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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 7, lines 1–2 · The holy light of the heavenly stars
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Hymn 7 · The Stars
ΑΣΤΡΩΝ, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα
Of the Stars · incense: aromatics
7.1
The Orphic Hymns 7.1 · The holy light of the heavenly stars
The singer calls on the stars, the holy powers of the sky.
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ΑΣΤΡΩΝ1
Ástrōn
Of the Stars
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
ἀρώματα3
arṓmata
aromaticsspices
. ἐκπροκαλοῦμαι4
ekprokaloûmai
I call forth
ἱερὸν5
hieròn
the holy
σέλας6
sélas
light
οὐρανίων7
ouraníōn
of the heavenly
Ἄστρων8
Ástrōn
stars
, κικλήσκων9
kiklḗskōn
calling
ἁγνούς10
hagnoús
the pure
δαίμονας11
daímonas
powersdaimons
εὐιέροις12
euiérois
with holy
φωνῇσι13
phōnêisi
voices
. Of the Stars. Incense: aromatics. I call forth the holy light of the heavenly stars, calling the pure powers with holy voices.
Of the Stars. Incense: aromatics. I call forth the holy light of the heavenly stars, calling the pure powers with holy voices.
Interpretation
Of the Stars. Incense: aromatics. I call forth the holy light of the heavenly stars, calling the pure powers with holy voices.
Ekprokaleomai, "I call forth," is a Homeric verb: in the Odyssey Athena uses it when she calls Telemachus out of the hall. Here the singer calls the stars out in the same way. They are also daimones, divine powers, and many Greeks thought of them so; in Plato's Timaeus the stars are gods that can be seen.
7.3
The Orphic Hymns 7.3 · Dear children of black Night
The stars are the children of Night. They wheel round in fiery circles and are the parents of all things.
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Heavenly Stars, dear children of black Night, wheeling in circling whirls, surging with fire, sparkling, ever fiery, begetters of all things,