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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 55, lines 18–19 · Or in holy Egypt
55.18
The Orphic Hymns 55.18 · Or in holy Egypt
The next place on the list is Egypt, where she drives her golden chariots on the plains.
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εἴτε1
eíte
or
σύ2
sý
you
γʼ3
g’
—
, σὺν4
sỳn
with
χρυσεοτεύκτοις5
chryseoteúktois
goldenwrought of gold
ἅρμασι6
hármasi
chariots
, ἐν7
en
on
πεδίοισι8
pedíoisi
the plains
of
ἱερῆς9
hierês
holy
Αἰγύπτου10
Aigýptou
Egypt
, κατέχεις11
katécheis
keep
the
γονιμώδεα12
gonimṓdea
fertile
λουτρά13
loutrá
watersbaths
, or you, with golden chariots, on the plains of holy Egypt, keep the fertile waters,
or you, with golden chariots, on the plains of holy Egypt, keep the fertile waters,
Interpretation
or with your golden chariots on the plains of holy Egypt you keep its fertile waters,
Egypt is "holy," and its "fertile waters," literally its "baths," are most likely the Nile, whose yearly flood watered the fields. Greeks in Egypt gave Aphrodite's name to the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and several towns of hers were called Aphroditopolis, "city of Aphrodite."
55.20
The Orphic Hymns 55.20 · Over the swell of the sea
Aphrodite rides over the sea among its creatures, or dances on the beaches of Dia with the nymphs.
· · ·
or, going in chariots of swans over the swell of the sea, you delight in the circling dances of sea creatures, or you take pleasure with the rosy-faced nymphs in the land of Dia, a maenad on the sandy shores with a light leap;