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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 79, lines 6–7 · Teacher of Apollo
79.6
The Orphic Hymns 79.6 · Teacher of Apollo
Themis taught Apollo how to give oracles, and then the hymn calls her by four titles.
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ἣ1
hḕ
who
καὶ2
kaì
also
ἐδίδαξε3
edídaxe
taught
ἄνακτα4
ánakta
lord
Φοῖβον5
Phoîbon
Phoebus
θεμιστοσύνας6
themistosýnas
oracular lawdecrees of right
; πάντιμʼ7
pántim’
all-honored
, ἀγλαόμορφε8
aglaómorphe
beautifulof splendid form
, σεβάσμιε9
sebásmie
revered
, νυκτιπόλευτε10
nyktipóleute
roaming by night
; who also taught lord Phoebus oracular law; all-honored, beautiful, revered, roaming by night;
who also taught lord Phoebus oracular law; all-honored, beautiful, revered, roaming by night;
Interpretation
who also taught lord Phoebus the laws of prophecy; all-honored, beautiful, revered, roaming by night;
In the Homeric Hymn to Apollo it is Themis who feeds the newborn god nectar and ambrosia, so she is a natural teacher for him. What she teaches is themistosynai, another word built on her name, the "decrees of right" that an oracle hands down. The last title, nyktipoleutos, "roaming by night," prepares the next lines: the word and its relatives belong to the night revels of Bacchus, and Euripides uses nyktipolos of the Bacchants.
79.8
The Orphic Hymns 79.8 · First to show the holy rites
Themis first revealed the rites of initiation to mortals, crying the Bacchic cry through the nights. From her come the worship of the gods and the mysteries.
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For you first revealed holy rites to mortals, crying euoi to the lord through the Bacchic nights; for from you come the honors of the blessed and the holy mysteries.