A paean is a song or lyric poem expressing triumph or thanksgiving. In classical antiquity, it is usually performed by a chorus, but some examples seem intended for an individual voice (monody). It comes from the Greek παιάν (also παιήων or παιών), "song of triumph, a solemn song or chant". "Paeon" was also the name of a divine physician and an epithet ("byname") of Apollo.
Paeans were originally sung in honour of Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and healing. They were also sung in honour of other gods, such as Zeus, Athena, and Dionysos. Paeans were often sung during religious festivals and ceremonies. They were also sung before and after battles, as a way of invoking the gods' help and protection.
Paeans are typically characterized by their simple, repetitive melodies and their joyful, celebratory lyrics. They often use the word "paean" itself, as well as other words associated with healing, such as "pharmakon" (drug) and "iatros" (doctor).
Here are two examples of paeans:
- The Paean to Apollo by Pindar. This paean is a celebration of Apollo's power and his role as the god of music, poetry, and healing.
O far-shooting god, lord of Delos, With golden hair and bow of silver, Come, let us sing a paean to Apollo, The lord of song and music.
O Phoebus, you are the god of light, The god of healing, and the god of prophecy. You are the protector of the Greeks, And you have helped us to defeat our enemies.
We sing your praises, O Apollo, And we ask you to continue to protect us. Fill our hearts with song, And make our words persuasive.
O lord of Delos, we honour you, And we ask for your blessing. May we always be worthy of your protection.
Here is the Paean to Dionysos by Euripides (third episode Bacchae). It is a celebration of Dionysos' power and his role as the god of wine, revelry, and madness.
O Bromius, Bacchus, with thy thyrsus wand, And thy wild hair that streams on every hand, Come, come, and with thy revel rout Fill all the place with thy uproar shout!
Come, come, and fill our hearts with glee, With joy and mirth and revelry; Chase all our cares away, And make us dance the livelong day!
Come, come, and bring the vine's sweet juice, And make us drunk with its delicious juice; Let us forget our woes, And live in Bacchic ecstasy!
Come, come, and let us dance and sing, And shout the praises of the vine-god king; Let us be mad with joy, And let the revels never cloy!
O Bromius, Bacchus, with thy thyrsus wand, And thy wild hair that streams on every hand, Come, come, and with thy revel rout Fill all the place with thy uproar shout!
Io Paean
Io Paean is a hymn of praise to Apollo, the Greek god of music, healing, and prophecy. The name "Io Paean" comes from the Greek phrase "Ἰὼ Παιάν", which means "O Paean!" or "Thanks to Paean!".
The earliest known paean to Apollo is the one that appears in Homer's Iliad. In this hymn, Apollo is praised for his healing powers, and he is asked to protect the Achaeans from disease and injury. The hymn also celebrates Apollo's victory over the Python, a monstrous serpent that was terrorizing the land of Delphi.
References
Paean - Wikipedia
A Study of the Greek Pæan; with appendixes containing the hymns found at Delphi, and the other extant fragments of pæans: Arthur Fairbanks - Internet Archive
Paian: Studien zur Geschichte einer Gattung - Lutz Käppel - Google Books
paean - Wiktionary
The Hidden Chorus: Echoes of Genre in Tragic Lyric pp 61- Laura Swift - Google Books
Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook - Google Books
Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook: Kearns, Emily - Internet Archive
