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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 80, lines 3–6 · Make all the sky clear
80.3
The Orphic Hymns 80.3 · Make all the sky clear
The prayer: break up the clouds and the rain, and let the bright sky shine on the earth again.
· · ·
τε1
te
and
λῦέ2
lŷé
break up
παννέφελον3
pannéphelon
the cloud-filled
στάσιν4
stásin
stillnessstanding
ὑγροκελεύθου5
hygrokeleúthou
of the moistwith wet paths
ἠέρος6
ēéros
air
, ῥιπίζων7
rhipízōn
fanning
ὀμβρηγενὲς8
ombrēgenès
the rain-born
ὕδωρ9
hýdōr
water
νοτεραῖς10
noteraîs
into damp
ἰκμάσι11
ikmási
spraymoisture
, τιθείς12
titheís
making
πάντα13
pánta
all things
αἴθρια14
aíthria
clear
, τεύχων15
teúchōn
making
θαλερόμματον16
thalerómmaton
the bright-eyed
αἰθέρα17
aithéra
skythe upper air
λάμπουσαν18
lámpousan
shine
ἐπὶ19
epì
upon
χθονὸς20
chthonòs
the earth
ἀκτῖσιν21
aktîsin
with the rays
ἠελίοιο22
ēelíoio
of the sun
. and break up the cloud-filled stillness of the moist air, fanning the rain-born water into damp spray, making all things clear, making the bright-eyed sky shine upon the earth with the rays of the sun.
and break up the cloud-filled stillness of the moist air, fanning the rain-born water into damp spray, making all things clear, making the bright-eyed sky shine upon the earth with the rays of the sun.
Interpretation
and break up the cloud-filled stillness of the moist air, fanning the rain-born water into damp spray, making all things clear, making the bright-eyed sky shine upon the earth with the rays of the sun.
The North Wind is cold, but in Greece it is also the wind that clears the sky. Aristotle calls the north winds aithrioi, "bringers of clear weather," and the hymn uses the same word: Boreas makes all things aithria, clear. The picture moves from a sky choked with standing cloud to an aithēr that is thalerommatos, "bright-eyed," lit by the sun. There is no mention of initiates here; the whole prayer is for clear weather.
81.1
The Orphic Hymns 81.1 · Sweet-breathing breezes of the West
The hymn to the West Wind, sung over frankincense. It is spoken to his breezes: soft spring airs that bring rest and fair sailing.
· · ·
Of Zephyros. Incense: frankincense. Sea-born breezes of the West Wind, roaming the air, sweet-breathing, whispering, holding rest from toil, of spring, of the meadows, longed for in harbors, drawing a gentle passage for ships, a light air;