ORPHIC FRAGMENT 87
OTTO KERN
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SUMMARY: This is the Orphic hymn to Protogonus in which he is called egg-born, Phanes, Priapus, Antauges, and various epithets.
87. ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 6. Πρωτογόνου [1]
θυμίαμα, σμύρναν.
Πρωτογόνον καλέω διφυῆ, μέγαν, αἰθερόπλαγκτον,
ὠιογενῆ [2], χρυσέαισιν [3] ἀγαλλόμενον πτερύγεσσιν,
ταυροβόαν [4], γένεσιν μακάρων θνητῶν τ’ ἀνθρώπων,
ὅς τε πολύμνηστον, πολυόργιον εὕρηκε παιᾶν [5]
ἄρρητον, κρύφιον. ῥοιζήτορα, παμφαὲς ἔρνος· 5
ὄσσων ὃς σκοτόεσσαν ἀπημαύρωσας ὁμίχλην,
πάντῃ δινηθεὶς πτερύγων ῥιπαῖς κατὰ κόσμον·
λαμπρὸν ἄγων φάος ἁγνόν, ἀφ’ οὗ σε Φάνητα κικλήσκω,
ἠδὲ Πρίηπον ἄνακτα καὶ Ἀνταύγην ἑλίκωπον.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πολύμητι, πολυσπόρε, βαῖνε γεγηθὼς 10
ἐς τελετὴν ἁγίαν [6] πολυποίκιλον ὀργιοφάνταις.
6. Prôtogónos (Πρωτογόνος) [1]
Incense, Myrrh.
“I call two-natured, mighty, aithír-roaming Protogónos,
egg-born, taking delight in your golden wings,
with the bellow of a bull, origin of happy Gods and mortal men,
who devised the much-remembered paián celebrated with many holy rites.
unutterable, cryptic. Whirling, radiant scion; 5
you dispersed the dark mist which was before your eyes,
in every way you were roaming about in the world with the flapping of your wings,
bringing a pure, radiant light; as a result of which, I call you Phánîs (Φάνης),
and Lord Príapos (Πρίαπος) and lovely-eyed Antávyîs (Ἀνταύγης).
But, happy one, cunning and fertile; come, rejoicing,
to the sacred rite overflowing with priests of the Mysteries.”
(trans. by the author)
NOTES:
[1] This Greek text is slightly different from other versions.
[2] ὠογενῆ in other versions of the text.
[3] χρυσέησιν in other versions of the text.
[4] ταυρωπόν in other versions of the text.
[5] In other versions of the text, there is a mostly different line:
σπέρμα πολύμνηστον, πολυόργιον, Ἠρικεπαῖον,
“much-remembering seed, honored with many rituals, Irikæpaios” (trans. by the author)
[6] ἁγίην in other versions of the text.
Compare in Herm. XXIV 1889, 501, where from the Rhapsodies Kern has compiled passages that assert the same.
For verse 1 compare ὕμνος Ὀρφέως 52.6 Τριετηρικοῦ:
πρωτόγον', ἠρικεπαῖε, θεῶν πάτερ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱέ
“Protogónos, Irikapaios, father and son of Gods.”
(trans. by the author)
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.
How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.
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We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
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