From the book
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
Attributed to Orpheus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordΕὔφημος describes what is associated with favourable or auspicious utterance.
- In the Orphic HymnsThe Curetes are invited to come favourably at εὔφημοι λόγοι in XXXI.6.
- TranslationThe English repeats “of good omen” across the three nouns.
- A place to readWords themselves are described as auspicious.
- English renderings
- auspicious in speech; of good omen
Meaning
Εὔφημος describes what is associated with favourable or auspicious utterance. Its immediate noun matters: words can themselves be auspicious, while offerings and rites can be characterized by the favourable speech surrounding them. “Of good omen” captures an effect of the adjective but can obscure this verbal connection.
Use in the book
The Curetes are invited to come favourably at εὔφημοι λόγοι in XXXI.6. This is the clearest lexical anchor because the noun explicitly means words or speech. The adjective belongs to the appeal being made, while εὐμενέοντες describes the favourable attitude requested from its recipients.
The same pattern broadens in LI.17, where the nymphs are asked to come to auspicious ἱερά with a rejoicing heart. At XLIII.10 the Hours are summoned to auspicious rites for new initiates, and another adjective, ὅσιος, also qualifies those rites. The words cooperate: the passage does not require auspiciousness, sacredness, and religious propriety to be mutually exclusive categories. Across all three passages the adjective supports an invitation, helping to frame the gathering as an occasion the gods should welcome.
Places to read
- Hymn XXXI · Line 6Words themselves are described as auspicious.
- Hymn LI · Line 17The epithet qualifies the offerings or sacred observances receiving the nymphs.
- Hymn XLIII · Line 10Auspicious rites are also called religiously proper and are intended for new initiates.
Translation
The English repeats “of good omen” across the three nouns. This consistency should not flatten their different constructions. Nor does the presence of the adjective alone establish a command to maintain silence: here the text explicitly speaks of words in one occurrence and of invitations to rites in the others.
Attested forms
εὐφήμοις; εὐφήμοισι; εὐφήμους
Occurrence inventory
3 in total. XXXI.6; XLIII.10; LI.17