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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 9, lines 1–3 · Hear, goddess, bull-horned Moon
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Hymn 9 · The Moon
ΣΕΛΗΝΗΣ, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα
Of the Moon · incense: aromatics
9.1
The Orphic Hymns 9.1 · Hear, goddess, bull-horned Moon
The Moon, called by both her names, Selene and Mene. She has horns like a bull, runs through the night, and carries a torch.
· · ·
ΣΕΛΗΝΗΣ1
Selḗnēs
Of the MoonSelene
. θυμίαμα2
thymíama
Incense
ἀρώματα3
arṓmata
aromatics
. Κλῦθι4
Klŷthi
Hear
, θεὰ5
theà
goddess
βασίλεια6
basíleia
queen
, φαεσφόρε7
phaesphóre
bringer of light
, δῖα8
dîa
divine
Σελήνη9
Selḗnē
SeleneMoon
, ταυρόκερως10
taurókerōs
bull-horned
Μήνη11
Mḗnē
MeneMoon
, νυκτιδρόμος12
nyktidrómos
running by night
, ἠεροφοῖτι13
ēerophoîti
roaming the air
, ἐννυχίη14
ennychíē
of the night
, δᾳδοῦχε15
daidoûche
torch-bearer
, κόρη16
kórē
maiden
, εὐάστερε17
euástere
fair star
, Μήνη18
Mḗnē
Mene
, Of the Moon. Incense: aromatics. Hear, goddess, queen, bringer of light, divine Selene, bull-horned Mene, running by night, roaming the air, of the night, torch-bearer, maiden, fair star, Mene,
Of the Moon. Incense: aromatics. Hear, goddess, queen, bringer of light, divine Selene, bull-horned Mene, running by night, roaming the air, of the night, torch-bearer, maiden, fair star, Mene,
Interpretation
Of the Moon. Incense: aromatics. Hear, goddess, queen, bringer of light, divine Selene, bull-horned Mene, running by night, roaming the air, goddess of the night, torch-bearer, maiden, fair star, Mene,
The bull's horns are the two points of the crescent moon. Daidouchos, "torch-bearer," was also the title of a priest: at Eleusis the dadouchos was one of the chief officers of the mysteries of Demeter, and he carried the torches in the rites, which were held at night. The Moon carries her torch through the night in the same way.
9.4
The Orphic Hymns 9.4 · Waxing and waning, female and male
The Moon grows and shrinks every month, and she is both female and male. She is the mother of time and brings the crops to fruit.
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waxing and waning, female and male, giver of light, lover of horses, mother of time, bringer of fruit, beaming one, heavy-hearted, illuminator, shining by night,