hail, ruler of the earth,
hail, potentate of the spirit.[47]
Hippolytus, a presbyter of Rome who died in 236, in his Refutation of all Heresies, quotes certain hymns in praise of Attis:
Whether thou art the race of Saturn or happy Jupiter,
and
I will hymn Attis, son of Rhea.[48]
Here, as in so many cases, our information concerning pagan hymns is derived from an opponent, a Christian writer and defender of orthodox religion, but this circumstance in no way affects the validity of the text.
For the Orphic cult which had the longest period of influence, we possess what may be termed a hymn book containing eighty-seven hymns. It has been variously dated from the third century, B.C., to the fourth or fifth century, A.D. With a mental reservation as to the relevancy of the citations, we find that some of these hymns in praise of the gods are full of dignity, for instance,
Mother of Gods, great nurse of all, draw near,
Divinely honored, and regard my prayer.[49]