23. Νηρέως, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Nereos

Divine connection: Myrrh 

Ὦ κατέχων πόντου ῥίζας, κυαναυγέτιν ἕδρην,

O possessor of Pontos’[1] roots, navy-dawning seat of

 

πεντήκοντα κόρῃσιν ἀγαλλόμενος κατὰ κῦμα

Fifty daughters’[2] gloriously powered pure swollen waves--

 

καλλιτέκνοισι χοροῖς, Νηρεῦ, μεγαλώνυμε δαῖμον,

Beautiful child-chorus of Nereos[3], mighty-realmed power,

 

πυθμὴν μὲν πόντου, γαίης πέρας, ἀρχὴ ἁπάντων,

Underlying power of Pontos, Gaia[4]-bounded foundation of all,

 

ὃς κλονέεις Δηοῦς ἱερὸν βάθρον, ἡνίκα πνοιὰς

Tumbling Demeter’s holy bath when winds

 

ἐννυχίοις κευθμῶσιν ἐλαυνομένας ἀποκλείηις·

By night concealed strike with power to shear smooth.

 

ἀλλά, μάκαρ, σεισμοὺς μὲν ἀπότρεπε, πέμπε δὲ μύσταις

But, blessed seismic power, desist, conduct the mystae[5]

 

ὄλβον τ', εἰρήνην τε, καὶ ἠπιόχειρον ὑγείην.

To whole life blessings, with Eirene[6] too, and soothing Hygeia[7].


[1] Pontos, the immortal God of the Sea, is one of the first-born deities, the father of Nereos by Gaia.


[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 bottom-dwelling God of the Aegean Sea.


[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
December 30, 2014   


59. Μοιρῶν, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα. 
To the Moirai
Divine connection: aromatics

 

Μοῖραι ἀπειρέσιοι, Νυκτὸς φίλα τέκνα μελαίνης,

Moirai[1], above limits, Night’s[2] beloved creations dark.

 

κλῦτέ μου εὐχομένου, πολυώνυμοι, αἵτ' ἐπὶ λίμνης

Renowned mediums, foundational powers, many-realmed, invoked upon marshes

 

οὐρανίας, ἵνα λευκὸν ὕδωρ νυχίας ὑπὸ θέρμης

Heavenly force in white water, night’s underlying heat

 

ῥήγνυται ἐν σκιερῶι λιπαρῶι μυχῶι εὐλίθου ἄντρου,

Rending shadowy rich innermost stone caves

 

ναίουσαι πεπότησθε βροτῶν ἐπ' ἀπείρονα γαῖαν·

Prevailing over ripening mortals upon boundless Gaia[3].

 

ἔνθεν ἐπὶ βρότεον δόκιμον γένος ἐλπίδι κοῦφον

Then upon mortals’ sure genus hopes lighten

 

στείχετε πορφυρέηισι καλυψάμεναι ὀθόνηισι

Marching toward purpling concealed powers, fine robed.

 

μορσίμωι ἐν πεδίωι, ὅθι πάγγεον ἅρμα διώκει

Fate arises on the plains whence all earth’s chariots ride

 

δόξα δίκης παρὰ τέρμα καὶ ἐλπίδος ἠδὲ μεριμνῶν

Anticipating Dike’s[4] boundaries and hopefulness centering the mind

 

καὶ νόμου ὠγυγίου καὶ ἀπείρονος εὐνόμου ἀρχῆς·

And laws primeval and above the limits of laws’ origin.

 

Μοῖρα γὰρ ἐν βιότωι καθορᾶι μόνη, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

Fate, then, in life, clearsighted, alone, without exception

 

ἀθανάτων, οἳ ἔχουσι κάρη νιφόεντος Ὀλύμπου,

Immortally founded on the peak of snowy Olympos[5]

 

καὶ Διὸς ὄμμα τέλειον· ἐπεί γ' ὅσα γίγνεται ἡμῖν,

And Dios’[6] sight completed upon earth, generated gently.

 

Μοῖρά τε καὶ Διὸς οἶδε νόος διὰ παντὸς ἅπαντα.

Fate, then, and Dios swollen mind through all, above all

 

ἀλλά μοι εὐκταῖαι, μαλακόφρονες, ἠπιόθυμοι,

Yet, my prayer, soft, mindful, gentle, passionate:

 

Ἄτροπε καὶ Λάχεσι, Κλωθώ, μόλετ', εὐπατέρειαι,

Atrope[7] and Lachesi[8], Klotho[9], children of a noble family[10],

 

ἀέριοι, ἀφανεῖς, ἀμετάτροποι, αἰὲν ἀτειρεῖς,

Aerial, unseen, above suasion, eternally fearless,

 

παντοδότειραι, ἀφαιρέτιδες, θνητοῖσιν ἀνάγκη[11]·

All-giving, impervious to the dark tide of mortal Necessity,

 

Μοῖραι, ἀκούσατ' ἐμῶν ὁσίων λοιβῶν τε καὶ εὐχῶν,

Moirai, hear! Bring forth now hallowed libations[12] and pure vows,

 

ἐρχόμεναι μύσταις λυσιπήμονες εὔφρονι βουλῆι.

Set forth, mystae, free from ruinous forces, Gracious Counselors,

 

[Μοιράων τέλος ἔλλαβ’ ἀοιδή, ἣν ὕφαν' Ὀρφεύς]

Moirai. Complete now Hellenic odes here now, composed by Orpheus.


[1] The Moirai are the immortal Goddesses who assign each individual’s allotted portion of mortal life: beginning, middle, and end.


[2] According to some sources, the Moirai are the unfathered daughters of the Goddess Night (Hesiod Theogony 217, Aeschylus Eumenides 961, and Greek Lyric V Anon 1018).


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


[4] Dike is the immortal Goddess of Justice.


[5] Olympos is a mountain in Greece, the home of the Olympian deities.


[6] Dios is usually a reference to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.


[7] Atrope is the immortal Goddess who controls one’s unalterable destiny; associated with one’s future; depicted as cutting the thread of life.


[8] Lachesi sets the foundation of one’s fate, depicted as pointing to the point on the horizon of one’s arising horoscope at birth; associated with one’s past.


[9] Klothos combines the threads of fate to clothe one in one’s experience of life; associated with one’s present circumstances.


[10] According to various sources, the father of the Moirai is Zeus, Erebos, Kronos, Okeanos, or no father. Similarly the mother is Themis, Night, Ananke, Khaos, or Gaia.


[11] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of what is Necessary.


[12] Libations are drink offerings poured on the ground.

To the Muses
translated by Catherine Proppe
December 18, 2014


76. Μουσῶν, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To the Muses
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
 

Μνημοσύνης καὶ Ζηνὸς ἐριγδούποιο θύγατρες,

Mnemosyne’s[1] and Zenos’[2] resounding daughters

 

Μοῦσαι Πιερίδες, μεγαλώνυμοι, ἀγλαόφημοι,

The Muses[3] of Pieria[4], many realmed, gloriously famed,

 

θνητοῖς, οἷς κε παρῆτε, ποθεινόταται, πολύμορφοι,

Mortals implore with longing in many forms

 

πάσης παιδείης ἀρετὴν γεννῶσαι ἄμεμπτον,

All education’s noble[5] creations flawlessly

 

θρέπτειραι ψυχῆς, διανοίας ὀρθοδότειραι,

Nourished by Psyche[6]-directed mind uprightly bestowed

 

καὶ νόου εὐδυνάτοιο καθηγήτειραι ἄνασσαι,

And mind’s rightly powerful pure generative Queens[7]

 

αἳ τελετὰς θνητοῖς ἀνεδείξατε μυστιπολεύτους,

Give rise to completion of mortal projects’ mysterious range

 

Κλειώ τ’ Εὐτέρπη τε Θάλειά τε Μελπομένη τε

From Kleio[8] to Euterpe[9] to Thaleia[10] to Melpomene[11] to





Τερψιχόρη τ’ Ἐρατώ τε Πολύμνιά τ’ Οὐρανίη τε

Terpsichore[12] to Erato[13] to Polyhymnia[14] to Ourania[15] to

 

Καλλιόπηι σὺν μητρὶ καὶ εὐδυνάτηι θεᾶι Ἁγνηι.

Kalliope[16] with the Mother and powerful Goddesses pure

 

ἀλλὰ μόλοιτε, θεαί, μύσταις, πολυποίκιλοι, ἁγναί,

Then, make whole, Goddesses, mystae[17] many, various, pure

 

εὔκλειαν ζῆλόν τ’ ἐρατὸν πολύυμνον ἄγουσαι.

Unlock with zeal passion’s many-hymned dawns.


[1] Mnemosyne is the immortal Goddess of memory: the memory’s (Μνη) + container/house (μοσύν). Note: Thomas Taylor’s translation of this hymn completely eliminates 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.


[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, the Muse who unlocks the divine channel, literally: core (Κ) + loosen/release (λ) + essence (ε) of divine power (ι) + bring forth (ώ).


[9] Euterpe (Εὐτέρπη) means essence of pure (Εὐ) + delight, gladdening, cheer (τέρπη), literally: stretch/extend (τ) + essence (έ) + flow (ρ) + under the same roof (π).


[10] Thaleia (Θάλειά) means young shoot, young branch, bloom, sprout, the “budding” of an idea, literally: divine (Θ) + arising (ά) + loosened/released (λ) + essence of (ε) + divine power (ι).


[11] Melpomene (Μελπομένη) means to take an intense interest in: μέλω=to be an object of care or thought, care for, take an interest in + drink (πῶ) + powerful (μένη). This is the obsessive interest in a subject.


[12] Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη) means joy, delight in; or, “turning” (Τερψι) + the choral dancers/singers (χόρη). The chorus danced in a circle around the central altar fire (Hestia).


[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), literally: pure (ύ) + medium (μ).


[15] Ourania (Οὐρανίη) means the sky, particularly the night sky and its constellations, planets, and moon phases.


[16] Kalliope (Καλλιόπηι) means beauty (Καλλι).


[17] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

Translated by Catherine Proppe 
December 17, 2014




77. Μνημοσύνης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.

Mnemosyne

Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)

 

Μνημοσύνην καλέω, Ζηνὸς σύλλεκτρον, ἄνασσαν,

Mnemosyne[1] I call, Zenos’[2] partner, Queen[3]

 

ἣ Μούσας τέκνωσ’ ἱεράς, ὁσίας, λιγυφώνους,

Of the Muse[4] children holy, hallowed, clear-voiced

 

ἐκτὸς ἐοῦσα κακῆς λήθης βλαψίφρονος αἰεί,

Removed from the essence of evil Lethe’s[5] harming of the mind eternal

 

πάντα νόον συνέχουσα βροτῶν ψυχαῖσι σύνοικον,

All mind together founded upon mortal souls[6] together housed

 

εὐδύνατον κρατερὸν θνητῶν αὔξουσα λογισμόν,

Kind ruling, mighty, for mortals augmenting reasoning

 

ἡδυτάτη, φιλάγρυπνος ὑπομνήσκουσά τε πάντα,

Sweetly extend loving grip underlying memories of all

 

ὧν ἂν ἕκαστος ἀεὶ στέρνοις γνώμην κατάθηται,

Bring forth each eternal heart’s knowledge pure, sacred

 

οὔτι παρεκβαίνουσ’, ἐπεγείρουσα φρένα πᾶσιν.

In no way step away from awakening the mind of all

 

ἀλλά, μάκαιρα θεά, μύσταις μνήμην ἐπέγειρε

But, blessed Goddess, mystaes’[7] memories upon awakening

 

εὐιέρου τελετῆς, λήθην δ’ ἀπὸ τῶν δ’ ἀπόπεμπε.

From this holy completion, Lethe send from, dispatch.


[1] Mnemosyne is the immortal Titan Goddess of memory: the memory’s (Μνη) + container/house (μοσύν).


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


[3] Anassa means Queen, Lady.


[4] Muses are immortal Goddesses who divinely inspire individuals, daughters of Memory.


[5] Lethe is the river of forgetfulness in the afterlife.


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


[7] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

Translated by Catherine Proppe
December 16, 2014


This hymn includes a mish-mash of epithets, including:

-       Thesmophoron/Law-Bearer (Demeter)

-       Dionysos

-       Euboulos/Good Counselor (Pluto)

-       Kyprian/Kythera (Aphrodite)

-       Phrygian Mother (Rhea/Kybele)

-       Isis.

This may be a hymn invoking numerous deities to bring blessings to the athletes, who, perhaps, represent many different regions and presumably their respective local temples. It seems to suggest that such a conglomeration of deities is both male and female.

 

42. Μίσης, θυμίαμα στύρακα.

To the Medium of Divine Power Synchronized[1]

Divine medium: styrax, storax

 

Θεσμοφόρον καλέω ναρθηκοφόρον Διόνυσον,

Law-bearer[2] I call, fennel-stalk bearing Dionysian[3],

 

σπέρμα πολύμνηστον, πολυώνυμον Εὐβουλῆος,

Seed of many memories, many-realmed Euboulos[4]

 

ἁγνήν εὐίερόν τε Μίσην ἄρρητον ἄνασσαν,

Pure holy then unspoken Anassan[5]

 

ἄρσενα καὶ θῆλυν, διφυῆ, λύσειον Ἴακχον·

Male and female, of two natures, releasing shouting

 

εἴτ' ἐν Ἐλευσῖνος τέρπηι νηωι θυόεντι,

Whether in Eleusis[6] joyfully dwelling divine

 

εἴτε καὶ ἐν Φρυγίηι σὺν Μητέρι μυστιπολεύεις,

Whether in Phrygia[7] with the Mother of many mysteries

 

ἢ Κύπρωι τέρπηι σὺν ἐυστεφάνωι Κυθερείηι,

Or Kypros[8] rejoicing with well-crowned Kytheria[9]

 

ἢ καὶ πυροφόροις πεδίοις ἐπαγάλλεαι ἁγνοῖς

Or the wheat-bearing[10] plain upon proclamations pure

 

σὺν σῆι μητρὶ θεᾶι μελανηφόρωι Ἴσιδι σεμνῆι,

With thou Mother divine, black-bearing Isis-directed[11] revered

 

Αἰγύπτου παρὰ χεῦμα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι τιθήναις·

Egyptian stream[12] together the amphipolis[13] nursing

 

εὐμενέουσ' ἔλθοις ἀγαθοῖς τελεουσ' ἐπ' ἀέθλοις.

Graciously come good, complete, upon the athletes.


[1] Although Μίσης is often translated as “hate,” that translation makes no sense in the context of this hymn. A more likely homonym may be “moon” (μείς). Literally, the name Μίσης translates as “medium of (Μ) + divine-power (ί) + synchronized (σης).”


[2] Thesmosphoros means law-bearer, an epithet of the immortal Goddess Demeter.


[3] Dionysos is the immortal God of wine and its effects. Wine is a medium of union with the divine.


[4] Euboulos means “Good Counselor,” an epithet of Pluto, the immortal God of the afterlife.


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


[6] Eleusis is a holy city on the Rarian Plain of Greece, home of the Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and her daughter, Kore.


[7] Phrygia is in modern day Turkey.


[8] Kypros (Cyprus) is a Greek island sacred to the immortal Goddess of love, Aphrodite.


[9] Kythera (Cythera) is also a Greek island sacred to Aphrodite.


[10] Interestingly, the word for fire and root are identical: puro (πυρο).


[11] Isis is the celebrated immortal Goddess of Egypt.


[12] The Egyptian stream is presumably the Nile River.


[13] Amphipolis means “surrounding the city.”

 Translated by Catherine Proppe
December 16, 2014

27. Μητρὸς θεῶν, θυμίαμα ποικίλα.

To the Mother Divine

Divine medium: many kinds

 

Ἀθανάτων θεότιμε θεῶν μῆτερ, τροφὲ πάντων,

Immortal divinely honored divine Mother, nurturer of all

 

τῇιδε μόλοις, κράντειρα θεά, σέο, πότνι’, ἐπ' εὐχαῖς,

From Ida[1] come, Ruler, Goddess, Potnia[2] of Prayer,

 

ταυροφόνων ζεύξασα ταχύδρομον ἅρμα λεόντων,

Bullslaying, yoking a whirling speedy-coursing carriage of lions[3]

 

σκηπτοῦχε κλεινοῖο πόλου, πολυώνυμε, σεμνή,

Scepter-bearer, renowned to all, many-realmed, revered

 

ἣ κατέχεις κόσμοιο μέσον θρόνον, οὕνεκεν αὐτὴ

Holding the center of the cosmos, the middle throne, alone

 

γαῖαν ἔχεις θνητοῖσι τροφὰς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς.

Earth’s foundation, mortal nurterer, providing with ease,

 

ἐκ σέο δ' ἀθανάτων τε γένος θνητῶν τ' ἐλοχεύθη,

Of thou immortals born, mortals, too, brought to birth

 

σοὶ ποταμοὶ κρατέονται ἀεὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα,

Thou rivers the ruler eternally and all seas[4].

 

Ἑστία αὐδαχθεῖσα· σὲ δ' ὀλβοδότιν καλέουσι,

Hestia’s[5] audible divine foundation of whole-life gifts I call

 

παντοίων ἀγαθῶν θνητοῖς ὅτι δῶρα χαρίζῃ,

To all purified mortals give grace

 

ἔρχεο πρὸς τελετήν, ὦ πότνια, τυμπανοτερπής,

Set forth, lead the completion, Potnia[6] delighting in the tympanum[7]

 

πανδαμάτωρ, Φρυγίης, σώτειρα, Κρόνου συνόμευνε,

All-directing Mother, Phrygian savior, Kronos’[8] partner

 

Οὐρανόπαι, πρέσβειρα, βιοθρέπτειρα, φίλοιστρε·

Ouranos’ child, honored elder, life-nourisher, loving history

 

ἔρχεο γηθόσυνος[9], κεχαρημένη εὐσεβίηισιν.

Come, joyful, charming, and revered.


[1] Mount Ida (modern day Turkey) is considered to be the home of the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.


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


[3] The constellation Virgo, the Virgin (meaning independent),  is “pulled” through the zodiac by the constellation Leo, the lions.


[4] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the seas.


[5] (H)estia is the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire.


[6] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses.


[7] The tympanum is a hand drum, a tambourine.


[8] Kronos is the immortal God of Time.


[9] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth. 

Translated by Catherine Proppe
December 15, 2014


41. Μητρὸς Ἀνταίας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.

Mother Antagonized[1]

Divine medium: aromatics

 

Ἀνταία βασίλεια, θεά, πολυώνυμε μῆτερ

Antagonized Basileia[2], Goddess of many-realms, Mother of

 

ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν ἠδὲ θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,

Immortal deities and mortal humans,

 

ἥ ποτε μαστεύουσα πολυπλάγκτωι ἐν ἀνίηι

When searching many directions in great distress

 

νηστείαν κατέπαυσας Ἐλευσῖνος ἐν γυάλοισιν

Fasting, you paused in Eleusis’[3] valley

 

ἦλθές τ' εἰς Ἀίδην πρὸς ἀγαυὴν Περσεφόνειαν

Then on to Aidon’s realm[4] led to august Persephone[5],

 

ἁγνὸν παῖδα Δυσαύλου ὁδηγητῆρα λαβοῦσα,

Pure child, your desolate[6] journey released

 

μηνυτῆρ' ἁγίων λέκτρων χθονίου Διὸς ἁγνοῦ,

Information of the pure marriage-bed of earthly pure Dios[7],

 

Εὔβουλον τέξασα θεὸν θνητῆς ἀπ' ἀνάγκης.

Good counseling[8] child-bearer of divine mortal necessity[9],

 

ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε, πολυλλίστη βασίλεια,

Yet, Goddess, humbly and often entreated, Basileia,

 

ἐλθεῖν εὐάντητον ἐπ' εὐιέρωι σέο μύστηι.

Come with fair reciprocity upon good holy mystae[10].


[1] The immortal mother Goddess Demeter was antagonized by her daughter’s kidnapping and refused to allow new life on earth until her daughter was returned to her.


[2] Basileia means Queen.


[3] Eleusis is a famous city on the Rarian Plain, home to the Eleusinian Mysteries of the Mother and Daughter.


[4] Aidon is the immortal God of the afterlife.


[5] Persephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and springtime rebirth.


[6] Dysaulos means inhospitable, bad for lodging, unhappy, desolate.


[7] Here “Dios” refers to Pluto/Aidon, the God of the afterlife.


[8] Aidon often is termed “good counselor,” perhaps because reflecting on one’s mortality can clarify decisions?


[9] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of what is necessary, of what is required, inevitable, unavoidable. In this case, presumably the necessities for mortals are birth and death.


[10] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

 
Hymn to Melinoe
translated by Catherine Proppe
December 12, 2014


71. Μηλινόης, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Melinoe
Divine connection: aromatics
 

Μηλινόην καλέω, νύμφην χθονίαν, κροκόπεπλον,

Melinoe[1] beautiful chthonian[2] Nymph[3] saffron-robed[4]

 

ἣν παρὰ Κωκυτοῦ προχοαῖς ἐλοχεύσατο σεμνὴ

Of Kokytos[5], river of childbirth[6], revered.

 

Φερσεφόνη λέκτροις ἱεροῖς Ζηνὸς Κρονίοιο,

Phersephone lay with holy Zenos[7] Kronian[8]

 

ἧι ψευσθεῖς Πλούτων’ ἐμίγη δολίαις ἀπάταισι,

Disguised as Plouton[9], enmixed to lure deceitfully.

 

θυμῶι Φερσεφόνης δὲ δισώματον ἔσπασε χροιήν,

Enraged Phersephone, double-bodied, drew in the surface

 

ἣ θνητοὺς μαίνει φαντάσμασιν ἠερίοισιν,

A mortal manic phantasm in midair

 

ἀλλοκότοις ἰδέαις μορφῆς τύπον ἐκπροφαίνουσα,

Otherwise-contained ideas form impressions brought to light

 

ἄλλοτε μὲν προφανής, ποτὲ δὲ σκοτόεσσα, νυχαυγής,

Other powers illuminated when out of darkness night shines

 

ἀνταίαις ἐφόδοισι κατὰ ζοφοειδέα νύκτα.

Offsetting the approach of dark night

 

ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε, καταχθονίων βασίλεια,

Yet, Goddess, please, thou pure earthly Basileia[10],

 

ψυχῆς ἐκπέμπειν οἶστρον ἐπὶ τέρματα γαίης,

Dispel Psychic[11] madness to the ends of the Earth[12]

 

εὐμενὲς εὐίερον μύσταις φαίνουσα πρόσωπον.

Gracious holy mystae[13] enlighten before silence.


[1] Melinoe is the immortal Goddess of the moon’s phases and effects on the Psyche, literally “medium of (Μ)  + the Sun, Helios (ἥλιος).»

Melinoe’s mother is P(h)ersephone, Goddess of the afterlife and new life in Spring. Melinoe’s father is Zeus, the immortal God of the Sky. Disguised as Pluto, the immortal God of the afterlife and realm beneath the earth, Zeus tricked P(h)ersephone into sleeping with him. Melinoe’s ambiguous paternity and dual-realmed mother are consistent with the rising and setting and dark and light phases of the moon.


[2] Chthonian means having to do with foundational divine Earth.


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


[4] Saffron is a yellow dye made from the stigma of the spring-blooming crocus.


[5] Kokytos is one of the five rivers of the afterlife, the “River of Wailing.” 


[6] Perhaps Kokytos is the River of Childbirth because childbirth leads to mortality and, inevitably, death, which is lamented with shrieks and wails. Another interpretation is that Kokytos is associated with the River Lethe, the “River of Forgetting.” If a soul drinks from Lethe the soul will be reincarnated into another life on earth. Finally, the travail of childbirth often elicits shrieks and wails of pain.


[7] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of the stormy sky.


[8] Zeus is the son of Kronos, the immortal Titan God of time.


[9] Plouton is the immortal subterranean God of the afterlife.


[10] Basileia means Queen.


[11] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the Soul.


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


[13] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

50. Λυσίου Ληναίου.

To the Release of the Grape-Press
translated by Catherine Proppe

December 10, 2014
 

Κλῦθι, μάκαρ, Διὸς υἷ', ἐπιλήνιε Βάκχε, διμάτωρ,

I call blessed Dios’[1] child of the wine-press, Bacchos twice- mothered[2]

 

σπέρμα πολύμνηστον, πολυώνυμε, λύσιε δαῖμον,

Seed of many memories, multi-realmed liberating power

 

κρυψίγονον μακάρων ἱερὸν θάλος, εὔιε Βάκχε,

Mysteriously born, blessed, holy offspring, infant Bacchos

 

εὐτραφές, εὔκαρπε, πολυγηθέα καρπὸν ἀέξων,

Well-nurtured good fruit, plentiful divine Ge’s[3] fruitful growth

 

ῥηξίχθων, ληναῖε, μεγασθενές, αἰολόμορφε,

Rending earth’s surface, grapes-pressed, powerfully strong, eternally changing form

 

παυσίπονον θνητοῖσι φανεὶς ἄκος, ἱερὸν ἄνθος,

Pausing mortal toil, revealing remedy’s holy bloom

 

χάρμα βροτοῖς φιλάλυπον, ἐπάφιε, καλλιέθειρε,

Charm of mortals, friend of grief, grazing beautiful tillage

 

λύσιε, θυρσομανές, βρόμι', εὔιε, πᾶσιν ἐύφρων,

Release thyrsos[4]-manic, loud-sounding child of all wisdom

 

οἷς ἐθέλεις θνητῶν ἠδ' ἀθανάτων ἐπιφαύσκων

Grant mortals sweet immortality upon illumination.

 

νῦν σε καλῶ μύσταισι μολεῖν ἡδύν, φερέκαρπον.

Now, beautiful mystae[5], come, sweetly bearing fruit.


[1] Dios is here a reference to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms.


[2] Dionysos/Bacchos’ two mothers are the mortal Semele, who died in a blaze of Zeus’ lightning, and Zeus, who sewed the fetus into his own thigh to complete gestation. Dionysos/Bacchos was then entrusted to the care of Nymphs on Mount Nysa. Dionysos/Bacchos is the immortal God of wine and its effects.


[3] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.


[4] The thyrsos is a fennel stalk wrapped with grape leaves and topped with a pine cone. It is carried by Dionysos/Bacchos and his devotees.


[5] Mystae are initiates into the Mysteries.

46. Λικνίτου, θυμίαμα μάνναν.

To the Cradle
Divine connection: manna/porous incense

 
This hymn may accompany a ritual procession of:

-The infant Dionysos in a cradle

-Nymphs crowned with ivy

-Ivy-crowned Aphrodite

-Choral dancers/Nymphs

-Zeus/Dios

-Phersephone/Persephone.

 
Λικνίτην Διόνυσον ἐπ’ ευχαῖς ταῖσδε κικλήσκω,

Cradled[1] Dionysian[2] upon prayers required I call,

 

Νύσιον ἀμφιθαλῆ, πεποθημένον, εὔφρονα Βάκχον,

Nysian[3], all-flourishing, trusted power, gracious Bacchian’[4]

 

νυμφῶν ἔρνος ἐραστὸν ἐυστεφάνου τ' Ἀφροδίτης,

Nymphs’[5] sprouts[6] beautifully crown Aphrodite[7],

 

ὅς ποτ' ἀνὰ δρυμοὺς κεχορευμένα βήματα πάλλες

Soaring woodland choral dancers’[8] measured steps

 

σὺν νύμφαις χαρίεσσιν ἐλαυνόμενος μανίηισι,

Synchronize, Nymphs’ charms incite mania

 

καὶ βουλαῖσι Διὸς πρὸς ἀγαυὴν Φερσεφόνειαν

And counseling Dios leads august Phersephone[9],

 

ἀχθεὶς ἐξετράφης φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

Oppressed, detached-from-nurturing love of immortal deities,

 

εὔφρων ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, κεχαρισμένα δ' ἱερὰ δέξαι.

Graciously come, blessed charming holy power received.


[1] The liknon is a broad basket in which corn was placed after threshing and then throne against the wind to winnow the heavier grain from the lightweight chaff. The grain falls to the ground ready for collection and the chaff is blown away by the wind. The liknon is also used as a cradle, probably ritually representing both the infant Dionysos and the sacred process of winnowing.


[2] Dionysos is the immortal God of wine and its effects.


[3] Nysa is the name of several mountains sacred to Dionysos. Nyssa (νύσσᾰ) means the marker erected at either end of a race-course; turning-point; sharp point, suggesting that Dionysos may be a God of the ritualistic role of wine to mark turning points.


[4] Bacchos is another name for the immortal God of wine and its effects.


[5] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who preside over a particular location.


[6] The sprouts are probably grape vines formed into crowns.


[7] Aphrodite is the immortal Goddess of sexual passion, the urge to merge.


[8] Followers of Dionysos/Bacchos are characterized as dancing in woodlands.


[9] Phersephone/Persephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and new life in Spring. Kidnapped by Pluto, the God of the afterlife, she was released when her mother, Demeter, threatened to destroy all life on earth by inhibiting the growth of plants.