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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 46, lines 6–8 · Raised by Persephone
46.6
The Orphic Hymns 46.6 · Raised by Persephone
By Zeus's plan the child was taken to Persephone and raised by her, dear to the gods, and the prayer asks him to come and accept the offerings.
· · ·
καὶ1
kaì
and
βουλῇσι2
boulêisi
by the plans
Διὸς3
Diòs
of Zeus
ἀχθεὶς4
achtheìs
brought
πρὸς5
pròs
to
ἀγαυὴν6
agauḕn
noble
Φερσεφόνειαν7
Phersephóneian
Persephone
, ἐξετράφης8
exetráphēs
you were raised
, φίλος9
phílos
dear
ἀθανάτοισι10
athanátoisi
to the immortal
θεοῖσιν11
theoîsin
gods
. ἐλθέ12
elthé
Come
εὔφρων13
eúphrōn
kindly
μάκαρ14
mákar
blessed one
, δʼ15
d’
and
δέξαι16
déxai
receive
κεχαρισμένα17
kecharisména
the welcomemade pleasing
ἱερὰ18
hierà
offerings
. and by the plans of Zeus brought to noble Persephone, you were raised, dear to the immortal gods. Come kindly, blessed one, and receive the welcome offerings.
and by the plans of Zeus brought to noble Persephone, you were raised, dear to the immortal gods. Come kindly, blessed one, and receive the welcome offerings.
Interpretation
and by the plans of Zeus you were brought to noble Persephone and raised there, dear to the immortal gods. Come kindly, blessed one, and receive the welcome offerings.
In the Orphic stories Dionysus is Persephone's own son by Zeus; the hymn to Dionysus earlier in the book (30) calls him "born of Zeus and Persephone in an unspeakable union". Here she is the one who raises him. The manuscripts make the line darker: where Abel prints "dear to the immortal gods", they read "a terror to the immortal gods". The closing words, "and receive the welcome offerings", are the same as in a line of the hymn to Persephone (29.2).
47.1
The Orphic Hymns 47.1 · Bacchus of the pillar
"Perikionios", "he around the pillar", was a name of Dionysus at Thebes. When lightning struck the house of Cadmus and the earth shook, the god wound himself around it and held it firm.
· · ·
Of Perikionios. Incense: aromatics. I call Bacchus of the pillar, giver of wine, who, winding on every side around the house of Cadmus, stopped the mighty tremors of the earth, driving them away,