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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 68, lines 12–13 · Help the initiates
68.12
The Orphic Hymns 68.12 · Help the initiates
The prayer: come always to help the initiates, and keep the misery of disease away.
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ἀλλά1
allá
But
θεά2
theá
goddess
, μόλε3
móle
come
αἰεὶ4
aieì
always
ἐπιτάρροθος5
epitárrothos
as a helper
μυστιπόλοις6
mystipólois
to the initiatesthose who perform the rites
, ῥυομένη7
rhyoménē
warding off
the
κακόποτμον8
kakópotmon
ill-fated
ἀνίην9
aníēn
misery
of
χαλεπῶν10
chalepôn
hard
νούσων11
noúsōn
diseases
. But, goddess, come always as a helper to the initiates, warding off the ill-fated misery of hard diseases.
But, goddess, come always as a helper to the initiates, warding off the ill-fated misery of hard diseases.
Interpretation
But come, goddess, always, as a helper to your initiates, warding off the ill-fated misery of hard diseases.
Epitarrhothos, "helper," is a word from the Iliad, where it always means a god who stands by a fighter in battle. Athena uses it when she tells Diomedes to fear neither Ares nor any other immortal, "such a helper am I to you." Here the battle is with disease. The mystipoloi are the people performing the rite, the initiates who sing these hymns.
69.1
The Orphic Hymns 69.1 · Tisiphone, Alekto and divine Megaira
The hymn to the Erinyes, the avenging goddesses of the underworld, opens with their three names.
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Of the Erinyes. Incense: storax and frankincense powder. Hear, goddesses, honored by all, loud-roaring, revelers, Tisiphone and Alekto and divine Megaira;