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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 8, lines 15–17 · Quenched and shining
8.15
The Orphic Hymns 8.15 · Quenched and shining
The Sun goes out at evening and blazes again at dawn. He brings justice to light, loves running water, keeps faith, and helps everyone.
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σβεννύμενος1
sbennýmenos
quenchedput out like a fire
τε2
te
and
λάμπων3
lámpōn
shining
καλαῖς4
kalaîs
with beautiful
φαειναῖς5
phaeinaîs
bright
ἀκτῖσι6
aktîsi
rays
, δεῖκτα7
deîkta
revealer
δικαιοσύνης8
dikaiosýnēs
of justice
, φιλονάματε9
philonámate
lover of streamsloving running water
, δέσποτα10
déspota
master
κόσμου11
kósmou
of the world
, πιστοφύλαξ12
pistophýlax
guardian of truthkeeper of faith
, αἰεὶ13
aieì
ever
πανυπέρτατε14
panypértate
supreme
, ἀρωγέ15
arōgé
helper
πᾶσιν16
pâsin
to all
, quenched and shining with beautiful bright rays, revealer of justice, lover of streams, master of the world, guardian of truth, ever supreme, helper to all,
quenched and shining with beautiful bright rays, revealer of justice, lover of streams, master of the world, guardian of truth, ever supreme, helper to all,
Interpretation
quenched, and shining with beautiful bright rays, revealer of justice, lover of streams, master of the world, guardian of truth, ever supreme, helper to all,
At sunset the Sun is "quenched," sbennymenos, the verb used for putting out a fire, and at sunrise he is lit again. Philonamatos, "lover of running water," may echo an idea of the philosophers: the Stoics taught that the sun feeds on the moist vapors that rise from the sea. Because the Sun sees everything, he is also the one who brings wrongdoing to light, "revealer of justice" and "guardian of truth."
8.18
The Orphic Hymns 8.18 · Eye of justice, light of life
The Sun drives his four-horse chariot across the sky. The prayer asks him to hear, and to show the initiates a sweet life.
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eye of justice, light of life; O driver of horses, driving the four-horse chariot with a whistling whip; hear our words, and show forth a sweet life to the initiates.