Orphic Hymns

Hymn I addresses the goddess Prothyræa, called guard of the race and holder of Nature's key, invoked by women in labour pains as the one who alone gives relief where art fails; the speaker asks blessed Dian to make the infant race her care. A note explains Prothyræa as an epithet of Diana presiding over gates, and observes the collection opens with the goddess of birth and closes with Death, proving it complete. Hymn II calls Night, parent goddess and source of repose, from whom Gods and men arose, addressed as blessed Venus, ruler of dreams and shadow; the speaker asks her to dispel Twilight's fears. Hymn III invokes Heaven, father of all, encircling the world, progenitor of Time (noted as Saturn), and asks a blessing of divine life. Hymn IV addresses Fire, ruler of Jove's sky, from whom sun, moon, and stars derive light. Hymn V hails Protogonus, the first-born, egg-born, two-fold, named Ericapæus, Phanes, and Priapus. Hymn VI calls the Stars, progeny of Night, running in seven zones. Hymn VII addresses the Sun, golden Titan, called Immortal Jove, guide of good men and foe to the wicked. Hymn VIII invokes the Moon, bull-horned, female and male, hailed as Diana. Hymn IX addresses Nature, all-parent mother, called Justice, Parca, and architect divine, asked to grant seasons, wealth, peace, and health. Hymn X calls strong Pan, soul of the whole, goat-footed and horned, called serpent-horned Jove, before whom earth, sea, air, and fire submit; the speaker asks him to drive panic Fury from mankind. Notes identify Pan with the Universe and Protogonus.

Hymn XI addresses Hercules through frankincense, hailing him as an untamed Titan, father of Time, skilled in divination and athletic labor, an archer and deliverer who chases savage tribes, self-born, bearer of twelve labors, reigning among the Gods; the hymn asks him to convey mitigation of disease and disarm noxious fate. A note relates the Orphic doctrine of two worlds, cites Plotinus, Proclus, and Athenagoras, lists the progeny of the intellectual earth, and identifies Hercules with the Sun and Hyperion. Hymn XII invokes Saturn through storax as etherial father and Titan, husband of Rhea, source of forms, asking for a blameless life and blessed end. Hymn XIII calls Rhea, daughter of Protogonus, mother of Jove, drum-beating and lion-drawn, requesting abundance and the driving away of disease; notes explain her place between Saturn and Jupiter and Pierson's textual correction. Hymn XIV consecrates rites to Jupiter, all-parent and thunderer, seeking health and wealth. Hymn XV addresses Juno, aerial queen, mother of clouds and winds. Hymn XVI invokes Neptune, trident-bearer of the sea, the third division allotted by Fate, asking for peace and health. Hymn XVII calls Pluto, terrestrial Jove, keeper of earth's keys, recounting his seizure of Proserpine, his flight to Eleusina, and hiding the maid in the cave of Atthis. Hymns XVIII and XIX address Jove as thunderer and author of lightning. Hymn XX invokes the Clouds; Hymn XXI, Tethys the sea; Hymn XXII, Nereus with fifty nymphs; Hymn XXIII, the Nereids, followers of Triton who first disclosed the rites of Bacchus, Proserpine, Calliope, and Apollo. Hymn XXIV calls Proteus, keeper of the deep's keys. Hymn XXV addresses Earth; Hymn XXVI, the Mother of the Gods, identified with Vesta and Rhea. Hymn XXVII invokes Hermes, Maia's son, slayer of Argus, asking for graceful speech, peace, and memory.

Hymn XXVIII, to Proserpine, invokes her as daughter of Jove and wife of Pluto, only-begotten, source of life, dweller in earth's depths beside the gates of hell, source of the furies, mother of Bacchus, attended by the dancing Hours; she is called vernal queen, espoused in Autumn, holding power over life and death, and is asked to send fruits, Peace, Health, and abundance, and finally to dismiss the speaker willingly to Pluto's realms. A note reports Proclus stating that Orpheus calls Proserpine "Only-begotten," and another discusses "holy marriages" and Proserpine resting in Autumn, united with Pluto. Hymn XXIX, to Bacchus, calls him two-fold, first-born, thrice-begotten, born of Jove and Proserpine, asking for plenty and attention to prayer. Hymn XXX, to the Curetes, addresses leaping, dancing, armed guards of Proserpine, asking them to attend and defend the speaker's life. Hymn XXXI, to Pallas, invokes the only-begotten of Jove, warlike, sprung from Jove's head, over the Phlegrean giants, asking for peace, health, and wealth. Notes cite Proclus on three vivific monads and giants. Hymn XXXII, to Victory, invokes her power in battle to confer the crown, asking for protection and immortal Fame. Hymn XXXIII, to Apollo, addresses Pæan, slayer of Tityus, Python-destroying, whose lyre inspires Nature's music, seasons, and forms, asking him to save his mystics. Hymn XXXIV, to Latona, twin-bearing mother of Phœbus and Dian. Hymn XXXV, to Diana, huntress presiding over births, asking for fruits, Peace, and Health. Hymn XXXVI, to the Titans, ancestors dwelling in Tartarus, asked to avert their rage. Hymn XXXVII, to the Curetes, Salians of Samothracia, celebrated as winds nourishing and destroying mankind. Hymn XXXVIII, to Corybas, martial ruler who killed his brothers and transmuted Ceres' body into a dragon, asked to avert anger. Hymn XXXIX, to Ceres, universal mother, nurse, dweller in Eleusina, mother of Proserpine. Hymn XL, to the Ceralian Mother, who wandered grieving, found relief in Eleusina, discovering Proserpine in Avernus, with Bacchus attending; asked to bless her suppliant.

The span comprises hymns of invocation, each naming a fumigation. Hymn XLI calls Thesmophorus, or Mises, ineffable two-fold Iacchus, male and female, located variously in Phrygia, Cyprus, or Egypt with dark mother Isis. A note identifies Mises with Bacchus and Protogonus/Ericapæus, cites Plutarch, Proclus, and Macrobius, and states Orpheus was polytheist and monarchist. XLII addresses the Seasons, daughters of Jove and Themis, attending Proserpine led up to light with the Fates and Graces. XLIII invokes Semele, Cadmean mother of Bacchus, forced into light by Jove's thunder. XLIV calls Dionysius Bassareus, bull-faced, thunder-begotten. XLV invokes Liknitan Bacchus, nursed by Proserpine. XLVI addresses Bacchus Pericionius, who propped Cadmus's house. XLVII calls Sabasius, Saturn's offspring, who inserted Bacchus in his thigh. XLVIII invokes Ippa, nurse of Bacchus. XLIX addresses Lysius Lenæus, born of two mothers. L invokes the Nymphs, ocean-born nurses of Bacchus, dancing with Pan. LI calls Trietericus, bull-faced, Ericapæus, Protogonus; a note discusses the Sun. LII invokes Amphietus Bacchus, roused from Proserpine's abode. LIII addresses Silenus, Satyrs, and Bacchic priestesses. LIV invokes Venus, sea-born, joining the world in harmony, located in Syria, Egypt, or Cyprus. LV calls Adonis, sinking into Tartarus and rising. LVI addresses terrestrial Hermes, guide of souls, given the office by Proserpine. LVII invokes Cupid, keeper of the keys. LVIII calls the Fates Atropos, Lachesis, Clotho. LIX addresses the Graces Thalia, Aglaia, Euphrosyne. LX invokes Nemesis. LXI sings Justice by heaven's throne; a note cites Demosthenes quoting Orpheus.

Hymn LXII invokes Equity as friend of just conduct, who undermines unjust men, hates excess, and bounds wisdom and virtue; it asks her to destroy evil men's deeds so all mortals yield to her. Hymn LXIII addresses Law, the seal stamping earth and sea, propping the starry spheres, defending mortals, foe to the lawless; it asks that the speaker fix sight on right. Hymn LXIV calls Mars, delighting in blood and war, asking him to yield to Venus, Bacchus, and Ceres and encourage peace; a note cites Proclus that Mars excites contrarieties but needs Venus's aid. Hymn LXV addresses Vulcan as fire and pure element, asking him to suppress raging fires and preserve life's flame; a note cites Proclus on Vulcan adorning the universe with Venus's help. Hymn LXVI petitions Esculapius, Apollo's offspring, to bring Health and restrain pestilence. Hymn LXVII invokes Health, mother of all, whom Pluto alone resists. Hymn LXVIII calls the Furies—Tisiphone, Alecto, Megara—dwelling near Styx, asking them to suppress their rage. Hymn LXIX again invokes the Furies, born of terrestrial Jove and Proserpine. Hymn LXX calls Melinoe, born when Jove deceived Proserpine under Pluto's semblance, asking her to expel the soul's fears. Hymn LXXI invokes Fortune, identified with Trivia and Dian. Hymn LXXII calls the Dæmon or Genius, mild Jove. Hymn LXXIII invokes Leucothea, Cadmus's daughter and Bacchus's nurse, who saves ships. Hymn LXXIV addresses Palæmon, guardian of ships. Hymn LXXV invokes the Muses, naming the nine, with an extended note quoting Proclus on poetic forms. Hymn LXXVI calls Mnemosyne. Hymn LXXVII invokes Aurora. Hymn LXXVIII invokes Themis, source of oracles. Hymns LXXIX–LXXXI invoke the North, West, and South Winds. Hymn LXXXII calls Ocean, from whom gods and men arose.

Hymn LXXXIII addresses Vesta, daughter of Saturn, keeper of unwearied flame, seat of the Gods and basis of the mortal race, asking her to accept the rites and grant health. A note identifies Vesta as the earth and mother of the Gods, citing Philolaus and Simplicius. Hymn LXXXIV invokes Sleep, king of Gods and men, tamer of cares, who binds bodies and controls death's cares, and is called brother to death and Lethe. Hymn LXXXV invokes the Divinity of Dreams, source of oracles, who reveals future fates to the upright but turns from the wicked, and is asked to disclose signs. Hymn LXXXVI addresses Death, whose empire extends to all, sparing none, and prays for abundant age. A note quotes Porphyry on two kinds of death, then addresses the reader on translating Platonic philosophy.