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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 64, lines 1–4 · Law, lord of gods and men
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Hymn 64 · Law
ΥΜΝΟΣ ΝΟΜΟΥ
A hymn of Law
64.1
The Orphic Hymns 64.1 · Law, lord of gods and men
A hymn to Nomos, Law, as the power that holds the whole world in order; its heading names no incense.
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ΥΜΝΟΣ1
Hýmnos
A hymn
ΝΟΜΟΥ2
Nómou
of Law
. καλέω3
kaléō
I call
ἁγνὸν4
hagnòn
the holy
ἄνακτα5
ánakta
lord
Ἀθανάτων6
Athanátōn
of immortals
καὶ7
kaì
and
θνητῶν8
thnētôn
of mortals
, οὐράνιον9
ouránion
heavenly
Νόμον10
Nómon
Law
, ἀστροθέτην11
astrothétēn
who orders the starsstar-placer
, δικαίην12
dikaíēn
the just
σφρηγῖδα13
sphrēgîda
seal
of the
εἰναλίου14
einalíou
briny
πόντου15
póntou
sea
τʼ16
t’
—
καὶ17
kaì
and
γῆς18
gês
of the land
, who
ἀεὶ19
aeì
always
τηροῦντα20
tēroûnta
keeps
τὸ21
tò
the
βέβαιον22
bébaion
steadiness
φύσεως23
phýseōs
of nature
ἀκλινὲς24
aklinès
unswervingbending to neither side
and
ἀστασίαστον25
astasíaston
free from strife
by his
νόμοισιν26
nómoisin
laws
, A hymn of Law. I call the holy lord of immortals and of mortals, heavenly Law, who orders the stars, the just seal of the briny sea and of the land, who always keeps the steadiness of nature unswerving and free from strife by his laws,
A hymn of Law. I call the holy lord of immortals and of mortals, heavenly Law, who orders the stars, the just seal of the briny sea and of the land, who always keeps the steadiness of nature unswerving and free from strife by his laws,
Interpretation
A hymn of Law. I call the holy lord of immortals and of mortals, heavenly Law, who orders the stars, the just seal of the briny sea and of the land, who always keeps the steadiness of nature unswerving and free from strife by his laws,
The first line echoes a famous saying of Pindar, "Law is king of all, mortals and immortals." Herodotus quotes it at the end of his story of the Greeks and the Indians who were each horrified by the other's way of honoring dead parents, and Plato quotes it in the Gorgias. For Herodotus nomos meant custom, the habits of each people. In this hymn the word has grown much larger: Law sets the stars in their places, presses his seal on sea and land, and keeps nature itself from swerving.
64.5
The Orphic Hymns 64.5 · Envy driven out
Law carries the sky as he travels, drives envy away, and brings mortals a good end of life.
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by which he himself travels, bearing the great sky from above, and drives out worthless envy like a whistling rush; he who also brings about a good end of life for mortals;