The Orphic Hymns, Hymn 55: Heavenly, laughter-loving, sea-born
The hymn to Aphrodite has no incense note. It opens with a long run of her titles, ending with the strangest: mother of Necessity.
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How it opens, word by word
ΕΙΣeisToΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗΝAphrodítēnAphrodite.ΟὐρανίηOuraníēHeavenly one,πολύυμνεpolýymnemuch-hymned,φιλομμειδὴςphilommeidḕslaughter-lovingἈφροδίτηAphrodítēAphrodite,ποντογενέςpontogenéssea-born,γενέτειραgenéteiramotherθεάtheágoddess,
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Hymn 55, passage by passage
- 55.1 Heavenly, laughter-loving, sea-born. To Aphrodite. Heavenly one, much-hymned, laughter-loving Aphrodite, sea-born, goddess and mother, lover of night-long…
- 55.4 All things are from you. for all things are from you; you yoked the world and you rule its…
- 55.8 Seen and unseen. delighting in feasts, maker of weddings, mother of desires, delighting in the marriage-bed through…
- 55.11 Unbridled necessities. bridal, companion at the feast, sceptre-bearer among the gods, wolfish one, giver of heirs,…
- 55.15 On Olympus or in Syria, rich in frankincense. Come, Cyprus-born, divine offspring, whether you are on Olympus, goddess and queen, rejoicing with…
- 55.18 Or in holy Egypt. or with your golden chariots on the plains of holy Egypt you keep its…
- 55.20 Over the swell of the sea. or, riding over the swell of the sea in a chariot drawn by swans,…
- 55.24 Cyprus, your nurse. or in Cyprus, queen, your nurse, where lovely unwed maidens and brides sing of…
- 55.27 I call you with holy words. Come, blessed goddess, in your most lovely form; for I call you with a…
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