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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 68, lines 1–2 · Hygieia, mother of all
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Hymn 68 · Hygieia, Health
ΥΓΕΙΑΣ, θυμίαμα μάνναν
Of Hygieia · incense: frankincense powder
68.1
The Orphic Hymns 68.1 · Hygieia, mother of all
The hymn to Hygieia, Health as a goddess, follows the hymn to Asclepius and calls her queen and mother of all.
· · ·
ΥΓΕΙΑΣ1
Hygeías
Of Hygieia
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
μάνναν3
mánnan
frankincense powder
. Ἱμερόεσσʼ4
Himeróess’
Desirablearousing longing
, ἐρατή5
eratḗ
lovely
, πολυθάλμιε6
polythálmie
nourisher of manymuch-nourishing
, παμβασίλεια7
pambasíleia
queen of all
, κλῦθι8
klŷthi
hear
, μάκαιρʼ9
mákair’
blessed
Ὑγίεια10
Hygíeia
Hygieia
, φερόλβιε11
pherólbie
bringer of happiness
, μῆτερ12
mêter
mother
ἁπάντων13
hapántōn
of all
; Of Hygieia. Incense: frankincense powder. Desirable, lovely, nourisher of many, queen of all, hear, blessed Hygieia, bringer of happiness, mother of all;
Of Hygieia. Incense: frankincense powder. Desirable, lovely, nourisher of many, queen of all, hear, blessed Hygieia, bringer of happiness, mother of all;
Interpretation
Of Hygieia. Incense: frankincense powder. Desirable, lovely, nourisher of many, queen of all, hear me, blessed Hygieia, bringer of happiness, mother of all;
Hygieia's name is the Greek word for health, and English keeps its root in "hygiene." The heading spells it ΥΓΕΙΑΣ, the shorter form that came into use in later Greek; the hymn itself keeps the older Hygieia. She is asked for all through this book. The closing prayers to Physis, Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Artemis, Demeter and Hestia all ask for hygieia, and the prayers to Zeus the Thunderer (19) and to Demeter (40) call her "queen." Here she has a hymn of her own as "queen of all" and "mother of all."
68.3
The Orphic Hymns 68.3 · Through you every house blooms
What health does: disease fades, homes flourish, work prospers, and the whole world longs for her.
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For through you diseases waste away for mortals, and every house blooms full of joy because of you, and the crafts thrive; and the world longs for you, queen,