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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 52, lines 10–13 · Eros and Paian; come, always welcome
52.10
The Orphic Hymns 52.10 · Eros and Paian; come, always welcome
The list ends with Eros and Paian, the names of love and of healing, before the last call: come, always welcome.
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οὐρεσίφοιτος1
ouresíphoitos
roaming the mountains
, Ἔρως2
Érōs
ErosLove
, νεβριδοστόλος3
nebridostólos
clad in fawnskin
, ἀμφιέτηρε4
amphiétēre
honored every year
, Παιὰν5
Paiàn
PaianHealer
θυρσεγχής6
thyrsenchḗs
with the thyrsus for spear
, ὑποκόλπιε7
hypokólpie
held in the laplying on the bosom
, βοτρυόκοσμε8
botryókosme
decked with grapes
, Βάσσαρε9
Bássare
Bassaros
, κισσοχαρές10
kissocharés
delighting in ivy
, πολυπάρθενε11
polypárthene
with many maidens
, κύδιμε12
kýdime
glorious
κοῦρε13
koûre
youth
; ἐλθέ14
elthé
come
μάκαρ15
mákar
blessed one
, μύστῃσι16
mýstēisi
to the initiates
, βρύων17
brýōn
overflowing
, αἰεί18
aieí
always
κεχαρισμένος19
kecharisménos
welcome
. roaming the mountains, Eros, clad in fawnskin, honored every year, Paian with the thyrsus for spear, held in the lap, decked with grapes, Bassaros, delighting in ivy, with many maidens, glorious youth; come, blessed one, to the initiates, overflowing, always welcome.
roaming the mountains, Eros, clad in fawnskin, honored every year, Paian with the thyrsus for spear, held in the lap, decked with grapes, Bassaros, delighting in ivy, with many maidens, glorious youth; come, blessed one, to the initiates, overflowing, always welcome.
Interpretation
roaming the mountains, Eros, clad in fawnskin, honored every year, Paian armed with the thyrsus, held in the lap, decked with grapes, Bassaros, delighting in ivy, attended by many maidens, glorious youth: come, blessed one, to the initiates, overflowing, always welcome.
Near the end the hymn gives Dionysus the names of other gods. Eros is love itself. Paian was the physician of the gods in the Iliad, who heals both Hades and Ares, and later a title of Apollo and the name of the song sung to him. Line 10 also sets two rhythms of worship side by side: the god is honored at the feasts held every other year, and he is amphietēros, "honored every year", and the next hymn in the book (53) calls him by a title of the same kind.
53.1
The Orphic Hymns 53.1 · Asleep in Persephone's halls
A hymn to Dionysus as the god who sleeps and wakes. The heading allows every incense except frankincense and asks for a libation of milk.
· · ·
Of Amphietes. Incense: all kinds except frankincense; and pour a libation of milk. I call Bacchus Amphietes, Dionysus of the underworld, who wakes together with the lovely-haired maiden nymphs; who, sleeping in the holy halls beside Persephone, lays to rest the three-year time, Bacchic, holy.