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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 73, lines 1–3 · The Daimon, who is Zeus
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Hymn 73 · The Daimon
ΔΑΙΜΟΝΟΣ, θυμίαμα λίβανον
Of the Daimon · incense: frankincense
73.1
The Orphic Hymns 73.1 · The Daimon, who is Zeus
A hymn to the Daimon, the power that deals out each person's lot, whom the hymn calls Zeus.
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ΔΑΙΜΟΝΟΣ1
Daímonos
Of the Daimon
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
λίβανον3
líbanon
frankincense
. κικλήσκω4
kiklḗskō
I call
Δαίμονα5
Daímona
the Daimon
πελάσαι6
pelásai
to draw near
, the
φρικτόν7
phriktón
dreadto be shuddered at
ἡγήτορα8
hēgḗtora
leader
, μειλίχιον9
meilíchion
gentle
Δία10
Día
Zeus
, παγγενέτην11
pangenétēn
father of all
, βιοδώτορα12
biodṓtora
giver of life
θνητῶν13
thnētôn
to mortals
, μέγαν14
mégan
great
Ζῆνα15
Zêna
Zeus
, πολύπλαγκτον16
polýplankton
wide-wandering
, ἀλάστορα17
alástora
avengeravenging spirit
, παμβασιλῆα18
pambasilêa
king of all
, Of the Daimon. Incense: frankincense. I call the Daimon to draw near, the dread leader, gentle Zeus, father of all, giver of life to mortals, great Zeus, wide-wandering, avenger, king of all,
Of the Daimon. Incense: frankincense. I call the Daimon to draw near, the dread leader, gentle Zeus, father of all, giver of life to mortals, great Zeus, wide-wandering, avenger, king of all,
Interpretation
Of the Daimon. Incense: frankincense. I call the Daimon to draw near, the dread leader, gentle Zeus, father of all, giver of life to mortals, great Zeus, wide-wandering, avenger, king of all,
A daimōn is a divine power, and especially the power that hands each person a portion in life. The address to Musaeus named two Daimons, one most holy and one harmful to mortals; this hymn gathers both into one figure and calls him Zeus. Two of his titles pull against each other. Meilichios, "gentle," is the Zeus of the Athenian festival Diasia, a Zeus of the earth worshipped with offerings meant to appease him. Alastōr is the avenging spirit of tragedy: in Aeschylus' Agamemnon Clytemnestra claims that the old avenger of the house of Atreus took her shape and struck the blow.
73.4
The Orphic Hymns 73.4 · The keys of grief and joy
The Daimon brings wealth into a house, and he can also wither a life; grief and joy are both in his keeping.
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giver of wealth, whenever he enters a house brimming over, but in turn chilling the life of toiling mortals; for in you are kept the keys of grief and of joy.