From the book
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
Attributed to Orpheus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →- English renderings
- Black; dark
Meaning
Night is the black mother of stars at VII.3 and of the Moirai at LIX.1; Herakles carries dawn and black night around his head at XII.11. The colour remains consistent, while Night’s role changes between divine parent and part of an encompassing cosmic image.
Places to read
- Hymn VII · Line 3Read the word in its hymn.
Attested forms
μέλαιναν; μελαίνης
Occurrence inventory
3 in total. VII.3; XII.11; LIX.1