Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.30.12

← 9.30.11 9.31.1 →

Passage 9.30.12: Orphic hymns chanted by the Lycomidae

Mythic Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ὅστις δὲ περὶ ποιήσεως ἐπολυπραγμόνησεν ἤδη, τοὺς Ὀρφέως ὕμνους οἶδεν ὄντας ἕκαστόν τε αὐτῶν ἐπὶ βραχύτατον καὶ τὸ σύμπαν οὐκ ἐς ἀριθμὸν πολὺν πεποιημένους· Λυκομίδαι δὲ ἴσασί τε καὶ ἐπᾴδουσι τοῖς δρωμένοις. κόσμῳ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐπῶν δευτερεῖα φέροιντο ἂν μετά γε Ὁμήρου τοὺς ὕμνους, τιμῆς δὲ ἐκ τοῦ θείου καὶ ἐς πλέον ἐκείνων ἥκουσι.

English Translation

Whoever has previously devoted close attention to poetry knows that the hymns of Orpheus are each extremely brief, and that altogether they are composed of no great number; the Lycomidae both know these hymns and chant them during their sacred rites. In literary elegance these hymns would be considered second only after those of Homer, yet in terms of divine honor and sacredness, they surpass even those.

Proper Nouns

Lykomidai (Λυκομίδαι) person
Also in: 1.22.7 4.1.5 4.1.7
Orpheus (Ὀρφεύς) person
Homer (Ὅμηρος) person
← 9.30.11 9.31.1 →