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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 44, lines 1–3 · Semele, mother of Dionysus
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Hymn 44 · Semele
ΣΕΜΕΛΗΣ, θυμίαμα στύρακα
Of Semele · incense: storax
44.1
The Orphic Hymns 44.1 · Semele, mother of Dionysus
Semele, daughter of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, and mother of Dionysus.
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ΣΕΜΕΛΗΣ1
Semélēs
Of Semele
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
στύρακα3
stýraka
storax
. Κικλήσκω4
Kiklḗskō
I call
κούρην5
koúrēn
the daughter
Καδμηίδα6
Kadmēída
of Cadmus
, παμβασίλειαν7
pambasíleian
queen of all
, εὐειδῆ8
eueidê
fair
Σεμέλην9
Semélēn
Semele
, ἐρασιπλόκαμον10
erasiplókamon
with lovely locks
, βαθύκολπον11
bathýkolpon
deep-bosomedin deep-folded dress
, μητέρα12
mētéra
mother
θυρσοφόροιο13
thyrsophóroio
of thyrsus-bearing
Διωνύσου14
Diōnýsou
Dionysus
, πολυγηθοῦς15
polygēthoûs
of many joysmuch-cheering
, 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,
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,
Interpretation
Of Semele. Incense: storax. I call the daughter of Cadmus, queen of all, fair Semele with her lovely locks, deep-bosomed, mother of thyrsus-bearing Dionysus, the god of many joys,
Hesiod's Theogony already puts these two together: "Semele, daughter of Cadmus, bore him a glorious son, Dionysus of many joys, a mortal woman an immortal; and now both are gods." The hymn takes two of Hesiod's words, Kadmēis, "daughter of Cadmus", and polygēthēs, "of many joys". Cadmus was the founder of Thebes, so Semele is a Theban princess, and Thebes is the city where Dionysus was born.
44.4
The Orphic Hymns 44.4 · Birth in the lightning
Semele died as she gave birth: her child came into the world in the blaze of Zeus's lightning.
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who went through great birth pains in the fire-bearing light, giving birth by the bolts of Zeus of the lightning, son of Kronos;