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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 5, lines 4–6 · Best element of the world
5.4
The Orphic Hymns 5.4 · Best element of the world
Aether is named the finest of the elements the world is made of. The prayer asks it to stay mild and calm.
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ὑψιφανὴς1
hypsiphanḕs
high-shiningappearing on high
Αἰθέρ2
Aithér
Aether
, ἄριστον3
áriston
the best
στοιχεῖον4
stoicheîon
element
κόσμου5
kósmou
of the world
, ὦ6
ô
O
ἀγλαὸν7
aglaòn
bright
βλάστημα8
blástēma
offspringsprout
, σελασφόρον9
selasphóron
bringer of light
, ἀστεροφεγγές10
asterophengés
starlit
, κικλήσκων11
kiklḗskōn
calling on you
, λίτομαί12
lítomaí
I pray
σε13
se
you
εἶναι14
eînai
to be
κεκραμένον15
kekraménon
temperedmixed
and
εὔδιον16
eúdion
calm
. high-shining Aether, the best element of the world, O bright offspring, bringer of light, starlit, calling on you, I pray you to be tempered and calm.
high-shining Aether, the best element of the world, O bright offspring, bringer of light, starlit, calling on you, I pray you to be tempered and calm.
Interpretation
high-shining Aether, best element of the world, bright offspring, bringer of light, starlit: I call on you and pray you to be tempered and calm.
The word for element, stoicheion, also meant a letter of the alphabet, and Greek thinkers spoke of the elements of the world much as a teacher speaks of the letters that make up words. The request at the end is about the weather. Kekramenon, "tempered," is the verb for mixing wine with water, and eudios describes a calm, clear day. Aether breathes fire, and the prayer asks for it mixed and mild.
6.1
The Orphic Hymns 6.1 · Egg-born, with golden wings
Protogonos, "the First-born," is the first god in the Orphic poems about the beginning of the world. He hatched from an egg, has golden wings, and is the origin of gods and men.
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Of Protogonos. Incense: myrrh. I call Protogonos, of double nature, great, roaming the aether, born from an egg, glorying in golden wings, bellowing like a bull, origin of the blessed and of mortal men,