⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 59, lines 11–14 · Moira and the mind of Zeus
59.11
The Orphic Hymns 59.11 · Moira and the mind of Zeus
Of all the gods, only Fate and Zeus see clearly and know everything that happens to mortals.
· · ·
γὰρ1
gàr
For
ἐν2
en
in
βιότῳ3
biótōi
life
Μοῖρα4
Moîra
MoiraFate
μόνη5
mónē
alone
, καὶ6
kaì
and
τέλειον7
téleion
the perfect
ὄμμα8
ómma
eye
Διὸς9
Diòs
of Zeus
, καθορᾷ10
kathorâi
sees clearlylooks down on
, οὐδέ11
oudé
and not
τις12
tis
any
ἄλλος13
állos
other
ἀθανάτων14
athanátōn
of the immortals
οἳ15
hoì
who
ἔχουσι16
échousi
hold
κάρη17
kárē
the summithead
of
νιφόεντος18
niphóentos
snowy
Ὀλύμπου19
Olýmpou
Olympus
; ἐπεί20
epeí
since
γʼ21
g’
—
ὅσα22
hósa
whatever
γίγνεται23
gígnetai
happens
ἡμῖν24
hēmîn
to us
, Μοῖρά25
Moîrá
Moira
τε26
te
—
καὶ27
kaì
and
νόος28
nóos
the mind
Διὸς29
Diòs
of Zeus
οἶδε30
oîde
know
ἅπαντα31
hápanta
all of it
, διὰ32
dià
through
παντὸς33
pantòs
all
time
.For in life Moira alone, and the perfect eye of Zeus, sees clearly, and not any other of the immortals who hold the summit of snowy Olympus; since whatever happens to us, Moira and the mind of Zeus know all of it, through all time.
For in life Moira alone, and the perfect eye of Zeus, sees clearly, and not any other of the immortals who hold the summit of snowy Olympus; since whatever happens to us, Moira and the mind of Zeus know all of it, through all time.
Interpretation
For in life Moira alone sees clearly, she and the perfect eye of Zeus, and no other of the immortals who hold the summit of snowy Olympus; since whatever happens to us, Moira and the mind of Zeus know all of it, through all time.
Here the Moirai become one, Moira, Fate in the singular, and she is paired with Zeus. Greek poets never quite settled whether Zeus ruled fate or fate ruled Zeus. In the Iliad he lifts golden scales to weigh the deaths of Achilles and Hector, and when Hector's side sinks, Apollo leaves him to die; Zeus also holds back from saving his own son Sarpedon when Hera warns him that a man long fated to die should not be rescued. The hymn makes them partners: Moira and the mind of Zeus know all that happens to us, and the other gods of Olympus do not.
59.15
The Orphic Hymns 59.15 · Atropos, Lachesis and Klotho, come to me
The three Fates, gentle-hearted and unseen, are called by name and asked to come.
· · ·
But come to me, you of the air, gentle-hearted, kindly, Atropos and Lachesis, Klotho, daughters of a noble father, of the night, unseen, unchangeable, ever unyielding, givers of all, and of necessity takers-away from mortals;