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Orphic Hymns · 13 of 86 · tr. Thomas Taylor

Hymn XIII. RHEA

XIII. TO RHEA * . The FUMIGATION from AROMATICS. DAUGHTER of great Protogonus, divine, 1 Illustrious Rhea, to my pray'r incline, p. 138 Who driv'st thy holy car with speed along, Drawn by fierce lions, terrible and strong. 4 Mother of Jove, whose mighty arm can wield 5 Th' avenging bolt, and shake the dreadful shield. Drum-beating, frantic, of a splendid mien, 7 Brass-sounding, honor'd, Saturn's blessed queen. Thou joy'st in mountains and tumultuous fight, And mankind's horrid howlings, thee delight. 10 p. 139 War's parent, mighty, of majestic frame, Deceitful saviour, liberating dame. 12 Mother of Gods and men, from whom the earth And lofty heav'ns derive their glorious birth; Th' ætherial gales, the deeply spreading sea 15 Goddess ærial form'd, proceed from thee. Come, pleas'd with wand'rings, blessed and divine, With peace attended on our labours shine; Bring rich abundance, and wherever found Drive dire disease, to earth's remotest bound. 20
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] Saturn is addressed with human characteristics such as 'Father', 'Husband', and possessing 'speech.'

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Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

[auto] The deity's power is described as 'ineffable' and beyond enclosure by parts.

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Demiurgecosmology

A secondary creator deity—often ignorant or malevolent—responsible for fashioning the material world, distinct from the supreme transcendent God.

The commentary identifies Jupiter as 'the demiurgus of the universe' who receives vivific power from Rhea.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

[auto] Saturn is identified as the 'Great fire of Gods and men,' equating divinity with luminous energy.

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Divine Simplicitytheology

The doctrine that God has no parts, divisions, or composite attributes; pure undivided being.

[auto] The text explicitly states 'No parts peculiar can thy pow'r enclose,' defining the deity as undivided.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

[auto] The footnotes explicitly detail a chain of divine beings flowing from Protogonus to Rhea to Saturn and Jupiter within intelligible orders.

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Fasting And Prayerpraxis

Ascetic disciplines that prepare the body and mind for spiritual receptivity or purification.

[auto] The passage explicitly requests the deity to attend to 'holy pray'rs' and 'sacred rites.'

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] The hymn petitions the deity to 'hear', 'attend', and be 'propitious' to prayers.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

[auto] The text is explicitly structured as an invocation asking the goddess to incline 'to my pray'r'.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

[auto] The passage describes forms being 'Consum'd by thee... By thee restor'd, their former place supply.'

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

[auto] The hymn title specifies fumigation and the deity is addressed as 'Great fire of Gods and men.'

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The text invokes specific divine titles like 'Saturn', 'Titan', and 'Rhea' for liturgical power.

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Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

[auto] Saturn is described as 'Diffus'd thro' all, from which the world arose,' indicating panentheistic unity.

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Related passages · 11 parallels
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