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?)
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?)
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