⸻ · ⸻
The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 76, lines 1–3 · Daughters of Memory and Zeus
⸻ · ⸻
Hymn 76 · The Muses
ΜΟΥΣΩΝ, θυμίαμα λίβανον
Of the Muses · incense: frankincense
76.1
The Orphic Hymns 76.1 · Daughters of Memory and Zeus
The hymn to the Muses opens with the story of their birth to Memory and Zeus.
· · ·
ΜΟΥΣΩΝ1
Mousôn
Of the Muses
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
λίβανον3
líbanon
frankincense
. θύγατρες4
thýgatres
Daughters
Μνημοσύνης5
Mnēmosýnēs
of MnemosyneMemory
καὶ6
kaì
and
of
ἐριγδούποιο7
erigdoúpoio
loud-thundering
Ζηνὸς8
Zēnòs
Zeus
, Πιερίδες9
Pierídes
Pierianof Pieria
Μοῦσαι10
Moûsai
Muses
, μεγαλώνυμοι11
megalṓnymoi
of great name
, ἀγλαόφημοι12
aglaóphēmoi
of splendid fame
, ποθεινόταται13
potheinótatai
most longed for
θνητοῖς14
thnētoîs
by mortals
οἷς15
hoîs
whom
κε16
ke
—
παρῆτε17
parête
you visityou are present with
, πολύμορφοι18
polýmorphoi
of many forms
, Of the Muses. Incense: frankincense. Daughters of Mnemosyne and of loud-thundering Zeus, Pierian Muses, of great name, of splendid fame, most longed for by mortals whom you visit, of many forms,
Of the Muses. Incense: frankincense. Daughters of Mnemosyne and of loud-thundering Zeus, Pierian Muses, of great name, of splendid fame, most longed for by mortals whom you visit, of many forms,
Interpretation
Of the Muses. Incense: frankincense. Daughters of Mnemosyne and loud-thundering Zeus, Pierian Muses, of great name and splendid fame, most longed for by the mortals you visit, of many forms,
Hesiod tells this birth at the beginning of the Theogony: Mnemosyne, Memory, lay with Zeus for nine nights and bore the nine Muses in Pieria, the country below Mount Olympus, which is why they are called Pierian. Erigdoupos, "loud-thundering," is Homer's title for their father. The next hymn in the book belongs to their mother, Mnemosyne.
76.4
The Orphic Hymns 76.4 · Nurses of the soul
What the Muses give: education and excellence, a nourished soul, right thinking, a strong mind.
· · ·
who give birth to the blameless excellence of all education, nurses of the soul, givers of right thought, and queens who guide the mighty mind,