This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to Kronos with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.


13. Κρόνου, - Kronos
θυμίαμα - incense
στύρακα. - storax

Ἀιθαλής, - smoke, soot, burning, blazing, smoky flame, thick smoke, burnt to ashes -or- evergreen, ever-blooming, ever-growing new shoots (bit of a difference)
μακάρων - happy, blessed
τε - too then
θεῶν - of the Gods and Goddesses
πάτερ - father
ἠδὲ - center
καὶ - and
ἀνδρῶν, - of humans

ποικιλόβουλ', - varied, complex, intricate (ποικιλό) + counsel, advise; purpose, will, determination; the Senate, counsel, Council (βουλ') 
ἀμίαντε, - arising above blemish/stain, pure
μεγασθενές, - mega, great (μεγα) + strength, might, bodily strength (σθενές) 
ἄλκιμε - stout, brave, mighty; fortifying, protector
Τιτάν· - Titan

ὃς - entity
δαπανᾶις - exhaust, consume, use up, destroy; outlay, expenditure, spend
μὲν - strong, mighty
ἅπαντα - above all
καὶ - and
αὔξεις - grow, increase, augment, grow up,  
ἔμπαλιν - "backwards, back, contrariwise, the opposite way, turn upside down, contrary to, the opposite, on the other hand" (this sounds inaccurate, I think "within all" sounds like a more accurate translations)
αὐτός· - alone, autonomous

δεσμοὺς - mooring cable, bond of union; spell, charm
ἀρρήκτους - "unbroken, not to be broken, invulnerable, unploughed" = arising above (ἀρ) + that can be broken or rent, penetrable (ρήκτους)
ὃς - entity
ἔχεις - have, hold, possess, fix firmly
κατ' - pure
ἀπείρονα - boundless, endless, without end
κόσμον·, - kosmos, universal order

αἰῶνος 
Κρόνε - Kronos, God of the Kore
παγγενέτωρ, - all-genitor, all-parent, all-father
Κρόνε - Kronos, Krone
ποικιλόμυθε· - various (ποικιλό) + myth, word, speech, discourse, public spe (μυθε) 
Γαίης - Gaia, Goddess of Generative Earth
τε - too then
βλάστημα - bud, sprout, offshoot, offspring, birth from
καὶ - and
Οὐρανοῦ - Oranos, God of the Sky/Heavens
ἀστερόεντος, - star, stars (ἀστερό) + filled (εντος) 

γέννα, - generator, birth, origin, creator
φυή, - nature, genius, produce of, growth, original form
μείωσι, - diminuation (opp. growth), waning, lessening, smaller, fewer
Ῥέας - Rea/Rhea, Goddess of the Four Roots
πόσι, - quantity, how much/many
σεμνὲ - solemn, revered, dignified
Προμηθεῦ, - Prometheus, God who molded humanity out of clay, provided humanity with torchlight/fire

ὃς - entity
ναίεις - prevailing over, dwelling in, inhabiting
κατὰ - pure
πάντα - all
μέρη - share, portion, lot, the part one takes in a thing
κόσμοιο, - cosmos, universal order
γενάρχα, - generative (γεν) + architect (άρχα) = founder of a family/race

ἀγκυλομῆτα, - crooked, curved, circuitous, hooked (ἀγκυλο) + μῆτα, 
φέριστε· - "bravest, best, better" probably: bearing (φέρ) + history (ιστε)
κλύων - call, release, unlock
ἱκετηρίδα - suppliants' (parade?)
φωνὴν, - sound of the voice, said, sung, uttered, cry

πέμποις - five, fifth
εὔολβον - essence pure whole life/happiness/well-being
βιότου - life extend
τέλος - completion, fulfillment
αἰὲν - eternal
ἄμεμπτον. - above reproach

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to Rhea with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.


14. Ῥέας, - Rea, Rhea, Goddess of the Root Elements
θυμίαμα - incense
ἀρώματα. - aromatic, spices

Πότνα - Potna, Queen
Ῥέα, - Rea, Rhea
θύγατερ - daughter
πολυμόρφου - of many- shaped
Πρωτογόνοιο, - Protogonus, bisexual Divinity of First Life

ἥτ’ - here then
ἐπὶ - upon
ταυροφόνων - bull (ταυρο) + slaughter/sacrifice (φόνων) 
ἱερότροχον - holy, sacred (ἱερό) + circling, wheel, circle (τροχον) 
ἅρμα - food; chariot; love
τιταίνεις, - stretch, draw at full stretch, pull

τυμπανόδουπε, - tympanum/drum (τυμπανό) + thud, heavy sound (δουπε) (stage directions for drum beat)
φιλοιστρομανές, - loving (φιλο) + Ister/Danube river, Istria (Croatia); -or- weaving/mast/anything set upright -or- history (ιστρο) + mania/porousness/passion/enthusiasm (μανές) ( perhaps loving whirling madness?(στρομανές)) (could be stage directions for whirling dance)
χαλκόκροτε - sounding or rattling with bronze instruments = bronze/copper (χαλκό) + rattling noise (κροτε) 
κούρη, - daughter, offspring, child

μῆτερ - mother
Ζηνὸς - of Zeus
ἄνακτος - ruler, king
Ὀλυμπίου, - of Olympos
αἰγιόχοιο, - aegean (αἰγι) + ox/foundation (όχοιο) 

πάντιμ', - all honored, all-honourable
ἀγλαόμορφε, - glorious shaped/formed
Κρόνου - of Kronos
σύλλεκτρε - partner of the bed, husband or wife, together in bed
μάκαιρα, - happy/blessed

οὔρεσιν - of the mountain, mountain-dwelling, with the mountains
ἣ - here
χαίρεις - charming, delighted
θνητῶν - mortals
τ' - too then
ὀλολύγμασι - loud cry of joy, esp. of women invoking a deity  
φρικτοῖς, - to be shuddered at, shudder inducing, awful, shudder in horror (more stage directions for some mega-wailing)

παμβασίλεια - Queen of All, Basis of All 
Ῥέα, - Rhea
πολεμόκλονε, - "raising the din of war" = war (πολεμό) + confused motion, turmoil, battle-rout, throng of spears (κλονε) 
ὀμβριμόθυμε, - raining -or- mighty (ὀμβριμό) + passion, spirit (θυμε)

ψευδομένη - pseudo, soul-of (ψευδο) + might, force (μένη)
σώτειρα, - savior
λυτηριάς, - delivering, loosing
ἀρχιγένεθλε· - arch-, chief, foundation of (ἀρχι) + generation, birth-giving, race, descent, offspring (γένεθλε) 

μήτηρ - mother 
μέν- strong, powerful 
τε - too then 
θεῶν - of Gods and Goddesses 
ἠδὲ - here directed
θνητῶν - of mortal 
ἀνθρώπων· - humans

ἐκ - essence come forth
σοῦ - thou
γὰρ - generate
καὶ - and
γαῖα - earth, Gaia, Goddess of Generative Earth 
καὶ - and 
οὐρανὸς - sky, Ouranos, God of Sky 
εὐρὺς - wide, broad, far-reaching = essence pure (εὐ) + flow (ρὺς) 
ὕπερθεν - above, over, upper

καὶ - and 
πόντος - potnos, ruler
πνοαί - breath, breeze, blast of air, wind (probably stage directions for wind)
τε -too then 
φιλόδρομε, - loving (φιλό) + the course, race (δρομε)
ἀερόμορφε· - air (ἀερό) + formed (μορφε)

ἐλθέ, - come
μάκαιρα - happy, blessed
θεά, - Goddess 
σωτήριος - savior
εὔφρονι - kindly, gracious, good natural disposition, of sound mind, reasonable = essence pure (εὔ) + intention, thought, wisdom, judgment, prudence (φρονι) 
βουλῆι, - counsel, Senate, advisor

εἰρήνην - Peace, Eirene, Goddess of Peace
κατάγουσα - pure (κατ) + august (άγουσα)
σὺν - together 
εὐόλβοις - "wealthy, prosperous" = essence pure (εὐ) whole (όλ) + basis/livelihood (βοις) 
κτεάτεσσιν, - possess (κτεά) + the four (roots) (τεσσιν) 

λύματα - cleanse, loosen impurities
καὶ - and 
κῆρας - defects; doom, death, plague, disease; heart, with all the heart; wax
πέμπουσ' - send forth, send away
ἐπὶ  - upon
τέρματα - the ends
γαίης. - of the earth, Gaia

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to Night with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.

In Hesiod’s Theogony (123-124), written circa 750 BCE, after Earth came forth from primordial Chaos, Chaos brought forth Darkness and Night. Night then brought forth Day, and Earth brought forth Heaven “to cover her on every side."


In this hymn, Night is described as the Goddess of passionate love, sleep, night-time festivities, dreams, rest from toil, astronomy, and the recurrence of daylight. It ends with a plea to forestall inevitable death, grant well-being, and banish fears until the light of day.   

From Theoi.com:

Statius, Thebaid 3. 406 ff : 
"(Night) came on, and laid to rest the cares of men and the prowlings of wild beasts, and wrapped the heavens in her dusky shroud, coming to all with kindly influence."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 25. 570 : 
"Quiet Nyx (Night) covered all the earth in her dark shades."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 742 : 
"Nyx (Night) threw her shadow on the world."

Aratus, Phaenomena 468 ff : 
"On a clear night, when Nyx (Night) in the heavens shows to men (sic) all her stars in their brightness..."

Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae 1075 (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.E.) :
"Oh! thou divine Nyx (Night)! how slowly thy chariot threads its way through the starry vault..."



3. Νυκτός, - Night, Goddess of Night
θυμίαμα - incense
δαλούς. - torch, beacon light

Νύκτα - Night, literally, "prevailing pure kore tension-force"
θεῶν - divine
γενέτειραν - geneteiran, mother, parent, creator; also, daughter
ἀείσομαι - eternal (ἀεί) + synchronized entity meta (σομαι) 
ἠδὲ - here; seen
καὶ - and
ἀνδρῶν. - manly?

Νὺξ - Night
γένεσις - genesis, creator 
πάντων, - of all 
ἣν - here
καὶ - and
Κύπριν - Cyprian, a name of Aphrodite, of Cyprus; love, passion
καλέσωμεν - call summon (καλέ) + embodied (σωμεν)

κλῦθι, - call, unlock, core loosen divine
μάκαιρα - happy, blessed
θεά, - Goddess
κυαναυγής, - cyan, dark, dark-blue (κυαν) + arising, light, light-giving (αυγής)
ἀστεροφεγγής,- starry (ἀστερο) + fire, burning, light, splendor (φεγγής,)

ἡσυχίῃι - rest, quiet, silence, stillness
χαίρουσα - take pleasure, rejoice
καὶ - and
ἠρεμίῃι - rest, quietude, bring to rest, stop
πολυύπνωι, - "sleeping much" = multi, many, poli )πολυ) + sleep (ύπνωι,) 
εὐφροσύνη, - mirth, merriment, glad thoughts, cheer = essence pure (εὐ) + mindful, wise, prudent, have understanding? (φροσύνη,) 
τερπνή, - delightful, pleasant, enjoyment
φιλοπάννυχε, - loving (φιλο) + all (πάν) + night (νυχε,) ="friend of all-night festivals" 
μῆτερ - mother
ὀνείρων, - of dreams

ληθομέριμν' - forget (ληθο) + care, thought, solicitude, anxiety (μέριμν') 
ἀγαθή - good, goodness
τε - too then
πόνων - work, hard work, toil, labor
ἀνάπαυσιν - arising (ἀνά) + pause (παυσιν) = repose, rest, relaxation, recreation 
ἔχουσα, - contain, have, hold, possess, hold fast

ὑπνοδότειρα, - sleep, hypno (ὑπνο) + gift giver (δότειρα) 
φίλη - loving
πάντων, - all
ἐλάσιππε, - horse-driving, horse-riding = come, march, ride (ἐλάσ) + by horse (ιππε) 
νυχαυγής, - night (νυχ) + rising, lit, shining (αυγής)

ἡμιτελής, - half-finished, half-complete = half (ἡμι) + complete, finished, resolved (τελής)
χθονία - earth
ἠδ' - already, by this time, now already
οὐρανία - sky, Ourania, Goddess of the Sky
πάλιν - return, back, again, once more, in turn, restore, circling, recur
αὐτή, - alone, autonomously

ἐγκυκλία, - circular, round, recurrent, revolving in a cycle, everyday, ordinary = essence generative, engender (ἐγ) + circle, circular, in a cycle (κυκλία) =circling egg
παίκτειρα = playful (παίκ) + wonder, marvel, sign, portent (τειρα) 
διώγμασιν - the chase, the hunt, pursuit (probably because the constellations appear to "chase" one another across the sky)
ἠεροφοίτοις, - air (ἠερο) + repeated going or coming, one who regularly goes or comes (φοίτοις) = air-traveler, air-traversing, air-walking

ἣ - center
φάος - light, especially daylight
ἐκπέμπεις - send out or forth from, bring out by calling, send out, send forth = essence core, from out of (ἐκ) + send (πέμπεις) 
ὑπὸ - beneath, under
νέρτερα - nether, belonging to the afterlife, underground
καὶ - and
πάλι - return, back, again, once more, in turn, restore, circling, recur
φεύγεις - flee, take flight (opp. chase); purpose or endeavor to get away

εἰς - is
Ἀίδην - the netherworld/afterlife, place of departed spirits, the grave; Adonis, Hades, God of the Afterlife
δεινὴ - marvelously strong, powerful
γὰρ - generate
ἀνάγκη - necessity, inevitability, Ananke, Goddess of Necessity
πάντα - all
κρατύνει. - rule, govern, strong, mighty, firm; confirm, harden, become stronger

νῦν - now, at present
δε, - of, from
μάκαιρα, - happy, blessed
(καλ)ῶ, - bring forth
πολυόλβιε, - whole life, blessings, prosperity, wealth = many, multi, poli (πολυ) + whole (όλ) + life (βιε)
πᾶσι - all
ποθεινή, - long for, desire

εὐάντητε, - gracious, accessible = essence pure (εὐ) + against, over against, on the opposite side, anti (άντη) + too then (τε) 
κλύουσα - call forth, release, unlock; "hear, give ear to"
ἱκετηρίδα - olive branch which suppliants held in hand as symbol of their condition, one who comes to seek aid or protection or purification, suppliant 
φωνὴν 

ἔλθοις - come, "essence loosen divine entity"
εὐμενέουσα, - gracious, kindly = essence pure (εὐ) + might, power (μενέ) + substance, essence (ουσα) φόβους - fearful, awe-ful, terrifying, phobic; prophetic, illuminating
δ' - of, from
ἀπόπεμπε - banish, exorcise, send away, dispatch
νυχαυγεῖς. - "shine by night" = night (νυχ) + light, arising light, morning light, dawn (αυγεῖς) 

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to Themis with the aid of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.




Themis is the Goddess of Divine Law and Right, a daughter of Earth and Sky. She is associated with Delphi and the divine proclamations of the priestess of Delphi. 




From Theoi.com:



Aeschylus, Eumenides 1 ff (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.E.) :
"The Pythia [prophetic priestess of the oracle at Delphoi, speaks] : `First, in this prayer of mine, I give the place of highest honor among the Gods and Goddesses to the first prophet, Gaia (Earth); and after her to Themis (Law), for she was the second to take this oracular seat of her mother, as legend tells. And in the third allotment, with Themis' consent and not by force, another Titanis, child of Khthon (Earth), Phoibe, took her seat here. She gave it as a birthday gift to Phoibos [Apollon].'





This hymn likely included a portrayal of the priestess of Delphi sitting upon a tripod over an opening in the earth from which mist emerged while revered leaders approach her for answers to their questions. It may have opened with Ouranos and Gaia (Themis' parents) on stage and included at some point the serpent "Python" of Delphi.
 

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 67. 3 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.E.) :
"Themis ... was the first to introduce divinations and sacrifices and ordinances which concern the Gods and Goddesses, and to instruct men (sic) in the ways of obedience to laws and of peace [lawfulness].


Themis is key to a stable, well-run society:

Bacchylides, Fragment 15 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.E.) :
"It is open to all men (sic) to reach unswerving Dike (Justice), the attendant of holy Eunomia (Good Order) and wise Themis (Divine Law); blessed are they whose sons (sic) choose her to share their home."


Euphorion of Chalcis, Fragments (trans. Page, Vol. Select Papyri III, No. 121 (2b)) (Greek Epic C3rd B.C.E.) :
"Send Eirene (Peace) with her prosperity to men! And in the market let him set Themis up, requiter of good deeds : and, beside her, Dike (Justice), who leaps up like a tiger at once in anger at the deeds of men (sic) upon whom she looks.









79. Θέμιδος, - of Themis, Goddess of Divine Law
θυμίαμα - incense
λίβανον. - of Lebanon

Οὐρανόπαιδ’ - Ouranos', God of Sky/Heavens (Οὐρανό)+ child (παιδ’) ἁγνὴν - pure
καλέω - call, summon, unlock
Θέμιν - Themis
εὐπατέρειαν, - "of a noble sire" = essence pure (εὐ) + father (πατέρειαν)

Γαίης - Gaia, Goddess of Earth
τὸ - too then
βλάστημα, - offspring, offshoot, sprout, embryo (Themis is child of Ouranos (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth))
νέην - new, youthful, girl, maiden
καλυκώπιδα - budding flower = flower-bud, beautiful (καλυ) + handle, handle of an oar (κώπιδα) 
κούρην, - daughter, child, offspring

ἣ - center
πρώτη - primary, first
κατέδειξε - discover and make known, make known, introduce = pure (κατέ) + show, prove, display, exhibit, offer, profer, make known, point out, portray, represent (δειξε) 
βροτοῖς - humans, mortals
μαντήιον - porous, manteion, divination, "oracle," presage, foretell, prophesy
ἁγνὸν - of pure

Δελφικῶι - Delphic, of Delphi
ἐν - in, within
κευθμῶνι - concealed, hidden, hiding place, hole, black vault, of the netherworld
θεμιστεύουσα - declare law and right; give law and right by way of answer or "oracle"
θεοῖσι - of the Gods and Goddesses, divine

Πυθίωι - Pythia, priestess of Delphi, from the foundation, base of a series, bottom, depth, root
ἐν - in, within
δαπέδωι, - ground, soil, floor of a chamber, ship deck, carpet/rug
ὅθι - where, whence, for what reason, whither
Πύθων - Python
ἐμβασίλευεν·- rules, is ruler, realm

ἣ - center
καὶ - and
Φοῖβον - of Phoibe, Goddess of the (Bright) Intellect
ἄνακτα - overturn, turn over, cycle, revolution; rebuild, refound, restore, regain; ruler; hold up, support
θεμιστοσύνας - the right, the law, upholding right, declare law and right, preserving justice, giving "oracles" = Themis/Law/Right (θεμισ) + so great, so vast, so much, so very, ever since, of so large a number (τοσύνας)
ἐδίδαξε· - instruct, teach, indicate, explain, point out, give sign of

πάντιμ’, - all (πάν) + having honor, hold in honor, dignity (τιμ’), = all-honorable
ἀγλαόμορφε, - glorious, beautiful, famous, splendid (ἀγλαό) + form, shape (μορφε) = "of beauteous form"
σεβάσμιε, - majestic, reverent, august, venerable
νυκτιπόλευτε· - night (νυκτι) + go about, range over, go over (plough), preside over (πόλευτε)

πρώτη - primary, first
γὰρ - generate
τελετὰς - rite, initiation, theological doctrine, mysteries; complete, fulfill, the end
ἁγίας - holy, sacred, pure
θνητοῖς - humans, mortals
ἀνέφηνας, - bring to light, produce, show forth, blaze up, proclaim, declare, bring, carry = arise, arise above (ἀ) + cloud (νέφηνας,) (possibly a reference to mists that come from hole in the earth which priestess sat over upon a tripod)

βακχιακὰς - of or belonging to Bacchos/Dionysos (God of Wine)
ἀνὰ - arising
νύκτας - night, night-time
ἐπευάζουσα - essence (ἐ) + ask, inquire, question (πευά) + of life? (ζουσα) 
ἄνακτα· -overturn, turn over, cycle, revolution; rebuild, refound, restore, regain; ruler; hold up, support

ἐκ - from out of, from
σέο - thou
γὰρ - generate
τιμαὶ - honor, dignity
μακάρων - happy, blessed
μυστήριά - mystery, sacred truth
θ’ - divine
ἁγνά. - pure

ἀλλά, - but
μάκαιρ’, - happy, blessed
ἔλθοις - come
κεχαρημένη - rejoice, be glad, take pleasure
εὔφρονι - "mirth, merriment, good cheer, cheerful, make glad, merry; kindly, gracious" = essence pure (εὔ) + mind, spirit, purpose, intention, thought, be minded, have understanding, be wise, prudent, think rightly, know full well, have certain thoughts toward, comprehend (φρονι) 
βουλῆι - deliberate, Council, Senate, resolution, give counsel

εὐιέρους - essence pure (εὐ) + holy (ιέρους) = holy, sacred, "fit for sacrifice" 
ἐπὶ - upon
μυστιπόλους - solemnizing mysteries, performing a mystic rite = mystery, mystic (μυστι) + many, multi, poli (πόλους) = many mysteries 
τελετὰς - rite, initiation, theological doctrine, mysteries; complete, fulfill, the end
σέο, - thou
κούρη. - daughter, youth, child  (many mystic children? many young initiates?)

From Theoi.com:


The principal feature in the traditions about Hermes consists in his being the herald of the Gods and Goddesses ... As the herald of the Gods and Goddesses, he is the God of skill in the use of speech and of eloquence in general, for the heralds are the public speakers in the assemblies and on other occasions. (Il. i. 333, iv. 193, vii. 279, 385, viii. 517, xi. 684; comp. Orph. Hymn. 27. 4; Aelian, H. A. x. 29; Hor.Carm. i. 10. 1.) As an adroit speaker, he was especially employed as messenger, when eloquence was required to attain the desired object. (Od. i. 38, Il. xxiv. 390; Hom.Hymn. in Cer. 335.) Hence the tongues of sacrificial animals were offered to him. (Aristoph. Pax, 1062; Athen. i. p. 16.) As heralds and messengers are usually men of prudence and circumspection,

Hermes was also the God of prudence and skill in all the relations of social intercourse. (Il. xx. 35, xxiv. 282, Od.ii. 38.) These qualities were combined with similar ones, such as cunning both in words and actions, and even fraud, perjury, and the inclination to steal; but acts of this kind were committed by Hermes always with a certain skill, dexterity, and even gracefulness. Examples occur in the Homeric hymn on Hermes (66, 260, 383; comp. Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1337; Hom. Il. v. 390, xxiv. 24; Apollod. i. 6. § 3).

Being endowed with this shrewdness and sagacity, he was regarded as the author of a variety of inventions, and, besides the lyre and syrinx, he is said to have invented the alphabet, numbers, astronomy, music, the art of fighting, gymnastics, the cultivation of the olive tree, measures, weights, and many other things. (Plut.Sympos. ix. 3; Diod. l.c. and v. 75; Hygin. Fab. 277.) The powers which he possessed himself he conferred upon those mortals and heroes who enjoyed his favour...

Another important function of Hermes was to conduct the souls of the dead from the upper into the lower world, whence he is called psuchopompos, nekropomtos, psuchagôgos, &c. (Hom. Od. xxiv. 1, 9, Hymn. in Cer. 379, &c.; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 561; Diog. Laërt. viii. 31; Hygin. Fab. 251.)

The idea of his being the herald and messenger of the Gods and Goddesses, of his travelling from place to place and concluding treaties, necessarily implied the notion that he was the promoter of social intercourse and of commerce among people, and that he was friendly towards humans. (Od. xix. 135, Il. xxiv. 333.) In this capacity he was regarded as the maintainer of peace, and as the God of roads, who protected travellers, and punished those who refused to assist travellers who had mistaken their way. (Il. vii. 277, &c.; Theocrit. xxv. 5; Aristoph. Plut. 1159.) Hence the Athenian generals, on setting out on an expedition, offered sacrifices to Hermes, surnamed Hegemonius, or Agetor; and numerous statues of the God were erected on roads, at doors and gates, from which circumstance he derived a variety of surnames and epithets...

Another important function of Hermes was his being the patron of all the gymnastic games of the Greeks.






28. Ἑρμοῦ, - Hermes (Latin: Mercury), God of Interpretation, Translation, Go-Betweens, Communication, Travel, Herald of the Gods and Goddesses, literally: "essence flow-of meta"
θυμίαμα - incense
λίβανον. - of Lebanon, frankincense

Κλῦθί - call, unlock, core loosen; "hear, give ear to, attend to; to be called or spoken of;" literally "core loosen"
μου, - channel, meta entity
Ἑρμεία, - Hermes, Messenger, Herald, Escort of the Gods and Goddesses
Διὸς - Divine, divine power
ἄγγελε, - one that announces or tells, messenger, envoy, angel, announce, report, bring news
Μαιάδος - of Maia, Goddess of Midwifery; Maia's power, cause delivery/birth to take place (Hermes is the son of Maia)
υἱέ, - child, son, inheritor of the nature of the divine, pure divine-power essence

παγκρατὲς - all-powerful, all-ruler
ἦτορ - heart
ἔχων, - hold fast, possess, essence-of foundation
ἐναγώνιε, - in, within, of, for, among (ἐν) + contest, compete, debate, struggle, struggle for victory gathering, assembly, place of contests, assembly at the national games, (literally: arising corners, at angles) (αγώνιε) 
κοίρανε - rule, command, sovereign, lord, master
θνητῶν, - of mortals

εὔφρων, - "cheerful, merry; kindly, gracious; of sound mind, reasonable" = essence pure (εὔ) + watch, guard; deep thinker; care, consideration, take heed, think, care, consideration, thought, attention, reflection, meditation (φρων)ποικιλόβουλε, = various, changeful, diverse (ποικιλό) + counsel, advise; deliberation, consideration; will, determination especially of the Gods and Goddesses; the Senate (βουλε) 
διάκτορε - "minister, messenger" = throughout (διά) + core (κ) + pierce, bore, drill, bore through (τορε) 
ἀργειφόντα, - Argive/Greek; bright, shining, white; idle, unemployed (ἀργει) + bloody; murder, slay (φόντα) = "slayer of Argus" (Hermes slew Argos, the many-eyed guard of the Goddess Io)

πτηνοπέδιλε, - flying, winged, winged creatures (πτηνο) + sandals, shoes, boots (πέδιλε) = "with winged sandals"
φίλανδρε, - loving (φίλ) + men, the male sex, male qualities (ανδρε) = love of the male sex, love of a husband
λόγου - statement of a theory, explanation, logic, account, reckoning
θνητοῖσι - mortals
προφῆτα, - before (προ) + fate (φῆτα) = interpreter of the Gods and Goddesses, expounder of the will of the Gods and Goddesses

γυμνάσιν - exercise, of the gymnasium
ὃς - entity
χαίρεις - rejoice, be glad, take pleasure in
δολίαις - crafty, deceitful, treacherous, stealthy, strategic, subtle
τ' - too then
ἀπάταις, - cheat, deceive, fraud, trick
τροφιοῦχε, - feed, rear, nurse, provide for (τροφι) + whole, complete (οῦχε)

ἑρμηνεῦ - interpretation, explanation, translation, expression
πάντων, - of all
κερδέμπορε, - horn of an animal (κερ) + bodily frame, construct (δέμ) + furnish, offer, give; Fate, Destiny; means of passage, path, bridge (πορε)
λυσιμέριμνε, - let loose, release, deliver (λυσι) + care, anxiety, object of care or thought (μέριμνε) 

ὃς - entity
χείρεσσιν - the hand, hand, paw (χείρ) + essence (εσσιν) 
ἔχεις - have, hold, possess, hold fast
εἰρήνης - of peace, Eirene, Goddess of Peace (literally: "essence (of) divine-power flow-of shared-center prevailing shared-center"
ὅπλον - tool, implement, weapon
ἀμεμφές, - above reproach/blame/censure; blameless

Κωρυκιῶτα, - bag, sack (Κωρυκ) + line, stroke, the letter I (ιῶτα) = Kore/Daughter (Κωρυ) + go (κιῶ) + τα = "of the Corycus promontory; of the Corycian cave of Mount Parnassos near Delphi"
μάκαρ, - happy, blessed
ἐριούνιε, - "of uncertain meaning, perhaps speedy or thieving;" = wool (ἐριού) + prevailing (νιε) ?perhaps "wrapped in wool?" 
ποικιλόμυθε, - various, diverse (ποικιλό) + myth, tale, story, narrative, word, speech, thing said (μυθε) 

ἐργασίαις - work, business, labor, working at, making, manufacture, practice, exercise, produce
ἐπαρωγέ, - help, aid
φίλε - love of
θνητοῖς - mortals
ἐν - in, within
ἀνάγκαις, - necessity, natural need, compulsion, laws of nature, distress, Ananke, Goddess of Necessity

γλώσσης - tongue, tongue as the organ of speech, talking, language/dialect
δεινὸν - marvelously strong, powerful; clever, skillful; terrible, awe-ful; danger
ὅπλον - tool, implement, weapon
τὸ - too then
σεβάσμιον - reverent, honored, venerable, august; that for which awe is felt, an object of awe or worship
ἀνθρώποισι· - human, humans, humanity

κλῦθί - call, unlock, core loosen; "hear, give ear to, attend to; to be called or spoken of"
μου - channel, meta entity (note echo of beginning of hymn)
εὐχομένου, - pray for, long or wish for, pray, utter in prayer = pray for (εὐχο) + mighty, strong (μένου)
βιότου - means of living, life
τέλος - complete, fulfill, end
ἐσθλὸν - good, noble, good, goodness
ὀπάζων - send with, give, take with, add, be with, take as a companion

ἐργασίῃσι, -work, business, labor, working at, making, manufacture, practice, exercise, produce
λόγου -statement of a theory, explanation, logic, account, reckoning
χάρισιν, - rejoice at, be glad, take pleasure in, be grateful, give thanks
καὶ - and
μνημοσύνῃσιν. - remember, Mnemosyne, Goddess of Memory



Further notes:

Hermes is said to have provided an escape for Phrixos and Helle on the ram with the golden fleece (from Theoi.com):

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"The oracle prophesied an end to the dearth if Phrixos were to be sacrificed to Zeus. When Athamas heard this and was pressured by the joint efforts of the inhabitants, he had Phrixos placed on the altar. But Nephele seized both him and her daughter, and gave them a golden-fleeced ram which she had received from Hermes, by which they were borne through the sky over and across the land and the sea."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2. 1141 ff : 
"[Argos addresses his fellow Argonauts :] `An Aeolid called Phrixos came to Aea from Hellas. He reached Aeetes’ city on the back of a ram which Hermes had turned into gold - you can still see its fleece, spread on the leafy branches of an oak."
 

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to the Meter Theon, Mother of the Gods and Goddesses, with the aid of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.


27. Μητρὸς - Mother
θεῶν, - of the Gods and Goddesses; Meter Theon also Mother Goddess
θυμίαμα - incense
ποικίλα. - various, of many kinds

Ἀθανάτων - Immortal
θεότιμε - divine (θεό) + honor, dignity, highly honored (τιμε)θεῶν - of the/among the Gods and Goddesses
μῆτερ, - Mother
τροφὲ - nourishing, providing, feeding, rearing
πάντων, - all

τῇιδε - of or from Teos? (one of the 12 cities that formed the Ionian League, location of a temple of Dionysos) here/there (τῇ) + Ida (ιδε)?; just "here"
μόλοις, - made of lead? dance or rhythmic movement with song? stain/sully/defile/taint? "meta entity loosen"
κράντειρα - ruler, sovereign, queen, one that accomplishes
θεά, - Goddess
σέο, - thou
πότνι’, - Potnia, title of honor, used chiefly in addressing females, whether Goddesses or women, Queen, revered, august
ἐπ' - upon
εὐχαῖς, - prayer, vow, votive offering, wish = essence pure (εὐ) + genuine, true, good (χαῖς) 

ταυροφόνων - bull, taurus (ταυρο) + slaughtering, slaying (φόνων) 
ζεύξασα - spark essence pure (ζεύ) + detached-from arising (ξασα) = unwed
ταχύδρομον - quick, speedy, fast, swift (ταχύ) + course (δρομον) 
ἅρμα - chariot, especially war-chariot 
λεόντων, - of lions, a month at Alexandria, a chariot pulled by lions ("In a chariot pulled by lions" is an epithet of the Meter Theon because the constellation Virgo follows the constellation Leo and Virgo is the constellation for the Divine Mother)

σκηπτοῦχε - bearing a staff or scepter as the badge of command
κλεινοῖο - famous, renowned, well-known
πόλου, - multi, many, poli, abundant
πολυώνυμε, - multi, many, poli (πολυ) + named (ώνυμε,)
σεμνή, - solemn, revered, august, great

ἣ - center
κατέχεις - hold fast; possess, occupy
κόσμοιο - the cosmos, universal order
μέσον - in the middle
θρόνον, - throne
οὕνεκεν - on account of which, wherefore, because
αὐτὴ - alone, autonomous

γαῖαν - Earth's
ἔχεις - foundation, have, hold, possess, have charge of, hold fast
θνητοῖσι - mortals
τροφὰς - nurturer, feeder, provider for, rearer
παρέχουσα - provide, hand over, present or offer, yield, allow, grant, supply of oneself = having to do with (παρ) + containing, surrounding, holding, possessing, having (έχουσα)
προσηνεῖς. - "mildness, softness, ease or comfort, soothing, soft, gentle" = before (προ) + reins, bridle reins; start, set out; bear, carry; praise, approve, glorify; windy, airy; synchronized/together center prevailing essence-of divine-power synchronized-contraction (σηνεῖς.) 

ἐκ - out of, forth from
σέο - thou
δ' - of, from
ἀθανάτων - immortals
τε - too then
γένος - born, generated
θνητῶν - mortal
τ' - too then
ἐλοχεύθη, - of the midwife, bring to the birth, deliver, essence loosen entity foundation

σοὶ - thou
ποταμοὶ - rivers, streams
κρατέονται - rule, hold sway, rule over
ἀεὶ - eternally
καὶ - and
πᾶσα - all 
θάλασσα, - seas, Thalassa, Goddess of the Sea

Ἑστία - Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth/Altar Fire
αὐδαχθεῖσα· - audible, utter sounds, speak to, address (αὐδα) + foundation divine (χθεῖσα·) 
σὲ - synchronized essence 
δ' - of, from
ὀλβοδότιν - whole-life/basis (ὀλβο) + giving (δότιν) = "giver of bliss or wealth"
καλέουσι, - call by name

παντοίων - all of
ἀγαθῶν - pure
θνητοῖς - mortals
ὅτι - for what, wherefore, with regard to the fact that, entity stretch/extend
δῶρα - giver
χαρίζῃ, - of Grace, grant favors, give graciously or cheerfully

ἔρχεο - start, set out, walk, come to, arrive at, of any kind of motion: rise, go; essence outflow-of foundation
πρὸς - before
τελετήν, - completion, fulfillment, end
ὦ - bring-forth
πότνια, - Queen, Goddess, Potnia
τυμπανοτερπής, - "delighting in drums" = timpanum (τυμπανο) + delight, gladden, cheer (τερπής,) 

πανδαμάτωρ, - all (παν) + Demeter, mother, directing mother (δαμάτωρ) = "all dominator"
Φρυγίης, - Phrygian, modern Turkey
σώτειρα, - savior
Κρόνου - Kronos
συνόμευνε, - together (συν) + sleeping together, partner of the bed (όμευνε) = consort, in consort with
Οὐρανόπαι, - "child of Ouranos"
πρέσβειρα, - presbeira, elder, revered elder
βιοθρέπτειρα, - life (βιο) + nurse, feeder, rearer (θρέπτειρα) 
φίλοιστρε· - loving knowledge = loving (φίλο) + history, Istria, Ister, Danube (ιστρε) 

ἔρχεο - come or go, come to, arrive at; start, set out
γηθόσυνος, - "joyful, glad" = earth (γη) + divine (θό) + together (συνος) 
κεχαρημένη - "rejoice, be glad"
εὐσεβίηισιν. - essence pure (εὐ) + venerable, revered, august (σεβίηισιν) 

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to the Korybantes with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.


This hymn likely utilized many special effects in the theater's bag of tricks, with terrifying images appearing and disappearing, things transforming from one thing into another, extraordinarily loud sounds.

First, the militaristic Korybantes appear, perhaps as part of an enacted funeral procession. Then, a terrifying phantom image appears and the Korybantes scatter in terror? The image changes into different shapes, morphs into two, then into many blood-red images that morph back and forth into wild beasts and snake-like creatures. Finally, a loud sound dispatches the images and terrifying/astounding images of Psyche (Goddess of the Soul) and Ananke (Goddess of Inevitability) appear.

The Overture's reference to the Korybantes is sandwiched in between reference to the Kouretes (warrior dancers often assigned the role of drowning out the sounds of childbirth and crying infants) and reference to the Kabeiri (Deities of Creation). 

Kabeiria (καβείρια) are immortal deities of creation, as described by William Smith (William Smith, William Wayte, and G. E. Marindin, eds., A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (London: John Murray, 1890), 321):

“. . . the Cabeiri themselves do appear to be symbols of the creation of the world. From the primeval mother emanate or differentiate themselves two elements, matter (earth) and force (especially fire, celestial and terrestrial) . . . and by the action of the former on the latter the ordered world is generated.” 

William Smith’s A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities provides a description of the Kabeiria (καβείρια) deities: the Mother (Demeter), her Daughter (Persephone) her Son (Hades/Pluto), and Hermes (God of Communication/Transition):

“CABEIRIA (καβείρια), the mysteries of the Pelasgic Cabeiri, were celebrated in the islands stretching from Euboea to the Hellespont, in the volcanic Lemnos, Imbros, and most of all in Samothrace. We also find them on the adjacent coasts of Europe and Asia Minor, at Thebes and Andania in Greece; and we even hear of their worship as being solemnized in an island near Britain.

“Like the Eleusinia, an almost complete secrecy had been maintained as to the ceremonies and teaching of these mysteries. Yet we know the names of the [G]ods [and Goddesses] . . . they are four in number . . . The names of the Samothracian Cabeiri . . . are Axieros ( = Demeter), Axiokersa ( = Persephone), Axiokersos ( = Hades/Pluto), Casmilos ( = Hermes) . . . Axiokersos (Hades) appears further as Zeus, Uranus, Jupiter, Apollo, Dionysus-Liber; and Casmilos (Hermes) as Mercurius or Eros . . .

“The group is a primal mother [G]oddess, issue of whom are two divinities, a male and a female (Hades and Persephone), from whom again springs a fourth, Casmilos (Hermes), the orderer of the universe.

“ . . . Throughout the Roman period the Cabeiric mysteries were held in high estimation, second only to the Eleusinian . . .

“. . . As in all mysteries, the votary must be purified in body and mind before initiation . . . Women and children appear to have been admitted as well as men. Of the religious ceremonies themselves we may say we know nothing . . . We hear of dances . . . But the whole matter is quite obscure and unsettled.

“The Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius tells us that the initiated wore a purple band round their waist . . . Diodorus further says . . . that those who were initiated became more pious, more righteous, and in every respect better than they were before . . .

“The initiation at Samothrace took place at any time from May to September, in this differing from the Eleusinian and more resembling the Orphic mysteries.

“. . . the Cabeiri themselves do appear to be symbols of the creation of the world. From the primeval mother emanate or differentiate themselves two elements, matter (earth) and force (especially fire, celestial and terrestrial) . . . and by the action of the former on the latter the ordered world is generated.”

(William Smith, William Wayte, and G. E. Marindin, editors. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (London: John Murray, 1890) 319-321.) http://books.google.com/books?id=7h1XAAAAMAAJ&q=mother#v=snippet&q=mother&f=false )


From Theoi.com:

THE SAMOTHRAKIAN KORYBANTES (or Corybantes) were seven daimones who presided over the Korybantic dance of the Mysteries of Samothrake. The korybas was an orgiastic dance performed by armoured men with clashing spear and shield, accompanied by the beat of tambourines and drums and the cries of the mystic devotees. The Samothrakian Korybantes were barely distinguished from the Kabeiroi, another set of orgiastic daimones who presided over the Mysteries. Often the two Kabeiroi sons of Hephaistos (Volcano God) were combined with the seven Korybant sons of Apollon (God of Inspiration) to form a Mystery-chorus of nine.


Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 64. 3 : 
"But some historians, and Ephoros is one of them, record that the Daktyloi Idaioi (Idaean Dactys) [i.e. the Kabeiroi or Korybantes] were in fact born on the Mt Ide which is in Phrygia and passed over to Europe together with Mygdon; and since they were wizards (gonta), they practised charms and initiatory rites and mysteries, and in the course of a sojourn in Samothrake they [as Kabeiroi or Korybantes] amazed the natives of that island not a little by their skill in such matters. And it was at this time, we are further told, that Orpheus, who was endowed with an exceptional gift of poesy and song, also became a pupil of theirs, and he was subsequently the first to introduce initiatory rites and Mysteries to the Greeks."

Strabo, Geography 10. 3. 20 - 22 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C.E. to C1st CE.) :
"The Skepsian [Demetrius of Scepsis C2nd B.C.E.] says that it is probable that the Kouretes (Curetes) and the Korybantes (Corybantes) were the same, being those who had been accepted as young men, or ‘youths,’ for the war-dance in connection with the holy rites of the Mother of the Gods [Rhea], and also as korybantes from the fact that they ‘walked with a butting of their heads’ in a dancing way... And because the Korybantes are inclined to dancing and to religious frenzy, we say of those who are stirred with frenzy that they are ‘korybantising.’"

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 15. 65 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th CE.) :
"The orgies of the carryshield Korybantes (Corybantes), twirling their steps for the dance-in-armour, and all in a whirl the shields were beaten by alternate thump of hand or the plunging of iron."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 3. 61 ff : 
"Already the bird of morning was cutting the air with loud cries [on the island of Samothrake]; already the helmeted bands of desert-haunting Korybantes were beating on their shields in the Knossian dance, and leaping with rhythmic steps, and the oxhides thudded under the blows of the iron as they whirled them about in rivalry, while the double pipe made music, and quickened the dancers with its rollicking tune in time to the bounding steps. Aye, and the trees whispered, the rocks boomed, the forests held jubilee with their intelligent movings and shakings, and the Dryades did sing. Packs of bears joined the dance, skipping and wheeling face to face; lions with a roar from emulous throats mimicked the triumphant cry of the priests of the Kabeiroi (Cabeiri), 

Suidas s.v. All' ei tis humôn en Samothraikei memuemenos esti : 
"In Samothrake there were certain initiation-rites, which they supposed efficacious as a charm against certain dangers. In that place were also the mysteries of the Korybantes (Corybantes) and those of Hekate ... The initiates supposed that these things save [them] from terrors and from storms.  


****

39. Κορύβαντος, - Korybantos
θυμίαμα - incense
λίβανον. - of Lebanon/frankincense

Κικλήσκω - call, summon, invite, invoke, implore, call by name
χθονὸς - chthonic, of the earth, of the foundation
ἀενάου - ever-flowing, everlasting
βασιλῆα - Basilea, basis, rulers, royal, kingly, queenly
μέγιστον, - majestic, mega, great, mighty

Κύρβαντ' - Kurbant, shortened form of Korybantes; having power or authority over, supreme (Κύρ) + walk, step, stand; military standard, company of infantry, military area; standard-bearer (βαντ'); triangular tablets forming a three-sided pyramid turning on a pivot upon which the early laws were inscribed; Persian bonnet or hat with peaked crown, probably much like the tiara 
ὀλβιόμοιρον, - happy fate, whole life fate/destiny; blessed lot
Ἀρήιον, - of Ares, God of war/destruction, devoted to Ares, warlike
ἀπροσόρατον, - arising (ἀ) + before (προ) + coffin, vessel for holding human remains, cinerary urn, mummy (σόρατον) 

νυκτερινὸν - nightly, by night; a kind of musical composition for the flute, used in Dionysiac worship
Κουρῆτα, - Kouretes, warrior dancing youths
φόβων - phobia, terrifying, alarming, be seized with fear, in terror, cause of fear
ἀποπαύστορα - stop or hinder, make to cease from, stop, check = inspire (ἀπο) + pause (παύσ) + pierce, drill; of sound: piercing, trilling (τορα) 
δεινῶν, - fearful, terrible, awful, suffering, horror, dangerous, complain, be indignant, marvelously strong, powerful, mighty, wonderful, clever, skillful

φαντασιῶν - phantasion, fantastic, phantasm, form images, bring images before the mind, apparition, phantom
ἐπαρωγόν, - helper, aider, efficacious = upon (ἐπ) + aiding, succouring, serviceable, useful, helper in battle, advocate, defender (αρωγόν)
ἐρημοπλάνον - "wandering alone" = desolate, lonely, solitary; empty; bereft, void or destitute of; abandon, desert, isolate (ἐρημο) + irregular, leading astray, deceiving; wandering, roaming; wander, go astray (basis for the word planets because of their erratic paths) (πλάνον) 
Κορύβαντα, - Korybantes

αἰολόμορφον - variegated, changeful, glittering, shifty, quick-fluttering, glittering, shift rapidly to and fro, varied (αἰολό) + form, shape, morph (μορφον)
ἄνακτα, - regain, restore, recover, rebuild
θεὸν - divine
διφυῆ, - of double nature or form, twofold, two formed
πολύμορφον, - poly, multi, many (πολύ) form (μορφον) = multiform, manifold, versatile 

φοίνιον, - like blood, blood-red, bloody
αἱμαχθέντα - make bloody, stain with blood, (αἱμα) + yesterday (χθέντα) 
κασιγνήτων - siblings born from the same mother, brothers, sisters; born of the same bed (κασ)
ὑπὸ - beneath, under
δισσῶν, - twofold, double

Δηοῦς - Demeter
ὃς - entity
γνώμαισιν - means of knowing, organ by which one perceives or knows, though, judgment, gnowledge, opinion, intention, purpose, resolve
ἐνήλλαξας - alternately, exchange
δέμας - bodily frame, the living body, corpse, form, bundle
ἁγνόν, - pure

θηρότυπον - in the form of a beast = beast, wild animal, hunted animal (θηρό) + type (τυπον) 
θέμενος - lawful, justice, right, 
μορφὴν - form
δνοφεροῖο - dark, murky, dusk, gloom
δράκοντος· - dragon, snake, serpent

κλῦθι, - call
μάκαρ, - happy, blessed
φωνῶν, - produce a sound or tone, phonic, speak loud or clearly, utter, sound
χαλεπὴν - be violent, angry, embittered, provoked, provoked, embittered
δ' - of, from
ἀποπέμπεο - send off or away, dispatch, dismiss, send away 
μῆνιν, - wrath, revenge, anger, revengeful temper

παύων - make to end, pause, check, stop, abate, hinder, keep back
φαντασίας, - phantasm, apparition, images, vision dream
ψυχῆς - Psyche, Goddess of the soul
ἐκπλήκτου - terrifying, astounding
ἀνάγκας. - Ananke, Goddess of necessity/what must be/the inevitable/the compulsory; bodily pain/anguish/distress/torture

This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to the Kouretes with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.


The Kouretes are armed dancers who make a loud clashing noise of swords and armor.


Kouretes (Κουρῆτες) is defined in the Lexicon as young men, especially young warriors. The base term, Kour- (Κουρ-) means youth, child, son, daughter. The Lexicon adds to its definition "armed dancers who celebrated orgiastic rites; at Ephesus, religious college of six members; a Pythagorean name for 9."
  
Legends tell of Kouretes dancing and making noise to conceal the birth of babies (Zeus, Apollo, Artemis) whom others wished to harm.


This Hymn would have been very loud and lively, with warriors in full armor leaping and dancing and clashing their armor noisily.


From Theoi.com:


Strabo, Geography 14. 1. 20 : "On the same coast [i.e. near Ephesos in Asia Minor], slightly above the sea, is also Ortygia, which is a magnificent grove of all kinds of trees, of the cypress most of all...Above the grove lies Mount Solmissos, where, it is said, the Kouretes stationed themselves, and with the din of their arms frightened Hera out of her wits when she was jealously spying on Leto, and when they helped Leto to conceal from Hera the birth of her children."

Thaletas, Fragment 10 (from Scholiast on Pindar) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C7th B.C.E.) :
"The dance in armour was first invented and danced by the Kouretes."


Pliny the Elder, Natural History 7. 204 (trans. Rackham) (Roman encyclopedia C1st CE.) :
"The Curetes taught dancing in armour,



Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 65. 1 : 
"The Kouretes also invented swords and helmets and the war-dance, by means of which they raised a great alarum and deceived Kronos."


Strabo, Geography 10. 3. 11 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C.E. to C1st CE.) :
"Kouretes, young men who executed movements in armour, accompanied by dancing...the Kouretes, who, by surrounding the [G]oddess with tambourines and similar noisy instruments and with war-dance and uproar, were supposed to strike terror into Kronos and without his knowledge to steal his child away



Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 4- 5 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd CE.) :
"the armed Kouretes stood guard over (Zeus) in the cave, banging their spears against their shields to prevent Kronos from hearing the infant’s voice."


Statius, Thebaid 4. 782 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :
"The Berecyntian mother [Rhea], while she bids the Curetes leap in excited dance around the infant Thunderer [Zeus]; their cymbals clash in emulous frenzy,


Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 65. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.E.) :
"Nine Kouretes (Curetes). Some writers of myths relate that these [G]ods were born of the Gaia (the Earth)."




Strabo, Geography 10. 3. 19 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C.E. to C1st CE.) :
"And the author of Phoronis speaks of the Kouretes . . . as earth-born (gigantes)."




Toward the end of the hymn, there is some indication that the Kouretes may have been charged with securing the sacrificial bull.




31. Ὕπνος - Hymn
Κουρήτων - of Kouretes
Ι. 

Σκιρτηταὶ - Leaping
Κουρῆτες, - Kouretes
ἐνόπλια - in arms, armed, 
βήματα - step, pace, measure by paces, march
θέντες, - strike (with the palm of the hand, flat of the foot); motion from a place

ποσσίκροτοι, - strike with the foot (in dancing)
ῥομβηταί, - spun round like a rhombus (bull-roarer), whirled about
ὀρέστεροι, - of the mountains; mountainous, hilly; living on mountains, mountain-bred; epithet of a snake, wolves, lions
εὐαστῆρες, - rich in stars, starry = essence pure (εὐ) + stars (αστῆρες)

κρουσιλύραι, - striking the lyre = strike, playing a stringed instrument (κρουσι) + lyres (λύραι)
παράρυθμοι, - "irregular" = having to do with (παρά) + rhythm (ρυθμοι) = somewhat? rhythmically
ἐπεμβάται - "one mounted, horsebackrider; one who walks on or in" = upon, in (ἐπεμ) + step (βάται) = marching in step
ἴχνεσι - track, route, footprints
κούφοι, - light, nimble (These are likely stage directions for the actors to march rhythmically instep in a light, nimble way while playing lyres.)

ὁπλοφόροι, - bearing arms, armed soldiers = arms, armor (ὁπλο) + bearing (φόροι)
φύλακες, - watch, guard, keep, preserve, protect, watch-party
κοσμήτορες, - one who marshals an army, commander, leader, guide, one who creates order/an ordered universe
ἀγλαόφημοι, - "of splendid fame" = glorious, beautiful, splendid (ἀγλαό) + fame, spoken of, reputation (φημοι) 

μητρὸς - mother
ὀρειομανοῦς - mountain-dwelling (ὀρειο) + mantic, divine medium, porous, divination (μανοῦς)
συνοπάονες, - companion = together συν) + follower, attendant; comrade in war (οπάονες) 
ὀργιοφάνται· - one who displays religious objects and initiates into mysteries = secret rites (ὀργιο) + bring to light, illuminate (φάνται)

ἔλθοιτ' - come
εὐμενέοντες - graciously, well-disposed, kindly = essence pure (εὐ) + might, force, strength, fierceness (μενέ) + reality, truth (οντες)
ἐπ' - upon
εὐφήμοισι - "fair-sounding, auspicious; sounds of good omen" = essence pure (εὐ) + words, oracular utterance, fame, spoken of, repute (φήμοισι) 
λόγοισι, - logic, reason

βουκόλωι - bull-tending, herdsman, bucolic, cowherd; bull-worshipping = bull (βου) + attach firmly, fasten; sheath, scabbard; core-entity-loosen? (κόλωι) 
εὐάντητοι - "accessible, gracious, open to entreaty, acceptable" = essence pure (εὐ) + against, over against, anti, opposite (άντητοι) 
ἀεὶ - eternal
κεχαρηότι - rejoice?be glad? take pleasure? do something agreeable?
θυμῶι. - spirit, passion, life-force, passion
(Perhaps the Kouretes were charged with securing the sacrificial bull.)

This Hymn introduces the Goddess Leto, a mother-Goddess, whose name means "release center tension-force brings-forth," a description of child-birth. 

Leto's birth travail is like one of those stories women tell at baby-showers, "Well, you think you had it bad, let me tell you what Leto went through .  . ."

Leto, the mother of the twins Artemis and Apollo, had a long difficult labor. Leto searched far and wide for a place to give birth to her divine children, chased about by a jealous Hera (the winds). Leto is denied at every locale until she comes to the island of her sister, Delos (Asteria). Delos (Asteria), a floating island, becomes permanently rooted when Leto gives birth there to Artemis and Apollo.

From Theoi.com:

Pindar, Processional Song on Delos (trans. Sandys) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.E.) :
"Hail. O heaven-built isle [of Delos] . . . aforetime, that isle was tossed on the waves by all manner of whirling winds; but, when Leto . . . in the frenzy of her imminent pangs of travail, set foot on her, then it was that four lofty pillars rose from the roots of earth, and on their capitals held up the rock with their adamantine bases. There it was that she gave birth to, and beheld, her blessed offspring."

Homeric Hymn 3 to Delian Apollon 2 - 148 (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.E.) : (Homer dosen't mention Artemis in this description of Apollo's birth)
"Leto was racked nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont . . . And as soon as Eileithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto, and she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree and kneeled on the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath. Then the child leaped forth to the light,  

Aelian, Historical Miscellany 5. 4 (trans. Wilson) (Greek rhetorician C2nd to 3rd CE.) :
"Note the Delian tradition that the trees which flourish on Delos are the olive and the palm. When Leto took hold of them she immediately gave birth, which she had not been able to do before."

Leto is a child of Koios (God of the Axis of Heaven) and Phoibe (Goddess of the Navel of Earth at Delphi). Phoebe bestows province of the oracle at Delphi to Apollo, her grandson. 



The Xanthos (Ξανθός) River of Lycia is so-named because of its yellow/gold-tinged water, said to have arisen from Leto's birth travail. The Temple of Leto, the Letoon, is located nearby.


Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 11. 21 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th CE) :
"Xanthos' stream, the stream revealed to men by Leto . . . when Lykia's stony plain was by her hands uptorn mid agonies of travail-throes wherein she brought to light mid bitter pangs those babes of birth divine."



Note that amniotic fluid is clear or tinted yellow, so the implication could be that the Xanthos River is Leto’s amniotic fluid when her “water broke” in the process of giving birth to Artemis and Apollo. Note also that Xanthos (Ξανθός) literally translates, "detached from arising."


Herodotus (The Histories 1.173, trans. Purvis) describes Lycia as a matriarchal society:

“They (the Lycians) name themselves after their mothers and not their fathers. If one person asks another who [s]he is, [s]he will recite his[/her] maternal lineage, recounting his[/her] mother and grandmother and the mothers before her.”


35. Λητοῦς, -  of Leto

θυμίαμα - incense
σμύρναν. - of Smyrna, myrrh

Λητὼ - Leto, Goddess and mother of the twins Apollo (God of Inspiration) and Artemis, Goddess of Independence, literally "loosen center balanced-tension brings-forth:" a description of child-birth
κυανόπεπλε, - cyan, dark-blue (κυανό) + robed, peplos (πεπλε) 
θεὰ - Goddess
διδυματόκε, - two, double, two-fold (διδυμα) + childbirth, parturition (τόκε) = gave birth to twins
σεμνή, - solemn, majestic, honored, revered

Κοιαντίς, - born of Koios (her father), God of the axis of heaven
μεγάθυμε, - mega, great, majestic (μεγά) + soul, spirit as the principle of life; strong feeling, passion (θυμε) = "great-hearted"
πολυλλίστη - multi, many, poli (πολυ) + entreated, prayed to, enlisted (λίστη) = "sought with many prayers"
βασίλεια, - Queen 

εὔτεκνον - essence pure (εὔ) + offspring, child (τεκνον) = "fertile, blest with children"
Ζηνὸς - of Zenos/Zeus, God of the spark of fire/spark of life/fertilizing principle/rain/lightning
γονίμην - productive, fertile, fruitful, generative (Zeus is father of Leto's children)
ὠδῖνα - pangs or throes of childbirth, travail, anguish, literally "bring-forth directed-trajectory divine-power prevailing arising"
λαχοῦσα, - lot, destiny, portion, literally "loosen arising foundation"

γειναμένη - the mother, bring into life, generative
Φοῖβόν - of Phoebus (Apollo) (named for his grandmother, Phoibe, Goddess of the "oracle" at Delphi, of enlightenment)
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Ἄρτεμιν - Artemis, Goddess of independence/the hunt/virginity
ἰοχέαιραν, - shooter of arrows

τὴν - in that case, then, under these circumstances
μὲν - might, force
ἐν - in, within
Ὀρτυγίηι, - Ortygia, Quail-island, the ancient name of Delos (a rocky island)
τὸν - tone, tension, stretch
δὲ - of, from
κραναῆι - rocky, rugged, hard
ἐνὶ - in, within
Δήλωι,- Delos, Delian
 

κλῦθι, - call
θεὰ - Goddess
δέσποινα, - despot, all-powerful, princess, queen, Empress, absolute ruler
καὶ - and
ἵλαον - propitiatory gift or offering, sin-offering, request for mercy; request to be gracious, merciful
ἦτορ - heart
ἔχουσα - contain, hold, bear, hold fast, enclose

βαῖν' - walk, step, stand, dance, come
ἐπὶ - upon
πάνθειον - all the Gods and Goddesses
τελετὴν - mystic rites practiced at initiation
τέλος - complete, fulfill, (tension release)
ἡδὺ - pleasant, welcome, sweet
φέρουσα. - carry, bring, produce, lead to, point to, stretch/extend toward, carry, give, pay (suggests that Leto is the first in a procession of the all the Gods and Goddesses)

This hymn is also (like the Hymn to the Charites) probably accompanied by a profusion of flowers.


The Horai bring about the occurrence of things in their time, such as when the flowers blossom, when the fruit ripens, when the sun rises and sets, when anything and everything in nature occurs as well as Lawful Conduct, Justice, and Peace. 


Image of Horai on vase, circa 500 BCE, here.


The Horai are the divine daughters of Zeus (Fertilizing Principle/Spark of Life) and Themis (Divine Law and Order).  


This Hymn probably was concurrent with the sun rising over the horizon. It may have also introduced the newly initiated back into the theater/to the stage.


The connection is made between blossoms and a fruitful harvest.


This Hymn may have also accompanied a procession of a garlanded sacrificial offering, such as a bull. Bulls are often depicted as garlanded.


Frieze of garlanded bulls from Samothrace.


From Theoi.com:
"The Horai were particularly honoured by farmers who planted and tended their crops in time with the rising and setting of the stars--measures of the passing seasons. The three were usually named Eunomia (Good Order, Good Pasture), Eirene (Peace, Spring), and Dike (Justice) goddesses who individually represented the conditions required for farming prosperity."



Pindar, Dithyrambs Fragment 75 :
"Clearly seen are the bright symbols of sacred rites, whensoever, at the opening of the chamber of the purple-robed Horai (Horae, Seasons), the fragrant spring bringeth the nectar-breathing plants. Then, oh then, are flung on the immortal earth the lovely tresses of violets, and roses are entwined in the hair; then ring the voices of songs to the sound of flutes; then ring the dances in honour of diadem-wreathed Semele [i.e. the mother of the wine-god Dionysos]."



Pindar, Olympian Ode 13. 6 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.E.) :
"Here [in this city] dwells Eunomia and that unsullied fountain Dike (Justice), her sister, sure support of cities; and Eirene (Irene, Peace) of the same kin, who are the stewards of wealth for mankind--three glorious daughters of wise-counselled Themis (Order).



Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 72. 5 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.E.) :
"To Zeus also were born, they say, the goddesses . . . Horai, as they are called, Eunomia (Good Order) and Dike (Justice) and Eirene (Irene, Peace) . . . The Horai (Horae, Hours), as they are called, to each of them, according as her name indicates, was given the ordering and adornment of life, so as to serve to the greatest advantage of mankind; for there is nothing which is better to build a life of felicity than obedience to law (eunomia) and justice (dike) and peace (eirene)."


43. Ὡρῶν, - of the Horai
θυμίαμα - incense
ἀρώματα. - aromatic

Ὧραι - Horai, Goddesses who bring forth the Seasons, the natural time (astrological)
θυγατέρες - daughters
Θέμιδος - of Themis, Goddess of Divine Law and Order
καὶ - and 
Ζηνὸς - Zenos/Zeus, God of Lightning/Spark of Life/Fertility Principle
ἄνακτος, - royal, kingly, ruling; regain for oneself, refresh, revive, reinstate, restore = arising (ἄνα) + foundation (κτος); "one must bring up": similar to Ananke/Inevitability, arising prevailing arising kore

Εὐνομίη - Eunomia, Goddess of Good Order and Lawful Conduct
τε - too then
Δίκη - Dike, Goddess of All-Seeing Justice
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Εἰρήνη - Eirene, Goddess of Peace
πολύολβε, - multi, many, poli (πολύ) + whole life/blessings/wealth (ολβε)

εἰαριναί, - Springtime
λειμωνιάδες, - meadow, flowers, Limonium, Sea-lavendar, Snakeweed, Scarlet anemone/Anemone pavonina, Golden thistle
πολυάνθεμοι, - multi, many, poli (πολυ) + blossoms, blooms; sung of/anthemed (άνθεμοι) = "rich in flowers, blooming"
ἁγναί, - pure, holy

παντόχροοι, - "of all kinds of colors" = all (παντό) + color, complexion, skin, tint (χροοι) 
πολύοδμοι - multi, many, poli (πολύ) + odor, scent, smell (οδμοι) = "strong-smelling", probably more likely "many-scented" 
ἐν - in, within
ἀνθεμοειδέσι - "flowery, blooming" = blossoms (ἀνθεμ) specifically Matricaria Chamomilla/chamomile + egg-shaped (οειδέσι)
πνοιαῖς, - breath, breeze, blow, vapor, exhalation

Ὧραι - Horai
ἀειθαλέες, - eternal (ἀει) + blooming (θαλέες) 
περικυκλάδες, - all around (περι) + circling, cycling, recurring (κυκλάδες) = encircle, encompass, perhaps: perennial 
ἡδυπρόσωποι, - "of sweet countenance" = sweet, pleasant, pleasurable, dear, sweetness (ἡδυ) + "countenance, look, facade" (πρόσωποι) - or - before (πρό) + silence, hush (σωποι) (could be stage directions asking for silence)

πέπλους - peplos, robe
ἑννύμεναι - clothed, put on, wear
δροσεροὺς - dewy, bedewed, sprinkled
ἀνθῶν - blossom, flower
πολυθρέπτων, - "much-nourished, the many flowers that grow" = many, multi, poli (πολυ) + brought up, raised, fostered, nourished, fed (θρέπτων) 

ἁγνῆς - pure, holy
Περσεφόνης - Persephone, Goddess of afterlife and spring rebirth
συμπαίκτορες, - playmate, sympatico = together (συμ) + play, sport (παίκτορες)
ἡνίκα - at the time when, whenever, while, at which point of time
Μοῖραι - Moirai, Goddess of fate, one's portion of the whole

καὶ - and 
Χάριτες - Charites, Goddesses of beauty
κυκλίοισι - circling, cycling
χοροῖς - chorus, dance
πρὸς - before
φῶς - light; dawn; that which gives light (phosphorescent)
ἀνάγωσι - lift up, raise; bring back, return, restore; lead up from a lower place to a higher

Ζηνὶ - Zeni/Zeus/Rain
χαριζόμεναι - show favor, say or do something agreeable, gratify, give graciously or cheerfully, grant favor
καὶ - and 
μητέρι - Mother
καρποδοτείρηι· - "giver of fruit" = fruit (καρπο) + giver (δοτείρηι) (Demeter) 

ἔλθετ' - come
ἐπ' - upon
εὐφήμους - "uttering sounds of good omen, fair-sounding, auspicious" = essence pure (εὐ) + fame, divine utterance, significant or prophetic saying, prophecy, "oracle" (φήμους) 
τελετὰς - complete, fulfill, bring to pass; initiation, mystic rite
ὁσίας - hallowed, sanctioned by divine law, holy
νεομύστοις - new, newly (νεο) + initiates, mystai (μύστοις) = newly initiated (perhaps at this point the new initiates are led in to the theater?)

εὐκάρπους - essence pure (εὐ) + fruit (κάρπους) = fruitful, blessed with good crops 
καιρῶν - at the right time, in due season, in season, as fit
γενέσεις - genesis, create, give birth to
ἐπάγουσαι - upon (ἐπ) + august; lead; any matter of religious awe; sacrifice (άγουσαι) = in August? -or- most august/revered/honored 
ἀμεμφῶς. - above reproach (this Hymn could, perhaps, introduce the sacrificial offering? perhaps a garlanded bull? or not)