From the book
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
Attributed to Orpheus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordσιγάω is a verb of silence.
- In the Orphic HymnsDream silently shows future things to silent souls at LXXXVI.6.
- TranslationThe adopted προφαίνων, “showing beforehand,” is attributed to Lennep against reported προφωνῶν, “speaking beforehand.” That neighbouring variant changes the way silence and revelation are related, and deserves attention even though σιγάω itself is not replaced.
- A place to readBoth tokens: the silent revealer and the silent receiving souls.
- English renderings
- be silent; keep silence
Meaning
σιγάω is a verb of silence. Its two primary tokens occur in one line, but they describe different participants: σιγῶν is a masculine nominative participle for Dream, and σιγώσαις a feminine dative plural agreeing with souls. Their repeated stem makes a deliberate relation between revealer and recipients.
Use in the book
Dream silently shows future things to silent souls at LXXXVI.6. The surrounding hymn has already said that he arrives silently in sweet sleep and addresses mortal souls so as to wake the mind. Silence therefore does not mean an absence of communication. It defines a form of disclosure in which the recipient is inwardly reached without ordinary waking speech. The following anticipation of good and advance rejoicing show why such disclosure matters to life. The shared silence is local to this dream encounter; the verse does not turn into an instruction about how loudly the hymn’s singers must speak.
Places to read
- Hymn LXXXVI · Line 6Both tokens: the silent revealer and the silent receiving souls.
Translation
The adopted προφαίνων, “showing beforehand,” is attributed to Lennep against reported προφωνῶν, “speaking beforehand.” That neighbouring variant changes the way silence and revelation are related, and deserves attention even though σιγάω itself is not replaced. The English “in silence to silent souls” preserves the repetition well, while the Greek participles make clear that Dream and the souls are separately described.
Attested forms
σιγῶν; σιγώσαις
Occurrence inventory
2 in total. LXXXVI.6 (2 occurrences)