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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 8, lines 4–7 · Father of dawn on the right hand
8.4
The Orphic Hymns 8.4 · Father of dawn on the right hand
The Sun makes the dawn on one side of the sky and the night on the other. He holds the seasons in balance and drives his chariot round the boundless turning sky.
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γενέτωρ1
genétōr
begetter
ἠοῦς2
ēoûs
of dawn
δεξιὲ3
dexiè
on the right hand
μὲν4
mèn
—
, νυκτός5
nyktós
of night
εὐώνυμε6
euṓnyme
on the leftwell-named
, ἔχων7
échōn
holding
κρᾶσιν8
krâsin
the blending
ὡρῶν9
hōrôn
of the seasons
, χορεύων10
choreúōn
dancing
τετραβάμοσι11
tetrabámosi
on four-footed
ποσσὶ12
possì
feet
, εὔδρομε13
eúdrome
swift runner
, ῥοιζῆτορ14
rhoizêtor
whirring one
, πυρόεις15
pyróeis
fiery
, φαιδρωπέ16
phaidrōpé
bright-faced
, διφρευτά17
diphreutá
charioteer
, ἐλαύνων18
elaúnōn
driving
your
οἶμον19
oîmon
path
δινεύμασιν20
dineúmasin
in the turnings
ἀπειρεσίου21
apeiresíou
of the boundless
ῥόμβου22
rhómbou
whirla bull-roarer's spin
, begetter of dawn on the right hand, of night on the left, holding the blending of the seasons, dancing on four-footed feet, swift runner, whirring one, fiery, bright-faced, charioteer, driving your path in the turnings of the boundless whirl,
begetter of dawn on the right hand, of night on the left, holding the blending of the seasons, dancing on four-footed feet, swift runner, whirring one, fiery, bright-faced, charioteer, driving your path in the turnings of the boundless whirl,
Interpretation
begetter of dawn on the right hand and of night on the left, holding the blend of the seasons, dancing on four-footed feet, swift runner, whirring one, fiery, bright-faced, charioteer, driving your path in the turnings of the boundless whirl,
Right and left here are directions in the sky. In the Iliad Hector speaks of birds that fly "to the right, toward the dawn and the sun, or to the left, toward the misty dark": for someone reading omens, the right meant the east. So the Sun is the father of dawn on the right and of night on the left. The word for left, euōnymos, means "of good name," because the left was the side of bad omens and Greeks preferred not to say its plain name. The "four-footed feet" are the hooves of the horses that draw his chariot.
8.8
The Orphic Hymns 8.8 · Golden-lyred, drawing the harmony of the world
The Sun guides the pious toward good things and rages against the impious. With his golden lyre he leads the world along its harmonious course.
· · ·
guide to good things for the pious, fierce to the impious, golden-lyred, drawing the harmonious course of the world, herald of good works, youth who brings on the seasons.