Greek Alphabet: Unlock the Secrets
  • Home
  • The Greek Alphabet Song
  • Free Mini-Poster
  • About the Author
  • Hymns of Orpheus Translations
  • Learn about Alpha: A (1)
  • Learn about Beta: B (2)
  • Learn about Gamma: Γ (3)
  • Learn about Delta: Δ (4)
  • Learn about E Psilon: Ε (5)
  • Learn about Wau: Ϝ (6)
  • Learn about Zeta: Ζ (7)
  • Learn about Heta: Η (8)
  • Learn about Theta: Θ (9)
  • Learn about Iota: Ι (10)
  • Learn about Kappa: Κ (20)
  • Learn about Lambda: Λ (30)
  • Learn about Mu: Μ (40)
  • Learn about Nu: Ν (50)
  • Learn about Ksi: Ξ (60)
  • Learn about O Micron: Ο (70)
  • Learn about Pi: Π (80)
  • Learn about Qoppa: Ϙ (90)
  • Learn about Rho: Ρ (100)
  • Learn about Sigma: Σ (200)
  • Learn about Tau: Τ (300)
  • Learn about U Psilon:Υ (400)
  • Learn about Phi: Φ (500)
  • Learn about Chi: Χ (600)
  • Learn about Psi: Ψ (700)
  • Learn about O Mega: Ω (800)
  • Learn about Parakuisma: ϡ (900)
  • Contact

Buy Greek Alphabet: Unlock the Secrets on Amazon

Greek Alphabet: Unlock the Secrets 
by Catherine R. Proppe

Go to Amazon.com

Celebrating Bacchos/Dionysos #HymnsOfOrpheus

3/4/2014

0 Comments

 
This hymn seems likely to pertain to “putting the wine to sleep” so that it can ferment and “purifying” the wine, that is, pruning the vines in order to promote a better harvest.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, 2014.

53. Ἀμφιετοῦς,

θυμίαμα πάντα πλὴν λιβάνου καὶ σπένδε γάλα.

Straddling the Year

Divine connection (incense/offering): all kinds except libanon (frankincense) and libations of milk


Ἀμφιετῆ καλέω Βάκχον, χθόνιον Διόνυσον,

Straddling the year[1] I call Bacchos[2], foundational divine Dionysos[3],


ἐγρόμενον κούραις ἅμα νύμφαις εὐπλοκάμοισιν,

Arousing passions of youths and beautifully-tressed Nymphs[4], 


ὃς παρὰ Περσεφόνης ἱεροῖσι δόμοισιν ἰαύων

He of Persephone’s[5] holy domicile sleeping


κοιμίζει τριετῆρα χρόνον, Βακχήιον ἁγνόν.

Sleep-fermented triennially[6] over time, Bacchos purified[7].


αὐτὸς δ' ἡνίκα τὸν τριετῆ πάλι κῶμον ἐγείρηι,

For him alone triennially all merry-making awakens,


εἰς ὕμνον τρέπεται σὺν ἐυζώνοισι τιθήναις

He is hymned, turning in sync with well-girdled nurses


εὐνάζων κινῶν τε χρόνους ἐνὶ κυκλάσιν ὥραις.

Good rest set in motion timely in cycling seasons.


ἀλλά, μάκαρ, χλοόκαρπε, κερασφόρε, κάρπιμε Βάκχε,

But, happily, tender-fruited, horn-bearing, fertile Bacchus,


βαῖν' ἐπὶ πάνθειον τελετὴν γανόωντι προσώπωι

Dance with all deities, perfect the freshened surface


εὐιέροις καρποῖσι τελεσσιγόνοισι βρυάζων.

Most holy fruit complete the birth swelling[8].


[1] The Great Dionysia (Διονύσια τὰ Μεγάλα) takes place in the month of the Spring Equinox (Mar.-Apr.), celebrating the New Year (when the sun prevails over darkness). The Agrarian Dionysia (Διονύσια τὰ κατ' ἀγρούς) takes place in Dec.-Jan., surrounding the Winter solstice, when the sun begins its upward ascent.


[2] Bacchos is the immortal God of wine and the effects of its inspiration, “enthusiasm,” that is, “God (theo) + within (en-).”


[3] Dionysos is another name for Bacchos.


[4] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses.


[5] Persephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and new life in Spring.


[6] Triennial means recurring every third year, or, alternatively, three times a year. Note that there are two Dionysian festivals plus the Anthesteria (Ἀνθεστήρια), an important wine festival celebrated in Jan.-Feb.


[7] “Purified” may refer to the practice of pruning the vines.


[8] The swelling of the grape as it ripens and perhaps a metaphor for Dionysos’/Bacchos’ role as a fertility God.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This blog is a first-pass attempt to translate the Hymns of Orpheus with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.

    I am a research analyst and a native of Detroit, Michigan.  

    Other Translations of Hymns of Orpheus

    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly