Translated by Catherine R. Proppe, March 26, 2014.




7. Ἄστρων, 
θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.

Astron[1]
Divine medium (incense): aromatics


Ἄστρων οὐρανίων ἱερὸν σέλας ἐκπροκαλοῦμαι

Astron, heavenly holy light, come forth. 


εὐιέροις φωναῖσι κικλήσκων δαίμονας ἁγ(ν)ούς.

Holy voices, call forth powers pure.


Ἀστέρες οὐράνιοι, Νυκτὸς φίλα τέκνα μελαίνης,

Starry heavens, Night’s beloved children, divine connection eternal,


ἐγκυκλίοις δίναισι περιθρόνια κυκλέοντες.

Circling egg rotating ‘round throne revolving. 


ἀνταυγεῖς, πυρόεντες, ἀεὶ γενετῆρες ἁπάντων,

Reflecting light, fired within, eternal creator of all


μοιρίδιοι, πάσης μοίρης σημάντορες ὄντες,

Destinies, all fates’ signaling entity,


θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων θείαν διέποντες ἀταρπόν,

Mortal humans’ divine director of paths,


ἑπταφαεῖς ζώνας ἐφορώμενοι, ἠερόπλαγκτοι,

Seven zones[2] tending aerial planets[3],


οὐράνιοι χθόνιοί τε, πυρίδρομοι, αἰὲν ἀτειρεῖς,

Heavenly; earthly, too; fiery course eternally giving rise to portents,


αὐγάζοντες ἀεὶ νυκτὸς ζοφοειδέα πέπλον,

Illuminated zones of eternal Night’s[4] dark peplos[5],


μαρμαρυγαῖς στίλβοντες, ἐύφρονες ἐννύχιοί τε

Sparkling, glittering bright, look with favor in the night, 


ἔλθετ' ἐπ' εὐιέρου τελετῆς πολυΐστορας ἄθλους

Bring upon a pure, holy fulfillment of many historic struggles,


ἐσθλὸν ἐπ' εὐδόξοις ἔργοις δρόμον ἐκτελέοντες

Noble, honorable works’ course, bring to completion. 

 
[1] The starry night sky: arising above (ἀ) + spread (στρων); basis for the word astronomy.


[2] The seven planetary zones: 1) Io (Ίώ) (Moon), 2) Helios (Ήλιος) (Sun), 3) Ares (Ἅρης) (Mars), 4) Aphrodite (Άφροδίτη) (Venus), 5) Hermes (Έρμῆς) (Mercury), 6) Zeus (Ζεύς)/Horus? (Ὧρος?) (Jupiter), 7) Kronos (Κρόνος)/Osiris (Ώσῖρις,Ὅσῖρις) (Saturn)


[3] The planets paths’ were considered to be wandering, irregular (πλαγκτοι).


[4] Night is the immortal Goddess of Night.


[5] A peplos is a robe.


The planets are associated with the vowels:
“… they had heard from the Chaldæan stranger a day or so before; that there were seven letters which were vowels, seven stars that have an independent motion and are unattached to the heavens; moreover that 'E' is the second vowel from the beginning, and the sun the second planet, after the moon, and that all Greeks, or nearly all, identify Apollo with the sun.” (“On the ‘E’ at Delphi,” Browne’s Miscellany Tract on Oracles, IV.) (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/misctracts/plutarchE.html#392d

Translated by Catherine Proppe, March 21, 2014




36. Ἀρτέμιδος[1], θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Artemis
Divine connection/incense: manna[2]



Κλῦθί μου, ὦ βασίλεια, Διὸς πολυώνυμε κούρη,
Be open to me, O Basileia[3], Dios’[4] daughter of many domains,

Τιτανίς, βρομία, μεγαλώνυμε, τοξότι, σεμνή,
Titanic[5], Bromian,[6] of megalithic realm, revered archer,

πασιφαής, δαιδοῦχε, θεά Δίκτυννα, λοχείη,
All-illuminator, torch-bearer, Goddess Diktynna[7], childbirth’s

ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγὲ καὶ ὠδίνων ἀμύητε,
Travail you aid and travail cause to open,

λυσίζωνε, φίλοιστρε, κυνηγέτι, λυσιμέριμνε,
Loosen the zone[8], favor history’s web[9], Huntress, release distress,

εὔδρομε, ἰοχέαιρα, φιλαγρότι, νυκτερόφοιτε,
Swift-runner, arrow-pourer, lover of the wilds, night-roamer,

κληισία, εὐάντητε, λυτηρία, ἀρσενόμορφε,
Unlock, greet kindly, deliver a manly form,

Ὀρθίη, ὠκυλόχεια, βροτῶν κουροτρόφε δαῖμον,
Bring a straightforward[10], swift birth, humanity’s child-nurturing power,

ἀμβροτέρα, χθονία, θηροκτόνε, ὀλβιόμοιρε,
Immortal earthly Lady, beast-slayer, grant a whole-life fate,

ἣ κατέχεις ὀρέων δρυμούς, ἐλαφηβόλε, σεμνή,
Rain your favor upon mountain forests and the solemn deer-hunt,

πότνια, παμβασίλεια, καλὸν θάλος αἰὲν ἐοῦσα,
Potnia[11], Queen of All, beautifully blooming, eternally young,

δρυμονία, σκυλακῖτι, Κυδωνιάς, αἰολόμορφε·
Forest-dwelling, pup-nurturing Kydonian[12], eternally changing form.

ἐλθέ, θεὰ σώτειρα, φίλη, μύστηισιν ἅπασιν
Come, Goddess Savior, beloved Lady, every mystae[13]

εὐάντητος, ἄγουσα καλοὺς καρποὺς ἀπὸ γαίης
Greet kindly, bring-forth the bloom of fruits from Gaia[14],

εἰρήνην τ' ἐρατὴν καλλιπλόκαμόν θ' ὑγίειαν·
Eirene[15], too, and lovely beautifully-crowned Goddess Hygiea[16].

πέμποις δ' εἰς ὀρέων κεφαλὰς νούσους τε καὶ ἄλγη.
Cast to the highest mountain peaks disease and distress.


  
[1] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of Independence, exemplified by her virginity and hunting skills which free her from societal obligations. In keeping with this role, she frees/makes independent the woman and child at parturition. Art- (άρτ-) is a prefix meaning fresh, new, young; complete, perfect, even; safe, sound; bread; spice, seasoning--all meanings consistent with the notion of being complete and whole.


[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.


[3] Basileia means royal, Queen.


[4] Dios means Heavenly; the immortal God of Rainstorms/the male fertilizing principle: Zeus.


[5] The Titans reside in Tartaros, the depths of the Earth, as contrasted with the Olympians, who reside at the heights of Mount Olympus. Titan means stretch/extend.


[6] Bromios is another name for Bacchos, the immortal God of Wine. Bromos means a) a loud sound, and, b) oats, Avena sativa, literally “base outflow-of entity.”


[7] Diktynna is the immortal Goddess of hunting and fishing nets. Dikt- (Δίκτ-) means net.


[8] The zone is the area of the girdle, the area of pregnancy.


[9] A person’s life is considered to be woven by the Fates at birth.


[10] Orthia means upright, upstanding, straight.


[11] Potnia is a title of honor meaning revered, august, Queen.


[12] Kydonia is a town in Crete, named for the quince, a fruit resembling a pear.


[13] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.


[14] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of Earth.


[15] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of Peace.


[16] Hygiea is the immortal Goddess of Health.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, March 18, 2014


65. Ἄρεος, θυμίαμα λίβανον.

Ares[1]

Divine medium/incense: libanon (frankincense)



Ἄρρηκτ’, ὀμβριμόθυμε, μεγασθενές, ἄλκιμε δαῖμον,

Arising above the wreckage, mighty spirit, great strength, courageous power,


ὁπλοχαρής, ἀδάμαστε, βροτοκτόνε, τειχεσιπλῆτα,

Cheered by armaments, indomitable, mortal-slaying, wall-smiting,


Ἆρες ἄναξ, ὁπλόδουπε, φόνοις πεπαλαγμένος αἰεί,

Ares, Master, arms-clashing, eternally ripe for bloodshed,


αἵματι ἀνδροφόνωι χαίρων, πολεμόκλονε, φρικτέ,

Cheered by bloody human slaughter and war’s turmoil, shivering 


ὃς ποθέεις ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσι δῆριν ἄμουσον·

With desire for sword-ravaging and by spear-battles amused.


στῆσον ἔριν λυσσῶσαν, ἄνες πόνον ἀλγεσίθυμον,

Stay raging strife, relax toilsome grief,


εἰς δὲ πόθον νεῦσον Κύπριδος κώμους τε Λυαίου

Bring forth an inclination of desire for the Kyprian’s[2] merry-making deliverance,


ἀλλάξας ἀλκὴν ὅπλων εἰς ἔργα τὰ Δηοῦς,

Exchange courageous arms for the work of Deos[3],


εἰρήνην ποθέων κουροτρόφον, ὀλβιοδῶτιν.

Eirene’s[4] desire to nurture children, and a whole life's gifts.

 
[1] Ares is the immortal God of destruction, plague, war, and ruin.


[2] The Kyprian is Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of Love.


[3] Deos is Demeter, the immortal Goddess of Agriculture.


[4] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of Peace.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, March 17, 2014.




34. Ἀπόλλωνος[1], θυμίαμα μάνναν.

To Apollo

Divine-medium/incense: manna[2]


Ἐλθέ, μάκαρ Παιάν, Τιτυοκτόνε, Φοῖβε Λυκωρεῦ,

Come forth, felicitous Savior, Tityos’[3] slayer, Phoebe’s[4] liberator,


Μεμφῖτ'[5], ἀγλαότιμε, ἰήιε, ὀλβιοδῶτα,

Memphian, gloriously honored divinity, whole life-giver,


χρυσολύρη, σπερμεῖε, ἀρότριε, Πύθιε, Τιτάν,

Chryso-lyred[6], spermatic, aerator of fields, Pythian[7], Titan[8],


Γρύνειε,  Σμινθεῦ, Πυθοκτόνε, Δελφικέ, μάντι,

Grynion[9], Smintheion[10], Python-slayer[11], Delphic[12], mantic[13],


ἄγριε, φωσφόρε δαῖμον, ἐράσμιε, κύδιμε κοῦρε,

Agrarian light-bearing power, beloved, celebrated son,


Μουσαγέτα, χαροποιέ, ἑκηβόλε, τοξοβέλεμνε,

Muse-guiding, cheerful archer, bow-launching,


Βράγχιε καὶ Διδυμεῦ, ἑκάεργε, Λοξία, ἁγνέ,

Branching and Twin, aerial, indirect, pure


Δήλι' ἄναξ, πανδερκὲς ἔχων φαεσίμβροτον ὄμμα,

Delian[14] Commander, all-seeing foundation, mortal light’s eye,


χρυσοκόμα, καθαρὰς φήμας χρησμούς τ' ἀναφαίνων·

Chryso-crowned[15], pure prophetic chreesmos[16] bring to light.


κλῦθί μευ εὐχομένου λαῶν ὕπερ εὔφρονι θυμῶι·

Be open to my entreaty, release from above your kindly-disposed spirit.


τόνδε σὺ γὰρ λεύσσεις τὸν ἀπείριτον αἰθέρα πάντα

Reach out, look upon us, extend unbroken and aetherial over all


γαῖάν τ' ὀλβιόμοιρον ὕπερθέ τε καὶ δι' ἀμολγοῦ,

Of Gaia[17], the blessed Fates[18] above, too, and from starry


νυκτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίαισιν ὑπ' ἀστεροόμματον ὄρφνην

Night[19] within the silence above, starry Mother’s darkness


ῥίζας νέρθε δέδορκας, ἔχεις δέ τε πείρατα κόσμου

The root of Earth’s sight, foundation of the pierced cosmos[20]


παντός· σοὶ δ' ἀρχή τε τελευτή τ' ἐστὶ μέλουσα,

Over all. Together from origin to completion let festal melodies


παντοθαλής, σὺ δὲ πάντα πόλον κιθάρηι πολυκρέκτωι

Gladden all, synchronizing all poles, your kitharas’[21] many-strummed


ἁρμόζεις, ὁτὲ μὲν νεάτης ἐπὶ τέρματα βαίνων,

Harmonies[22], when the lowest[23] string turns the dance,


ἄλλοτε δ' αὖθ' ὑπάτην, ποτὲ Δώριιον εἰς διάκοσμον

And then, alone, the highest, giving throughout the cosmos


πάντα πόλον κιρνὰς κρίνεις βιοθρέμμονα φῦλα,

Over all poles mixing separate life-nurtured tribes


ἁρμονίηι κεράσας τὴν παγκόσμιον ἀνδράσι μοῖραν,

Harmonically mix then all of the cosmos’ human fate


μίξας χειμῶνος θέρεός τ' ἴσον ἀμφοτέροισιν,

Mix winter, summer too, then, equally both of the two


εἰς ὑπάτας χειμῶνα, θέρος νεάταις διακρίνας,

The height of winter, summer’s depth through separation


Δώριον εἰς ἔαρος πολυηράτου ὥριον ἄνθος.

Give early Spring’s much-loved season of blooms.


ἔνθεν ἐπωνυμίην σε βροτοὶ κλήιζουσιν ἄνακτα,

Thence named, mortals herald the revival of


Πᾶνα, θεὸν δικέρωτ', ἀνέμων συρίγμαθ' ἱέντα·

Pan[24], divine Dike’s[25] rotation, the winds[26] piping[27] tune.


οὕνεκα παντὸς ἔχεις κόσμου σφραγῖδα τυπῶτιν.

On your account all foundation of the cosmos consign their forms.


κλῦθι μάκαρ, σώζων μύστας ἱκετηρίδι φωνῆι.

Be open felicitous savior to the mystic suppliants’ voices.


[1] The prefix apo- (άπό-) means to spring from = arising above (ά) + united (π) + entity (ό). The prefix apol- (άπόλ-) means arising above (ά) the pole (πόλ)/axis -or- arising above the polis/city. The name “Apollo” may also be interpreted as “arising (ά) + unifier (π) + of all (όλ).” Lo (λω) means wish, desire. Apollo’s many attributes may be united under the title of the God of Inspiration.


[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.


[3] Tityos is a Giant who attacked Apollo’s mother, Leto, and is stretched out in Tartaros (the deepest realm of the afterlife) for eternal punishment.


[4] The immortal Goddess Phoebe bequeathed province over the Delphic “oracle” to Apollo, her grandson (Aeschylus, Eumenides I)


[5] Memphis, a major capital of ancient Egypt, occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile Delta. The sacred uncastrated Apis bull of Memphis fertilized the herd.


[6] Chryso means “golden.”


[7] Pytho is the ancient name of Delphi. Pyth- (πύθ-) means base, foundation, essence, pith.


[8] The Tartaros-based Titans reside in the depths of the Earth, while the Olympians reside at the heights of Mount Olympus. Apollo’s mother, Leto, is a Titan. (His father, Zeus, is an Olympian.) Titan (Τιτάν) means stretch, extend.


[9] Grynion (Γρύνιον) was an Aeloian city near Myrina (Turkey) hosting a sanctuary of Apollo. Grunos (γρῡνός) means torch, a burning piece of wood.


[10] Sminthe was a city near Troy (Turkey) (Hom. Il. i. 3.9; Ov. Fast. vi. 425, Met. xii. 585; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 34). Sminth- (Σμινθ-) means mouse, an animal associated with Apollo.


[11] Upon taking province of the “oracle” at Delphi, Apollo killed the python (serpent, dragon) who guarded it.


[12] Delph- (δελφ-) is a prefix meaning womb; pig; dolphin; and tripod.


[13] “Mantic” means capable of channeling/inspiring.


[14] Delos Island is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Delos literally means “disclose, make manifest.”


[15] Chryso- means “golden.”


[16] Chreesmos means “oracle, message from the divine.”


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


[18] The Moirai (Μοῒραι) are the immortal Goddesses who transmit a person’s fate.


[19] Night is a primordial Goddess, the mother of Day (Hesiod, Theogony 123-124).


[20] The night sky appears to be pierced with stars. According to Hesiod, Earth is the mother (without paternity) of the Heavens/Stars. (Hesiod, Theogony 123-124).


[21] A kithara is a lyre, a seven-stringed instrument.


[22] Apollo is believed to harmonize the cosmos with his music.


[23] The lowest three strings provide the highest pitch.


[24] Pan is the immortal God of All.


[25] Dike is the immortal Goddess of Justice.


[26] Anemones are scarlet, spring-blooming flowers associated with Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and Adonis, God of rebirth.  Poppy anemone, Anemone coronaria; scarlet wind-flower, Anemone fulgens; mountain wind-flower, Anemone blanda; ἀνέμ is a prefix that means “wind, winds, windy”


[27] The syrinx is a flute, “Pan-pipe” made of reeds.

This hymn seems likely to pertain to “putting the wine to sleep” so that it can ferment and “purifying” the wine, that is, pruning the vines in order to promote a better harvest.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, 2014.

53. Ἀμφιετοῦς,

θυμίαμα πάντα πλὴν λιβάνου καὶ σπένδε γάλα.

Straddling the Year

Divine connection (incense/offering): all kinds except libanon (frankincense) and libations of milk


Ἀμφιετῆ καλέω Βάκχον, χθόνιον Διόνυσον,

Straddling the year[1] I call Bacchos[2], foundational divine Dionysos[3],


ἐγρόμενον κούραις ἅμα νύμφαις εὐπλοκάμοισιν,

Arousing passions of youths and beautifully-tressed Nymphs[4], 


ὃς παρὰ Περσεφόνης ἱεροῖσι δόμοισιν ἰαύων

He of Persephone’s[5] holy domicile sleeping


κοιμίζει τριετῆρα χρόνον, Βακχήιον ἁγνόν.

Sleep-fermented triennially[6] over time, Bacchos purified[7].


αὐτὸς δ' ἡνίκα τὸν τριετῆ πάλι κῶμον ἐγείρηι,

For him alone triennially all merry-making awakens,


εἰς ὕμνον τρέπεται σὺν ἐυζώνοισι τιθήναις

He is hymned, turning in sync with well-girdled nurses


εὐνάζων κινῶν τε χρόνους ἐνὶ κυκλάσιν ὥραις.

Good rest set in motion timely in cycling seasons.


ἀλλά, μάκαρ, χλοόκαρπε, κερασφόρε, κάρπιμε Βάκχε,

But, happily, tender-fruited, horn-bearing, fertile Bacchus,


βαῖν' ἐπὶ πάνθειον τελετὴν γανόωντι προσώπωι

Dance with all deities, perfect the freshened surface


εὐιέροις καρποῖσι τελεσσιγόνοισι βρυάζων.

Most holy fruit complete the birth swelling[8].


[1] The Great Dionysia (Διονύσια τὰ Μεγάλα) takes place in the month of the Spring Equinox (Mar.-Apr.), celebrating the New Year (when the sun prevails over darkness). The Agrarian Dionysia (Διονύσια τὰ κατ' ἀγρούς) takes place in Dec.-Jan., surrounding the Winter solstice, when the sun begins its upward ascent.


[2] Bacchos is the immortal God of wine and the effects of its inspiration, “enthusiasm,” that is, “God (theo) + within (en-).”


[3] Dionysos is another name for Bacchos.


[4] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses.


[5] Persephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and new life in Spring.


[6] Triennial means recurring every third year, or, alternatively, three times a year. Note that there are two Dionysian festivals plus the Anthesteria (Ἀνθεστήρια), an important wine festival celebrated in Jan.-Feb.


[7] “Purified” may refer to the practice of pruning the vines.


[8] The swelling of the grape as it ripens and perhaps a metaphor for Dionysos’/Bacchos’ role as a fertility God.

Orphic Hymn to Aither, translated by Catherine Proppe, 2014.


5. Αἰθέρος, θυμίαμα κρόκον.

To Aither[1], divine-connection crocus[2]


Ὦ Διὸς ὑψιμέλαθρον ἔχων κράτος αἰὲν ἀτειρές,

O Heavenly highest-ridgepole[3], foundation mighty eternal indestructible,


ἄστρων ἠελίου τε σεληναίης τε μέρισμα,

Astron[4], Helios[5], and Selene’s[6] division,


πανδαμάτωρ, πυρίπνου, πᾶσι ζωοῖσιν ἔναυσμα,

All-dominator, fire-breathing, all life-bearing spark,


ὑψιφανὴς Αἰθήρ, κόσμου στοιχεῖον ἄριστον,

Highest light, Aither, cosmos’ element supreme,


ἀγλαὸν ὦ βλάστημα, σελασφόρον, ἀστεροφεγγές,

Gloriously bringing-forth life’s beginning[7], Selene-bearing, astral-light,


κικλήσκων λίτομαί σε κεκραμένον εὔδιον εἶναι.

Called on prayed-to thou suspended, well-ordered nine[8].



[1] Aither is the protogenos (primeval) God of the firmament of the heavens.


[2] Crocus sativus, saffron (from the stigma of the purple, autumn-blooming crocus flower), an herb and yellow dye.


[3] A ridgepole is the highest horizontal timber in a roof against which the upper ends of the rafters are fixed.


[4] Astro- (ἄστρω-) means the stars, as in “astronomy, astrology.”


[5] Helios is the immortal God of the Sun.


[6] Selene is the immortal Goddess of the Moon.


[7] Blasteema means offspring, offshoot, sprout, young shoot, bud, blossom.


[8] Nine may refer to the “nine” realms of the sky, with the seven planets (Moon (Selene) (1), Mercury (Hermes) (2), Venus (Aphrodite) (3), Sun (Helios) (4), Mars (Ares) (5), Jupiter (Zeus) (6), Saturn (Kronos) (7), the region of the Zodiac (8), and Aither as the top/outermost “ridgepole” (9).  “Nine” may also pertain to the nine months of pregnancy.