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The Orphic Hymns
The Orphic Hymns are a treasure-trove of ancient Greek mysticism and religion. Powerful and beautiful, these hymns were employed in the ceremonies of the Mysteries two millennia ago, and are still used today by followers of Hellenistic religion everywhere.Discover the majesty and wonder of ancient Greek spirituality with this classic English rendition of the Orphic Hymns by the celebrated Platonist and translator Thomas Taylor.
133 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 300
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December 7, 2014For a cult supposedly founded by Orpheus, the hymns themselves have all the divine and poetic inspiration of listening to people's cell phone calls. "Hello, Deity (Name), (lists of titles/epithets/duties). I'm calling to ask you for (x). Grant me a good death/end of life. Bye. " Nonetheless, I'm happy to have a new translation after access to only the ridiculous, incomprehensible 19th century one by Thomas Taylor. The notes thoroughly cross-reference a wealth of other classical material, which is invaluable as the hymns become rather arcane.
October 20, 2019
I recite from the hymns during prayer all of the time, and for a while, I have preferred Athanassakis' translation. It was very exciting when a new edition was released! Late last year, I decided to just read the book straight through, so I read the hymns while on the bus up to visit my mom. It wasn't until last month that I started reading through the commentary notes, though. The endnotes are fantastic and really pull together a lot of material to contextualize what is happening in each one, from the earliest to the latest sources (e.g., comparing some lines to things in Proclus' hymns or looking at imagery and how it evolved from early Greek poetry) — I'm excited to have read them.
September 24, 2017
This was mildly interesting; more as a source of Greek mythology, than as a source of substantive philosophy. The Hermetica was far more philosophical, I must say.
The Orphic hymns are one example, amongst a plethora, of pseudonymous Hellenistic works. Obviously, this was not written by anyone named Orpheus; and was probably composed by Onomacritus or by some other ancient balladeer.
This collection of hymns really seems to be more relevant to the study of Hellenistic religion than anything else. It's a collection of lauds to various Greek gods; occasionally, the Latin names are used for the deities treated.
In Pythagoreanism and in Platonism, the epic and lyric poets were often interpreted allegorically in order to obtain a more philosophic interpretation. This probably became the norm after Xenophanes, and others, condemned the portrayal of the gods in such sources. The Greek gods were hardly exemplars of rectitude. They were quite capricious and immoral. With the rise of philosophy, came a more intuitive method of reading the poets, e.g. the abductions of Proserpine and Europa by Pluto and Zeus respectively, might furnish a more figurative meaning that might relate to purgation or to something more benign and less objectionable.
The Orphic works wound up being a fertile source for such speculations. Out of the various poetic works, the Orphica seemed to yield the most fruitful philosophy. Pythagoras was himself said to have composed Orphic poems. The Orphic writings are certainly referred to by various Platonists and Neo-Platonists as being sources of philosophy. Whether this collection itself is such a fruitful source is hard to tell. I read Taylor's notes and I must say that this doesn't strike me as being that philosophical as is. There are certainly some great anecdotes relating to Greek mythology in here, but that's about it. While Plato utilized myth in profound ways to yield philosophic truths, I don't see much in here that compares to the myth of Er in the Republic.
As much as I like mythology, polytheistic lauds don't do that much for me. It strikes me as the sort of thing that would appeal to neo-pagans and occultists (who really are the same thing, IMO). Taylor liked works like this because he was himself a pagan. Indeed, Taylor was a link in the chain leading to modern and post-modern paganism. He was well loved by the Blavatskian theosophists and by other occultists. Blavatskian Theosophy and 19th century occultism gave birth to the New Age movement and contributed significantly to what is now called Wicca. My antipathy for Neo-Paganism is only exceeded by my disdain for New Atheism. Both are incredibly silly and both often utilize the same fallacious arguments against their shared bête noire, Christianity.
The Orphic Hymns are worth reading if one is specifically interested in Greek myth and religion. If one is interested in Greek philosophy, they don't strike me as being that informative.
The Orphic hymns are one example, amongst a plethora, of pseudonymous Hellenistic works. Obviously, this was not written by anyone named Orpheus; and was probably composed by Onomacritus or by some other ancient balladeer.
This collection of hymns really seems to be more relevant to the study of Hellenistic religion than anything else. It's a collection of lauds to various Greek gods; occasionally, the Latin names are used for the deities treated.
In Pythagoreanism and in Platonism, the epic and lyric poets were often interpreted allegorically in order to obtain a more philosophic interpretation. This probably became the norm after Xenophanes, and others, condemned the portrayal of the gods in such sources. The Greek gods were hardly exemplars of rectitude. They were quite capricious and immoral. With the rise of philosophy, came a more intuitive method of reading the poets, e.g. the abductions of Proserpine and Europa by Pluto and Zeus respectively, might furnish a more figurative meaning that might relate to purgation or to something more benign and less objectionable.
The Orphic works wound up being a fertile source for such speculations. Out of the various poetic works, the Orphica seemed to yield the most fruitful philosophy. Pythagoras was himself said to have composed Orphic poems. The Orphic writings are certainly referred to by various Platonists and Neo-Platonists as being sources of philosophy. Whether this collection itself is such a fruitful source is hard to tell. I read Taylor's notes and I must say that this doesn't strike me as being that philosophical as is. There are certainly some great anecdotes relating to Greek mythology in here, but that's about it. While Plato utilized myth in profound ways to yield philosophic truths, I don't see much in here that compares to the myth of Er in the Republic.
As much as I like mythology, polytheistic lauds don't do that much for me. It strikes me as the sort of thing that would appeal to neo-pagans and occultists (who really are the same thing, IMO). Taylor liked works like this because he was himself a pagan. Indeed, Taylor was a link in the chain leading to modern and post-modern paganism. He was well loved by the Blavatskian theosophists and by other occultists. Blavatskian Theosophy and 19th century occultism gave birth to the New Age movement and contributed significantly to what is now called Wicca. My antipathy for Neo-Paganism is only exceeded by my disdain for New Atheism. Both are incredibly silly and both often utilize the same fallacious arguments against their shared bête noire, Christianity.
The Orphic Hymns are worth reading if one is specifically interested in Greek myth and religion. If one is interested in Greek philosophy, they don't strike me as being that informative.
December 28, 2024
"Night, parent of gods and men,
unwearying one, sweet-spoken,
kind to the world, giving rest to weary cares,
soothing dark troubles."
These provide an intriguing glimpse into Orphism, an ancient religious tradition that centers around mysticism and the veneration of gods and cosmic forces. These hymns, written to various deities, offer a poetic and ritualistic framework for understanding the divine and its relationship to the world. While they might not have the same literary grandeur or widespread fame as Homeric epics, they offer a distinct and important perspective on Greek spirituality.
I found the hymns themselves to be quite poetic, with their rich imagery and rhythm capturing the essence of each deity they describe. The hymns, however, are more about invoking divine powers than telling stories. The focus is on the gods and their dominion over nature and human life, with frequent references to the cosmic order that Orphism sought to explain.
Orphism, as a religious tradition, posits that the soul's ultimate goal is to reunite with the divine, escaping the cycle of rebirth. This cyclical view of existence is expressed in many of the hymns, especially the reverence for deities like Zeus, who is seen as the source of order and cosmic unity. The hymns are filled with praises to gods who play key roles in the creation and maintenance of the universe, like Apollo, Demeter, and Dionysus, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life, death, and rebirth.
Though these hymns were informative, I felt they lacked the depth of narrative storytelling that I enjoy in other ancient works. Instead, they are more about ritual and reverence, focusing on invoking the gods’ favour. The repetition of certain phrases and the high reverence for the divine can make some of the hymns feel somewhat formulaic, though I understand the importance of these stylistic choices in religious contexts.
This collection of hymns is an essential primary source for those interested in exploring the religious practices and worldview of Orphism. For me, it provided a strong foundational understanding of this mystical tradition, though I can't say I was fully captivated by the work as a whole. That said, it is a meaningful and insightful text for anyone interested in ancient Greek religious practices, philosophy, or the history of mysticism.
unwearying one, sweet-spoken,
kind to the world, giving rest to weary cares,
soothing dark troubles."
These provide an intriguing glimpse into Orphism, an ancient religious tradition that centers around mysticism and the veneration of gods and cosmic forces. These hymns, written to various deities, offer a poetic and ritualistic framework for understanding the divine and its relationship to the world. While they might not have the same literary grandeur or widespread fame as Homeric epics, they offer a distinct and important perspective on Greek spirituality.
I found the hymns themselves to be quite poetic, with their rich imagery and rhythm capturing the essence of each deity they describe. The hymns, however, are more about invoking divine powers than telling stories. The focus is on the gods and their dominion over nature and human life, with frequent references to the cosmic order that Orphism sought to explain.
Orphism, as a religious tradition, posits that the soul's ultimate goal is to reunite with the divine, escaping the cycle of rebirth. This cyclical view of existence is expressed in many of the hymns, especially the reverence for deities like Zeus, who is seen as the source of order and cosmic unity. The hymns are filled with praises to gods who play key roles in the creation and maintenance of the universe, like Apollo, Demeter, and Dionysus, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life, death, and rebirth.
Though these hymns were informative, I felt they lacked the depth of narrative storytelling that I enjoy in other ancient works. Instead, they are more about ritual and reverence, focusing on invoking the gods’ favour. The repetition of certain phrases and the high reverence for the divine can make some of the hymns feel somewhat formulaic, though I understand the importance of these stylistic choices in religious contexts.
This collection of hymns is an essential primary source for those interested in exploring the religious practices and worldview of Orphism. For me, it provided a strong foundational understanding of this mystical tradition, though I can't say I was fully captivated by the work as a whole. That said, it is a meaningful and insightful text for anyone interested in ancient Greek religious practices, philosophy, or the history of mysticism.
May 5, 2021
A beautifully presented volume, clear printing and good layout throughout.
The new translations by Dunn are very much a personal view on the Old Greek and he explains clearly why he approached the text the way he does. What is also great in this edition is the original English translations by Taylor are also complete at the back of the book. Interesting to compare the two translations.
For those wanting to use the Hymns for occult practice, there is a short piece at the beginning of the book on how Dunn uses them in his practice and some other suggestions but it is not a big part of the overall text.
The new translations by Dunn are very much a personal view on the Old Greek and he explains clearly why he approached the text the way he does. What is also great in this edition is the original English translations by Taylor are also complete at the back of the book. Interesting to compare the two translations.
For those wanting to use the Hymns for occult practice, there is a short piece at the beginning of the book on how Dunn uses them in his practice and some other suggestions but it is not a big part of the overall text.
July 1, 2024
better than the homeric hymns i would say, wonderful reference work
September 24, 2020
This is an interesting, modern translation of the Orphic Hymns with a magickal take that I have used and referred back to many a time.
I think the most interesting thing about this book, though, is the section on using these hymns in ceremonial magick. There are some really good ideas that I'd be happy to try out sometime. I'm not a fan of authors retroactively erasing magick from the Hellenic world and Patrick Dunn absolutely embraces it which is exactly what I like to see.
As per his own admittance, this translation focuses on accuracy. I'm not opposed to translations that focus on accuracy, but I personally prefer my prayers to be more lyrical so I'd nearly always pick a more "flowery" translation over a more academically accurate one. The focus on accuracy doesn't make it bad, but to me, it does give it a certain dryness that perhaps lends itself better to an academic environment over a spiritual one. That's not to say that they're void of spirituality and beauty because there's still plenty of both, but I personally much prefer a lyrical translation.
I have used many of these in rituals and walked away feeling wonderful. They're simply superb hymns regardless of the translation. Still, my personal favourite translation -and this may be unpopular- is Thomas Taylor's. If you want to read Taylor's, I suggest the edition by The Prometheus Trust as it's a fully extensive publication.
I think the most interesting thing about this book, though, is the section on using these hymns in ceremonial magick. There are some really good ideas that I'd be happy to try out sometime. I'm not a fan of authors retroactively erasing magick from the Hellenic world and Patrick Dunn absolutely embraces it which is exactly what I like to see.
As per his own admittance, this translation focuses on accuracy. I'm not opposed to translations that focus on accuracy, but I personally prefer my prayers to be more lyrical so I'd nearly always pick a more "flowery" translation over a more academically accurate one. The focus on accuracy doesn't make it bad, but to me, it does give it a certain dryness that perhaps lends itself better to an academic environment over a spiritual one. That's not to say that they're void of spirituality and beauty because there's still plenty of both, but I personally much prefer a lyrical translation.
I have used many of these in rituals and walked away feeling wonderful. They're simply superb hymns regardless of the translation. Still, my personal favourite translation -and this may be unpopular- is Thomas Taylor's. If you want to read Taylor's, I suggest the edition by The Prometheus Trust as it's a fully extensive publication.
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April 4, 2018Not going to rate this. I don’t know how one would rate this. It’s a bit like reading Moberly and Jourdain’s “An Adventure” with Alistair Crowley in the mix. Also, the author was a troll, writing a Vindication of the Rights of Beasts in response to Mary Wollstonecraft. Hoping he was joking; otherwise, it’s no wonder he worshipped the version of Orpheus, who after Eurydice fell back into the Underworld (like to think deliberately), founded a males only cult and was later torn apart by Maenads. YouTube in a scroll.
This is rhyming verse explained by a lonely, neurotic prof in one of M.R. James’ stories—and we all know how those turn out. Not intended as a put down so much as a “How in the hell do I approach this?”
Suffice to say, a blog written by an obsessed grad student was far more helpful.
This is rhyming verse explained by a lonely, neurotic prof in one of M.R. James’ stories—and we all know how those turn out. Not intended as a put down so much as a “How in the hell do I approach this?”
Suffice to say, a blog written by an obsessed grad student was far more helpful.
May 19, 2018
The translations and notes are excellent, especially for those of us who are new to this material.
This version does not contain the original Greek versions, which may be a deal-breaker for some readers.
This version does not contain the original Greek versions, which may be a deal-breaker for some readers.
November 20, 2023
Reading this made me realize I have gaps in my knowledge of Greek mythology. It got me to go back to Homer and Hesiod.
June 10, 2023
Each hymn consists of a God’s name, a string of epithets, and a request.
January 22, 2021
sick af esoteric af gooood stuff high reccomendation
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August 26, 2022This was a lot but it was lovely.
July 18, 2024
It literally took me about a thousand years to finish this book, but that’s only because I took copious notes for my story. I’m going to use this in my book, and it was honestly so interesting!! I wish I could take a class on this text because there is so much to further explore and understand about it. Idk who I would recommend it too because it is such a niche version of Greek myth, but Ancient Orphism is so interesting because you can really see how ancient religion ebbed and shifted into our more “modern” Western religions, especially Christianity (which I have the most experience with) — so much about rebirth, original sin, motherly love, holy father and son duality, etc.
September 2, 2024
Rarely does a book sit so well at the intersection of scholarship and occult practice, but Patrick Dunn's graceful translation of the Orphic Hymns (and inclusion of Thomas Taylor's previous translations) manages to be both good reference material for the classicist, and relevant guidebook for today's neo-pagan looking to bring some Greco-Roman elements to their rituals. Ample translation notes, cross-referenced appendixes, historical context, glossaries, and just a touch of personal flare make this a good introduction to these often forgotten about hymns and prayers. If you're someone who mostly knows Ancient Greek religion through the mythology, it's also an excellent way to begin wrapping your mind around the difference between storytelling and worship, reminding us that the body of belief isn't always what retains cultural cache, no matter how important it once was to initiates.
July 5, 2024
How do you rate a collection of hymns originally intended for use in a ritual performed by an obscure ancient mystery cult?
If you're interested in reading the hymns for yourself (which I do recommend, as long as you're aware what you're getting into!), I can 100% recommend Athanassakis and Wolkow's translation. The hymns themselves are well done, but their footnotes are what makes the edition. Orphic theology is bizarre, and unlike other translations this one doesn't assume you know all its intricacies.
I learned so much from this volume, and I've found several new things to dig into (there's a missing epic that includes a bit where Aphrodite forces my main man Aeneas to travel to Sparta with Paris. It was so well referenced we know the entire plot, but not directly quoted so we only have 50 lines????), but I'll end with a quote from the final footnote: "... all one can do is cope. The Hymns ... present a world full of uncanny powers that have the potential to threaten and benefit, and they give the initiate a means of taking an active role to secure the later... they were performed by real people, with real hopes and fears. While their means of addressing these concerns might seem strange, even bizarre, to the modern reader, the goal is something with which anyone can readily sympathize."
If you're interested in reading the hymns for yourself (which I do recommend, as long as you're aware what you're getting into!), I can 100% recommend Athanassakis and Wolkow's translation. The hymns themselves are well done, but their footnotes are what makes the edition. Orphic theology is bizarre, and unlike other translations this one doesn't assume you know all its intricacies.
I learned so much from this volume, and I've found several new things to dig into (there's a missing epic that includes a bit where Aphrodite forces my main man Aeneas to travel to Sparta with Paris. It was so well referenced we know the entire plot, but not directly quoted so we only have 50 lines????), but I'll end with a quote from the final footnote: "... all one can do is cope. The Hymns ... present a world full of uncanny powers that have the potential to threaten and benefit, and they give the initiate a means of taking an active role to secure the later... they were performed by real people, with real hopes and fears. While their means of addressing these concerns might seem strange, even bizarre, to the modern reader, the goal is something with which anyone can readily sympathize."
January 12, 2014
I love this work, the way the words flow, in an English that is no longer used. It sounds slightly archaic and is so very fitting to these ancient hymns to the gods. Very useful.
October 24, 2023
The translations of the poems are well written and artful, but the 5 stars is for the extensive end-notes that make up roughly 2/3 of the page count. Taken together, the notes to the 87 hymns may be the best summary of Greek mythology I've come across. If a god or divinity is mentioned in a hymn, the notes will give you every major (and many minor) versions of the relevant myths. Terrific bibliography as well.
This is far from my first book on Ancient Greek mythology and/or religion, but this may end up being one of the most valuable on the strength of those notes and cross references alone. Although I already own copies of the Homeric Hymns and Hesiod, I've very tempted to additionally order the versions translated by this same writer/scholar.
This is far from my first book on Ancient Greek mythology and/or religion, but this may end up being one of the most valuable on the strength of those notes and cross references alone. Although I already own copies of the Homeric Hymns and Hesiod, I've very tempted to additionally order the versions translated by this same writer/scholar.
June 1, 2020
The hymns themselves are a lot of fun, and fairly self-explanatory even without an extensive background in Ancient Greek mythology and history.
The commentary by the translators are very informative at times and worth the read. I did find them however, rather rambling at times, and a little too "academic" for such a spiritually charged set of lyrics. Sometimes I felt like thinking too hard about it kind of ruined the sublimity of the perfectly assembled passages, but overall they are worth reading at least once.
The commentary by the translators are very informative at times and worth the read. I did find them however, rather rambling at times, and a little too "academic" for such a spiritually charged set of lyrics. Sometimes I felt like thinking too hard about it kind of ruined the sublimity of the perfectly assembled passages, but overall they are worth reading at least once.
August 2, 2022
As with all translations, there is an element of nuance. These translations are crisp, and clear, if somewhat lacking in the profundity of the original. Is this an issue? No. If the Orphic Hymns speak to you, then you will no doubt have a selection of versions from which to connect with these Divine Archetypes. But for the practitioner, especially the beginning Orphic, or magician, these are more than serviceable. They open the door to connecting with these deities beyond the Hollywood Hesiod narrative most know from popular culture.
February 4, 2024
Although close to more than 2000 years old, it still shares the ambitions, desires, and fears of humanity that have not seemed to change. I read each hymn with the reflecting notes from the author and I was able to understand and dive deeper into each hymn, spreading a moment into the thoughts of the initiates and the ancient and collective world of knowledge.
February 14, 2021
Neat. Beautiful. If you like your mythology served a la carte and without a heaping, daunting serving of pythagorean metaphysics, just read Hesiod.
April 17, 2022
Interesting view into the beliefs of the Orphic religion, some very different interpretations of the gods than I am used to and I found that very interesting to see.
November 15, 2022
Interesting enough I will now seek out the original Greek.
Translator clearly a nightmare.
Translator clearly a nightmare.
March 7, 2023
I adore anything Orphism related, I’ll have to acquire a physical copy of this now and reread it after endeavoring in some further research related to this ancient ‘religion’.
April 27, 2023
Hymny jak hymny są spoko, polecam, ale ta książka jest tak pokrętnie wydana... Ciężko się połapać, ciężko znaleźć konkretny hymn
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September 6, 2024Great translation from what I can tell.
September 30, 2024
No entiendo las abundantes 5 estrellas, me han parecido secos y repetitivos, incluso poco interesantes para conocer la religión. Aun así es de lo poco que hay.
May 18, 2025
Great translations, with accessible language. And lots of great info for practical use!
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