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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 60, lines 1–3 · Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrosyne
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Hymn 60 · The Graces
ΧΑΡΙΤΩΝ, θυμίαμα στύρακα
Of the Graces · incense: storax
60.1
The Orphic Hymns 60.1 · Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrosyne
A hymn to the Graces, the three sisters who bring beauty and good cheer.
· · ·
ΧΑΡΙΤΩΝ1
Charítōn
Of the Graces
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
στύρακα3
stýraka
storax
. Κλῦτέ4
Klŷté
Hear
μευ5
meu
me
, ὦ6
ô
O
Χάριτες7
Chárites
Graces
μεγαλώνυμοι8
megalṓnymoi
of great name
, ἀγλαότιμοι9
aglaótimoi
splendidly honored
, θυγατέρες10
thygatéres
daughters
Ζηνός11
Zēnós
of Zeus
τε12
te
—
καὶ13
kaì
and
of
βαθυκόλπου14
bathykólpou
deep-bosomedwith deep-folded robes
Εὐρυνόμης15
Eurynómēs
Eurynome
, Ἀγλαΐη16
Aglaí̈ē
AglaiaSplendor
, Θαλίη17
Thalíē
ThaliaGood Cheer
τε18
te
—
, καὶ19
kaì
and
Εὐφροσύνη20
Euphrosýnē
EuphrosyneGladness
πολύολβε21
polýolbe
rich in blessings
, Of the Graces. Incense: storax. Hear me, O Graces of great name, splendidly honored, daughters of Zeus and of deep-bosomed Eurynome, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne rich in blessings,
Of the Graces. Incense: storax. Hear me, O Graces of great name, splendidly honored, daughters of Zeus and of deep-bosomed Eurynome, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne rich in blessings,
Interpretation
Of the Graces. Incense: storax. Hear me, O Graces of great name, splendidly honored, daughters of Zeus and of deep-bosomed Eurynome, Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrosyne, rich in blessings,
The names of the three Graces are ordinary Greek words. Aglaia is splendor, Thalia the good cheer of a feast, Euphrosynē gladness. Hesiod gives the same three names and the same parents, Zeus and Eurynome, a daughter of Ocean. The manuscripts of the hymn call the mother Eunomia, Good Order, instead; Abel prints the correction that agrees with Hesiod.
60.4
The Orphic Hymns 60.4 · Mothers of joy
The Graces are praised as the source of joy, always young and always longed for.
· · ·
mothers of joy, lovely, cheerful, pure, of changing form, ever-blooming, longed for by mortals;