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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 51, lines 1–3 · Daughters of Ocean
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Hymn 51 · The Nymphs
ΝΥΜΦΩΝ, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα
Of the Nymphs · incense: aromatics
51.1
The Orphic Hymns 51.1 · Daughters of Ocean
A long hymn to the Nymphs, daughters of Ocean and spirits of springs, caves, meadows and woods, who were the nurses of the infant Bacchus.
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ΝΥΜΦΩΝ1
Nymphôn
Of the Nymphs
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
ἀρώματα3
arṓmata
aromatics
. Νύμφαι4
Nýmphai
Nymphs
, θυγατέρες5
thygatéres
daughters
μεγακήτεος6
megakḗteos
of deep-gulfedwith mighty hollows
Ὠκεανοῖο7
Ōkeanoîo
Ocean
, ἔχουσαι8
échousai
who have
οἰκίʼ9
oikí’
your homes
ὑπὸ10
hypò
in
κεύθεσιν11
keúthesin
the depthshiding places
γαίης12
gaíēs
of the earth
ὑγροπόροις13
hygropórois
with watery paths
, κρυψίδομοι14
krypsídomoi
dwelling in hidden places
, τροφοί15
trophoí
nurses
Βάκχοιο16
Bákchoio
of Bacchus
, χθόνιαι17
chthóniai
dwellers in the earth
, πολυγηθεῖς18
polygētheîs
joyful
, Of the Nymphs. Incense: aromatics. Nymphs, daughters of deep-gulfed Ocean, who have your homes in the depths of the earth with watery paths, dwelling in hidden places, nurses of Bacchus, dwellers in the earth, joyful,
Of the Nymphs. Incense: aromatics. Nymphs, daughters of deep-gulfed Ocean, who have your homes in the depths of the earth with watery paths, dwelling in hidden places, nurses of Bacchus, dwellers in the earth, joyful,
Interpretation
Of the Nymphs. Incense: aromatics. Nymphs, daughters of deep-gulfed Ocean, who have your homes in the depths of the earth along watery paths, dwelling in hidden places, nurses of Bacchus, dwellers in the earth, joyful,
The Nymphs are daughters of Ocean because, in the old Greek picture of the world, all fresh water comes from him. The Iliad says that every river and all the sea, every spring and every deep well flows from Ocean. So the Nymphs of the springs live "in the depths of the earth", along the hidden paths that water takes before it comes to the surface, and Homer uses the same words, hypo keuthesi gaiēs, for the depths under the earth.
51.4
The Orphic Hymns 51.4 · Lovers of caves and springs
The Nymphs of every wet and green place, who run light of foot over meadows and streams, dressed in dew.
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nurturers of fruit, of the meadows, winding, pure, cave-loving, delighting in grottoes, roaming the air, of the springs, running, dressed in dew, light of foot,