⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 7, lines 9–11 · Lighting up the dark robe of night
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.
· · ·
οὐράνιοι1
ouránioi
of the sky
τε2
te
and
χθόνιοί3
chthónioí
of the earth
, πυρίδρομοι4
pyrídromoi
running a fiery course
, αἰὲν5
aièn
ever
ἀτειρεῖς6
ateireîs
unwearied
, ἀεὶ7
aeì
ever
αὐγάζοντες8
augázontes
lighting up
ζοφοειδέα9
zophoeidéa
the gloomydark-colored
πέπλον10
péplon
robe
νυκτὸς11
nyktòs
of night
, στίλβοντες12
stílbontes
glittering
μαρμαρυγαῖς13
marmarygaîs
with flashes
, ἐύφρονες14
eúphrones
kindly
τε15
te
and
ἐννύχιοί16
ennýchioí
of the night
; 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;
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;
Interpretation
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 nocturnal;
Night wears a peplos, the long woven robe of Greek women, and the stars light it up. Chthonioi, "of the earth," may seem an odd word for stars. It most likely refers to the part of their circuit that they spend below the horizon, under the earth, between setting and rising.
7.12
The Orphic Hymns 7.12 · Come to the learned contests of the rite
The request: let the stars come to the holy rite and run their noble course.
· · ·
come to the learned contests of the holy rite, completing a noble course for glorious works.