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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 7, lines 6–8 · Heralds of every fate
7.6
The Orphic Hymns 7.6 · Heralds of every fate
The stars show the fate of every person and steer the path of human life. They watch over the seven shining zones of the sky.
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μοιρίδιοι1
moirídioi
fateful
, ὄντες2
óntes
being
σημάντορες3
sēmántores
the heraldswho give the signal
πάσης4
pásēs
of every
μοίρης5
moírēs
fate
, διέποντες6
diépontes
steering
θείην7
theíēn
the god-givendivine
ἀταρπόν8
atarpón
path
θνητῶν9
thnētôn
of mortal
ἀνθρώπων10
anthrṓpōn
men
, ἐφορώμενοι11
ephorṓmenoi
watching over
ἑπταφαεῖς12
heptaphaeîs
the seven shining
ζώνας13
zṓnas
zonesbelts
, ἠερόπλαγκτοι14
ēeróplanktoi
wandering in the air
, fateful, being the heralds of every fate, steering the god-given path of mortal men, watching over the seven shining zones, wandering in the air,
fateful, being the heralds of every fate, steering the god-given path of mortal men, watching over the seven shining zones, wandering in the air,
Interpretation
fateful, the heralds of every fate, steering the god-given path of mortal men, watching over the seven shining zones, wandering in the air,
These lines are astrology, which by the time of the hymns had spread through the Greek world. The stars signal each person's moira, the share of life given at birth, and they steer the path a human life will take. The "seven shining zones" are most likely the paths of the seven moving lights of the sky, the Sun, the Moon and the five planets visible to the eye, each running in its own band. Zōnē is the ordinary word for a belt.
7.9
The Orphic Hymns 7.9 · Lighting up the dark robe of night
The stars belong to the sky and to the earth. They run their fiery course and light up the dark robe of night.
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of the sky and of the earth, running a fiery course, ever unwearied, ever lighting up the gloomy robe of night, glittering with flashes, kindly and of the night;