From the book
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
Attributed to Orpheus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordΚαθαρός can describe cleanliness, purity, or clarity.
- In the Orphic HymnsApollo reveals pure φῆμαι and oracles at XXXIV.9.
- TranslationThe English “pure” is defensible but may sound more exclusively ritual than the Greek contexts require.
- A place to readPurity qualifies Apollo’s utterances.
- English renderings
- pure; clear
Meaning
Καθαρός can describe cleanliness, purity, or clarity. Its actual objects here are judgments or intentions and utterances, not washed bodies or purified utensils. A reader should therefore begin with the quality of thought and speech rather than assume that every use refers to physical cleansing.
Use in the book
Apollo reveals pure φῆμαι and oracles at XXXIV.9. The word presents his communications as clear or untainted; it does not specify a procedure by which the sounds have been purified. Eros is asked to join the initiates with pure intentions at LVIII.9, where the dative describes the disposition of the requested encounter.
Dikaiosyne adjudicates what is due with pure judgments at LXIII.4. The surrounding opposition to greed, crooked weighing, and human baseness gives purity an ethical and deliberative force. These three uses belong together as favourable qualities of communication and purpose, but their bearers and actions differ. Apollo’s revelation, Eros’ approach, and Dikaiosyne’s judgment should not be merged into one ceremonial act. The adjective can overlap with other sacredness language while making a locally specific claim about the soundness of what is said or intended.
Places to read
- Hymn XXXIV · Line 9Purity qualifies Apollo’s utterances.
- Hymn LVIII · Line 9Pure intentions accompany Eros’ requested approach.
- Hymn LXIII · Line 4Dikaiosyne’s judgments are pure in a context of equitable adjudication.
Translation
The English “pure” is defensible but may sound more exclusively ritual than the Greek contexts require. “Clear” can help with utterance, yet need not remove its favourable religious value. Compare the active purifying epithet καθάρσιος: being pure and bringing purification are related but grammatically different claims.
Attested forms
καθαραῖς; καθαρὰς
Occurrence inventory
3 in total. XXXIV.9; LVIII.9; LXIII.4
Further source
LSJ, καθαρός. Lexical range, consulted in the official Perseus XML text.