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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 57, lines 1–4 · On the road of no return
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Hymn 57 · Hermes of the underworld
ΕΡΜΟΥ ΧΘΟΝΙΟΥ, θυμίαμα στύρακα
Of Hermes of the underworld · incense: storax
57.1
The Orphic Hymns 57.1 · On the road of no return
A hymn to Hermes as the guide who leads the souls of the dead below. Here he is the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite.
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ΕΡΜΟΥ1
Hermoû
Of Hermes
ΧΘΟΝΙΟΥ2
Chthoníou
of the underworld
. θυμίαμα3
thymíama
Incense
στύρακα4
stýraka
storax
. ναίων5
naíōn
Dwelling
on the
οἶμον6
oîmon
road
Κωκυτοῦ7
Kōkytoû
of KokytosWailing
ἀνυπόστροφον8
anypóstrophon
from which none return
, the road
ἀνάγκης9
anánkēs
of Necessity
, ὃς10
hòs
you who
κατάγεις11
katágeis
lead
ψυχὰς12
psychàs
the souls
θνητῶν13
thnētôn
of mortals
ὑπὸ14
hypò
down to
νέρτερα15
nértera
the depths
γαίης16
gaíēs
of the earth
, Ἑρμῆ17
Hermê
Hermes
, γένεθλον18
génethlon
offspring
Διωνύσοιο19
Diōnýsoio
of Dionysus
, βακχεχόροιο20
bakchechóroio
leader of the Bacchic dance
, καὶ21
kaì
and
of the
Παφίης22
Paphíēs
Paphian
κούρης23
koúrēs
maiden
, ἑλικοβλεφάρου24
helikoblephárou
quick-glancingwith ever-moving eyes
Ἀφροδίτης25
Aphrodítēs
Aphrodite
, Of Hermes of the underworld. Incense: storax. Dwelling on the road of Kokytos from which none return, the road of Necessity, you who lead the souls of mortals down to the depths of the earth, Hermes, offspring of Dionysus, leader of the Bacchic dance, and of the Paphian maiden, quick-glancing Aphrodite,
Of Hermes of the underworld. Incense: storax. Dwelling on the road of Kokytos from which none return, the road of Necessity, you who lead the souls of mortals down to the depths of the earth, Hermes, offspring of Dionysus, leader of the Bacchic dance, and of the Paphian maiden, quick-glancing Aphrodite,
Interpretation
Of Hermes of the underworld. Incense: storax. You who dwell on the road of Kokytos, the road of Necessity from which none return, who lead the souls of mortals down to the depths of the earth, Hermes, offspring of Dionysus, leader of the Bacchic dance, and of the Paphian maiden, quick-glancing Aphrodite,
This is Hermes in his work as guide of the dead, the one who leads souls down. Kokytos, whose name means "Wailing," is one of the rivers of the underworld in Homer, and the road there is "the road of Necessity, from which none return." The parents are the surprise. Elsewhere Hermes is normally the son of Zeus and Maia, as the book's own hymn to Hermes says (28). Here his father is Dionysus and his mother Aphrodite, "the Paphian," named for her great temple at Paphos on Cyprus. Ancient writers name the same pair as the parents of Priapus, but for Hermes the parentage is most unusual.
57.5
The Orphic Hymns 57.5 · The sleep-giving wand
Hermes serves in Persephone's house and leads the ill-fated souls down when their time has come, charming everything with his wand.
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you who haunt the holy house beside Persephone, being escort to the ill-fated souls down through the earth, whom you lead down whenever the time of fate comes, charming all things with your holy sleep-giving wand,