#orphic hymn

[porphurios]

Orphic ceremonial bowl (4th century C.E.) showing sixteen naked adepts, eight men and eight women. In the center is the Orphic Cosmic Egg or Omphalos, around which a dragon is coiled. The underside of the bowl shows four Eros figures and the following lines:

Gods, for it whirls through the infinite, great Olympus. Shining Zeus, may the cosmos be born. Hear from afar the swirling fire-wreathed circle. Heaven and earth were one form.

[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO MISC. DEMIGOD HEADCANONS: 🩸ZAGREUS🐂 "GOD OF ORPHIC MYSTERIES" {Wave 8.0.}

A/N: I…went ahead and did it. Man, I didn't think I would be able to write this but I think I did. Zagreus had been floating around as a possibility but put it off for so long because Zagreus is very much a mystery and then there's the whole thing that Zagreus is Dionysus and vice-versa but never really grasped the whole Orphic thing yet. I still don't think I did and just have a surface level idea of it, but hopefully this is coherent enough. Kind of felt like it was time to write Zagreus after I mentioned him in the ASTRAEUS demigod hcs. Thanks for reading everyone and have a nice day!

MISCELLANEOUS DEMIGOD H/CS MASTERLIST LINK: [VOL. 1: TUMBLR] || [VOL. 2: TUMBLR] || [AO3]

Prior to entering camp, there was an air of mystery that surrounded you. You had the aura of death like a demigod of Hades, however the assigned satyr to you and any other satyrs that came by, were confused because you also smelled like death yet still full of life like a demigod of Demeter. You smelled like death yet smelled like life. You smelled like a demigod of Hades and Demeter yet you were neither.

You eventually get picked up by Nico di Angelo and Pollux because the satyr assigned to you feels tied to you that feels like a demigod of Dionysus, but because the stench of death on you confused him so much that made him also afraid. It confused the demigods too because there was something familiar about you yet was so shrouded that they couldn't tell. It didn't help the monsters were just as confused too. They were drawn to the stench of a demigod that they knew they should kill before you got too powerful, but the smell you gave off confused them and deterred them. However, it was only a matter of time that a more powerful sentient monster came by to hunt you down.

You get escorted to Camp with the accompaniment of your satyr and the two demigods, and you were welcomed by Chiron before finally, Mr. D who stood on the hill; his visage flickering between something different yet familiar. He stood before you and regarded you, his eyes flashing to red and green with him wearing a horn on his heads before he held out his hand towards you with a claim and pronouncing you as a demigod of Zagreus, the 'first-born Dionysus', god of Orphic Mysteries.

It was explained to you, Nico, and Pollux about Zagreus and that he and Dionysus are separate yet one in all the same; and Zagreus is an older incarnation of Dionysus before being reborn as Bacchus, and then eventually Dionysus. Mr. D confirms that you're a demigod of Zagreus, and you are not a demigod of Dionysus, with no double godly parents. However, because Zagreus is still a part of Dionysus, he is, by technicality, your closest patron god…and therefore, you are his responsibility.

You get chucked, however, into the Hades cabin in the mean time because you still command the aura of death around you, and despite your fertility aspect, it was too much for the cabin of Demeter to house you, or put you in the Hermes cabin, despite their father being a psychopomp. Dionysus gave the excuse of something about Zagreus technically being a son of Hades and Persephone but before you and Nico could even question it, you were thrown out of the Big House, and there were grapevines covering the door for extra measure.

As a demigod of Zagreus, you are technically Chthonic demigod but you don't have any strong underworld powers. You can still see ghosts and spirits and command some, but you cannot summon the dead nor use shadow travel. However, you can sense tunnels to the Underworld easier then most.

You are also technically a fertility demigod like a demigod of Demeter, as Zagreus is the son of Persephone with connotations of rebirth, but you have minor plant powers compared to Demeter demigods where you can revive dying plants.

I would say that in terms of hierarchy power levels it would: Hades/Thanatos > Persephone > Zagreus

Although you have the ability to revive dying plants and minor powers in growth, they are no joke either. Plants that are weak or on the verge of dying, or are 'dried like husks' can be revived or a chance of being reborn and renewed with your power. Which probably also sort of touches Hebe's domain. There is also a chance you have the ability to create the situation of 'rebirth' of giving new life to something that is dead; a new beginning, a new 'identity' or etc. However, it is a major shift to life and death so its nothing you have the opportunity to do constantly since the requirements to meet them have to be just right.

I can't say as a child of Zagreus you are able to come back to life if you are to die, but if you were to die, you could figuratively come back to life but as a different person like how Zagreus became Dionysus. If that is the case, can you truly say it's you? All of you?

On the other hand, you are probably one of, if not, the only Chthonic demigod who is able to use healing magic to which Nico immediately introduces you to his boyfriend so you can learn the ropes of being a healer (and totally not have more of an excuse to be with his boyfriend pffft-)

If you like the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and anything relating to them, like the musical"Hadestown", then that's the part of being a child of Zagreus as Orpheus was said to be handed down the tradition initiatory rites that Zagreus was torn in pieces by the Titans and since Orpheus is responsible for Orphism in general.

I think as a child of Zagreus, you are able to communicate with bulls and on a much lower scale, any animal with horns, as Zagreus was the first to attempt yoking of oxen to sowing of seeds with their help, and thus Zagreus also being represented with a horn. If you ever encounter a unicorn, especially like at Camp Jupiter, they are drawn to you but are still nervous around you because of the aura of death that lingers around you.

I feel like Pomegranates is a demigod of Zagreus' favourite fruit, as eating pomegranates would act as a form of Ambrosia to a child of Zagreus, as its been said that the pomegranate seeds (especially fallen on the ground) as Pomegranates were said by women celebrating Thesmphoria that Pomegranates spring from the drops of Dionysus' blood. you know how if a demigod of Hades ate Persephone's Pomegranate's seeds, they enter a certain state, I wonder what would happen if a demigod of Zagreus ate them as well. I'd imagine it might have same affect on them or something else entirely, that has a boldening effect.

Regardless of the belief that Zagreus is either Zeus' and Persephone's kid, or as Hades' and Persephone's kid, I don't think being Zagreus's demigod will quite led itself the same benefits. Mostly probably because Zagreus is Dionysus but just an alternate identity, but also of the whole viewship of who's who. Even if you go with the theory that Zeus and Hades were one and the same, just Hades being Zeus in the Underworld, it doesn't work that way anymore and so has their domains and identity. You're still able to walk around in the underworld as a Chthonic demigod, but due to also being also a Fertility demigod, and due to Zagreus' origins, you have far less benefits and resistance then a demigod of Hades. ⭒☆━━━━━━━━━☆⭒⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒⭒☆━━━━━━━━☆⭒⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

"So I'm technically Mr.D's kid but also not?" you asked confused, trying to clarify one more, probably hundreth, time. Your brain felt like it was on the verge of exploding like Athena was going to explode out of Zeus' head. You swear you could feel your brain was steaming with how much it was working overtime trying to absorb and process this information.

Semele gently patted your back in sympathy. "It is a very confusing thing to wrap your mind around" she gently said. "Even Dionysus and I were confused when we learned of this."

Which was more concerning when you're a demigod with ADHD and you were this close from having a meltdown from overstimulation. You were pretty sure you haven't yet is because Mr. D had done something to you or the fact Semele was sitting across from you, you hadn't been melted into a puddle yet.

"So am I basically this weird impossible fusion of both human beliefs and cults that collided with the gods' own history and just-" you tried to say but the words got jumbled together in your tongue like words and dyslexia.

Semele placed a hors d'Oeuvre in your mouth, effectively plugging the frustration. "Its better to not to think about it too much. You are aware of the the Romans and Greek versions of the gods, yes?"

You nodded, chewing the food in your mouth.

"This is much like the same. Except its much worse because the Orphic myths often reference both Bacchus and Dionysus, both his demigod self and godly self, as well as crediting Dionysus and Zagreus as one yet differently. The others gods are too effected by this and its very messy, causing much confusion in our memories, but because Dionysus is at the center of this, he suffers and benefits from this much greater."

Semele let out a sigh, both weary and relief, when she sipped her bubbly drink. A cocktail that was fruity and sparkling.

"Even though I was technically made into a god by Zeus and mortals have had worshiped me, I was more known as the mother of Dionysus, and this was how I became an Eidolon- my existence faded away from the disparity. This is much similar. When there are two existences, without equal belief, one cannot survive and everything collapses"

She shipped her drink again before elaborating, "Orphism were inspired with one of the muses' son, Calliope's, Orpheus after his attempt in retrieving his wife Eurydice from the Underworld and with his death from my son's…followers. Orpheus wrote many epic poems and from what I remember, he was extremely talented and with mortals enamored with the story of Orpheus journey to the Underworld and managing to sway both Hades and Persephone, they became convinced Orpheus was a symbol for death and rebirth. Paired with Dionysus's birth and connections with the Underworld, and Orpheus' demise related to Dionysus, my son became the focus somehow. Its still quite confusing even now."

You pondered what you've been told by chewing the hors d'Oeuvre in your mouth before swallowing to speak. "So basically, we're treating this as if I'm Greek and Roman demigod but don't definitely ever mention it around the gods because it's going to be worse then the Greek and Roman gods fiasco that everyone has been talking about because the Orphic beliefs still use the Greek gods at its centre, which makes it harder where the lines ar."

"Mhmm, yes. It is very much more complicated but that will do for now."

"Huh. Okay" you said before sipping your drink. There was a ponder of silence before something reeled your mind.

"Wait, what about Zagreus being also Zeus's and Hades' son? What's the deal with that? Do I have to treat Zeus and Hades as my grandfathers? Or which one is it? And I guess Persephone too? As my grandma but you're also my grandma too? What isn't Persephone Zeus's and Demeter's daughter? But Zeus is also the father of Zagreus- How does this all work-"

Semele's eyes widen, her mouth mid opening to say something when both the sky and earth shook and rumbled. Everything was displaced as you were shaken out of your seat and out of placement. You could hear screams and yelling in the distance from the other campers and satyrs and nymphs, some hightailing into shelter to hide from whatever was happening.

Lightning, thunder crackled the sky with the ground was cracking open and it was making its way towards the Big House where you and Semele were having your chat-

Nico, Pollux, and Mr. D was by your side with Semele covering the three demigods with her back facing the bright lights and casting darkness when the earth groaned. When it died down, you heard more yelling and you peered over Semele's shoulders as you heard Mr. D let out a curse in greek, as Semele sighed,

You felt like you were covered in ice and lava when you saw who was at the bottom of the Big House, and you knew that it was Zeus, Demeter, Hera, Persephone, and Hades.

[kotytto]

"O royal Hera, of majestic mien, aerial-formed, divine, Zeus' blessed queen, throned in the bosom of cerulean air, the race of mortals is thy constant care. The cooling gales they power alone inspires, which nourish life, which every life desires. Mother of showers and winds, from thee alone, producing all things, mortal life is known: all natures share thy temperament divine, and universal sway alone is thine, with sounding blasts of wind, the swelling sea and rolling rivers roar when shook by thee. Come, blessed Goddess, famed almighty queen, with aspect kind, rejoicing and serene"

Orphic Hymn 16 to Hera (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)

Painting: The Tambourine Girl, by Gaetano de Martini

Yes, it's not depiction of Hera but I like this picture, so if you don't like this painting in post and want to blame me in spreading misinformation, you can fuck off :)

[apollophanes]

Οὐδέ τίς ἐστιν αὐδὴ οὔδ' ἐνοπὴ οὐδὲ κτύπος οὐδὲ μὲν ὄσσα, ἣ λήθει Διὸς οὖας ὑπερμενέος Κρονίωνος

And there is no voice or shout or noise or sound that escapes the notice of the ears of Zeus the very mighty son of Kronos

- From: Orphic Rhapsodic Hymn to Zeus

[apiswitchcraft]

orphic hymns to apollo and diana

i should mention that i did NOT write these!! they are from like the 1st century AD lol

APOLLO:

Blest Pæan, come, propitious to my prayer, illustrious power, whom Memphian tribes revere,

Slayer of Tityus, and the God of health, Lycorian Phœbus, fruitful source of wealth.

Spermatic, golden-lyred, the field from thee receives it's constant, rich fertility.

Titanic, Grunian, Smynthian, thee I sing, Python-destroying, hallowed, Delphian king:

Rural, light-bearer, and the Muse's head, noble and lovely, armed with arrows dread:

Far-darting, Bacchian, two-fold, and divine, power far diffused, and course oblique is thine.

O, Delian king, whose light-producing eye views all within, and all beneath the sky:

Whose locks are gold, whose oracles are sure, who, omens good reveals, and precepts pure:

Hear me entreating for the human kind, hear, and be present with benignant mind;

For thou surveys this boundless æther all, and every part of this terrestrial ball

Abundant, blessed; and thy piercing sight, extends beneath the gloomy, silent night;

Beyond the darkness, starry-eyed, profound, the stable roots, deep fixed by thee are found.

The world's wide bounds, all-flourishing are thine, thyself all the source and end divine:

'Tis thine all Nature's music to inspire, with various-sounding, harmonizing lyre;

Now the last string thou tuned to sweet accord, divinely warbling now the highest chord;

The immortal golden lyre, now touched by thee, responsive yields a Dorian melody.

All Nature's tribes to thee their difference owe, and changing seasons from thy music flow

Hence, mixed by thee in equal parts, advance Summer and Winter in alternate dance;

This claims the highest, that the lowest string, the Dorian measure tunes the lovely spring.

Hence by mankind, Pan-royal, two-horned named, emitting whistling winds through Syrinx famed;

Since to thy care, the figured seal is consigned, which stamps the world with forms of every kind.

Hear me, blessed power, and in these rites rejoice, and save thy mystics with a suppliant voice.

DIANA:

Hear me, Jove's daughter, celebrated queen, Bacchian and Titan, of a noble mien:

In darts rejoicing and on all to shine, torch-bearing Goddess, Dictynna divine;

Over births presiding, and thyself a maid, to labor-pangs imparting ready aid:

Dissolver of the zone and wrinkled care, fierce huntress, glorying in the Sylvan war:

Swift in the course, in dreadful arrows skilled, wandering by night, rejoicing in the field:

Of manly form, erect, of bounteous mind, illustrious dæmon, nurse of human kind:

Immortal, earthly, bane of monsters fell, 'tis thine; blest maid, on woody hills to dwell:

Foe of the stag, whom woods and dogs delight, in endless youth who flourish fair and bright.

O, universal queen, august, divine, a various form, Cydonian power, is thine:

Dread guardian Goddess, with benignant mind auspicious, come to mystic rites inclined

Give earth a store of beauteous fruits to bear, send gentle Peace, and Health with lovely hair,

And to the mountains drive Disease and Care.

Dividers by @vibeswithrenai

[homewardskies]

"Hear, Poseidon, ruler of the sea profound, whose liquid grasp begirds the solid ground; who, at the bottom of the stormy main, dark and deep-bosomed holdest they watery reign."

-Orphic Hymn 17 to Poseidon (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)

[pomegranatehymns]

PERSEPHONE

A informational post about Persephone:

Persephone is the goddess of spring, and passing of seasons as well as the queen of the Underworld. Kore being the epithet heavily associated with her connection to spring, translating to “the maiden”. Persephone also using many more epithets for diffrent aspects Associated with her. Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Persephone Deione- “Daughter of Demeter”. Being one of her many epithets.

"He [Zeus] came to the bed of all-nourishing Demeter, and she bare white-armed Persephone whom Aidoneus [Haides] carried off from her mother; but wise Zeus gave her to him.” (theoi.com- PARENTAGE OF PERSEPHONE)

stuff Associated with Persephone:

Pomegranate

Bats

Deer

Spring

Underworld

Flowers

Skulls

Garnet, gems, coins (stuff Associated with hades)

Cerberus

Dogs

The Eleusinian Mysteries:

i feel like this link sums up the mysteries pretty well.

https://web.archive.org/web/20030920115808/http://www.uwec.edu/Philrel/faculty/beach/publications/eleusis.html

“The Homeric Hymn narrates the founding story for the Mysteries as well. Demeter, disguised as a human, arrives at Eleusis while searching for her daughter, and the city takes her in as a nurse. She feels obliged to reward the city for its hospitality and reveals herself. Then she shares her secret rites, which consequently become the central theme of the Eleusinian Mysteries. But initiation to these rites was no simple task. Participants had to prepare for at least half of the year or more and nurture themselves spiritually to embrace the secret revelation.” (Eleusinian Mysteries: The Secret Rites No One Dared Talk About" TheCollector.com)

Proerosia:

(Demeter related but can Also involve Persephone)

“The Proerosia, is about the things to be done “before plowing”. The first fruits festival was in May, when the “first fruits of the cereals” were harvested. According to H. W. Parke (74), the offerings to Demeter were made to invoke her blessing on the plowing and seeding to come.” (proerosia- hellenion.org)

Hymn to persephone:

Orphic Hymn 29 to Persephone (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) :

"Hymn to Phersephone. Daughter of Zeus, Persephone divine, come, blessed queen, and to these rites incline: only-befotten, Plouton's [Haides'] honoured wife, O venerable Goddess, source of life: 'tis thine in earth's profundities to dwell, fast by the wide and dismal gates of hell. Zeus' holy offspring, of a beauteous mien, Praxidike (Avenging-Goddess), subterranean queen. The Eumenides' [Erinyes'] source, fair-haired, whose frame proceeds from Zeus' ineffable and secret seeds. Mother of Eubouleos [Dionysos-Zagreos], sonorous, divine, and many-formed, the parent of the vine. Associate of the Horai (Seasons), essence bright, all-ruling virgin, bearing heavenly light. With fruits abounding, of a bounteous mind, horned, and alone desired by those of mortal kind. O vernal queen, whom grassy plains delight, sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight : whose holy form in budding fruits we view, earth's vigorous offspring of a various hue : espoused in autumn, life and death alone to wretched mortals from thy power is known : for thine the task , according to thy will, life to produce, and all that lives to kill. Hear, blessed Goddess, send a rich increase of various fruits from earth, with lovely peace : send health with gentle hand, and crown my life with blest abundance, free from noisy strife; last in extreme old age the prey of death, dismiss me willing to the realms beneath, to thy fair palace and the blissful plains where happy spirits dwell, and Plouton [Haides] reigns.”

Here are some of Persephone's epithets:

Azesia- “of the Dried Fruits” and/or “Who Seeks”. The epithet is shared with Demeter

Brimo- “the Angry” or “the Terrifying”..

Carpophorus- “Bringer of Fruit”. This epithet was specific to Persephone in the role of Kore.

Chthonia- “of the Earth” (used by several chthonic deitys)

Deione- “Daughter of Demeter”.

Despoena- “The Ruling Goddess” or “The Mistress.”

Eleusina- “of Eleusis”. This epithet is shared by Persephone and Demeter.

Epaine- “the Fearful”. (More like feared by her worshipers)

Hagne- “Pure” or “Holy One”

Kore- “The Maiden”. Usually used when referring to persephone before she became queen of the Underworld. I use it in reference to her spring aspects

Leptynis- refers to wealth with her role as queen of the Underworld and being a chthonic deity

Megala Thea- “Great Goddess”.

Praxidike- “Bringer of Justice”.

Sources:

theoi.com- PARENTAGE OF PERSEPHONE

Hesiod, Theogony 912 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.)

theoi.com- Titles of Demeter & Kore: Ancient Greek Religion

The Eleusinian Mysteries, Edward A. Beach

Homer, The Iliad - Greek Epic C8th B.C.

The Homeric Hymns - Greek Epic C8th-4th B.C.

Orphic Hymn 29 to Persephone (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)

Tareen, Zeynep. "Eleusinian Mysteries: The Secret Rites No One Dared Talk About" TheCollector.com, February 18, 2022, https://www.thecollector.com/the-eleusinian-mysteries-ancient-greece/.

https://www.tumblr.com/diana-thyme/737747722995712000/greek-gods-101-persephone?source=share

https://www.hellenion.org/festivals/proerosia/

[brimo5]

The first vernacular translation of the Orphic Hymns is probably by Giambattista Marino. In his version, he adds a scene of Plouton kissing his newborn daughter, and renders "Melinoe" as "Lare" ( "Lemuria" in Scaliger's version). I checked Joseph Justus Scaliger's Latin edition and it seems he might have believed Persephone slept with both Jove and Dis.

Quam prope Avernales fluxus veneranda pariuit Arcano commista Iovi Proserpina amore Et quoi concubuit Dis fraude

No wonder editor Domenico Chiodo's summary of this myth aligns closely with my own understanding. I guess no interpretation is ever new.

Melinoe è figlia di Persefone, ma generata da una strana mescolanza di due semi paterni, quello di Zeus (che, secondo il mito orfico, con Persefone, allora vergine, aveva già generato Dioniso) che aveva nuovamente giaciuto con lei traendola in inganno (espressione che potrebbe alludere tanto a una violenza quanto a un mascheramento di Zeus, che avrebbe assunto all’uopo le fattezze del legittimo consorte) e quello del coniuge Plutone che a sua volta costringe con l’astuzia a un amplesso non desiderato Persefone che già si riteneva fecondata dalla precedente copula; da questa doppia paternità Melinoe trae una doppia natura (l’una infernale, spettrale, che apparendo agli umani li conduce alla follia, l’altra benevola che dalla follia libera e con la quale la dea si mostra agli iniziati) e addirittura un doppio colore della pelle (bianca come figlia di Zeus, nera come figlia dell’infernale Plutone). (Inni Profani, p127-128)