⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 54, lines 7–11 · Come with all the Satyrs
54.7
The Orphic Hymns 54.7 · Come with all the Satyrs
The prayer: come to the rite with the Satyrs and the Bacchae, raise the cry and reveal the night mysteries.
· · ·
δεῦρʼ1
deûr’
Come here
ἐπὶ2
epì
to
τελετὴν3
teletḕn
the rite
πάνθειον4
pántheion
of all the gods
, ἅμα5
háma
together with
πᾶσι6
pâsi
all
the
θηροτύποις7
thērotýpois
beast-shapedin the form of a beast
Σατύροις8
Satýrois
Satyrs
, διδοὺς9
didoùs
giving
εὔασμα10
eúasma
the cryBacchic shout
Βάκχοιο11
Bákchoio
of Bacchus
the
ἄνακτος12
ánaktos
lord
, προπέμπων13
propémpōn
escorting
σὺν14
sỳn
with
Βάκχαις15
Bákchais
the Bacchae
the
σεμνὰ16
semnà
holy rites
ληναῖα17
lēnaîa
of the wine-press
τελεσφόρα18
telesphóra
that bring fulfilment
, ἀναφαίνων19
anaphaínōn
revealing
νυκτιφαῆ20
nyktiphaê
night-shining
ὄργια21
órgia
mysteriessecret rites
in
ἁγίαις22
hagíais
holy
τελεταῖς23
teletaîs
initiations
, εὐάζων24
euázōn
crying euoi
, φιλόθυρσε25
philóthyrse
lover of the thyrsus
, γαληνιόων26
galēnióōn
calmfinding peace
θιάσοισιν27
thiásoisin
among the bands
. Come here to the rite of all the gods, together with all the beast-shaped Satyrs, giving the cry of Bacchus the lord, escorting with the Bacchae the holy rites of the wine-press that bring fulfilment, revealing night-shining mysteries in holy initiations, crying euoi, lover of the thyrsus, calm among the bands.
Come here to the rite of all the gods, together with all the beast-shaped Satyrs, giving the cry of Bacchus the lord, escorting with the Bacchae the holy rites of the wine-press that bring fulfilment, revealing night-shining mysteries in holy initiations, crying euoi, lover of the thyrsus, calm among the bands.
Interpretation
come here to the rite of all the gods, together with all the beast-shaped Satyrs, raising the cry of Bacchus the lord, escorting with the Bacchae the holy rites of the wine-press that bring fulfilment, revealing night-shining mysteries in holy initiations, crying euoi, lover of the thyrsus, calm among the bands.
The Satyrs are thērotypoi, "beast-shaped": in Greek art they are men with the ears and tails of horses. The lēnaia are rites "of the wine-press," and Athens held a winter festival of Dionysus called the Lenaia. The mysteries "shine by night" because the Bacchic rites were held after dark by torchlight; in Euripides' Bacchae the god himself says his rites are celebrated mostly at night. The last word of the hymn is galēniōn, "calm," from galēnē, the stillness of the sea when the wind drops: in the middle of the revel, Silenus is at peace.
55.1
The Orphic Hymns 55.1 · Heavenly, laughter-loving, sea-born
The hymn to Aphrodite has no incense note. It opens with a long run of her titles, ending with the strangest: mother of Necessity.
· · ·
To Aphrodite. Heavenly one, much-hymned, laughter-loving Aphrodite, sea-born, goddess and mother, lover of night-long revels, revered, of the night, who yokes together, weaver of wiles, mother of Necessity;