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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 54, lines 1–3 · Nurse of Bacchus
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Hymn 54 · Silenus, the Satyrs and the Bacchae
ΣΙΛΗΝΟΥ ΣΑΤΥΡΟΥ ΒΑΚΧΩΝ, θυμίαμα μάνναν
Of Silenus, the Satyr, and the Bacchae · incense: frankincense powder
54.1
The Orphic Hymns 54.1 · Nurse of Bacchus
A hymn to Silenus, the old companion who reared the infant Dionysus, honored at the three-year feasts.
· · ·
ΣΙΛΗΝΟΥ1
Silēnoû
Of Silenus
, ΣΑΤΥΡΟΥ2
Satýrou
the Satyr
, and
ΒΑΚΧΩΝ3
Bakchôn
the Bacchae
. θυμίαμα4
thymíama
Incense
: μάνναν5
mánnan
frankincense powder
. Κλῦθί6
Klŷthí
Hear
μευ7
meu
me
, ὦ8
ô
O
πολύσεμνε9
polýsemne
most revered
τροφός10
trophós
nurseone who rears a child
, τιθηνέ11
tithēné
foster-father
Βάκχοιο12
Bákchoio
of Bacchus
, ὄχʼ13
óch’
by far
the
ἄριστε14
áriste
best
Σιληνῶν15
Silēnôn
of the Silenoi
, τετιμένε16
tetiméne
honored
πᾶσι17
pâsi
by all
θεοῖσι18
theoîsi
the gods
καὶ19
kaì
and
θνητοῖσι20
thnētoîsi
mortal
βροτοῖσιν21
brotoîsin
men
ἐπὶ22
epì
at
the
ὥραις23
hṓrais
seasons
τριετηρίσιν24
trietērísin
of the three-year feasts
, Of Silenus, the Satyr, and the Bacchae. Incense: frankincense powder. Hear me, O most revered nurse, foster-father of Bacchus, by far the best of the Silenoi, honored by all the gods and mortal men at the seasons of the three-year feasts,
Of Silenus, the Satyr, and the Bacchae. Incense: frankincense powder. Hear me, O most revered nurse, foster-father of Bacchus, by far the best of the Silenoi, honored by all the gods and mortal men at the seasons of the three-year feasts,
Interpretation
Of Silenus, the Satyr, and the Bacchae. Incense: frankincense powder. Hear me, most revered nurse and foster-father of Bacchus, by far the best of the Silenoi, honored by all the gods and by mortal men at the seasons of the three-year feasts,
Silenus was the old companion of Dionysus. In Euripides' Cyclops he is the father of the Satyrs, and the name was also used for a whole class of older Satyrs, which is why the hymn can call him "best of the Silenoi." Here he is above all the god's nurse: trophos and tithēnos are two words for the one who feeds and brings up a child, and Greek and Roman sculptors showed Silenus holding the infant Dionysus in his arms. The heading names the Satyr and the Bacchae with him, and the hymn calls both to the rite before it ends.
54.4
The Orphic Hymns 54.4 · Leader of the pastoral band
Silenus as the master of the Bacchic company, keeping the night watch with the nurses of the god and leading the Naiads and the Bacchae.
· · ·
worshipped in holy rites, venerable, founder of the rites of the pastoral band, reveler, wakeful with the well-girdled nurses, leading the ivy-wreathed Naiads and Bacchae;