⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 38, lines 14–17 · Nurturers and destroyers
38.14
The Orphic Hymns 38.14 · Nurturers and destroyers
When they are angry they destroy a man's living, his property and even his life, and the sea groans.
· · ·
ἀθάνατοι1
athánatoi
Immortal
δαίμονες2
daímones
godsdaimons
, τε3
te
both
τροφέες4
trophées
nurturersfeeders
καὶ5
kaì
and
αὖτʼ6
aût’
also
ὀλετῆρες7
oletêres
destroyers
, ἡνίκʼ8
hēník’
whenever
ἂν9
àn
—
ὁρμαίνητε10
hormaínēte
you rush out
χολούμενοι11
choloúmenoi
in angerangered
ἀνθρώποισιν12
anthrṓpoisin
at men
, ὀλλύντες13
ollýntes
destroying
βίοτον14
bíoton
their living
καὶ15
kaì
and
κτήματα16
ktḗmata
possessions
, ἠδὲ17
ēdè
and
καὶ18
kaì
even
πιμπράντες19
pimprántes
burning
αὐτοὺς20
autoùs
the people themselves
; δὲ21
dè
and
μέγας22
mégas
the great
πόντος23
póntos
sea
στοναχεῖ24
stonacheî
groans
, βαθυδίνης25
bathydínēs
deep-eddying
, Immortal gods, both nurturers and also destroyers, whenever you rush out in anger at men, destroying their living and possessions, and even burning the people themselves; and the great sea groans, deep-eddying,
Immortal gods, both nurturers and also destroyers, whenever you rush out in anger at men, destroying their living and possessions, and even burning the people themselves; and the great sea groans, deep-eddying,
Interpretation
Immortal gods, both nurturers and destroyers, whenever you rush out in anger against men, destroying their living and their possessions and even burning the people themselves, the great deep-eddying sea groans,
The same powers that make flowers bloom can destroy. When the Kouretes are angry they wreck a household's living and its property and even burn the people themselves, most likely with lightning, and the sea groans under them. The hymns keep returning to this double nature: Earth gives and destroys (26), Persephone nourishes and kills (29), and here the Kouretes are "nurturers and destroyers" at once.
38.18
The Orphic Hymns 38.18 · High-topped trees fall
Trees are torn from their roots, and the sky echoes with the rush of leaves.
· · ·
and high-topped trees fall to the ground from their roots, and the echo in the sky resounds with the rushing of leaves.