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 wordΠλούτων names the chthonic ruler, distinct from Πλοῦτος, Wealth.
- In the Orphic HymnsHymn XVIII calls Plouton chthonic Zeus and keeper of all earth’s keys, then describes him enriching mortals with yearly fruits.
- TranslationThe apparatus attributes Πλούτων’ to Gesner and reports nominative Πλούτων.
- A place to readPlouton’s name and earth-keys.
- English renderings
- Plouton
Meaning
Πλούτων names the chthonic ruler, distinct from Πλοῦτος, Wealth. The source includes a nominative used in address, ordinary genitive and accusative forms, and a consequential elided accusative. The difference between Πλούτων and Πλούτων’ at one difficult locus is not merely decorative punctuation.
Use in the book
Hymn XVIII calls Plouton chthonic Zeus and keeper of all earth’s keys, then describes him enriching mortals with yearly fruits. In Persephone’s hymn he is her husband and the powerful figure to whom the speaker’s eventual journey will lead (XXIX.3, 20). These clauses establish relationship and destination without needing a general account of the underworld. Meilinoe’s origin is much harder. LXXI.3 explicitly names the sacred bed of Zeus son of Kronos; .4 then prints Πλούτων’ in a clause of deception and mingling. The English takes the action as Zeus playing false as Plouton. The following line’s anger, two-bodied skin and pulling action remain difficult, so the name’s case cannot by itself settle the whole narrative.
Places to read
- Hymn XVIII · Line 4Plouton’s name and earth-keys.
- Hymn XXIX · Line 3His relationship to Persephone.
- Hymn XXIX · Line 20Plouton as the destination of the eventual journey.
- Hymn LXXI · Line 4Elided accusative versus reported nominative.
Translation
The apparatus attributes Πλούτων’ to Gesner and reports nominative Πλούτων. The apostrophe permits an elided accusative Πλούτωνα; the reported nominative would make Plouton an expressed subject. The translation’s “as Plouton” remains a difficult interpretation, not something established by that apostrophe. Moreover, ψευσθείς is morphologically passive, as the ψεύδω article explains. Neither choice removes the Zeus already printed in .3. The text should therefore preserve both the consequential editorial choice and the unresolved connected syntax.
Attested forms
Πλούτων; Πλούτων’; Πλούτωνα; Πλούτωνος
Occurrence inventory
4 in total. XVIII.4; XXIX.3; XXIX.20; LXXI.4
Heading and incense rubric evidence
ΠΛΟΥΤΩΝΑ · XVIII.heading. XVIII. ΕΙΣ ΠΛΟΥΤΩΝΑ
Local sense
Plouton as the hymn's divine recipient