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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 51, lines 10–12 · Friends of goatherds and wild beasts
51.10
The Orphic Hymns 51.10 · Friends of goatherds and wild beasts
The Nymphs as goddesses of the countryside, wild maidens of fountains and woods and friends of the herdsmen and the wild animals.
· · ·
ἀγρότεραι1
agróterai
wild
κοῦραι2
koûrai
maidens
κρουνίτιδες3
krounítides
of the fountains
τε4
te
and
ὑλονόμοι5
hylonómoi
of the woodsliving in the woods
, εὐώδεις6
euṓdeis
fragrant
παρθένοι7
parthénoi
maidens
, λευχείμονες8
leucheímones
dressed in white
, εὔπνοοι9
eúpnooi
airy
αὔραις10
aúrais
with breezes
, αἰπολικαί11
aipolikaí
of the goatherds
, νόμιαι12
nómiai
of the shepherds
, φίλαι13
phílai
dear
θηρσὶν14
thērsìn
to wild beasts
, ἀγλαόκαρποι15
aglaókarpoi
with splendid fruit
, wild maidens of the fountains and of the woods, fragrant maidens, dressed in white, airy with breezes, of the goatherds, of the shepherds, dear to wild beasts, with splendid fruit,
wild maidens of the fountains and of the woods, fragrant maidens, dressed in white, airy with breezes, of the goatherds, of the shepherds, dear to wild beasts, with splendid fruit,
Interpretation
wild maidens of the fountains and of the woods, fragrant maidens dressed in white, airy with breezes, friends of goatherds and shepherds, dear to the wild beasts, rich in splendid fruit,
The Nymphs belong to the countryside and to the people who work in it, the goatherds and the shepherds, and herdsmen honored them with small offerings. In the Odyssey the swineherd Eumaeus divides a meal into seven portions and, with a prayer, sets one aside for the Nymphs and for Hermes.
51.13
The Orphic Hymns 51.13 · Hamadryads, frenzied and healing
The last titles: tree nymphs, playful, frenzied, healing, lovers of spring. With Bacchus and Demeter they bring favor to mortals.
· · ·
delighting in thickets, tender, feeding many and nursing growth, Hamadryad maidens, playful, on watery paths, of Nysa, frenzied, healing, delighting in spring, bringing grace to mortals with Bacchus and Deo;