Translated by Catherine Proppe  
February 28, 2015


9. Εἰς Σελήνην, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.

To Selene

Divine connection: aromatics

 

Κλῦθι, θεὰ βασίλεια, φαεσφόρε, δῖα Σελήνη,

Be open, Goddess Basileia[1], light-bearer, Selene[2],

 

ταυρόκερως Μήνη, νυκτιδρόμε, ἠεροφοῖτι,

Bullhorned Moon[3], night coursing, air roamer

 

ἐννυχία, δαιδοῦχε, κόρη, εὐάστερε, Μήνη,

Night’s torchbearer, daughter, astral Moon

 

αὐξομένη καὶ λειπομένη, θῆλύς τε καὶ ἄρσην,

Growing moon and waning moon, female and male,

 

αὐγάστειρα, φίλιππε, χρόνου μῆτερ, φερέκαρπε,

Starry light, loving horses, Mother of time, bringing fruition[4],

 

ἠλεκτρίς, βαρύθυμε, καταυγάστειρα, νυχία,

Electric amber[5] weighty spirit, pure rising starry light of night

 

πανδερκής, φιλάγρυπνε, καλοῖς ἄστροισι βρύουσα,

All-seeing, fond of the sleepless, beautiful, astral, full

 

ἡσυχίηι χαίρουσα καὶ εὐφρόνηι ὀλβιομοίρωι,

Silently charming and wise, full life fate

 

λαμπετίη, χαριδῶτι, τελεσφόρε, νυκτὸς ἄγαλμα,

Lamplight, joygiver, completion bearer, night’s glory

 

ἀστράρχη, τανύπεπλ', ἑλικοδρόμε, πάνσοφε κούρη,

Astral foundation long-robed, twining course, all-wise Daughter,

 

ἐλθέ, μάκαιρ', εὔφρων, εὐάστερε, φέγγεϊ τρισσῶι

Come, blessed, wise, starry light three-fold[6]

 

λαμπομένη, σῴζουσα νέους ἱκέτας σέο κούρη.

Mighty lamplight, save these new suppliants, thou, Daughter.


[1] Basileia means ruler, Queen, the “basis.”


[2] Selene may be translated as “synchronized (Σ) + Hellenes (ελήνη)” because the new crescent moon (aka month) synchronized the calendar (aka kalends) of the Hellenic world.


[3] Moon can be literally translated as medium (Μ) + central (ή) + prevailing (ν) center (η).


[4] Cicero, De Natura Deorum 2. 14 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st BCE.) :
"The Moon’s course also has a sort of winter and summer solstice; and she emits many streams of influence, which supply animal creatures with nourishment and stimulate their growth and which cause plants to flourish and attain maturity."


[5] Amber is a magnetically-charged fossil.


[6] Waxing, full, waning.

Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 27, 2015


48. Σαβαζίου, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Sabazios
Divine connection: aromatics
 

Κλῦθι, πάτερ, Κρόνου υἱέ, Σαβάζιε, κύδιμε δαῖμον,

I call father Kronos’[1] grandchild Sabazie[2], exulted power,

 

ὃς Βάκχον Διόνυσον, ἐρίβρομον, εἰραφιώτην,

Bacchian[3] Dionysian, powerfully exploded, then in-sewn

 

μηρῶι ἐγκατέραψας, ὅπως τετελεσμένος ἔλθηι

Thigh implanted[4] and sewn in order to bring to fulfillment of birth

 

Τμῶλον ἐς ἠγάθεον παρὰ Ἵππαν καλλιπάρηιον.

Tmolian[5] leader of deities for Ipta[6] of beautiful complexion

 

ἀλλά, μάκαρ, Φρυγίης μεδέων, βασιλεύτατε πάντων,

But blessed Phrygian power, rule extending over all

 

εὐμενέων ἐπαρωγὸς ἐπέλθοις μυστιπόλοισιν.

Graciously confer aid upon arrival at the mystic city.


[1] Kronos is the immortal God of time.


[2] Sabazios is a Phrygian (modern Turkey) deity whose mysteries resemble those of Dionysos: “synchronized (Σα) + basis (βά) + spark life (ζιε)”

Suidas s.v. Sabazios (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek lexicon C10th CE.) :
"Sabazios: He is the same [God] as Dionysos. He acquired this form of address from the rite pertaining to him; for the barbarians call the bakkhic cry sabazein. Hence some of the Greeks too follow suit and call the cry sabasmos; thereby Dionysos [becomes] Sabazios. They also used to call saboi those places that had been dedicated to him and his Bakkhantes." (Theoi.com)


[3] Bacchos and Dionysos are names of the immortal God of wine and its effects.


[4] Dionysos was born from the thigh of the immortal God Zeus after his mortal mother Semele was consumed in the lightnings of Zeus. Meer- (μηρ-), in addition to meaning “thigh” also means twine/cord and may refer to the practice of tying grape vines. The name “Semele” is associated with the word for “toad (φρύνη).” It is interesting to note that some toads lay their eggs in bunches like grapes and the male “common midwife toad” twines the eggs around his thighs until they are ready to hatch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibian#mediaviewer/File:Alytes_obstetricans_almogavarii_-_male_with_eggs_2.jpg )


[5] Mount Tmolos, south of Sardis and just west of ancient Philadelphia (in modern Turkey), was the location of an important ancient temple of Kybele, the immortal Mother of the Goddesses and Gods (Herodotus Book V).


[6] Ipta (Ἵπτα) is the immortal Phrygian (modern Turkey) Goddess (associated with the Mother Goddess Rhea/Kybele) who, according to Orphic tradition, fostered Dionysos when he was born from the thigh of Zeus.

 

Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 18, 2015


14. Ῥέας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.

To Rea
Divine medium: aromatics


Πότνα Ῥέα, θύγατερ πολυμόρφου Πρωτογόνοιο,

Potna[1] Rea[2], Daughter[3], many forms’ Protogonoio[4],

 

ἥτ’ ἐπὶ ταυροφόνων ἱερότροχον ἅρμα τιταίνεις,

Heart[5] of the bull-slaying holy wheeling chariot of Titans[6]

 

τυμπανόδουπε, φιλοιστρομανές, χαλκόκροτε κούρη,

Tympanum[7] drumming, loving legendary mania, brass-rattling daughter

 

μῆτερ Ζηνὸς ἄνακτος Ὀλυμπίου, αἰγιόχοιο,

Mother of Zenos[8] ruler of Olympos[9], Aegean[10] ox[11],

 

πάντιμ', ἀγλαόμορφε, Κρόνου σύλλεκτρε μάκαιρα,

All-honored, gloriously formed, Kronos’[12] bed companion blessed

 

οὔρεσιν ἣ χαίρεις θνητῶν τ' ὀλολύγμασι φρικτοῖς,

Mountain dwelling, rejoicing with mortals to loud-cries of frisson

 

παμβασίλεια Ῥέα, πολεμόκλονε, ὀμβριμόθυμε,

All-Basileia[13] Rea, war-raging, powerfully impassioned,

 

ψευδομένη σώτειρα, λυτηριάς, ἀρχιγένεθλε·

Deceptively-mighty savior, loosening the foundation of birth[14]

 

μήτηρ μέν τε θεῶν ἠδὲ θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

Mighty mother of immortals and mortal humans.

 

ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ καὶ γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεν

Generated out of Gaia[15] and Ouranos[16] far-reaching above

 

καὶ πόντος πνοαί τε φιλόδρομε, ἀερόμορφε·

And Potnos’[17] breath to friendly course aerial formed

 

ἐλθέ, μάκαιρα θεά, σωτήριος, εὔφρονι βουλῆι,

Come, blessed Goddess savior, wise counselor

 

εἰρήνην κατάγουσα σὺν εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν,

Bring Eirene[18] together with a good whole life attainment,

 

λύματα καὶ κῆρας πέμπουσ' ἐπὶ τέρματα γαίης.

Defilement and destruction send forth to the ends of the earth.

 

[1] Potna is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses, i.e. Queen, revered.


[2] Rea means “flow.” Rea (usually spelled “Rhea”), the “Great Goddess,” the “Great Mother (Magna Mater),” is the immortal Titan Mother (by Kronos, God of Time) of the Olympian Goddesses and Gods. Rea is also identified with Kybele (Κύβέλη), the Phrygian (modern Turkey) Mother of the Goddesses and Gods; literally: pregnancy (Κύ) + base (βέ) + loosen (λη). Rea is depicted as riding on a lion or in a chariot drawn by lions or accompanied by lions as pets. The constellation Virgo (the Independent Lady) follows the constellation Leo (the Lion) in the night sky and appears in September at the time when fruit comes to fruition.


[3] Rea is the firstborn daughter of Gaia (Goddess of generative Earth) and Ouranos (God of Heaven). http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanisRhea.html

Thygater (θύγατερ), “daughter,” literally means divine (θύ) + generative (γα) + stretch/extend (τε) + flow (ρ).


[4] Protogonoio means first born, or first to give birth to.


[5] Eet (ἥτ) literally means shared center (ἥ) + stretch/extend (τ), “heart,” “seat of life,” “seat of feeling, passion, desire, etc.”


[6] Titain (τιταίν) means stretch.


[7] A tympanum is a frame drum, tambourine, used especially in the worship of the Great Mother.


[8] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.


[9] Olympos is considered the home of the Olympian deities.


[10] The Aegean Sea connects Greece and Anatolia/Turkey. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegean_Sea#mediaviewer/File:Aegean_Sea_map.png


[11] The ox is the male stud animal of the herd kept for breeding.


[12] Kronos is the immortal God of time.


[13] Basileia means ruler.


[14] “Loosening the foundation of birth” is likely a reference to menstruation and parturition.


[15] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.


[16] Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.


[17] Potnos is the immortal God of the sea.


[18] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.

Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 16, 2015


6. Πρωτογόνου, θυμίαμα σμύρναν. 

To Protogonos

Divine connection: myrrh (from Smyrna)

 

Πρωτόγονον καλέω διφυῆ, μέγαν, αἰθερόπλαγκτον,

Protogonos[1] I call, dual-natured[2], great, aether-roaming[3],

 

ὠιογενῆ, χρυσέαισιν ἀγαλλόμενον πτερύγεσσι, 

Eggborn[4], golden, gloriously-powered winged essence

 

ταυρωβόαν, γένεσιν μακάρων θνητῶν τ' ἀνθρώπων, 

Bull of bulls[5], genetive origin of blessed mortal humanity 

 

σπέρμα πολύμνηστον, πολυόργιον, Ἠρικεπαῖον, 

Sperma[6] of multiple marriages and multiple sacred rites, Herikapaion[7]

 

ἄρρητον, κρύφιον ῥοιζήτορα, παμφαὲς ἔρνος, 

Unspoken secret flowing life-engraver, all-illuminated sprout

 

ὄσσων ὃς σκοτόεσσαν ἀπημαύρωσας ὁμίχλην

Seeing the dark essence, arising above ruinous blind mist

 

πάντῃ δινηθεὶς πτερύγων ῥιπαῖς κατὰ κόσμον 

All-extending power divine, winged flight through the pure cosmos,

 

λαμπρὸν ἄγων φάος ἁγνόν, ἀφ' οὗ σε Φάνητα κικλήσκω 

Lamp light pure, giving rise to birth, Phanes[8] I call

 

ἠδὲ Πρίηπον ἄνακτα καὶ Ἀνταύγην ἑλίκωπον. 

And Priapos[9], arise and reflect dawn’s spiralling sight

 

ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πολύμητι, πολύσπορε, βαῖνε γεγηθὼς 

Yet, blessed exceedingly wise many sower, dance with Ge[10] rejoicing,

 

ἐς τελετὴν ἁγνίαν πολυποίκιλον ὀργιοφάνταις. 

Completely, purely the many various celebrated mysteries illuminate.

 
[1] Protogonos means “first/proto (Πρωτό) + born/created/generated/offspring/child (γονον); according to Pausanias I.31.4, a name of the Goddess Persephone, “Kore Protogona.”


[2] Protogonos/Phanes is considered bi-sexual.


[3] Aether is the ether, heavens, upper air, sky.


[4] Note that egghatching-shaped letter "omega" is the first letter in the very short Greek word for “egg (ὠιο).”


[5] The bull is the designated seed animal for breeding the herd.


[6] Sperma means seed.


[7] Herikapaion means “early core triumph”:  Early/spring/morning (Ἠρι) + core (κε) + paion (παῖον). The paion is triumph over adversity, literally “under-the-same-roof (π) + arising (α) + divine power (ῖ) + entity (ο) + prevailing (ν).”

In Greek, paion (παῖον) means song of triumph after victory; medicine, antidote, healer, savior, deliverer; and peony, a spring flower with powerful medicinal value http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-32-peony.aspx?activeingredientid=32&activeingredientname=peony 


[8] Phanos (φᾱνός) means light, bright, torch, literally “divinely-animated-entity arising prevailing.”Phanes is the immortal God/dess of the first principle of life. The Derveni Papyrus describes Phanes as a male/female entity who emerged from an egg.

Guthrie, in Orpheus and the Greek Religion, describes how Time (Chronos) placed within Sky (Aither) an egg, from which emerged Phanes:

“Chronos fashions in Aither an egg. The egg splits in two and Phanes, the first-born of the [G]ods [and Goddesses] (Protogonos), springs forth.”

“. . . in the Orpheus of Athenagoras, the two halves of the egg from which Phanes sprang go to make Heaven and Earth.”

(W. K. C. Guthrie. Orpheus and the Greek Religion (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1952 by Methuen & Co., copyright 1993 by Princeton University Press) 80, 85.)

The Derveni Papyrus describes Phanes as a male/female entity who emerged from an egg:

“First, there was Chronos or Time (Chronology). From Chronos, Aither and Chasma or Chaos were born. Chronos places an egg in Aither. The egg is also called white tunic (argeeta chitona (άργῆτα χιτῶνα)) or cloud (nepheleen (νεφελήν)). The [G]od[/dess] Phanes breaks out from the egg . .  . Phanes is a marvellous (sp. sic) creature. He/she is of both sexes . . .” 

(Gabor Betegh, The Derveni Papyrus: Cosmology, Theology and Interpretation (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004) 141-142.)  http://books.google.com/books?id=5HaKQFeYSBEC&q=egg#v=snippet&q=egg&f=false 

Phanes is illustrated as hatched from the world egg &
circled by the zodiac. Phanes is winged and  enwrapped by a serpent, suggesting both heavenly and earthly qualities. Greco-Roman
bas relief circa 150 CE. Image located in Galeriea e Museo Eustense, Modena, Italy. http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Phanes.html 

[9] "We shall at this point discuss Priapus and the myths related about him . . . certain writers say that when the ancients wished to speak in their myths of the sexual organ of males they called it Priapus . . . 

“. . . the Egyptians in their myths about Priapus say that in ancient times the Titans formed a conspiracy against Osiris and slew him, and then, taking his body and dividing it into equal parts among themselves, they slipped them secretly out of the house, but this organ (the penis) alone they threw into the river, since no one of them was willing to take it with him. 

“But Isis tracked down the murder(ers) of her husband, and after slaying the Titans and fashioning the several pieces of his body into the shape of a human figure, she gave them to the priests with orders that they pay Osiris the honours of a [G]od, but since the only member she was unable to recover was the organ of sex she commanded them to pay to it the honours of a [G]od and set it up in their temples in an erect position. Now this is the myth about the birth of Priapus and the honour paid to him, as it is given by the ancient Egyptians."

(Diodorus Siculus (of Sicily) (circa 50 BCE). Library of History (4 .6.1), translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library Volume 303. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1935) 357-358.)


[10] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.

Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 12, 2015


25. Πρωτέως, θυμίαμα στύρακα.

To Proteos

Divine Connection: storax/styrax

 

Πρωτέα κικλήσκω, πόντου κληῖδας ἔχοντα,

Protea[1] I call, Pontos’[2] key holder

 

πρωτογενῆ, πάσης φύσεως ἀρχὰς ὃς ἔφηνεν

Protogenes[3] of all Nature’s[4] constructions brought to light

 

ὕλην ἀλλάσσων ἱερὴν ἰδέαις πολυμόρφοις,

Materially transforming holy forms to many shapes

 

πάντιμος, πολύβουλος, ἐπιστάμενος τά τ' ἐόντα

Honored by all, exceedingly wise, from the container[5] extended to actualization

 

ὅσσα τε πρόσθεν ἔην ὅσα τ' ἔσσεται ὕστερον αὖτις·

Foreseeing the potential strength in all four essences to the autonomous afterbirth

 

πάντα γὰρ αὐτὸς ἔχων μεταβάλλεται οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

Extending over all, soul foundation of metabolizing[6] and not any of the other

 

ἀθανάτων, οἳ ἔχουσιν ἕδος νιφόεντος Ὀλύμπου

Immortals holding the thrones of snowy Olympos[7]

 

καὶ πόντον καὶ γαῖαν ἐνηέριοί τε ποτῶνται·

And Pontos’ and Gaia’s[8] aerial winged creatures

 

πάντα γὰρ Πρωτεῖ πρώτη φύσις ἐγκατέθηκε.

In every direction before here and before there Phusis’ egg purely encased,

 

ἀλλά, πάτερ, μόλε μυστιπόλοις ὁσίαισι προνοίαις

But, Father, bring the mystic axis of hallowed foresight,

 

πέμπων εὐόλβου βιότου τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐπ' ἔργοις.

Send whole life completion and goodness upon these works.

 

[1] Protea means the first; before; before birth, suggesting that this deity gives form to beings in the womb and in the seed and in eggs, literally before (Πρω) + stretch/extension (τέα).


[2] Pontos is the immortal God of the sea.


[3] Protogenes means pre-generative, first-creator.


[4] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics/nature.


[5] “The container” is probably a reference to pregnancy and seeds and eggs.


[6] Metabolism means the chemical processes by which a plant or an animal uses food, water, etc., to grow and heal and to make energy.


[7] Olympos is a mountain in Greece believed to be the home of the Olympian deities.


[8] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.

Translated by Catherine Proppe


2.  Προθυραίας, θυμίαμα στύρακα.

To Prothyraia, “Approaching the Doorway”

Divine connection: storax, styrax

 

Κλῦθί μοι, ὦ πολύσεμνε θεά, πολυώνυμε δαῖμον,

Hear me, O much-revered Goddess, many-realmed power

 

ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγέ, λεχῶν ἡδεῖα πρόσοψι,

In travail of childbirth upon your aid women give birth sweetly before long,

 

θηλειῶν σώτειρα μόνη, φιλόπαις, ἀγανόφρον,

Women’s sole savior, lover of children, gentle counselor

 

ὠκυλόχεια, παροῦσα νέαις θνητῶν, Προθυραία,

Bring swift childbirth for new mortals approaching the doorway

 

κλειδοῦχ', εὐάντητε, φιλοτρόφε, πᾶσι προσηνής,

Key holder, pure antidote, loving nurturer of all, guide

 

ἣ κατέχεις οἴκους πάντων θαλίαις τε γέγηθας,

And catalyst, house of all joy of earthborn rejoicing

 

λυσίζων', ἀφανής, ἔργοισι δὲ φαίνῃ ἅπασι,

Loosen the zone, invisibly work to bring all to light

 

συμπάσχεις ὠδῖσι καὶ εὐτοκίηισι γέγηθας,

In sympathy with suffering in labor and childbirth, earthborn rejoicing

 

Εἰλείθυια, λύουσα πόνους δειναῖς ἐν ἀνάγκαις·

Eileithyia[1], unbind the toil and suffering of Ananke[2]

 

μούνην γὰρ σὲ καλοῦσι λεχοὶ ψυχῆς ἀνάπαυμα·

Solely for thou call women in labor for Psyche’s[3] repose

 

ἐν γὰρ σοὶ τοκετῶν λυσιπήμονές εἰσιν ἀνῖαι,

Engender childbirth, release suffering and grief

 

Ἄρτεμις Εἰλείθυια, καὶ , ἡ σεμνή, Προθυραία.

Artemis[4] Eileithyia and revered Prothyraia

 

κλῦθι, μάκαιρα, δίδου δὲ γονὰς ἐπαρωγὸς ἐοῦσα

Come blessed one, give of offspring, aide their being

 

καὶ σῴζ', ὥσπερ ἔφυς αἰεὶ σώτειρα προπάντων.

And save from death as Nature’s[5] eternal savior of all.

 


[1] Eileithyia is the immortal Goddess of childbirth and parturitiom.


[2] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of what is necessary.


[3] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.


[4] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence.


[5] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of nature.

17. Ποσειδῶνος, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.

To Poseidon

Divine connection: of Smyrna (in Ionia/west coast of Turkey), myrrh

 

Κλῦθι, Ποσειδάον γαιήοχε, κυανοχαῖτα,

I call Poseidon[1], Gaia’s[2] ox[3], cyan[4]-maned

 

ἵππιε, χαλκοτόρευτον ἔχων χείρεσσι τρίαιναν,

Steed, copper-studded[5], holding fast in hand the trident[6]

 

ὃς ναίεις πόντοιο βαθυστέρνοιο θέμεθλα,

Prevailing over Pontos’[7] deep-sternumed crushing foundation

 

ποντομέδων, ἁλίδουπε, βαρύκτυπε, ἐννοσίγαιε,

Pontos-ruling sea-roaring deep-crashing Gaia-ennauseating

 

κυμοθαλής, χαριτῶπα, τετράορον ἅρμα διώκων,

With pregnant joy, charming-looking, your four-yoked chariot driven

 

εἰναλίοις ῥοίζοισι τινάσσων ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,

In the seas’ rushing shaking briny water

 

ὃς τριτάτης ἔλαχες μοίρης βαθὺ χεῦμα θαλάσσης,

The third last fate in deep streamed Thalassa’s[8]

 

κύμασι τερπόμενος θηρσίν θ' ἅμα, πότνιε δαῖμον·

Swells delighting, mighty beast, astounding ruling power

 

ἕδρανα γῆς σῴζοις καὶ νηῶν εὔδρομον ὁρμήν,

Supportive Ge preserve and ship’s fair course propel

 

εἰρήνην, ὑγίειαν ἄγων, ἠδ' ὄλβον ἀμεμφῆ.

With Eirene[9] and Hygieia[10] and grant a whole life above reproach.


[1] Poseidon is the immortal Olympian God of the sea.


[2] Gaia is the immortal primordial Goddess of generative earth.


[3] An ox is a male stud animal kept for breeding.


[4] Cyan is dark blue.


[5] Cyprus was a major copper supplier during the Late Bronze Age (ca.1650-1100 BCE). The copper was exported by ship all over the Mediterranean. In fact, the word “copper” is derived from the name of this Greek island. (“The Archaeology of Late Bronze Age Coper Production” by A. Bernard Knapp and Vasiliki Kassianidou, 2008 http://www.academia.edu/1179089/The_Archaeology_of_Late_Bronze_Age_Copper_Production_Politiko_Phorades_on_Cyprus   

“The mining, production and export of Cypriot copper peaked at this time (ca.1650-1100 BCE), an era of settlement growth and unprecedented prosperity on the island. Urban centres with harbours arose all along the Cypriot coast, along with other prominent centres inland (Knapp 1997: 53-63). The wealth of all these sites stemmed from widening trade contacts in the eastern Mediterranean, and the demand for Cypriot copper throughout the Mediterranean world (Muhlyet al. 1988; Knapp 2008: 357-363).

The copper of Cyprus was traded both commercially and through gift-exchange in oxhide-shaped ingots widely regarded as an internationally accepted unit of trade during the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Muhly et al. 1988; Gale 1991; cf. Bass 1967: 71-72). Such ingots have been found throughout the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Marseille and now even at Oberwilflingen in Germany (Lo Schiavo 1998; 2003: 23-25; 2005a; 2005b; Primas & Pernicka 1998; Domergue & Rico 2002: 141-144).” 


[6] The trident is a three-pronged fishing spear.


[7] Pontos the ancient primordial God of the sea.


[8] Thalassa is an ancient immortal sea Goddess.


[9] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.


[10] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health.

Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 2, 2015


18. Εἰς Πλούτωνα.
To Plouton
 

Ὠ τὸν ὑποχθόνιον ναίων δόμον, ὀμβριμόθυμε,

Bring forth from subterranean dominion the mighty spirit

 

Ταρτάριον λειμῶνα βαθύσκιον ἠδὲ λιπαυγῆ,

Of Tartarian[1] meadows deeply shadowed and deprived of dawn’s light,

 

Ζεῦ χθόνιε, σκηπτοῦχε, τάδ' ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,

Zeus[2] subterranean, scepter-bearer, extend your sacred right hand, welcoming spirit,

 

Πλούτων, ὃς κατέχεις γαίης κληῖδας ἁπάσης,

Plouton[3], pure foundation, Gaia’s[4] key to all,

 

πλουτοδοτῶν γενεὴν βροτέην καρποῖς ἐνιαυτῶν·

Wealth-giving genesis of mortal fruit perennial,

 

ὃς τριτάτης μοίρης ἔλαχες χθόνα παμβασίλειαν,

The third portion thou lot, subterranean all-ruler[5]

 

ἕδρανον ἀθανάτων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν·

Seated amongst immortals, mortal-sustaining might,

 

ὃς θρόνον ἐστήριξας ὑπὸ ζοφοειδέα χῶρον

Enthroned firmly below in the nether dark region,

 

τηλέπορον τ', ἀκάμαντα, λιπόπνοον, ἄκριτον Ἅιδην

Where distant passages dissolve mad lack of breath, indiscriminate Aidon[6]

 

κυάνεόν τ' Ἀχέρονθ', ὃς ἔχει ῥιζώματα γαίης·

Darkly stretching to Acheron[7], foundation rooted in Gaia,

 

ὃς κρατέεις θνητῶν θανάτου χάριν, ὦ πολυδέγμων

Ruler of mortal death charitably accepting many received,

 

Εὔβουλ', ἁγνοπόλου Δημήτερος ὅς ποτε παῖδα

Good counselor, pure axis, when Demeter’s child in the

 

νυμφεύσας λειμῶνος ἀποσπαδίην διὰ πόντου

Nymphs’[8] meadow was torn away across Pontos

 

τετρώροις ἵπποισιν ὑπ' Ἀτθίδος ἤγαγες ἄντρον

On four yoked horses to beneath Attica’s[9] central cave,

 

δήμου Ἐλευσῖνος, τόθι περ πύλαι εἴσ' Ἀίδαο.

The deme of Eleusis[10], where surrounding gates lead to Aidao[11],

 

μοῦνος ἔφυς ἀφανῶν ἔργων φανερῶν τε βραβευτής,

There solely nature’s invisible workings made visible then judged,

 

ἔνθεε, παντοκράτωρ, ἱερώτατε, ἀγλαότιμε,

Enthusiastic all ruler, holy power gloriously honored,

 

σεμνοῖς μυστιπόλοις χαίρων ὁσίοις τε σεβασμοῖς·

Solemn mystic axis, charitable, wholly revered

 

ἵλαον ἀγκαλέω σε μολεῖν κεχαρηότα μύσταις.

Generously embrace thou transplants, your grace extend to mystae[12].


[1] Tartaros is the deepest realm beneath the earth’s surface, according to Hesiod’s Theogony 715, the cosmic inverse of the highest point of the heavens:

“For a brazen anvil falling down from heaven nine nights

and days would reach the earth upon the tenth: and again, a

brazen anvil falling from earth nine nights and days would

reach Tartarus upon the tenth.”


[2] Zeus is the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life: spark (Ζ) + essence (ε) pure (ῦ). This suggests that Plouto is the God of the spark of life beneath the earth.


[3] Plouto is the God of the afterlife: under-the-same-roof (Π) + bathe/wash/cleanse impurities (λούτων).


[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth: generative (γ) + arising (α) + divine power (ί).


[5] Basileian means ruling base.


[6] Aidon is the eternal place of deceased souls.


[7] Acheron is the river and lake of the afterlife: arising (Ἀ) + foundation (χ) + essence (έ) + flow (ρ). One of Sappho’s poems speaks of a yearning to see Acheron: 


 

"but a kind of yearning has hold of me—to die

and to look upon the dewy lotus banks

of Acheron.”

 

(Sappho. If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho, Fragment 95, translated by Anne Carson (New York: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, 2000) 189. http://inamidst.com/stuff/sappho/ )


[8] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who preside over a particular location in nature.


[9] Attica is the region of Athens.


[10] Eleusis is the city of the Eleusinian Mysteries of the immortal Mother Demeter and her Daughter Kore/Persephone.


[11] Aidao is the region of the afterlife, aka “Hades.”


[12] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.