87. Θανάτου, θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Thanatos[1], the immortal God of Death
Divine connection: manna
Κλῦθί μευ, ὃς πάντων θνητῶν οἴηκα κρατύνεις
I call the one who over all mortality firmly reigns.
πᾶσι διδοὺς χρόνον ἁγνόν, ὅσων πόρρωθεν ὑπάρχεις·
All individuals are assigned unsullied Time[2], a certain amount, from long ago at the start,
σὸς γὰρ ὕπνος ψυχὴν θραύει καὶ σώματος ὁλκόν,
Then thy Sleep[3] shatters the Soul[4] and body channel
ἡνίκ’ ἂν ἐκλύηις φύσεως κεκρατημένα δεσμὰ
Bringing release from Nature’s[5] powerful chains
τὸν μακρὸν ζώιοισι φέρων αἰώνιον ὕπνον,
To greater Life[6] bearing eternal sleep.
κοινὸς μὲν πάντων, ἄδικος δ’ ἐνίοισιν ὑπάρχων,
Common power over all, transcending Justice[7], fettering at the start,
ἐν ταχυτῆτι βίου παύων νεοήλικας ἀκμάς·
Then swiftly ending young life in its prime.
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ μούνωι πάντων τὸ κριθὲν τελεοῦται·
Thou solely over all selects life’s completion.
οὔτε γὰρ εὐχαῖσιν πείθηι μόνος οὔτε λιταῖσιν.
Not persuaded by prayers alone nor repentant entreaties.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, μακροῖσι χρόνοις ζωῆς σε πελάζειν
Yet, blessedly lengthen the time when eternal life draws near,
αἰτοῦμαι, θυσίαισι καὶ εὐχωλαῖς λιτανεύων,
I plead, with these offerings and prayers of repentance,
ὡς ἂν ἔοι γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τὸ γῆρας.
With offerings of noble gifts for humanity’s old age.
[1] Thanatos is the immortal God of death. Thneetov (θνητῶν) means mortal, subject to death, literally “divine (θ) + ultimate tipping point (νητῶν).” After death, one’s soul is no longer mortal, is no longer subject to death, and enters the realm of the eternal, the immortal, the divine. A mortal life is a portion of the whole, when that portion ends, the soul merges with the eternal, the divine, the immortal.
[2] Chronos is the immortal God of time.
[3] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep.
[4] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
[5] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of nature, of physics.
[6] Zoe is the immortal Goddess of eternal life.
[7] Dike is the immortal Goddess of justice.