The Orphic Hymn to Hekat

A New Annotated Translation by Adam Forrest For Oz, Laura, and Lorain Three of Her Daughters

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To Hekat
Hekat of the Path, I invoke Thee, Lovely Lady of the Triple Crossroads, EINODIAN HEKATN, KLIZ, TRIHODITIN ERANNN, 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 NEKYN META BAKCHEUOSAN, IIII Daughter of Perss, Lover of Solitude, rejoicing in deer. PERSEIAN, PHILERMON, AGALLOMENN 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. THROBROMON, AZSTON, APROSMACHON EIDOS ECHOUSAN Bullherder, Keeper of the Keys of All the Universe, Mistress, TAUROPOLON, PANTOS KOSMOU KLIDOUCHON, ANASSAN Guide, Bride, Nurturer of Youths, Mountain Wanderer. HGEMONN, NYMPHN, KOUROTROPHON, OURESIPHOITIN. I pray Thee, Maiden, to be present at our hallowed rites of initiation, LISSOMENOS, KOURN, TELETAIS HOSIAISI PAREINAI, Always bestowing Thy graciousness upon the Boukolos. BOUKOLI EUMENEOUSAN AEI KECHAROTI THYMI.

Hekats
I EINODIAN HEKATN, KLIZ, TRIHODITIN ERANNN, II OURANIAN, CHTHONIAN, TE KAI EINALIAN, KROKOPEPLOS. III TYMBIDIAN, PSYCHAIS NEKYN META BAKCHEUOSAN, IIII PERSEIAN, PHILERMON, AGALLOMENN ELAPHOISI. NYKTERIAN, SKYLAKITIN, AMAIMAKETON BASILEIAN. THROBROMON, AZSTON, APROSMACHON EIDOS ECHOUSAN. TAUROPOLON, PANTOS KOSMOU KLIDOUCHON, ANASSAN, HGEMONN, NYMPHN, KOUROTROPHON, OURESIPHOITIN. LISSOMENOS, KOURN, TELETAIS HOSIAISI PAREINAI, BOUKOLI EUMENEOUSAN AEI KECHAROTI THYMI.

Notes
Line 1. Kliz: This is an interesting verb, which can mean to praise, to name, to call, and to invoke. In the context of the Hymn, it is probably intended to convey to invoke with praise. Ouranian, Chthonian, te kai Einalian: This trio of epithets proclaims the power of Hekat in all three divisions of the world in Greek cosmology, as represented in the threefold partition among the Three Brothers --- Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. 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 Perss, the Titanic father of Hekat.

Line 2.

Line 3.

Line 4.

Line 4 bis. Agallomenn elaphoisi: Rejoicing in deer. A characteristic perhaps borrowed from Artemis. Line 5. Line 6. Nykterian: As Hekat was called Nykteria, She of the Night, Dionysos was known as Nykterios. Throbromon: 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. Tauropolon: Bullherder is a title She shares with Artemis.

Line 7.

Line 7 bis . Pantos Kosmou Klidouchon: Klidouchos , 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. Hgemonn: 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 . Nymphn: 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 rle of the Dark Goddess, it may be worth noting that in the Celtic Tradition preserved in the medival romances, it is the Nine Witches of Cr 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. Line 10. Kourn: Maiden; Daughter. This may possibly be intended as an identification with Persephon, the Kor. Boukoli: 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).