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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 69, lines 3–4 · A cave by the Styx
69.3
The Orphic Hymns 69.3 · A cave by the Styx
Where the Erinyes live: in the dark, deep under the earth, in a cave beside the river Styx.
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νυκτέριαι1
nyktériai
nightly
, μύχιαι2
mýchiai
hidden deepinmost
, ἔχουσαι3
échousai
who have
your
οἰκίʼ4
oikí’
homes
ὑπὸ5
hypò
down in
κεύθεσιν6
keúthesin
the hidden depths
, ἐν7
en
in
ἠερόεντι8
ēeróenti
a murky
ἄντρῳ9
ántrōi
cave
παρὰ10
parà
beside
ἱερὸν11
hieròn
the holy
ὕδωρ12
hýdōr
water
Στυγὸς13
Stygòs
of the Styx
, nightly, hidden deep, who have your homes down in the hidden depths, in a murky cave beside the holy water of the Styx,
nightly, hidden deep, who have your homes down in the hidden depths, in a murky cave beside the holy water of the Styx,
Interpretation
goddesses of the night, hidden deep, who have your homes down in the hidden depths, in a murky cave beside the holy water of the Styx,
The Styx is the river of the underworld by whose water the gods swear their greatest oath, and the Erinyes have a reason to live beside it: in the Iliad they are the powers "who under the earth punish men, whoever swears a false oath." Ēeroeis, "murky," is the word Homer uses for Tartarus.
69.5
The Orphic Hymns 69.5 · Hovering over unholy plans
The Erinyes hover over every wicked plan that mortals make, and they revel in punishing.
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always hovering over mortals' plans that are not holy, raging, proud, exulting over punishments,