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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 70, lines 6–7 · Light that eats the flesh
70.6
The Orphic Hymns 70.6 · Light that eats the flesh
Their look: dark-skinned queens whose eyes flash a terrible, burning light.
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κυανόχρωτοι1
kyanóchrōtoi
dark-skinned
ἄνασσαι2
ánassai
queens
, ἀπαστράπτουσαι3
apastráptousai
flashing
ἀπʼ4
ap’
from
ὄσσων5
óssōn
your eyes
δεινὴν6
deinḕn
a dread
ἀνταυγῆ7
antaugê
reflectedflashing back
αἴγλην8
aíglēn
gleam
φάεος9
pháeos
of light
σαρκοφθόρον10
sarkophthóron
that eats the fleshflesh-consuming
; dark-skinned queens, flashing from your eyes a dread, reflected gleam of light that eats the flesh;
dark-skinned queens, flashing from your eyes a dread, reflected gleam of light that eats the flesh;
Interpretation
dark-skinned queens, flashing from your eyes a dread, reflected gleam of light that eats away the flesh;
In tragedy the Erinyes are known by their eyes. At the end of Aeschylus' Libation Bearers Orestes sees them dripping blood from their eyes and runs from the stage. Here the eyes flash out a glare that eats away the flesh, and it is antaugēs, "flashing back," like light thrown off a bright surface. Kyanochrōtoi, "dark-skinned," uses the same kyanos, the deep blue-black, that gave Night her title "dark-gleaming" in Hymn 3.
70.8
The Orphic Hymns 70.8 · I call you to holy minds
A last flood of titles, and then the request: come near to those whose thoughts are pure.
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eternal, fearful-eyed, dreadful, sovereign queens, loosening the limbs with frenzy, grim, nocturnal, of many fates, maidens of the night, snake-haired, fearful-eyed: I call you to draw near to holy minds.