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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 43, lines 3–6 · Ever-blooming, circling, sweet-faced
43.3
The Orphic Hymns 43.3 · Ever-blooming, circling, sweet-faced
The Seasons as spring: meadows, flowers of every color, scented breezes. They come round forever, dressed in robes of dewy flowers.
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εἰαριναί1
eiarinaí
of spring
, λειμωνιάδες2
leimōniádes
of the meadowsmeadow-nymphs
, πολυάνθεμοι3
polyánthemoi
rich in flowers
ἁγναί4
hagnaí
pure
, παντόχροοι5
pantóchrooi
of every color
, πολύοδμοι6
polýodmoi
full of scents
ἐν7
en
in
ἀνθεμοειδέσι8
anthemoeidési
flowery
πνοιαῖς9
pnoiaîs
breezes
, ἀειθαλέες10
aeithalées
ever-bloomingevergreen
Ὧραι11
Hôrai
Seasons
, περικυκλάδες12
perikykládes
circling
, ἡδυπρόσωποι13
hēdyprósōpoi
sweet-faced
, ἑννύμεναι14
hennýmenai
wearing
δροσεροὺς15
droseroùs
dewy
πέπλους16
péplous
robes
ἀνθῶν17
anthôn
of flowers
πολυθρέπτων18
polythréptōn
that grow in plentymuch-nourished
, of spring, of the meadows, rich in flowers, pure, of every color, full of scents in flowery breezes, ever-blooming Seasons, circling, sweet-faced, wearing dewy robes of flowers that grow in plenty,
of spring, of the meadows, rich in flowers, pure, of every color, full of scents in flowery breezes, ever-blooming Seasons, circling, sweet-faced, wearing dewy robes of flowers that grow in plenty,
Interpretation
goddesses of spring and of the meadows, rich in flowers, pure, of every color, full of scents on flowery breezes, ever-blooming Seasons, circling, sweet-faced, wearing dewy robes of flowers that grow in plenty,
Only one season appears in these lines, and it is spring. Hōra could mean any season of the year, but it was also the word for the best of the year, springtime: in the Odyssey an army comes on "as many as the leaves and flowers that grow in the season". The Horai of this hymn are pictured in that bloom, sweet-faced and wearing robes of dewy flowers. The word for "circling", perikyklades, keeps the rest of the year in view: they come round and pass, year after year.
43.7
The Orphic Hymns 43.7 · Playmates of Persephone
The Seasons are Persephone's playmates. Each year the Fates and the Graces bring her back up from the dead in a dance, to please Zeus and her mother Demeter.
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playmates of holy Persephone, when the Fates and the Graces lead her up to the light in circling dances, pleasing Zeus and the fruit-giving mother;