Loading...
Homeric Hymns
Various (attributed to Homer)
A collection of thirty-three anonymous hymns celebrating individual Greek deities. Major source for myths of Demeter, Apollo, Hermes, and Aphrodite.
Notable Academic Translations
Hugh G. Evelyn-White (1914)Michael Crudden (2001)
Recommended Reading Order
Start with Hymn 2 (to Demeter) for the magnificent narrative behind the Eleusinian Mysteries, followed by Hymn 4 (to Hermes) for divine trickster humor, and Hymn 7 (to Dionysus).
Canonical Figures in this Text
Key heroes and divinities who feature prominently across the chapters of this work
Deities & Immortals
Demeter
Goddess of agriculture whose grief for her abducted daughter withers the crops of the earth
Hymn 2
Persephone
Queen of the Underworld whose eating of the pomegranate seed compels her cyclical return to Hades
Hymn 2
Apollo
Archer god of music and light who slays Python on Mount Parnassus to establish the Delphic Oracle
Hymn 3
Hermes
Trickster infant born at dawn who invents the lyre, steals Apollo's cattle at noon, and plays for Zeus at dusk
Hymn 4
Aphrodite
Goddess of love compelled by Zeus to desire the mortal Trojan shepherd Anchises, conceiving Aeneas
Hymn 5
Dionysus
God of wine and divine ecstasy who turns Tyrrhenian pirate kidnappers into leaping dolphins
Hymn 7Key Dramatic Scenes
Pivotal passages and mythological turning points recorded in this canon
- I
The Abduction of Persephone and the Eleusinian Rites
(Hymn 2, Lines 1-32, 470-495)Hades seizes Persephone into the underworld; Demeter wanders in mourning, withholds harvest from humanity, and upon Persephone's return teaches holy mysteries at Eleusis.
- II
Hermes Crafts the Lyre and Steals Apollo's Cattle
(Hymn 4, Lines 24-114)Hours after his birth in Mount Cyllene's cave, baby Hermes scoops a tortoise from its shell, strings it with sheep-gut, sings, and drives Apollo's sacred heifers backwards to baffle pursuers.
- III
Dionysus and the Tyrrhenian Pirates
(Hymn 7, Lines 34-54)Pirates bind young Dionysus; bands fall away, fragrant wine floods the dark ship, ivy wraps the mast, and the god roars as a lion, causing the crew to jump into the sea as dolphins.
Source Passages and Editorial Notes
Direct quotations are distinguished from editorial paraphrases and records awaiting verification.
Ref: 1-3Ancient Greek
Direct quotation“Ἥρην ἀείδω χρυσόθρονον, ἣν τέκε Ῥείη, ἀθανάτων βασίλειαν, ὑπείροχον εἶδος ἔχουσαν, Ζηνὸς ἐριγδούποιο κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε”
I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of the immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister and the wife of loud-thundering Zeus.
Translator: Hugh G. Evelyn-WhiteH. G. Evelyn-White, 1914
Featured in Hera →Ref: 1-4Ancient Greek
Direct quotation“Παλλάδ' Ἀθηναίην ἐρυσίπτολιν ἄρχομ' ἀείδειν δεινήν, ᾗ σὺν Ἄρηϊ μελήμενα ἔργα πολεμήϊα, περθόμεναί τε πόλιες ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμοί τε, καί τ' ἐρρύσατο λαὸν ἰόντα τε νισόμενόν τε.”
I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, guardian of the city, dread goddess, who with Ares cares for the works of war, the sacking of cities and the war-cry, and who saves the host as it goes forth and returns.
Translator: Hugh G. Evelyn-WhiteH. G. Evelyn-White, 1914
Featured in Athena →