This is a first-pass attempt to translate the Orphic Hymn to the Stars/Astron with the aid of the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon.
This Hymn would have to be performed at night in order to illuminate a rotating, glittering sphere of the galaxy, possibly with the Goddess Night (wearing a long black robe) at its center, with the addition of seven zones of planetary light, perhaps accompanied by a high-pitched, clear toned orchestral arrangement.
7. Ἄστρων, - Astron/Stars
θυμίαμα - incense
ἀρώματα. - aromatic, spices
Ἄστρων - Stars, Astron
οὐρανίων - heavenly
ἱερὸν - holy
σέλας - shining, light, bright, flame
ἐκπροκαλοῦμαι - out of-, emerge, ek- (ἐκ) + before, pro (προ) + call, invoke, summon (καλ) + most certainly (οῦμαι) (probably stage directions for stars to appear immediately, perhaps as a galaxy strobe)
εὐιέροις - essence pure + holy (ιέροις)
φωναῖσι - sound, phonic, tone
κικλήσκων - call, summon, invoke, implore, call by name + or screech-owl?
δαίμονας - spirit
ἁγ(ν)ούς. - pure (perhaps orchestra instructions: accompanied by a pure tone)
Ἀστέρες - stars, starry
οὐράνιοι, - heavens, sky
Νυκτὸς - Nightφίλα - love, fond
τέκνα - offspring, creation
μελαίνης, - black, dark
ἐγκυκλίοις - egg, essence generative (ἐγ) + circular, round, revolving (κυκλίοις)
δίναισι - whirl, rotate, spin round
περιθρόνια - peri-, around (περι) + throne (θρόνια)
κυκλέοντες. - go in a circle, whirl round, revolve (probably stage directions for starry display to commence rotating)
ἀνταυγεῖς, - reflecting (ἀντ) + light (αυγεῖς), sparkling, gleam, glitter
πυρόεντες, - fire, pyre
ἀεὶ - eternal
γενετῆρες - geneteer, creator, parent
ἁπάντων, - approach, meet, encounter - or - everywhere, all round about
μοιρίδιοι, - fate, lot, portion, destiny, division; degrees
πάσης - all
μοίρης - fate, lot, portion
σημάντορες - informer, guide, one who gives a signal, who gives a command
ὄντες, - entity (reference to the stars as directing paths/destinies)
θνητῶν - mortal
ἀνθρώπων - humans, athropons
θείαν - divine
διέποντες - manage, conduct, traverse (διέπ) + entity (οντες)
ἀταρπόν, - path, shortcut, stretch (the stars as a shortcut to divine intent)
ἑπταφαεῖς - seven, epta (ἑπτα) + φαεῖς (shining)
ζώνας - zones
ἐφορώμενοι, - watch over, look upon, behold, oversee, observe, ephor (ἐφορ)
ἠερόπλαγκτοι, - in air (ἠερό) + wandering, roaming (πλαγκτοι) (referring to the seven planets' seemingly wandering paths)
οὐράνιοι - heavenly
χθόνιοί - earthly
τε, - then too
πυρίδρομοι, - fiery (πυρί) + path, course, running (δρομοι)
αἰὲν - eternal
ἀτειρεῖς, - indestructible - or- arising sign, wonder, marvel, portent
αὐγάζοντες - light, illuminated (αὐγά) + zone (ζοντες) = view in the clearest light, see distinctly (echoes mention of "zone" above)
ἀεὶ - eternal
νυκτὸς - night
ζοφοειδέα - dark, darkness, nether darkness, the dark quarter/the West
πέπλον, - robed, peplos
μαρμαρυγαῖς - flash, sparkle, gleam, any darting/quivering light (like marble)
στίλβοντες, - glitter, gleam, flash, shine, be bright
ἐύφρονες - cheerful, merry; kindly, gracious: essence pure + understanding, prudent, wise, comprehend, know full well, be sensible; mind, spirit, thought, purpose will (φρονες)
ἐννύχιοί - in (ἐν) + night (νύχιοί); within the night
τε - too then
ἔλθετ' essence loosen/liberate (ἔλ) + place, establish (θετ')
ἐπ' - upon, epi-
εὐιέρου - essence pure (εὐ) + holy (ιέρου)
τελετῆς - complete, perfect, bring to resolution, initiation into the mysteries
πολυΐστορας - many,very, poli- (πολυ) + history, learning, knowledge (ΐστορας)
ἄθλους - having gone through many struggles, having contended/competed, to be an athlete/contender/competitor (perhaps a reference to the stars as a place of rest for holy ones who have completed great struggles)
ἐσθλὸν - good, brave, stout; good, faithful; fortunate; well-bred
ἐπ' - upon, epi
εὐδόξοις - of good repute, honored, with distinction; essence pure (εὐ) + opinion, judgment; think, imagine, expectation; hold in honor (δόξοις)
ἔργοις - work, works
δρόμον - course
ἐκτελέοντες - bring to an end, accomplish, achieve; bring forth (ἐκ) + completion (τελέοντες) (perhaps: look well upon our life's work at its completion)
RSS Feed