​Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 28, 2015

​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.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 15, 2015

22. Θαλάσσης, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Thalassa[1]
Divine connection: libano manna (frankincense and manna)
 
Ὠκεανοῦ καλέω νύμφην, γλαυκώπιδα Τηθύν,
I call Ocean’s[2] grey-eyed Nymph[3], Tethys[4],
 
κυανόπεπλον ἄνασσαν, εὔτροχα κυμαίνουσαν,
Cyan-robed Queen, whirling, undulating,
 
αὔραις ἡδυπνόοισι πατασσομένην περὶ γαῖαν,
Exhaling sweet breaths, striking powerfully all ‘round Gaia[5]
 
θραύουσ' αἰγιαλοῖσι πέτρηισί τε κύματα μακρά,
Fracturing the rocky shoreline with mighty waves;
 
εὐδίνοις ἁπαλοῖσι γαληνιόωσα δρόμοισι,
In calm weather, a gentle, serene course
 
ναυσὶν ἀγαλλομένη, θηροτρόφε, ὑγροκέλευθε,
For glorious, mighty ships. Nurturing marine life’s watery journey,
 
μήτηρ μὲν Κύπριδος, μήτηρ νεφέων ἐρεβεννῶν
Mother of Aphrodite[6], Mother of woolly clouds,
 
καὶ πάσης πηγῆς νυμφῶν νασμοῖσι βρυούσης·
And of all Nymphs of fresh water’s flowing abundance.
 
κλῦθί μου, ὦ πολύσεμνε, καὶ εὐμενέουσ' ἐπαρήγοις,
I call O greatly revered and kindly Savior,
 
εὐθυδρόμοις οὖρον ναυσὶν πέμπουσα, μάκαιρα.
A straight course and fair wind for seafarers, send forth with blessings.
 


[1] Thalassa, the immortal Goddess of the sea, is the actual body of the sea; literally “divine (Θ) + sea (αλς).”  http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Thalassa.html

[2] Ocean is the immortal God of the ocean.

[3] A Nymph is a young, beautiful Goddess who prevails over a particular location in nature.

[4] Tethys, immortal Goddess of the sea, is equated with Thalassa. http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanisTethys.html

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

[6] The Cyprian is another name for Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of sexual passion.

​Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 6, 2015

66. Ἡφαίστου, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Hephaistos
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense), manna
 
Ἥφαιστ’ ὀμβριμόθυμε, μεγασθενές, ἀκάματον πῦρ,
Hephaistos[1], mighty spirit, magnificent, strong, untiring fire,
 
λαμπόμενε φλογέαις αὐγαῖς, φαεσίμβροτε δαῖμον,
Powerful lamp, blazing dawn[2], light concave, gory divinity,
 
φωσφόρε, καρτερόχειρ, αἰώνιε, τεχνοδίαιτε,
Phosphorescent flowing power, eternally inventing day-by-day,
 
ἐργαστήρ, κόσμοιο μέρος, στοιχεῖον ἀμεμφές,
Workshop of the cosmos, in fate with the elements, flawless,
 
παμφάγε, πανδαμάτωρ, πανυπέρτατε, παντοδίαιτε,
All-devourer, all-dominator, all-above-all, each and every day,
 
αἰθήρ, ἥλιος, ἄστρα, σελήνη, φῶς ἀμίαντον·
Aither[3], Helios[4], Astra[5], and Selene’s[6] pure light,
 
ταῦτα γὰρ Ἡφαίστοιο μέλη θνητοῖσι προφαίνει.
Then thou, Hephaistos, to sweet mortals bring light
 
πάντα δὲ οἶκον ἔχεις, πᾶσαν πόλιν, ἔθνεα πάντα,
All households’ foundation, all cities, all tribes,
 
σώματά τε θνητῶν οἰκεῖς, πολύολβε, κραταιέ.
Body of mortal homes, many-blessing power.
 
κλῦθι, μάκαρ, κλήιζω σε πρὸς εὐιέρους ἐπιλοιβάς,
I call, blessed one, with praise before these holy drink-offerings,
 
αἰεὶ ὅπως χαίρουσιν ἐπ’ ἔργοις ἥμερος ἔλθοις.
Eternally bring grace upon each day’s work, come,
 
παῦσον λυσσῶσαν μανίαν πυρὸς ἀκαμάτοιο
Pause furious manic fire untiring
 
καῦσιν ἔχων φύσεως ἐν σώμασιν ἡμετέροισιν.
Caustic foundation of Phusis’[7], in the body of our land.
 



[1] Hephaistos is the immortal God of the fiery center of volcanoes, literally “center-of (Ἡ) + radiant (φαί) + roof (στοιο).

[2] Dawn literally means “arising above (α) + purified by (ὐ) + Gaia/Earth (γαῖς).”

[3] Aither is the immortal God “of the bright, glowing upper air of heaven.” http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Aither.html

[4] Helios is the immortal God of the sun.

[5] Astraios is the immortal God of the stars and planets. http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanAstraios.html

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

[7] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics, of nature.