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#Orpheus: Hymn to Zeus

8/15/2013

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This is a first-pass attempt to translate Orphic Hymn 15, To Zeus, with help from the Liddell-Scott Greek-English Lexicon. 



The show really gets going now, having paid due homage to the Muse (Goddess of Inspiration), Tyche (Goddess of Fortune), and Hestia (Goddess of the Hearth/Altar Fire). (I am using the order of appearance as named in the Overture). 

Things crack open with the introduction of Zeus (God of Lightning/Fertilizing Rain), accompanied by special effects of lightning and thunder and Gaia (Goddess of Generative Earth), accompanied by the roar and clatter of resounding drums. Drums and tambourines are classically associated with worship of the Divine Mother. Also named in this hymn are Pontos (God of the Sea), Ouranos (God of the Sky), Hygeia (Goddess of Health), Eirene (Goddess of Peace), and Plouto (God of the Afterlife/Wealth/Riches).

15. Διός, - Dios, God (Directed-trajectory divine-power entity)
θυμίαμα - incense
στύρακα. - styrax, storax (Styrax officinalis tree, gum used to make incense, flavor wine. Storax/styrax also refers to the spike at the lower end of a spear shaft and the butt end of a lance.)

Ζεῦ - Zeus (God of Lightning, Fertilizing Rain)

πολυτίμητε, - poli- in many ways- + 
worshipped, esteemed, held in honor, highly valued -or- censor (a person who supervises conduct and morals), assessor, evaluator 
Ζεῦ - Zeus
ἄφθιτε, - arising above + death, decay, imperishable, immortal
τήνδε - then, there
τοι - such as this, look you!
ἡμεῖς - here at center (this may be stage directions for lightning and thunder to flash and rumble, possibly accompanied by rain)

μαρτυρίαν - bear witness, the evidence, (martyr)

τιθέμεσθα - tame, domesticate, supply with food, tend, nurse (
τιθ-) set, foot, place, plant, lay + in the midst
λυτήριον - expiatory offering, loosing, delivering, freeing
ἠδὲ - here, now, immediately
πρόσευξιν. -  prayer, petition

ὦ - bring forth

βασιλεῦ, - king
διὰ - through, throughout
σὴν - together, sync with
κεφαλὴν - the head, noblest part (core essence bearing)(core essence phallic?)(core essence divinely-animated-entity)
ἐφάνη - appear, show, make apparent, illuminate, light, reveal 
τάδε - here!  ta-da! (probably stage directions to introduce Gaia)
θεῖα, - the Goddess

γαῖα - Gaia, (Goddess of Earth - Generative Arising Divine-Power)

θεὰ - Goddess
μήτηρ - mother
ὀρέων - see! look! 
θ' - Goddess
ὑψηχέες - (making a loud or ringing sound) on high, aloft, set on high, up! (ὑψ) + drum, gong, tambourine, clear sounding, noise (ηχέες)(probably more stage directions for drums to accompany Gaia's appearance up high, the drum is classically associated with the divine mother)
ὄχθοι, - any high or rising ground, hill

καὶ - and

πόντος - Pontos (God of the Sea)
καὶ - and
πάνθ', - Panth' , all the Gods and Goddesses
ὁπόσ' - juice, Milky-Way
οὐρανὸς - Ouranos (God of the Sky)
ἐντὸς - within
ἔταξε - arranged, drawn up in rank and file, arranged in order (probably stage directions for the thespians to line up on stage)

Ζεῦ - Zeus

Κρόνιε, - son of Kronos (God of Roots/Elements/Golden Age)
σκηπτοῦχε, - bearing a staff or scepter (or thunderbolt) as a badge of command, sceptered (
σκηπτοῦ) foundation
καταιβάτα, - steep, downward path, descend, bring down, descending in thunder and lightning (probably stage directions for Zeus to descend from above)
ὀμβριμόθυμε, - rain-passionately! (more stage directions)

παντογένεθλ', panto- all- + generator, birth-giver, parent of all

ἀρχὴ - arch-, the first and foundation (arising outflow-of foundation center)
πάντων, - of all
πάντων - all of
τε - then too
τελευτή, - the completion, the last (tension-force loosened/task completed)

σεισίχθων, - seismic, earth (
χθων)-shaking (σεισ)
αὐξητά, - increasing, growing (probably stage directions to cause vibrations/shaking that gradually increase like an earthquake)
καθάρσιε, - kathartic, cleansing, purifying, purging
παντοτινάκτα, panto- all- + shake, quake (tension-force divine-power prevailing/tipping point)

ἀστραπαῖε, - flashing, lightning, lightning-maker (more stage directions) 

βρονταῖε, - thundering (more stage directions)
κεραύνιε, - thunderbolt
φυτάλιε - bearing, bringing, carrying
Ζεῦ· - Zeus

κλῦθί - I call

μευ, - a connection to
αἰολόμορφε, - ever (αἰο) loosing (
λό) quick-moving/nimble (αἰολό) + changing/morphing (μορφε)
δίδου - direct, give, deliver
δ' - of, from
ὑγίειαν - Hygeia (Goddess of Health)
ἀμεμφῆ - arising above + reproach/fault

εἰρήνην - Eirene (Goddess of Peace)

τε - both
θεὰν - Goddesses
καὶ - and 
πλούτου - Plouto (God of the Afterlife/ of Wealth/Riches)
δόξαν - honored, glorified
ἄμεμπτον. - perfect, arising above reproach/fault (another play on words, with Hygeia similarly called 
ἀμεμφῆ, above)



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    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.  

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