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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 51, lines 13–16 · Hamadryads, frenzied and healing
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.
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δρυμοχαρεῖς1
drymochareîs
delighting in thickets
, ἁπαλαί2
hapalaí
tender
, πολυθρέμμονες3
polythrémmones
feeding many
τε4
te
and
αὐξίτροφοί5
auxítrophoí
nursing growth
, ἁμαδρυάδες6
hamadryádes
Hamadryadliving and dying with a tree
κοῦραι7
koûrai
maidens
, φιλοπαίγμονες8
philopaígmones
playful
, ὑγροκέλευθοι9
hygrokéleuthoi
on watery paths
, Νυσαῖαι10
Nysaîai
of Nysa
, μανικαί11
manikaí
frenzied
, παιωνίδες12
paiōnídes
healing
, εἰαροτερπεῖς13
eiaroterpeîs
delighting in spring
, φέρουσαι14
phérousai
bringing
χάριν15
chárin
gracefavor
θνητοῖσι16
thnētoîsi
to mortals
σὺν17
sỳn
with
Βάκχῳ18
Bákchōi
Bacchus
τε19
te
and
Δηοῖ20
Dēoî
Deo
; 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;
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;
Interpretation
delighting in thickets, tender, feeding many and nursing growth, Hamadryad maidens, playful, moving on watery paths, Nysian, frenzied, healing, delighting in spring, bringing grace to mortals together with Bacchus and Deo:
Hamadryads were Nymphs whose life was bound to a tree. The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite describes such Nymphs: when they are born, pines or oaks spring up with them, and when the tree withers and dies, the Nymph's soul leaves the light of the sun. Other titles take the Nymphs back to Dionysus. They are "of Nysa", where they reared him, and "frenzied", and together with Bacchus and Deo, the gods of wine and grain, they bring their favor to mortals.
51.17
The Orphic Hymns 51.17 · Pour out a healthful stream
The prayer: come to the rites, and pour out healthy water through the growing seasons.
· · ·
come to the rites of good omen with a rejoicing heart, pouring a healthful stream in the seasons that nurse growth.