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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 43, lines 10–11 · Come to the rites of the new initiates
43.10
The Orphic Hymns 43.10 · Come to the rites of the new initiates
The prayer: come to the rites of the newly initiated, and bring each season in its time, with its fruit.
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ἔλθετʼ1
élthet’
come
ἐπʼ2
ep’
to
ὁσίας3
hosías
the holy
τελετὰς4
teletàs
rites
εὐφήμους5
euphḗmous
of good omenof good words
νεομύστοις6
neomýstois
for the new initiates
, ἐπάγουσαι7
epágousai
bringing on
ἀμεμφῶς8
amemphôs
without fault
, εὐκάρπους9
eukárpous
the fruitful
γενέσεις10
genéseis
births
καιρῶν11
kairôn
of the seasonsof the right times
. come to the holy rites of good omen for the new initiates, bringing on, without fault, the fruitful births of the seasons.
come to the holy rites of good omen for the new initiates, bringing on, without fault, the fruitful births of the seasons.
Interpretation
come to the holy rites of good omen for the newly initiated, and bring on without fault the fruitful births of the seasons.
This is the only hymn in this group that names the neomystai, the "newly initiated", people who have just been admitted to the rites. The rites are euphēmoi, literally "of good words": at a sacrifice the call was euphēmeite, "speak only good words", which in practice meant silence. In Aristophanes' Frogs the chorus of initiates opens its rite with the same demand. The Seasons are asked to bring their gifts "without fault", each at its right time.
44.1
The Orphic Hymns 44.1 · Semele, mother of Dionysus
Semele, daughter of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, and mother of Dionysus.
· · ·
Of Semele. Incense: storax. I call the daughter of Cadmus, queen of all, fair Semele, with lovely locks, deep-bosomed, mother of thyrsus-bearing Dionysus, of many joys,