
and
Οὐρανοῦ10
Ouranoû
of SkyOuranos
, πρόγονοι11
prógonoi
ancestorsforefathers
ἡμετέρων12
hēmetérōn
of our
πατέρων13
patérōn
fathers
, ἐνναίοντες14
ennaíontes
dwelling
ὑπένερθεν15
hypénerthen
beneath
γαίης16
gaíēs
the earth
οἴκοις17
oíkois
in homes
Ταρταρίοισι18
Tartaríoisi
of Tartarus
, μυχῷ19
mychôi
in the depthsthe inmost recess
χθονὸς20
chthonòs
of the earth
, Of the Titans. Incense: frankincense. Titans, splendid children of Earth and of Sky, ancestors of our fathers, dwelling beneath the earth in homes of Tartarus, in the depths of the earth,
Of the Titans. Incense: frankincense. Titans, splendid children of Earth and of Sky, ancestors of our fathers, dwelling beneath the earth in homes of Tartarus, in the depths of the earth,
Interpretation
Of the Titans. Incense: frankincense. Titans, splendid children of Earth and Sky, ancestors of our fathers, who dwell beneath the earth in the halls of Tartarus, in the depths of the ground,
The Titans were the older gods, children of Earth and Sky, whom Zeus and the Olympians defeated and shut away in Tartarus, the pit beneath the underworld; Hesiod tells of their war and their prison in the Theogony. Here they are called "ancestors of our fathers." The phrase most likely refers to an Orphic story, reported by later writers, in which mortals were formed from the remains of the Titans after Zeus struck them with lightning for killing the child Dionysus.
37.4
The Orphic Hymns 37.4 · Springs of every generation
Every living thing descends from the Titans, mortals and animals alike.
· · ·
beginnings and springs of all toiling mortals, of sea creatures, of birds, and of those who dwell on the earth; for from you every generation comes throughout the world.