The Western civilization was still asleep, awaiting the dawn of a new era when Orpheus, traversing the vast expanses of his homeland Thrace, began singing miraculous songs. With the sounds of his seven-stringed lyre, harmonious hymns dedicated to the divine forces of Nature resounded, and their echo never ceased…
Like many verses that come to us from a distant past, the Orphic hymns are obscured by a veil in many of their meanings. However, perhaps we could repeat for them what Heraclitus once said about the deity of the Delphic Oracle – it neither reveals nor conceals but gives signs… They tell us a lot, they keep silent about a lot, but above all, they point…
The Orphic hymns represent a collection of eighty-seven hymns found near Smyrna in Western Anatolia. They are attributed to Orpheus, about whom today there is so little historical information that it is even doubted whether he ever existed. However, great Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras, Empedocles, and Plato considered him to be of utmost importance. considered him a historical figure, and his teachings undeniably had a strong influence on their own, as well as on many other philosophical schools. Herodotus helps us determine the time he lived in. Thus, in the 6th century BC, he writes that Orpheus lived eight hundred years ago, or before Homer and Hesiod. Some legends even consider him a thousand years older.
For the learned men of ancient Greece, the Orphic hymns were a complete spiritual message from Orpheus, the divine messenger who lived in times of chaos and distorted moral values, as well as strong animal cults. His role was to restore the true meaning to the ritual forms that had become worn out, to restore their sublime significance to the ceremonies, and to revive the rules of moral life. As some chronicles mention, the divine Singer was taught and prepared for his mission in the temples and schools of wisdom in Heliopolis and other sanctuaries of Egypt. After receiving the appropriate teachings from Egyptian priests, Orpheus composed hymns for the initiation centers of the mysteries. I founded them in selected places in ancient Greece. Access to these centers was only allowed to those who were deemed worthy due to their virtues, and who demonstrated it through their way of life, after enduring necessary trials. From these mysteries arose, as their adapted and simplified form, the basic forms of Greek religion. This is supported, among others, by the English Platonist Thomas Taylor who, by studying ancient Greek texts and all available Orphic materials, concluded that “all Greek theology stems from Orphic mysteries” (dedication or initiation into the mysteries). Taylor relied heavily on Plato’s teachings and Proclus’s interpretations of Orphic texts. Mystagogy held deep knowledge of ancient wisdom and was the most sublime seed of tradition. Orpheus revealed the names and roles of the gods in creation and cycles through his hymns, presenting them as bearers and protectors of certain eternal principles. The significance of this can only be understood by those who are truly initiated. The idea had already moved away from its origins during the time of Homer and Hesiod, with their overly anthropomorphic and naive portrayals, and has almost disappeared today due to childishness and a lack of understanding of the sacred messages.
Poets are our interpreters of the gods.
Plato
Poetry is more philosophical and scientific than history.
Aristotle
According to the opinions of authorities, hymns appeared in the Greek-Phrygian dialect, which was dedicated to Logos or the sacred word. It is also possible that even before the dialectal definitions of the Greek language, they were written in the true lyrical language of the Pelasgians, which was used by the Dorian peoples of the north during Greek prehistory, the first inhabitants of the legendary Thrace, Macedonia, and Epirus. They were written in hexameter (a line of six feet), which the art historian Jacob Burckhardt believes, speaking about the sources of Greek-Oriental epics, was a miraculous singing in itself, even without the accompaniment of a lyre or a harp. Hexameter is considered the perfect form of Greek verse, and according to predictions. The prophetess gave it to him, the first prophecy of the Delphic oracle, so that she conveyed what the God himself told her.
As Josefina Maynade, a Mexican expert in ancient and Egyptian sacred texts, states, hymns were an integral part of the sacred ritual, so the simple singing of voices was accompanied by the sounds of a lyre with seven strings, which gave a dominant tone to the music. It is said that the lyre was tuned according to the stars and characteristics of the specific deity it was directed to, but the keys for that are lost today. It is assumed that ceremonial dances dedicated to certain planets, as well as appropriate scents and colors, were added to the music and recitative singing, which made up the elements of the Greek mystery rituals. In this way, the hymns created vivid and melodious invocations, radiating divine beauty and purifying everything around them, and the canon that was established at that time accompanied the Greek civilization throughout its history. In the actual repertoire, ritual details are rare, except for the scent that accompanies the river. the tyranny of every hymn that at least partially confirms the connection between hymns and ceremonies.
Hekate
(Mother of the World)
Enodia Triple Hekate, splendid Lady
of earthly, watery, and starry realms;
underground, concealed by a yellow veil,
protect us, dark spirit that twirls in your darkness!
Glory to you, Perseus, solitary deity!
You who possess the keys to the world, infallible one,
who play noisily with wild beasts, hunt at night,
unconquerable ruler leading bulls,
Nymph guide, nurturer, wandering in mountains, listen
to those who pray, who deeply honor your power through sacred rituals
and lead the shepherds of sublime nature to our side.
Uranus
Oh, infinite Sky whose greatness cannot be grasped,
Father of all, creator of the world!
Listen, mighty parent, beginning and end of all things,
You who cause this earthly globe to perpetually rotate.
Embodiment of the gods, whose powerful wing protects
this eternal world in constant motion
and whose vast bosom sustains the mighty Necessity of Nature. Etherial and earthly, proclaiming through many forms,
blue, full of being, no power can defeat.
All-seeing, creator of Crowns and Ages,
eternally blessed, exalted divinity,
be benevolent to the new Disciples
and crown their aspirations with divine service.
To Ether
O Ether invincible, who reigns in the heights,
in the realms of Zeus, Lord of the Heavens,
of countless stars, the radiant Moon
and the Sun, with its luminous rays!
Almighty, ethereal, blazing fire,
who transmits warmth with living flickers and breathes life.
Supreme element of the world, powerful conductor of light,
radiating with stellar brilliance, magnificent flower.
Grant the prayers of my pleas, so that your presence may
bestow upon us eternal peace, innocence, and knowledge.
Content of the hymns
Each Orphic hymn is dedicated to a specific divine power, invoked by name, origin, or its most important quality at the beginning of the hymn. Reciting the sacred verses, the priest, initiated into their profound knowledge, invokes the power specific deity. The sublime tone of the devoted words flows gracefully, creating vivid images that open our perspectives to an incomprehensible reality. We begin to discover that the deities we have encountered so far through Greek mythology and familiar depictions are almost entirely non-anthropomorphic and do not exhibit human weaknesses; on the contrary, they appear more as entities, beings that reside in high spheres of unknown worlds. Their mastery of the forces they express is evident and unquestionable; they possess the secrets of life and death, they are exemplary rulers and guides simultaneously. Although they embody certain eternal and infinite principles, the hymns also incorporate the idea of their closeness and care for mankind. They are benevolent bestowers of gifts, powerful supports and comforters who restore strength and inspire a cheerful spirit. Through sincere prayer, one can reach them and, with a pure heart, obtain their favor. Only then is one ready to hear the response and receive inspiration for what one will do.
The course of the hymns is an ebb and flow, reflecting the different states of awe, reverence, and contemplation of the divine beings. Each hymn unveils a fragment of their essence, their powers, and their relationship with humanity. It is a journey of exploration and communion, an opportunity for mortals to glimpse into the realm of the divine and connect with the sublime. The hymns not only serve as a means of worship and praise, but also as a gateway to understanding and connecting with the divine presence in our lives.
With its symbolic meaning associated with various cycles – the alternation of night and day, seasons, birth and death – all these are united in the entire cycle of existence, from its beginning to its end. As a person goes through hymns, their soul embarks on a journey through the inner temple, to the depths of their sanctuary, and awakens true memories of all those great and benevolent beings that have enabled their life and consciousness, recognizing their path and destiny.
To the Stars
I invoke the stars with a sacred word,
pure holy lights. Sublime Daimons of space,
heavenly stars, clear offspring of Night,
which you envelop with brilliance, long
beams of light that radiate through the Heavens.
Eternal fires, you are the cause of everything below.
You shine with the thunderous sign of Hades,
depicting the divine path to mankind.
Through the seven shining spheres you pass, like wandering flames,
in an unchanging direction, pure clear lights
that constantly shine through the veil of night.
Save, radiant, joyful, fiery, awake,
illumine graciously my righteous desires. e,
and pay attention to these holy rites with conscious rays
giving purpose to our dedicated efforts in your honor!
Proteus
I invoke Proteus, the one who, by order of destiny, keeps
the keys that seal the spaces of mystery.
The firstborn, by whose sublime power
all principles of Nature are revealed, pure.
You transform pure, sacred matter
and adorn it with various divine forms.
Immeasurably holy, wise, whose penetrating intelligence
knows the nature of everything that arises
and everything that will happen with the passage of time.
So vast, wondrous, and noble is your wisdom.
You are the chief guardian of all things of Nature,
and in your comprehensive, boundless essence, they endure.
Oh, Father! Protect your initiatory rites
and grant us a happy life and a successful end.
Tiki
Approach, Lady Fortune, and with gracious favors
and noble gifts, fulfill my prayers.
Polite and gentle, the lyrical one, fervently praised,
the ruling Artemis, born of renowned Hades.
Inaccessible to humans, you are directed She chants endless prayers.
Underground, omnipresent divine power,
our ever-changing mortal lives are anchored in you.
Because of you, sometimes abundant wealth is received,
while you keep others at a distance with an unattainable movement of your blessed hand,
and you prevent them from deep resentments.
Be present, Deity, and with your fervent devotees
bestow abundance with benevolent favor.
It is not by chance that the first hymn is dedicated to the mysterious Hecate, Mother of the world, the “one who opens the doors”, the “protector of sacred hymns”. In a sense, this powerful guardian stands in front of the doors of a hidden temple that stretches through many realms of the world – underground, earthly, watery, stellar – and Hecate possesses their keys. Infallible, and like Artemis, with whom she is identified, she hunts at night. Thus, she vigilantly protects against anything dangerous that might lurk in the darkness, when humans are careless and weak.
The passage through the temple doors is made possible by the goddess Protirea, the protector of birth, primarily in its symbolic meaning. During the spiritual awakening, the soul can sense a series of primordial eternal principles – the black night of Nyx, revealing the infinite sky and the creator of the world Uranus, in whose depths lies Aether, the supreme element of the world. Within it, the first sprout of golden wings of Protogen, the eternal fire of stars, blossoms around the truth of Helios, the Sun, and the silver light of Selene, the Moon, surrounded by stars. The impulse of creation is maintained by the generous Nature, full of life force, aided by its protector, the joyful Pan. The unconquerable Heracles, whose great deeds and powerful hands belong to him, shows how it is possible to achieve immortality by accepting challenges. If a person understands the significance of Heracles as a sun hero in the aspect of the annual cycle, symbolically completing his twelve labours, they will be able to comprehend even greater cycles in which he is woven. In this way, one can approach the understanding of the great Master of men and gods, Kronos, the one who recreates everything mortal and transient, and the goddess Rhea, the subtle manifestation, the Mother of gods and people, lands and skies…
Zeus maintains the higher level of creation and existence, the beginning and the end of everything, the source of abundance, the ruler who purifies the changing forms to lead them firmly towards their destiny. He is assisted by Hera, who constantly cares for the mortal race, the creator of all things, Poseidon, the ruler of the deep sea, and Hades, whose underworld is hidden from our eyes.
Their power is further transmitted by many powerful beings who tirelessly act in these realms, such as Clouds full of fruitful rains, Thetis, the Great Empress of the blue-eyed ocean that shines beneath a dense veil hidden from human sight, Nereus, who maintains the sources of the ocean and his daughters, Nereids, who reside in caves immersed in the depths of the ocean. The firstborn of this level of existence is Proteus and also the turning point towards the divine forces closely connected to humans, through which all principles of Nature are revealed and purified. Proteus is the guardian of the keys that seal the spaces of mysteries and transforms the pure, holy principles. The noble wisdom of Proteus is reflected in man himself as the principle of intelligence, prudence, care, qualities necessary for understanding things and acting correctly.
Mother Earth, who protects everything that lives, and Mother of gods and men, are two great nurturing principles that everything created, everything developing, needs – from seeds to stars.
Hestia, daughter of Cronus, honorable lady
who resides in the depths of the eternal flame,
these servants are dedicated to you in sacred rituals,
initiated, blessed, pure, and divine.
The gods entrusted you with the creation of domestic hearths,
strong and stable foundations of mortal life.
Eternal, diverse ruler forever blooming,
smiling and happy, of magical appearance,
accept these rituals and justly reward our desires,
grant us the desired health and necessary goods.
Tanat, listen to me, whose boundless realm
reaches all. Oh, to all mortal beings!
Your absence prolongs our allotted lifespan,
while your presence brings it to an end.
Your eternal sleep claims countless lives,
and their souls yearn to be attracted towards the body
that everyone possesses, regardless of age or gender,
for no one can escape your mighty destructive sway.
Not even youth can seek mercy from you.
Fiercely and forcefully, you bring premature death upon it.
You know the limits of its physical roles,
You have the privilege of a judgement that sets free,
And there is no skill or begging that can impose itself on your fury,
Nor would vows revoke your intention.
Oh, blessed power, hear my fervent plea
and extend human existence to ripe old age.
Hermes, friend of humans and prophet of words, conveys Zeus’s messages and guides humanity by teaching people proper speech and protecting their labor. Zeus’s daughter Persephone resides in the depths of the earth and radiates essence, thus bringing celestial light to whatever passes through her kingdom. Tloss. Persephone reminds us that light is present in everything and that even the deepest darkness cannot destroy it. It is interesting that her guardians, the sacred dancers of the Kuretes, are also protectors of the divine rites of mysteries, through which they have been teaching people since ancient times, and their weapons are made from the sky, sea, and earth. Persephone is, in one sense, the mother of Dionysus, the divine inspiration, the Man-God and the immortal Daemon, an angel with numerous names and attributes. Dionysus manifests in humans as the power of inspiration, which always arises from the connection between the earthly and the celestial and is reflected through various forms.
Many descendants of Zeus’s noble divine lineage help in finding a way out of the labyrinth and the impenetrable darkness of the great illusion of the visible world. Here we will mention only some of them. Unique in origin, born from Zeus’s head, is Pallas, the Mother of warrior skills. She is associated with both inner and outer battles, and in both cases instills courage in the soul of mortals. Alongside her is the mighty Victory, Nike, who is the reason for all triumphs. evolved and which can ultimately lead us to eternal fame. Apollo, with his golden lyre, brings light and inspires all of Nature’s music. He is the divine cause and purpose of everything that exists, and through his music, he harmonizes the changes and passage of seasons. His mother is Leto, endowed with powerful intelligence, and his twin sister is Artemis, victorious in battles that take place in the forests. Generous Demeter has been beside man since his beginnings, the beautiful goddess of seeds with a cornucopia, the protector of harvests who sets an example of how true wealth stems from selflessness and the power of renewal.
Aphrodite, the Mother of Love, simultaneously represents the primordial catalyst of Necessity, and with her, mortals are connected by an unbreakable bond. Eros is, on one hand, Great Love, the ineffable that exists between occult divine forces and the intelligible, and on the other hand, he is holy and pure, a winged archer, eager with his desires, playing with both gods and humans. Students invoke him in order for him to grant them enabled contemplating the holy light and separating them from inappropriate, harmful desires.
Nemesis reflects on the events of human life with an immeasurable vision, exceptionally serving what is just and reasonable, transforming the aspirations of human hearts to gain the power of discernment. The teacher of divine art is the mighty Hephaestus who brings inexhaustible flames of fire, the supreme substance that encompasses and penetrates to the core of living beings. Thanks to him, nations and cities survive, while preserving vital warmth in man’s innermost being. Asclepius possesses the science of healing humanity and opposes the devastating effects of dreadful diseases. The Muses are pure sources of virtue for mortals, nourishing the soul by providing it with a right vision that leads on the path of truth.
By invoking Mnemosyne, man ignites profound and lasting memories of the soul, freeing himself from oblivion, thereby uniting the mind with its own immortal nature. Thus, one can welcome Eos, the Dawn that spreads her radiant rays into a new day of the world, and Themis, o Now, it is she who taught people prophetic prayers. It follows a path through the purifying elements of the Boreas, Zephyrus, and Notus winds, the extraordinary cleansing power of the Ocean, and the fire represented by Hestia, the guardian of the eternal flame of sacred rituals, present also in everyday life, in the light of the hearth and its warmth.
The last hymns are dedicated to Hypnos, the god of deep sleep without dreams, who erases unnecessary memories and relieves the soul, to his son Morpheus, who shapes divine dreams, the messenger of brilliant wings of future destiny who prepares man for a new life, and to Hypnos’ brother Thanatos, the god of death who determines the inevitable end and destroys everything transient and worn out so that man can start anew…
The hymns certainly haven’t reached us in their original form. And as it applies to everything ever created, the traces of time haven’t spared them. However, from what remains, one can still hear a clear voice singing full of praise… to the sky and earth, the sun and stars, the heart and soul, the voice of Man who never He hasn’t forgotten where his true residence is. Wrapped in the music of verses, another tone can be heard, as if it were coming from the deepest depths of space and from an almost forgotten time – the call of the One who places all his hope and grace in Man…