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.
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