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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 75, lines 1–2 · Foster-brother of Dionysus
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Hymn 75 · Palaemon
ΠΑΛΑΙΜΟΝΟΣ, θυμίαμα μάνναν
Of Palaemon · incense: frankincense powder
75.1
The Orphic Hymns 75.1 · Foster-brother of Dionysus
Palaemon, Leukothea's son, was brought up with the child Dionysus. Now he lives in the depths of the sea.
· · ·
ΠΑΛΑΙΜΟΝΟΣ1
Palaímonos
Of Palaemon
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
μάνναν3
mánnan
frankincense powder
. Σύντροφε4
Sýntrophe
Foster-brotherbrought up together
of
πολυγηθοῦς5
polygēthoûs
joyful
Διωνύσου6
Diōnýsou
Dionysus
, βακχεχόροιο7
bakchechóroio
who leads the Bacchic dance
, ὃς8
hòs
you who
ναίεις9
naíeis
live in
ἁγνούς10
hagnoús
the holy
ἁλικύμονας11
halikýmonas
wave-washedsurrounded by sea-waves
βυθοὺς12
bythoùs
depths
πόντοιο13
póntoio
of the sea
, Of Palaemon. Incense: frankincense powder. Foster-brother of joyful Dionysus, who leads the Bacchic dance, you who live in the holy, wave-washed depths of the sea,
Of Palaemon. Incense: frankincense powder. Foster-brother of joyful Dionysus, who leads the Bacchic dance, you who live in the holy, wave-washed depths of the sea,
Interpretation
Of Palaemon. Incense: frankincense powder. Foster-brother of joyful Dionysus, who leads the Bacchic dance, you who live in the holy, wave-washed depths of the sea,
Palaemon was once Melikertes, Ino's little son. Because Ino nursed Dionysus, the two boys grew up together, and the hymn calls Palaemon the god's syntrophos, "foster-brother," one raised in the same house. When Ino leapt into the sea, Melikertes went with her, and he became the sea god Palaemon. He had a sanctuary at the Isthmus of Corinth, and the Isthmian Games were said to have been founded in his honor.
75.3
The Orphic Hymns 75.3 · Come with a young face
The call: let Palaemon come to the rites in his youthful form and keep the initiates safe everywhere.
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I call you, Palaemon, to come kindly to the holy rites, rejoicing with a young face, and to save the initiates both on land and on sea;