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Homeric Hymns
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Hymns 29-34Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Hymn 29 Summary: “To Hestia”
Hymn 30 Summary: “To Earth, Mother of All Things”
The earth, also named Gaia, birthed the Titans, such as Cronus and Rhea, with Uranus, deity of the heavens. She is the “feeder of creation” (93), and the earth rewards all those who worship her with fruitful crop yields and immense wealth. The hymn praises her as the “mother of gods” (93).
Hymn 31 Summary: “To Helios”
Helios, the sun god, is born from the Titan siblings Hyperion and Euryphaessa and is the grandson of the Earth and the Heavens, Gaia and Uranus. Helios drives his chariot from east to west, pulling the sun with him. At night, he sails the seas of Olympus. The narrator asks Helios to grant him a “happy living” and states that he will now praise the divine acts gods allow mortals to observe (94).
Hymn 32 Summary: “To Selene”
Hymn 33 Summary: “To the Dioscuri”
The Dioscuri, named Castor and Polydeuces, are the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. The hymn describes a scene of sailors in rough waters. The sailors sacrifice a white lamb on their stern deck so that the Dioscuri might save them. The Dioscuri hear the sailor’s cries, emerge from the heavens, and calm the waves.
Hymn 34 Summary: “To Guest-Friends”
This hymn does not typically appear in collections of the Homeric Hymns. It is not addressed to a god but to guest-friends, or those who provide shelter to travelers. Guest-friends are highly respected by the gods for their hospitality. The hymn states that one must respect a stranger’s need for “house and hosting” (97), or shelter while traveling.
Hymns 29-34 Analysis
While hymns are not restricted to acts of worship, this collection of hymns functions as such, acknowledging the gods’ everlasting power and rule and praising them for their addition to the pantheon. The older gods are specifically mentioned, such as Gaia, the earth deity and mother of the Titans. Through her association with the earth, she forever connects the lineage of the gods to nature and the mortal world. Helios and Selene also exemplify the god’s connection to nature: They control the movements of the sun and moon respectively, explaining the movements of the heavens.
The intervention of the Dioscuri to save the sailors returns to the theme of the connection between gods and mortals. Likewise, a hymn asks Hestia to intervene and alleviate mortals’ pain. In both instances, divine gifts to mortals allow gods to cross into the mortal world while preserving their will and divinity. The hymn’s plea for Hestia to work with Hermes reinforces the harmony of the pantheon under Zeus’s rule.
The final hymn, addressed to guest-friends, provides insight into ancient Greek culture. As it was never certain that a traveler was not a divinity living amongst humans, the Greeks believed that one should always be a compassionate host. The idea of thresholds reappears, as a host allows travelers to enter their home.
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