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Homeric Hymns
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Hymns 20-26Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Hymn 20 Summary: “To Hephaestus”
The hymn praises Hephaestus, god of metalwork and fire, alongside Athena, goddess of wisdom and war strategy, for gifting mortals with inventions that ease their earthly struggles. Hephaestus, himself a craftsman, gives mortals engineering knowledge, transforming their caves into comfortable homes. The narrator asks Hephaestus to “teach and reward” him (83).
Hymn 21 Summary: “To Apollo”
Peneus, a river god, enchants Apollo, here called Phoebus. Phoebus translates to “the bright one” and refers to Apollo’s youth. Apollo is the first and last to hear Peneus’s beautiful songs. The narrator hopes that his song will win Apollo over as well.
Hymn 22 Summary: “To Poseidon”
Poseidon is the god of the sea. He is referred to as “Master of Helicon and spacious Aegae” (85), which are locations of worship. Poseidon is also the patron of horses and rides a Pegasus, a winged horse. The hymn asks Poseidon to show mercy to sailors.
Hymn 23 Summary: “To Zeus”
Zeus, god of the sky and ruler of Olympus, works alongside Themis, the goddess of justice and interpreter of the gods’ will. The hymn refers to Zeus as “Cronian” (after his father Cronus) and asks Zeus to be gracious.
Hymn 24 Summary: “To Hestia”
Hymn 25 Summary: “To the Muses and Apollo”
Hymn 26 Summary: “To Dionysus”
Hymns 20-26 Analysis
This collection of hymns thanks the gods for the gifts they bestow on mortals. For example, Zeus gifts humankind its kings, while the Muses and Apollo gift humankind its artists. The act of gift giving connects the immortals with the mortals, presenting the theme of the intersection between the gods and humankind. Even more so, each gift represents the direct effect each god has on the mortal world. Hephaestus, who embodies engineering, is accredited for all humankind’s engineering achievement. Likewise, all great war strategy is accredited to Athena’s great wisdom and generosity. Therefore, gifts represent a direct connection between gods and mortals that does not disrupt the separation between the two.
Many hymns in this section ask the gods for protection or for a blessing. For example, hymns ask Poseidon to watch over sailors, Hestia to watch over one’s home, and Dionysus to grant a fruitful harvest. These petitions deepen the connection between immortals and mortals and invoke a different type of divine intervention, one that does not disrupt peace but reenforces each god’s divine nature.
Zeus’s establishment of order is also referenced in his connection to Themis, goddess of justice and interpreter of the gods’ will. The connection between Zeus and Themis enforces the theme of everlasting order under Zeus’s rule.
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