The Orphic Hymn to Hekatê A New Annotated Translation by Adam Forrest F or Oz, Oz, Laur a, and Lorain Thrr ee of H er Daughte Th Daughterr s
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To Hekatê Hekatê of the Path, I invoke Thee, Lovely Lady of the Triple Crossroads, EINODIAN HEKATÊN, KLÊIZÔ, TRIHODITIN ERANNÊN, Celestial, Chthonian, and Marine One, Lady of the Saffron Robe. OURANIAN, CHTHONIAN, TE KAI EINALIAN, KROKOPEPLOS Sepulchral One, celebrating the Bakchic Mysteries among the Souls of the Dead,
TYMBIDIAN, PSYCHAIS NEKYÔN META BAKCHEUOSAN, IIII Daughter of Persês, Lover of Solitude, rejoicing in deer. PERSEIAN, PHILERÊMON, AGALLOMENÊN ELAPHOISI Nocturnal One, Lady of the Dogs, invincible Queen. NYKTERIAN, SKYLAKITIN, AMAIMAKETON BASILEIAN She of the Cry of the Beast, Ungirt One, having an irresistible Form. THÊROBROMON, AZÔSTON, APROSMACHON EIDOS ECHOUSAN Bullherder, Keeper of the Keys of All the Universe, Mistress, TAUROPOLON, PANTOS KOSMOU KLÊIDOUCHON, ANASSAN Guide, Bride, Nurturer of Youths, Mountain Wanderer. HÊGEMONÊN, NYMPHÊN, KOUROTROPHON, OURESIPHOITIN. I pray Thee, Maiden, to be present at our hallowed rites of initiation, LISSOMENOS, KOURÊN, TELETAIS HOSIAISI PAREINAI, Always bestowing Thy graciousness upon the Boukolos. BOUKOLÔI EUMENEOUSAN AEI KECHARÊOTI THYMÔI.
Hekatês I EINODIAN HEKATÊN, KLÊIZÔ, TRIHODITIN ERANNÊN, II OURANIAN, CHTHONIAN, TE KAI EINALIAN, KROKOPEPLOS. III TYMBIDIAN, PSYCHAIS NEKYÔN META BAKCHEUOSAN, IIII PERSEIAN, PHILERÊMON, AGALLOMENÊN ELAPHOISI. NYKTERIAN, SKYLAKITIN, AMAIMAKETON BASILEIAN. THÊROBROMON, AZÔSTON, APROSMACHON EIDOS ECHOUSAN. TAUROPOLON, PANTOS KOSMOU KLÊIDOUCHON, ANASSAN, HÊGEMONÊN, NYMPHÊN, KOUROTROPHON, OURESIPHOITIN. LISSOMENOS, KOURÊN, TELETAIS HOSIAISI PAREINAI, BOUKOLÔI EUMENEOUSAN AEI KECHARÊOTI THYMÔI.
Notes Line 1.
: This is an interesting verb, which can mean “to praise, to Klêizô name, to call,” and “to invoke.” In the context of the Hymn, it is probably intended to convey “to invoke with praise.”
Line 2.
Our anian, Chthoni an, te kai Ei nali an : This trio of epithets proclaims
the power of Hekatê in all three divisions of the world in Greek cosmology, as represented in the threefold partition among the Three Brothers --- Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Line 3.
Bakcheuosan : This verb is sometimes used to mean simply “to revel,”
but in the context of the Orphic Mystery cults, which have the Mysteries of Dionysos at their very core, the literal translation which I have employed is almost certainly the correct one. Perseian : Perseia , “Daughter of Persês,” the Titanic father of Hekatê.
Line 4. Line 4 bis . Agallomenên elaphoisi : “Rejoicing in deer”. A characteristic perhaps borrowed from Artemis. Nykterian Line 5. : As Hekatê was called Nykteria , “She of the Night,” Dionysos was known as Nykterios . Line 6. Thêrobr omon : The meaning of this epithet is debatable. It may mean
“She of the Cry of the Beast,” “She Who Roars Like a Beast,” “She Who Causes the Beasts to Roar,” etc. The second part of the epithet is one of Dionysos’ most well-known allonyms (Bromos orBromios ), “the Roarer,” which may (in His case, as contended by A.B. Cook) have
originally referred to the roar of thunder, as Dionysos Zagreus is the Heir of Zeus. : “Bullherder” is a title She shares with Artemis. Tauropolon Line 7. Line 7 bis . Pantos Kosmou Klêidouchon : Klêidouchos , “Keeper of the Keys,” was a title of High Priestesses in some Greek cults, ergo the intended meaning of this epithet may be “High Priestess of All the Universe.”
Line 8.
H êgemonên : This title, “Guide,” is identical with that of one of the
Greater Officers in the Order of the Golden Dawn in the Outer.
Line 8 bis . Nymph ên : May mean either “Bride” or “Nymph.” Line 8 ter . Kourotrophon : “Nurturer of Youths” is a title She shares with Artemis. In regard to this archetypal rôle of the Dark Goddess, it may be worth noting that in the Celtic Tradition preserved in the mediæval romances, it is the Nine Witches of Cær Loyw who teach Peredur, the Grail Hero, much of his heroic skill. And in Ireland, the Queen of Tir Scaith (“the Land of Shadows”) instructs the hero Cuchullain.
Line 9.
Kou r ên : “Maiden; Daughter.” This may possibly be intended as an
identification with Persephonê, the Korê. Line 10.
Boukolôi : It was decided to leave Boukolos (“Oxherd”) untranslated
as a technical term, as we know from surviving inscriptions that
Boukolos is the name of a high office in Orphic societies. Orphics may have called their group leaders Oxherds on the same analogy as that by which some Christians came to call theirs Shepherds (Latin, Pastores ).
