Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 25, 2016

​3. Νυκτός, θυμίαμα δαλούς.
To Night
Divine connection: torch
 
Νύκτα θεῶν γενέτειραν ἀείσομαι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
Night[1], the Mother of eternal deities and of humanity, too,
 
Νὺξ γένεσις πάντων, ἣν καὶ Κύπριν καλέσωμεν
Night[2], genesis of all--See there! She is called by the Kyprian’s[3] body.
 
κλῦθι, μάκαιρα θεά, κυαναυγής, ἀστεροφεγγής,
Come, blessed Goddess, cyan-dawning[4], star-enflamed,
 
ἡσυχίῃι χαίρουσα καὶ ἠρεμίῃι πολυύπνωι,
In stillness rejoicing and bringing to rest so many with Sleep[5],
 
εὐφροσύνη, τερπνή, φιλοπάννυχε, μῆτερ ὀνείρων,
Happily delighting in love all through the night, Mother of Dreams[6],
 
ληθομέριμν' ἀγαθή τε πόνων ἀνάπαυσιν ἔχουσα,
Letting good people forget their cares too, and giving pause to the grip of toil,
 
ὑπνοδότειρα, φίλη πάντων, ἐλάσιππε, νυχαυγής,
Giver of sleep, loved by all, driving the horses of night’s dawn,
 
ἡμιτελής, χθονία ἠδ' οὐρανία πάλιν αὐτή,
Completing half the earth and sky, circling alone,
 
ἐγκυκλία, παίκτειρα διώγμασιν ἠεροφοίτοις,
Encircling playful Queen of the aereal chase[7],
 
ἣ φάος ἐκπέμπεις ὑπὸ νέρτερα καὶ πάλι φεύγεις
Dispatch light beneath the nether realm in its recurring flight
 
εἰς Ἀίδην δεινὴ γὰρ ἀνάγκη πάντα κρατύνει.
With the power of Aidon[8] and Necessity[9] all-ruling.
 
νῦν δε, μάκαιρα, (καλ)ῶ, πολυόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινή,
Here now, blessed one, bring forth the plentiful whole life blessings all desire,
 
εὐάντητε, κλύουσα ἱκετηρίδα φωνὴν
Accept and hear supplications spoken,
 
ἔλθοις εὐμενέουσα, φόβους δ' ἀπόπεμπε νυχαυγεῖς.
Come, kindly power, banish fear with night’s dawn.


[1] Night is the immortal Goddess of Night, literally “tipping-point (Ν) + pure (ύ) + kore/seed (κ) + stretch/extend (τ) + α.”

Ancient Greek words that begin with κτ- have to do with extending one’s realm, laying claim to possessions, livestock, and territory, that is, extending the kore/seed (κ) to include more beyond it. (Words that begin with κτ-  are also associated with items that extend in a parallel manner, such as combs/rakes/fingers/ribs/fissures/layers/gills.)

The night sky extends the visible realm of earth (the generative Mother of all) to include the heavens, the stars, the planets.
 
According to Hesiod’s Theogony (116-124), at the very beginning of everything was Chaos, from which first emerged foundational Gaia (earth), then Tartarus (beneath the earth), and then Eros (love). Then the Goddess Night emerged from primordial Chaos alongside Erebos, the God of darkness. Night then created Aether (the bright blue sky) and Hemera/Day in union with Erebos. Thence forth, the rest of the immortal Goddesses and Gods were formed.
 
“From Chasm, Erebos and black Night came to be;
and then Aether and Day came forth from Night,
who conceived and bore them after mingling in love with Erebos.” (trans. Most)
 
“From Chaos came forth Erebus and black Night;
but of Night were born Aether and Day,
whom she conceived and bare from union in love with Erebus.” (trans. Evelyn-White)
 
Erebos is the immortal God of nether darkness, literally “essence (Ἔ) + flow (ρ) + essence-of (ε) + the base (β) + entity (ο) +ς.”
 

[2] Nyx (Νὺξ) is another name for night, literally tipping-point (Ν) + pure (ὺ) + detached (ξ). Presumably, Night is the tipping point between the realm of earth and all the heavenly bodies detached from earth.​

[3] Kypros is Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of the urge to merge, passionate love, which is the foundation of procreation. The planet Venus is named for Aphrodite and is called both the morning star and the evening star because it is the first “star” to appear at sunset and the last “star” to disappear at sunrise. Aphrodite is particularly fond of night-time because the darkness provides cover for amorous activities (that often occur in bed at night).

[4] Night’s dawn is the dark blue (cyan) sky that arises in the East at sunset (dawn=αυγής (transcending (α) + pure (υ) + Ge/Earth (γής)).

[5] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep, literally pure (ύ) + under-the-same-roof (π) + tipping-point (ν). Sleep, common to all, is the tipping-point between life and death.

[6] The Oneiroi are the immortal Gods of dreams, literally entity’s (ὀ) + tipping-point (ν) + essence of (ε) + divine-power (ί) + flow (ρ) + ων.” Dreams are the gateway to communication with the divine.

[7] The “chase” because the constellations appear to “chase” one another across the sky.

[8] Aidon is Hades/Pluto, the immortal God of the afterlife, literally transcending (Ἀ) + divine-power (ί) + directing (δ) + central (η) + tipping point (ν).”

[9] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of necessity, of what is necessary/inevitable, transcending (ἀν) + grasp (άγκη).

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 19, 2015​

82. Νότου, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Notos[1], God of the Rainy South Wind
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
 
Λαιψηρὸν πήδημα δι’ ἠέρος ὑγροπόρευτον,
Swift nimble leaping air, water conveying,
 
ὠκείαις πτερύγεσσι δονούμενον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
Whose fleet wings convulse powerfully to and fro,
 
ἔλθοις σὺν νεφέλαις νοτίαις, ὄμβροιο γενάρχα·
Come with the southern Nephelai[2], rain-generating architect,
 
τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκ Διός ἐστι σέθεν γέρας ἠερόφοιτον,
Then bring forth Dios’[3] essence together with ancient air-wandering
 
ὀμβροτόκους νεφέλας ἐξ ἠέρος εἰς χθόνα πέμπειν.
Rain-born clouds, extract air’s essence and send it to earth.
 
τοιγάρ τοι λιτόμεσθα, μάκαρ, ἱεροῖσι χαρέντα
Then, too, I pray, O blessed, holy, gracious one,
 
πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.
Send fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[4].
 


[1] Notos is the immortal God of the rainy south wind, literally “prevailing (Ν) + entity-of (ό) + stretch/extension (του).”  Presumably, stretching/extending life because water is essential to life and growth, or, the furthermost point from the base, which is north (Boreas).
 
Notios (νοτιος) means moist, damp, rainy; to the south, southern. Notis (νοτίς) means moisture.
 
Hesiod, Ovid, Statius, and Nonnos describe the intense rains brought by Notos, the South Wind: (courtesy of www.Theoi.com )
 
Hesiod, Works and Days 663 ff : 
"…the fierce gales of Notos who accompanies the heavy autumn rain of Zeus and stirs up the sea and makes the deep dangerous."
 
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 56 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"… Auster [Notos] brings the rain."
 
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 262 ff : 
"[Zeus plans the great Deluge :] … and out on soaking wings Notus flew, his ghastly features veiled in deepest bloom. His beard was sodden with rain, his white hair drenched; mists wreathed his brow and streaming water fell from wings and chest; and when in giant hands he crushed the hanging clouds, the thunder crashed and storms of blinding rain poured down from heaven."
 
Statius, Thebaid 1. 346 ff (trans. Mozley):
"And now … Auster [Notos the South-Wind] most violent thickens gloom on gloom with whirling eddies of darkness, and pours down rain…
Statius, Thebaid 5. 705 ff : 
"Auster [Notos the South-Wind] black with rain has upheaved the sea."
Statius, Thebaid 8. 422 ff : 
"When threatening Jove [Zeus] has loosed the reins of winds and tempests, and sends alternate hurricanes to afflict the world, opposing forces meet in heaven, now Auster’s (Notos’) storms prevail, now Aquilo’s [Boreas the north-wind’s], till in the conflict of the winds one conquers, be it Auster’s overwhelming rains, or Aquilo’s clear air."
 
Nonnos, Dionysiaca 6. 18 ff (trans. Rouse) :
"She [Demeter] hastened with quick foot to the house of Astraios the god of prophecy . . . The four Aetai (Winds) fitted aprons round their waists as their father’s waiters. Euros (the East Wind) held out the cups by the mixing-bowl and poured in the nectar, Notos (the South Wind) had the water ready in his jug for the meal, Boreas (the North Wind) brought the ambrosia and set it on the table, Zephyros (the West Wind) fingering the notes of the hoboy made a tune on his reeds of spring-time…”
 
http://www.theoi.com/Titan/AnemosNotos.html
 

[2] The Nephelai are the immortal Goddesses of the clouds.

[3] Dios, a generic word for deity, refers here to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.

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

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 17, 2016 

64. Ὕμνος Νόμου.
Hymn to Nomos
 
Ἀθανάτων καλέω καὶ θνητῶν ἁγνὸν ἄνακτα,
I call the ruler of immortals and virtuous mortals,  
 
οὐράνιον Νόμον, ἀστροθέτην, σφραγῖδα δικαίαν
Heavenly[1] Nomos[2], star placer, seal of Dike’s[3] justice.
 
πόντου τ’ εἰναλίου καὶ γῆς, φύσεως τὸ βέβαιον
From Pontos’[4] seas to Ge’s[5] physics, nature’s[6] firm foundation.
 
ἀκλινὲς ἀστασίαστον ἀεὶ τηροῦντα νόμοισιν,
Unbiased, upright, impartial, eternal guardian of law.
 
οἷσιν ἄνωθε φέρων μέγαν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸς ὁδεύει,
Bearing from on high mighty Ouranos’  autonomous journeys,
 
καὶ φθόνον οὐ δίκαιον ῥοίζου τρόπον ἐκτὸς ἐλαύνει
And begrudging not Dike’s hurtling turns forged externally,
 
ὃς καὶ θνητοῖσιν βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐγείρει·
And in mortals’ lives complete goodness awakening.
 
αὐτὸς γὰρ μοῦνος ζώιων οἴακα κρατύνει
Autonomously generating alone eternal life’s guiding rules,
 
γνώμαις ὀρθοτάταισι συνών, ἀδιάστροφος αἰεί,
Wise, upright impositions in concert with unswerving eternity.
 
ὠγύγιος, πολύπειρος, ἀβλάπτως πᾶσι συνοικῶν
Ogygios’[7] many trials inviolate for all who dwell as one.
 
τοῖς νομίμοις, ἀνόμοις δὲ φέρων κακότητα βαρεῖαν.
For then, in accordance with law, bearing lawlessness extends evil deeply.
 
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πάντιμε, φερόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινέ,
So, blessed, all-honored bearer of whole lives all long for,
 
εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων μνήμην σέο πέμπε, φέριστε.
Gracious counselor, heart’s foundation, remembering what thou sent, bring what stands.


[1] Ouranos is the immortal God of the heavens.

[2] Nomos is the immortal God of law and established custom, the father of the Goddess Dike.
Nomos defines the parameters of things in nature and human behavior, literally “tipping-point of (Ν) + entity (ό) + medium-of (μ) + entity (ο) + ν.” 
​
Things are known and identified as according to their nomos.

[3] Dike is the immortal Goddess of justice.

[4] Pontos is the immortal God of the sea. http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Pontos.html

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

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

[7] Ogygios is called the first king of Attica (Thebes) whose people came from the earth itself, that is, did not move from elsewhere. Reference to Ogygios (“of the Earth/Ge”) implies primordial, primal, from earliest times.
 
Nonnos, Dionysiaca 3 (trans. Rouse) describes how Ogygos pierced through the surface of the first of three floods:
[205] Ogygos made proof of the first roaring deluge, as he cut the air through the highclimbing waters, when all the earth was hidden under the flood, when the tops of the Thessalian rocks were covered, when the summit of the Pythian rock near the clouds on high was bathed in the snow-cooled flood. There was a second deluge, when tempestuous waters covered the circuit of the round earth in a furious flood, when all mortal men [sic] perished, and Deucalion alone with his mate Pyrrha in a hollow ark cutting the swirling flood of infinite deluge went on his eddying voyage through the air turned water.
[215] When the third time rain from Zeus flooded the solid earth and covered the hills, and even the unwetted slopes of Sithonia with Mount Athos itself, then Dardanos, cutting through the stream of the uplifted flood, landed on the ancient mountain of Ida his neighbour.
http://www.theoi.com/Text/NonnusDionysiaca3.html

Candlemas, February 2

Feast of Ceres and Proserpina/Demeter and Persephone
 
According to Pope Innocent XII:
“Why do we in this feast carry candles? Because the Gentiles dedicated the month of February to the infernal gods, and as at the beginning of it Pluto stole Proserpine, and her mother Ceres sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of the month, walked about the city with lighted candles. Because the holy fathers could not extirpate the custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and thus what was done before in the honor of Ceres is now done in honor of the Blessed Virgin.”
 
https://books.google.com/books?id=VKwYAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Candlemas+Pope+Innocent+XII#v=onepage&q=Candlemas%20Pope%20Innocent%20XII&f=false

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 15, 2016 ​

33. Νίκης, θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Nike, Goddess of Victory
Divine connection: manna
 
Εὐδύνατον καλέω Νίκην, θνητοῖσι ποθεινήν,
Great power, I call, Nike[1], for whom mortals yearn.
 
ἣ μούνη λύει θνητῶν ἐναγώνιον ὁρμὴν
She alone liberates humans in the agony[2] of assault 
 
καὶ στάσιν ἀλγινόεσσαν ἐπ' ἀντιπάλοισι μάχαισιν,
And holds fast despite grievous pain in combat’s throes.
 
ἐν πολέμοις κρίνουσα τροπαιούχοισιν ἐπ' ἔργοις,
In war She decides the turning point of battle,
 
οἷς ἂν ἐφορμαίνουσα φέροις γλυκερώτατον εὖχος·
Raising arrows, rousing attack, bearing sweet questions and prayers.
 
πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις, πάσης δ' ἔριδος κλέος ἐσθλὸν
Conqueror of all, all of strife’s famed goodness,
 
Νίκηι ἐπ' εὐδόξωι κεῖται θαλίαισι βρυάζον.
Upon Nike’s great virtue lies the path to teeming abundance and good cheer.
 
ἀλλά, μάκαιρ', ἔλθοις πεποθημένη ὄμματι φαιδρῶι
Now, blessed one, come, longed for divine power, look brightly upon us,
 
αἰεὶ ἐπ' εὐδόξοις ἔργοις τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἄγουσα.
Eternally shine upon these honorable good works completed and well led.
       
       
[1] Nike is the immortal Goddess of victory who prevails over the tipping point in a battle or contest, literally “tipping-point of (Ν) + divine-power (ί) + core/seed (κ) + center (η) + ς.” Nike is closely associated with the Athena (Ἀθήνη, Ἀθἀνα), the Goddess of immortality (ἀθᾰνᾰτος), likely due to the eternal renown of achieved by great victors.
 
Nike is almost always depicted as having wings.
 
The Louvre Museum in Paris has two statues of winged Nike from Myrina (Turkey) that date circa 350-50 BCE and circa 180 BCE. The British Museum displays magnificent gold earrings with Nike figures from Kyme (Turkey) circa 332-300 BCE. A coin from Sicily circa 415-405 BCE has an image of Camarina on one side and a flying Nike on the obverse (Royal Numismatic Society #9, London.) The Georgian National Museum holds a winged Nike statue circa 150-100 BCE found in Vani, Georgia (25 miles southwest of Coclchis). An image of Nike appears in the ruins of Ephesus (Turkey). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_(mythology)#/media/File:Goddess_Nike_at_Ephesus,_Turkey.JPG
 
See http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Nike.html for more images of winged Nike.
 
It is worth observing that the Egyptian Goddess Isis is often depicted as winged.
 

[2] Agon (Ἀγών) is the personified divinity of the contest or struggle (Paus.5.26.3), the basis for the word “agony.”

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 13, 2016

24. Νηρηίδων, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To the Neireids[1]
Divine connection: aromatics
 
Νηρέος εἰναλίου νύμφαι καλυκώπιδες ἁγναί,
Nereos’[2] Nymphs[3], pure veiled faces of the sea,
 
σφράγιαι βύθιαι, χοροπαίγμονες, ὑγροκέλευθοι,
Imprinting the depths in a playful choral dance, solely water-journeying.
 
πεντήκοντα κόραι περὶ κύμασι βακχεύουσαι,
Fifty daughters surround the swells of Bacchic essence,
 
Τριτώνων ἐπ' ὄχοισιν ἀγαλλόμεναι περὶ νῶτα
Upon Triton’s[4] chariot glorious powers surround the surface,
 
θηροτύποις μορφαῖς, ὧν βόσκει σώματα πόντος,
Beastlike forms arise to nourish Pontos’[5] body,
 
ἄλλοις θ' οἳ ναίουσι βυθόν, Τριτώνιον οἶδμα,
The sea’s divine dwellers, deep in Triton’s wavy
 
ὑδρόδομοι, σκιρτηταί, ἑλισσόμενοι περὶ κῦμα,
Watery domain. Leaping! Whirling! Powerful, round, pregnant swells on
 
ποντοπλάνοι δελφῖνες, ἁλιρρόθιοι, κυαναυγεῖς.
Pontos’ planes: dolphins sea-leaping in deep blue dawning light.
 
ὑμᾶς κικλήσκω πέμπειν μύσταις πολὺν ὄλβον·
With this hymn I call, send forth mystae with many blessings
 
ὑμεῖς γὰρ πρῶται τελετὴν ἀνεδείξατε σεμνὴν
With this hymn bestow initial completion rites declared solemnly:
 
εὐιέρου Βάκχοιο καὶ ἁγνῆς Φερσεφονείης,
Holy Bacchos[6] and pure Phersephone[7],
 
Καλλιόπηι σὺν μητρὶ καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι.
Kalliope[8] together with the Mother[9] and Apollon[10] ruling.
 
 

[1] Nereids are the beautiful, young, immortal Goddesses of various aspects of the sea, such as the sea’s brine, foam, waves, currents, and sea rescues. They are the tipping-point (Ν) + center (η) + of that which flows (ρη) + individually (ίδων).”  See http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Nereides.html
 
In Bacchylides, Dithyramb 17(61-64) (Classical Myth, 3rd ed, Barry B. Powell, p. 429, Prentice Hall, NJ, 2001) the Nereids are described as Theseus sees them at the depths of the ocean in the house of Nereus:
 
“Trembling, he gazed at the famous daughers of Nereus the rich,
whose lovely flesh sent out a light like the light of a fire.
Gold-braided glittering ribbons sparkled and gleamed in their tresses
as they danced on spray-wet feet, hearts athrob with delight.”
 
Another translation of this passage is provided by Richard C. Webb (Dithyramb 16), p. 386-387, (Cambridge University Press, 1905): https://archive.org/stream/bacchylidespoem00jebbgoog#page/n416/mode/2up/search/nereus
 
“There beheld he the glorious daughters of blest Nereus, and was awe-struck;
for a splendour as of fire shone from their radiant forms;
fillets inwoven with gold encircled their hair;
and they were delighting their hearts by dancing with lissom feet.”
 
 
At the wedding of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, Euripides in his play Iphigenia in Aulis 1051-1055) (406 BCE) describes the Nereids (Powell, p. 517):
 
“Weaving their figures on silvery sands,
fifty maidens, daughters of Nereus,
linking hands and, singing for joy,
danced for the wedding.”

[2] Nereos is the immortal God of the sea floor, the father of the Nereids, the “tipping-point (Ν) + center-of (η) + that which flows (ρέος).”

[3] Nymphs are beautiful, young, immortal Goddesses who prevail over a particular location in nature.

[4] Triton is the immortal God who rides his chariot over the surface of the sea, half-humanlike and half-fishlike, literally “stretch/extend (Τ) + streams (ρι) + stretch/extend (τ) + ών.” He is likely the God of sea-currents.

[5] Pontos, the immortal God of the Sea, is the father of Nereos by Gaia, Goddess of generative earth, literally “under-the-same-roof; united (π) + in truth; in actuality (όντος).”

[6] Bacchos is the immortal God of wine and its effects.

[7] P(h)ersephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and Spring rebirth.

[8] Kalliope is the immortal Muse of beauty.

[9] The Mother is the immortal Goddess Demeter.

[10] Apollo is the immortal God of inspiration.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 10, 2016​

23. Νηρέως, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Nereos, God of the Sea Floor
Divine connection: myrrh
 
Ὦ κατέχων πόντου ῥίζας, κυαναυγέτιν ἕδρην,
Bring forth he who holds fast Pontos’[1] roots in his deep cyan blue-lit dwelling,
 
πεντήκοντα κόρῃσιν ἀγαλλόμενος κατὰ κῦμα
Whose fifty mischievous daughters’[2] gloriously power pure swollen waves--
 
καλλιτέκνοισι χοροῖς, Νηρεῦ, μεγαλώνυμε δαῖμον,
Beautiful child-chorus of Nereos[3], exalted deity,
 
πυθμὴν μὲν πόντου, γαίης πέρας, ἀρχὴ ἁπάντων,
Underlying power of Pontos, Gaia[4]-bounded foundation met all ‘round,
 
ὃς κλονέεις Δηοῦς ἱερὸν βάθρον, ἡνίκα πνοιὰς
Rushing wildly at Demeter’s sacred base when winds
 
ἐννυχίοις κευθμῶσιν ἐλαυνομένας ἀποκλείηις·
By night concealed drive powerfully to enclose.
 
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, σεισμοὺς μὲν ἀπότρεπε, πέμπε δὲ μύσταις
Yet, blessed seismic power, turn away, conduct the mystae[5]
 
ὄλβον τ', εἰρήνην τε, καὶ ἠπιόχειρον ὑγείην.
To whole life blessings, with the peace of Eirene[6], and the soothing hand of Hygeia[7].
 


[1] Pontos, the immortal God of the Sea, is the father of Nereos by Gaia, Goddess of generative earth.

[2] Nereos’ fifty daughters are the Nereids, immortal Goddesses of various aspects of the sea, such as the sea’s brine, foam, sand, rocky shores, waves, currents, sea rescues, and necessary naval skills.

[3] Nereos is the immortal God of the sea floor, particularly the Aegean Sea, literally "tipping-point (Ν) + center of (η) + flow/flux (ρέως)."

[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.

[5] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

[6] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.

[7] Hygeia is the immortal Goddess of health.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 3, 2016​

​21. Νεφῶν, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Nephele[1]
Divine connection: myrrh
 
Αέριοι νεφέλαι, καρποτρόφοι, οὐρανόπλαγκτοι,
Aerial clouds, fruit nurturers, heavenly wanderers,
 
ὁμβροτόκοι, πνοιαῖσιν ἐλαυνόμεναι κατὰ κόσμον,
Rain-birthers, blown around about the cosmos,
 
βρονταῖαι, πυρόεσσαι, ἐρίβρομοι, ὑγροκέλευθοι,
On a thundering fiery roaring watery path.
 
ἀέρος ἐν κόλπωι πάταγον φρικώδη ἔχουσαι,
Air-enfolded, crashing frisson-holders,
 
πνεύμασιν ἀντίσπαστοι ἐπιδρομάδην παταγεῦσαι,
Blowing, erupting, free-flowing crashers.
 
ὑμᾶς νῦν λίτομαι, δροσοείμονες, εὔπνοοι αὔραις,
Let this hymn, now, entreat dew-clothing kind breaths of air,
 
πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.
Send fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[2].


[1] Nephele are the immortal Goddesses of the clouds, literally “tipping-point (Ν) + esspence-of (ε) + physics/divinely-animated-entity (φ) + έλαι. It is worth noting here that Phusis (Φύσις) is the immortal Goddess of Physics/Nature, literally “divinely-animated-entity (Φ) + pure (ύ) + synchronized (σ) +ις.” The letter Φ refers to physics/nature/divine natural and inexplicable phenomena, i.e. sound and light. Clouds have many physical properties all at once: they are aereal and float in the sky, they are solid and block sunlight, they are liquid and give rain, and they produce fire in the form of lightning. They are the “tipping-point” whence all these physical properties converge and transform into one another.
http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Nephelai.html 
The words for cloud, nephos (νέφος) and kidney, nephros (νεφρός), are very similar. The kidneys function similarly to clouds. Kidneys filter liquids in the body and release streams of liquid (urine) and sometimes fiery gas. Clouds filter water and release rain and sometimes lightning. Aristophanes (c. 446 – 386 BCE), in his play, The Clouds (386-395), compares the rumbling of an overfull stomach to the rumbling of clouds. https://ryanfb.github.io/loebolus-data/L178.pdf
The word for “snow” is very similar: neipho (νείφω). Snow is solid, liquid, and aereal.

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

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 2, 2016

61. Νεμέσεως ὕμνος.
To Nemesis
A Hymn
 
Ὦ Νέμεσι, κλήιζω σε, θεά, βασίλεια μεγίστη,
Nemesis[1], I call, Goddess, Basileia[2] majestic,
 
πανδερκής, ἐσορῶσα βίον θνητῶν πολυφύλων·
Whose all-seeing gaze rests upon the lives of mortals’ many tribes.
 
ἀιδία, πολύσεμνε, μόνη χαίρουσα δικαίοις,
Eternal deity, much-revered, solely gladdened by Dike’s[3] justice,
 
ἀλλάσσουσα λόγον πολυποίκιλον, ἄστατον αἰεί,
Alternating with each tale’s many variations, never resting, never ending,
 
ἣν πάντες δεδίασι βροτοὶ ζυγὸν αὐχένι θέντες·
Reining all humanity’s fears, yoking their mortal throats
 
σοὶ γὰρ ἀεὶ γνώμη πάντων μέλει, οὐδέ σε λήθει
In thou eternal knowledge of all concerns are never forgotten[4]
 
ψυχὴ ὑπερφρονέουσα λόγων ἀδιακρίτωι ὁρμῆι.
Psyche’s[5] overarching wise reason, without discrimination,
 
πάντ’ ἐσορᾶις καὶ πάντ’ ἐπακούεις, καὶ πάντα βραβεύεις·
All-seeing and all hearing and all arbitrating.
 
ἐν σοὶ δ’ εἰσὶ δίκαι θνητῶν, πανυπέρτατε δαῖμον.
In thou the equal of Dike’s mortal all o’er-arching deity.
 
ἐλθέ, μάκαιρ’, ἁγνή, μύσταις ἐπιτάρροθος αἰεί·
Come, blessed, pure, upon mystae extend eternally,
 
δὸς δ’ ἀγαθὴν διάνοιαν ἔχειν, παύουσα πανεχθεῖς
Give beneficial intention, hold off all hostility,
 
γνώμας οὐχ ὁσίας, πανυπέρφρονας, ἀλλοπροσάλλας.
Bestow knowledge not only of divine law, but all higher-level understanding, first to one side, then the other.
 
 
[1] Nemesis is the immortal Goddess who bestows what is due, be it good or bad. She prevails (Νε) + over measuring out (μέσεως) what is due.  She is often depicted in the company of Nike, the immortal Goddess who bestows victory (and, for the vanquished, defeat).

[2] Basileia means ruler, the “base” of rule.

[3] Dike is the all-seeing Goddess of justice.

[4] Lethe is the river of forgetting.

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

Translated by Catherine Proppe

76. Μουσῶν, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
 
To the Muses, Goddesses of Inspiration
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
 
Μνημοσύνης καὶ Ζηνὸς ἐριγδούποιο θύγατρες,
Mnemosyne’s[1] and Zenos’[2] renowned daughters,
 
Μοῦσαι Πιερίδες, μεγαλώνυμοι, ἀγλαόφημοι,
The Muses[3] of Pieria[4], many-named, gloriously famed.
 
θνητοῖς, οἷς κε αρῆτε, ποθεινόταται, πολύμορφοι,
Mortals implore with longing in many forms,
 
πάσης παιδείης ἀρετὴν γεννῶσαι ἄμεμπτον,
All noble[5] scholars’ creations flawlessly
 
θρέπτειραι ψυχῆς, διανοίας ὀρθοδότειραι,
Nourished by Psyche[6]-directed mind uprightly bestowed,
 
καὶ νόου εὐδυνάτοιο καθηγήτειραι ἄνασσαι,
The mind’s rightly powerful pure guiding Queens[7],
 
αἳ τελετὰς θνητοῖς ἀνεδείξατε μυστιπολεύτους,
Give rise to completion of mortal expressions mysterious and plentiful,
 
Κλειώ τ’ Εὐτέρπη τε Θάλειά τε Μελπομένη τε
Kleio[8], the key, and delightful Euterpe[9], blooming Thaleia[10] and dancing Melpomene[11],

Τερψιχόρη τ’ Ἐρατώ τε Πολύμνιά τ’ Οὐρανίη τε
Choral Terpsichore[12] and passion’s Erato[13], prolific Polyhymnia[14] and dazzling Ourania[15],
 
Καλλιόπηι σὺν μητρὶ καὶ εὐδυνάτηι θεᾶι Ἁγνηι.
Beautiful Kalliope[16] together with the Mother and powerful Goddesses pure,
 
ἀλλὰ μόλοιτε, θεαί, μύσταις, πολυποίκιλοι, ἁγναί,
Make whole, Goddesses, these many mystae[17], varied, pure,
 
εὔκλειαν ζῆλόν τ’ ἐρατὸν πολύυμνον ἄγουσαι.
Unlock with zeal passion’s prolifically hymned dawnings.
 
 
 
[1] Mnemosyne is the immortal Goddess of memory: the memory’s (Μνη) + container/house (μοσύν). Note: Thomas Taylor’s translation of this hymn deletes any mention of Mnemosyne. His first line is, “Daughters of Jove, dire-sounding and divine . . .”

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

[3] A Muse is an immortal Goddess who divinely inspires mortals. The “M” in “Muse” means “medium,” a special kind of medium that connects the macro/divine with the micro/mortal, literally “medium (Μ) + entity (ο) + pure (ῦ) + synchronized (σ) + αι.”

[4] Pieria is the coastal region around Mount Olympos, “home” of the Muses.

[5] Arete is the immortal Goddess of virtue, excellence, goodness.

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

[7] Anassa means Queen, Lady; addressed to Goddesses.

[8] Kleio (Κλειώ) means key/lock, the Muse who unlocks the divine channel, literally: core (Κ) + loosen/release (λ) + essence (ε) of + divine power (ι) + bring forth (ώ). Kleio also means “call” and “celebrate.”

[9] Euterpe (Εὐτέρπη) means essence of pure (Εὐ) + delight, gladdening, cheer (τέρπη). Euterpe is associated with inspiring music, song, and dance.

[10] Thaleia (Θάλειά) means bloom, literally: divine (Θ) + arising (ά) + loosen/release (λ) + essence of (ε) + divine power (ι). Thaleia also means rich, plentiful, abundance, good cheer.
 
[11] Melpomene (Μελπομένη) means means dance and sing (Μελπω) + power (μένη). Melo (μέλω) means to be an object of care or thought, to care for, to take an interest in. Melpomene eventually came to be associated with inspiring tragic drama.

[12] Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη) means enjoy, delight in (Τερψι) + the choral dancers/singers (χόρη).
 
[13] Erato (Ἐρατώ) means the expression of love, “eros.” Erato (Ἐρατώ) is the Pythagorean name for two.
 
[14] Polyhymnia (Πολύμνιά) means many (Πολ) + hymns (ύμνιά).
 
[15] Ourania (Οὐρανίη) means the sky, particularly the night sky and its constellations, planets, and moon phases.
 
[16] Kalliope (Καλλιόπηι) means beautiful (Καλλι) + looking (όπηι).

[17] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.