This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to the Charites with the help of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.
The Charites, usually depicted as three Goddesses, are described as the offspring of Zeus and Eunomia (Good Law and Order), suggesting that their blessings are the stable, well-run societies.
The Charites are often referenced as the Goddesses of spring flowers, perfume, of floral garlands, of beauty, of all things beautiful, including song and triumph.
The Charites are particularly associated with Orchomenus in Central Greece.
“Orchomenus was famous for the worship of the Charités or Graces, and for the festival in their honour, celebrated with musical contests, in which poets and musicians from all parts of Greece took part. Hence Pindar calls Orchomenus the city of the Charités (Pyth. xii. 45) . . . Pindar's fourteenth Olympic ode, which was written to commemorate the victory of Asopichus, an Orchomenim, is in reality a hymn in honour of these goddesses, and was probably sung in their temple. It was in the marshes in the neighbourhood of Orchomenus that the auletic or flute-reeds grew, which exercised an important influence upon the development of Greek music. [See Vol. I. p. 414, b.]”
-Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, Volume 2 By Sir William Smith, ps. 487-490
The Charites are particularly associated with Orchomenus in Central Greece.
“Orchomenus was famous for the worship of the Charités or Graces, and for the festival in their honour, celebrated with musical contests, in which poets and musicians from all parts of Greece took part. Hence Pindar calls Orchomenus the city of the Charités (Pyth. xii. 45) . . . Pindar's fourteenth Olympic ode, which was written to commemorate the victory of Asopichus, an Orchomenim, is in reality a hymn in honour of these goddesses, and was probably sung in their temple. It was in the marshes in the neighbourhood of Orchomenus that the auletic or flute-reeds grew, which exercised an important influence upon the development of Greek music. [See Vol. I. p. 414, b.]”
-Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, Volume 2 By Sir William Smith, ps. 487-490
From Theoi.com:
Pindar, Olympian Ode 14. 5 ff :
"Kharites (Charites, Graces) three. For in your gift are all our mortal joys, and every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty, or glory, that makes rich the soul of man (sic). Nor even can the immortal [G]ods [and Goddesses] order at their behest the dance and festals, lacking the Kharites' aid; who are the steward of all rites of heaven,
The Anacreontea, Fragment 35 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (C5th B.C.E.) :
"The soft rose. It is the breath of the [G]ods [and Goddesses] and the joy of mortals, the glory of the Kharites (Charites, Graces) in spring-time, the delight of the Erotes (Loves) with their rich garlands and of Aphrodite; it is a subject for poetry and the graceful plant of the Mousai (Muses).
Apuleius, Metamorphoses (retitled post-mortem: The Golden Ass) 10. 30 ff :
"They [the Charites] were appeasing the [G]oddess [Aphrodite] by strewing wreaths and single blossoms before her, and they formed a most elegant chorus-line as they sought to please the Mistress of pleasures with the foliage of spring.
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 33. 4 ff :
"[Pasithea] one of the swiftshoe Kharites (Charites, Graces) was gathering the shoots of the fragrant reeds in the Erythraian garden, in order to mix the flowing juice of Assyrian oil with Indian flowers in the steaming cauldrons of Paphos, and make ointment [or perfume] for her Lady [Aphrodite].
It is likely that the hymn was accompanied by a profusion of flowers, garlands, beautiful music and festivity.
60. Χαρίτων, - of the Charites
θυμίαμα - incense
στύρακα. - sturaka, storax, styrax
Κλῦτέ - renowned, glorious, famous
μοι, - meta entity divine-power
ὦ - brings-forth
Χάριτες - Charites; foundation arising outflow-of divine-power extended
μεγαλώνυμοι, - mega, majestic, great (μεγαλώ) + name; prevailing entity (νυμοι) = "with a great name"
ἀγλαότιμοι, - glorious, splendid, noble (ἀγλαό) + highly valued, honored (τιμοι) = "splendidly honored"
θυγατέρες - daughters
Ζηνός - of Zeus, God of the spark of fire/spark of life
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Εὐνομίης - Eunomia, Goddess of good law and order, lawfulness
βαθυκόλπου, - deep (βαθυ) + bosom, lap, vagina, fold (of a garment) (κόλπου)
Ἀγλαΐη - Aglaia, Goddess of victory in the games; glory, splendor, beauty, joy, triumph, pomp, show, ornament, honor
Θαλίη - Thalia, Goddess of "Comedy?" "Festive Meetings?"; "abundance, good cheer, enjoy oneself, make merry;" budding, blooming
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Εὐφροσύνη - Euphrosyne, "mirth, merriment, good cheer, merry" = essence pure (Εὐ) + nature flow in-sync (φροσύνη)
Pindar, Olympian Ode 14. 5 ff :
"Kharites (Charites, Graces) three. For in your gift are all our mortal joys, and every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty, or glory, that makes rich the soul of man (sic). Nor even can the immortal [G]ods [and Goddesses] order at their behest the dance and festals, lacking the Kharites' aid; who are the steward of all rites of heaven,
The Anacreontea, Fragment 35 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (C5th B.C.E.) :
"The soft rose. It is the breath of the [G]ods [and Goddesses] and the joy of mortals, the glory of the Kharites (Charites, Graces) in spring-time, the delight of the Erotes (Loves) with their rich garlands and of Aphrodite; it is a subject for poetry and the graceful plant of the Mousai (Muses).
Apuleius, Metamorphoses (retitled post-mortem: The Golden Ass) 10. 30 ff :
"They [the Charites] were appeasing the [G]oddess [Aphrodite] by strewing wreaths and single blossoms before her, and they formed a most elegant chorus-line as they sought to please the Mistress of pleasures with the foliage of spring.
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 33. 4 ff :
"[Pasithea] one of the swiftshoe Kharites (Charites, Graces) was gathering the shoots of the fragrant reeds in the Erythraian garden, in order to mix the flowing juice of Assyrian oil with Indian flowers in the steaming cauldrons of Paphos, and make ointment [or perfume] for her Lady [Aphrodite].
It is likely that the hymn was accompanied by a profusion of flowers, garlands, beautiful music and festivity.
60. Χαρίτων, - of the Charites
θυμίαμα - incense
στύρακα. - sturaka, storax, styrax
Κλῦτέ - renowned, glorious, famous
μοι, - meta entity divine-power
ὦ - brings-forth
Χάριτες - Charites; foundation arising outflow-of divine-power extended
μεγαλώνυμοι, - mega, majestic, great (μεγαλώ) + name; prevailing entity (νυμοι) = "with a great name"
ἀγλαότιμοι, - glorious, splendid, noble (ἀγλαό) + highly valued, honored (τιμοι) = "splendidly honored"
θυγατέρες - daughters
Ζηνός - of Zeus, God of the spark of fire/spark of life
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Εὐνομίης - Eunomia, Goddess of good law and order, lawfulness
βαθυκόλπου, - deep (βαθυ) + bosom, lap, vagina, fold (of a garment) (κόλπου)
Ἀγλαΐη - Aglaia, Goddess of victory in the games; glory, splendor, beauty, joy, triumph, pomp, show, ornament, honor
Θαλίη - Thalia, Goddess of "Comedy?" "Festive Meetings?"; "abundance, good cheer, enjoy oneself, make merry;" budding, blooming
τε - too then
καὶ - and
Εὐφροσύνη - Euphrosyne, "mirth, merriment, good cheer, merry" = essence pure (Εὐ) + nature flow in-sync (φροσύνη)
πολύολβε, - poli, multi, many (πολύ) + happiness, bliss, worldly happiness (ολβε) = very wealthy, sumptuous, expensive, rich in blessings
χαρμοσύνης - joyfulness, delight, charming
γενέτειραι, - parent, mothers
ἐράσμιαι, - lovely, pleasant, beloved, desired, affectionate
εὔφρονες, - cheering, making glad or merry, kindly, gracious, cheerful
ἁγναί, - pure
αἰολόμορφοι, = quick-moving, nimble, glittering, changeful of hue, subject to change, variegated (αἰολό) + form (μορφοι) = "of changeful form"
χαρμοσύνης - joyfulness, delight, charming
γενέτειραι, - parent, mothers
ἐράσμιαι, - lovely, pleasant, beloved, desired, affectionate
εὔφρονες, - cheering, making glad or merry, kindly, gracious, cheerful
ἁγναί, - pure
αἰολόμορφοι, = quick-moving, nimble, glittering, changeful of hue, subject to change, variegated (αἰολό) + form (μορφοι) = "of changeful form"
ἀειθαλέες, - eternally (ἀει) + blooming (θαλέες) = "everblooming"
θνητοῖσι - mortals
ποθειναί· - long for, desire, desirable, full of longing
εὐκταῖαι, - invoke in prayer, pray for, desire = essence pure (εὐ) + gain, win, get, acquire, procure for oneself, possess, own (κταῖαι)
κυκλάδες, - encircling, whirling, recurrent
καλυκώπιδες, - like a budding flower in face, blushing, roseate, budding flower
ἱμερόεσσαι· - exciting desire, lovely, charming = longing, yearning, desire, love (ἱμερό) + essence of (εσσαι)
ἔλθοιτ' - essence loosen divine entity = come
ὀλβοδότειραι, - happiness, whole life (ὀλβο) + giving (δότειραι) = giver of wealth or bliss
ἀεὶ - eternal
μύσταισι - mystic, mysterious, initiates, mystai
προσηνεῖς. - mildness, softness, ease, comfort, gentle, kind
θνητοῖσι - mortals
ποθειναί· - long for, desire, desirable, full of longing
εὐκταῖαι, - invoke in prayer, pray for, desire = essence pure (εὐ) + gain, win, get, acquire, procure for oneself, possess, own (κταῖαι)
κυκλάδες, - encircling, whirling, recurrent
καλυκώπιδες, - like a budding flower in face, blushing, roseate, budding flower
ἱμερόεσσαι· - exciting desire, lovely, charming = longing, yearning, desire, love (ἱμερό) + essence of (εσσαι)
ἔλθοιτ' - essence loosen divine entity = come
ὀλβοδότειραι, - happiness, whole life (ὀλβο) + giving (δότειραι) = giver of wealth or bliss
ἀεὶ - eternal
μύσταισι - mystic, mysterious, initiates, mystai
προσηνεῖς. - mildness, softness, ease, comfort, gentle, kind
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