⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 40, lines 8–11 · Sharing a hearth with Bromios
40.8
The Orphic Hymns 40.8 · Sharing a hearth with Bromios
Demeter's gifts: the plough, the good life that grows out of the soil, and the harvest with its sickles. She also shares a hearth with Bromios, that is Dionysus.
· · ·
πρώτη1
prṓtē
the first
ὑποζεύξασα2
hypozeúxasa
who yokedyoking beneath
βοῶν3
boôn
the oxen's
τένοντα4
ténonta
necksinew
ἀροτῆρα5
arotêra
for plowing
, καὶ6
kaì
and
ἀνεῖσα7
aneîsa
sent up
βροτοῖς8
brotoîs
for mortals
ἱμερόεντα9
himeróenta
a lovely
βίον10
bíon
life
, πολύολβον11
polýolbon
rich in blessings
, αὐξιθαλές12
auxithalés
giver of growthpromoting growth
, συνέστιος13
synéstios
sharing the hearth
Βρομίοιο14
Bromíoio
of Bromiosthe Roaring One
, ἀγλαότιμος15
aglaótimos
splendidly honored
, λαμπαδόεσσʼ16
lampadóess’
torch-bearing
, ἁγνή17
hagnḗ
pure
, χαίρουσα18
chaírousa
delighting
θερείοις19
thereíois
in summer
δρεπάνοις20
drepánois
sickles
; the first who yoked the oxen's neck for plowing, and sent up for mortals a lovely life, rich in blessings, giver of growth, sharing the hearth of Bromios, splendidly honored, torch-bearing, pure, delighting in summer sickles;
the first who yoked the oxen's neck for plowing, and sent up for mortals a lovely life, rich in blessings, giver of growth, sharing the hearth of Bromios, splendidly honored, torch-bearing, pure, delighting in summer sickles;
Interpretation
the first who put the oxen's neck under the plough and sent up for mortals a lovely life, rich in blessings; you who make things grow, who share a hearth with Bromios, splendidly honored, torch-bearing, pure, delighting in the sickles of summer;
She was "the first who yoked" the ox to the plough, the gift that made farming possible. Bromios, "the roaring one", is a name of Dionysus, and here the two gods share one hearth: grain and wine, bread and the cup. Euripides puts the same pair together in the Bacchae, where the prophet Teiresias tells Pentheus that two powers are first among humans, Demeter, who feeds them with dry food, and Dionysus, who found the drink of the grape.
40.12
The Orphic Hymns 40.12 · Of the earth, and seen by all
She belongs to the earth below and to the visible world above. She loves children, and she drives a chariot drawn by serpents while her worshippers whirl around her throne.
· · ·
you are of the earth, and you are seen, and you are gentle to all; blessed in children, child-loving, revered, maiden, nurse of the young, yoking your chariot with serpent bridles, while around your throne they cry euoi in circling whirls,