To Hephaistos, God of Volcanic Fire
Divine medium: frankincense granules
translated from the Hymns of Orpheus by Catherine Proppe, May 15, 2018
 
Hephaistos, spiritual might,
         Mega-strong fire untiring,
Radiant power, blazing bright,
         Light for mortals, divine,
 
Your luminent overpowering flow,
         Each day ever creates,
Flawless workshop of the cosmos,
         And elemental fate,
 
All-devourer, all-tamer,
         All-supreme, every day,
The sun, stars, moon, and aither’s
         Pure, unpolluted ray,
 
 Similarly, cup-like, Hephaistos,
         Bringing to mortals light,
Foundation of all households,
         All cities, and all tribes,
 
Body of this mortal abode,
         Strength of many blessings,
Hear, happily, praises bestowed,
         With holy drink-offerings,
 
Each day’s work grace eternally,
         Come, pause manic raging flames
Inexhaustibly hold nature’s heat
         In our bodies’ frames.
 
 
(AA66, TT65) Ἡφαίστου, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
Ἥφαιστ’ ὀμβριμόθυμε, μεγασθενές, ἀκάματον πῦρ,
 λαμπόμενε φλογέαις αὐγαῖς, φαεσίμβροτε δαῖμον,
 φωσφόρε, καρτερόχειρ, αἰώνιε, τεχνοδίαιτε,
ἐργαστήρ, κόσμοιο μέρος, στοιχεῖον ἀμεμφές,
παμφάγε, πανδαμάτωρ, πανυπέρτατε, παντοδίαιτε,
αἰθήρ, ἥλιος, ἄστρα, σελήνη, φῶς ἀμίαντον·
ταῦτα γὰρ Ἡφαίστοιο μέλη θνητοῖσι προφαίνει.
πάντα δὲ οἶκον ἔχεις, πᾶσαν πόλιν, ἔθνεα πάντα,
σώματά τε θνητῶν οἰκεῖς, πολύολβε, κραταιέ.
κλῦθι, μάκαρ, κλήιζω σε πρὸς εὐιέρους ἐπιλοιβάς,
αἰεὶ ὅπως χαίρουσιν ἐπ’ ἔργοις ἥμερος ἔλθοις.
παῦσον λυσσῶσαν μανίαν πυρὸς ἀκαμάτοιο
καῦσιν ἔχων φύσεως ἐν σώμασιν ἡμετέροισιν. 

Translated by Catherine Proppe, November 20, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
 
3 (AA=26, TT=25). To Ge, Goddess of Generative Earth
Divine medium: all seeds except beans, and aromatics
 
Goddess Gaia, Blessed Mother of human mortals,
All-nurturer, all-bestower, fulfiller of all miracles,
 
Cultivator of blooms, bearer of fruits and grains
In seasonal abundance throughout the ripening plains,
 
Divine seat of the cosmos’ many offsprings’ varieties,
As fruits take countless forms from the travail of pregnancies,
 
Eternal, much-revered, deep-bosomed Lady of whole life fates,
Tender sprouts’ many blooms sweet breezes divinely grace,
 
Rain blessed, surrounded by the cosmos’ countless fiery stars,
Cycling Nature’s everlasting, everflowing powers,
 
Blessed Goddess, Ge divine, grow fruit in abundance,
Kind power, heart’s foundation, grant whole life blessings in Season.
 
26. Γῆς,
θυμίαμα πᾶν σπέρμα πλὴν κυάμων καὶ ἀρωμάτων.
 
Γαῖα θεά, μῆτερ μακάρων θνητῶν τ' ἀνθρώπων,         
πάντροφε, πανδώτειρα, τελεσφόρε, παντολέτειρα,
αὐξιθαλής, φερέκαρπε, καλαῖς ὥραισι βρύουσα,
ἕδρανον ἀθανάτου κόσμου, πολυποίκιλε κούρη,
ἣ λοχίαις ὠδῖσι κύεις καρπὸν πολυειδῆ,
ἀιδία, πολύσεπτε, βαθύστερν', ὀλβιόμοιρε,
ἡδυπνόοις χαίρουσα χλόαις πολυάνθεσι δαῖμον,
ὀμβροχαρής, περὶ ἣν κόσμος πολυδαίδαλος ἄστρων
εἱλεῖται φύσει ἀενάωι καὶ ῥεύμασι δεινοῖς.
ἀλλά, μάκαιρα θεά, καρποὺς αὔξοις πολυγηθεῖς
εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχουσα, σὺν ὀλβίοισιν ἐν ὥραις.
 
Ge, also known as Gaia, is the Goddess of the force and power of generative earth.  
 
At the conclusion of the Eleusinian Mysteries--the greatest, most honored, and most ancient religious rite of ancient Greece—the initiates would look up at the sky and cry aloud “υε Rain!” and then look down at the earth and shout “κύε Conceive!” in a direct appeal to the God Zeus and the Goddess Gaia.
 
Ἐλευσνίους είς μἑν τὸν οὐρανὁν ἁναβλέποντες έβὀων 'ὒε,' καταβλἐψαντες δὲ εις τὴν γἦν 'κύε.'
(υε κύε, a cry at the Eleusinia, Hippolytus.Haer.5.7, Proclus.in Timaeus .3.176 D., cf. Inscriptiones Gracae 2.4876 (Athens, ?i a.d.))

In ancient literature, Gaia is called the Mother of all. She preceded and gave birth to all other Goddesses and Gods, and ultimately, she is the mother of all immortal and mortal beings.
 
Around 500 BCE, three young princes asked the oracle at Delphi which of them would reign in Rome after Tarquin. She replied, “He who first kisses his mother.” Brutus, understanding the true meaning of the oracle “stumbled upon the ground as they quitted the temple, and kissed the earth, mother of them all.” (“Brutus,” A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Mythology, William Smith.)

According to Hesiod’s Theogony (116-117) (an account of the origin of the universe written around 700 BCE), Gaia (Γαῖα), Earth, is the “ever-sure foundations” that first emerged from primordial Chaos (Χάος):

“Verily at the first Chaos came to be,
but next wide-bosomed Earth, the ever-sure foundations of all . . .”12
“ Ἦ τοι μὲν πρώτιστα Χάος γένετ ̓, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Γαῖ ̓ εὐρύστερνος, πάντων ἕδος ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ . . .”13

Along similar lines, Homeric Hymn 30. “To Earth Mother of All (Εϊς Γῆν Μητέρα Πάντων),” circa 600 BCE, begins:

“I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings.”14
“γαῖαν παμμήτειραν ἀείσομαι, ἠυθέμεθλον, πρεσβίστην”15
 
 
 

​Translated by Catherine Proppe, November 20, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.  
 
2. (AA=15, TT=14). Διός, θυμίαμα στύρακα.
To Dios, God of the Spark of Fire, Spark of Life
Divine medium: styrax, storax
 
Zeus much-honored, invincible Zeus,
Here witness these deliverance prayers profuse,
 
Basileu, with your crown, light these deities:
Goddess Mother Gaia’s mountain cliffs resounding,
 
And Pontos’ seas, and all-seeing Ouranos, in order,
Kronian Zeus, scepter-bearer, thundering rain power,
 
All-parent, source of all, all-perfecting maker,
Seismic earth-raiser, cathartic all-shaker,
 
Thundering astral father, horned Zeus, orchard-seeding,
I call your forms eternally flashing and fleeting,
 
Grant blessings of faultless Hygieia’s health,
Eirene’s peace, and blameless Plouto’s wealth.
 
 
15. Διός, θυμίαμα στύρακα.
Ζεῦ πολυτίμητε, Ζεῦ ἄφθιτε, τήνδε τοι ἡμεῖς
μαρτυρίαν τιθέμεσθα λυτήριον ἠδὲ πρόσευξιν.
ὦ βασιλεῦ, διὰ σὴν κεφαλὴν ἐφάνη τάδε θεῖα,
γαῖα θεὰ μήτηρ ὀρέων θ' ὑψηχέες ὄχθοι,
καὶ πόντος καὶ πάνθ', ὁπόσ' οὐρανὸς ἐντὸς ἔταξε
Ζεῦ Κρόνιε, σκηπτοῦχε, καταιβάτα, ὀμβριμόθυμε,
παντογένεθλ', ἀρχὴ πάντων, πάντων τε τελευτή,
σεισίχθων, αὐξητά, καθάρσιε, παντοτινάκτα,
ἀστραπαῖε, βρονταῖε, κεραύνιε, φυτάλιε Ζεῦ·
κλῦθί μευ, αἰολόμορφε, δίδου δ' ὑγίειαν ἀμεμφῆ
εἰρήνην τε θεὰν καὶ πλούτου δόξαν ἄμεμπτον.
 
Dios (Διός), a generic term for Deity, here refers to Zeus (Ζεύς), the immortal God of lightning storms, the spark of fire/spark of life, and the male fertility principle.

As the spark of fire/spark of life, Zeus is credited with fertilizing the earth’s plants in rainstorms. As the male fertility principle, Zeus is the fertilizing agent that puts the process of new life in motion. He is named as the father of numerous deities and humans.
 
Zeus is the son of Kronos (Κρόνος), God of time, by Rhea (Ῥέᾱ, Ῥείη), Goddess of flow.
 
Basileu means king, the basis of rule. The titles Basileu and Basileia are used to refer to many of the male and female deities honored in the Hymns.
 
While Zeus is commonly portrayed as the highest, most sovereign, most powerful “ruling” deity in the Greek pantheon, he is, in fact, one of many sovereign deities. The ancient Greek deities were variously worshiped in the farflung Hellenic world: in some instances Demeter was the chief deity, in others, Hera, in others, Apollo, in Athens, Athena’s temple crowned the acropolis in the city named for her. Dionysos took the central role for many, while Artemis ruled in the eastern Mediterranean. Zeus, a sky deity, is literally and physically “above” deities who dwell on and in the earth, but it is inaccurate to contend that he was universally regarded as the supreme deity in the ancient world.  
 
Gaia (Γαῖα) is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
 
Pontos (Πόντος) is the immortal God of the sea.

1. (AA=83, TT=84.) To Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth Fire
Divine medium: aromatics
 
Hestia, fair daughter of mighty Kronos, Basileia,
Majestic midpoint of every dwelling, fiery foundation eternal,
 
From thou complete mystic holy rites are declared,
Sulphur eternally blooms with plentiful blessings and comprehension clear, 
 
Divinely bless dwellings, mortal-sustaining might,  
Eternal, many-shaped, longed for greenish light.
 
Smile with blessings here, receive holy offerings eagerly, 
Bestow whole-life blessings with each breath, and the easing hand of Hygieia.
 
 
1. (AA=83, TT=84) Ἑστίας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα. 
Ἑστία εὐδυνάτοιο Κρόνου θύγατερ βασίλεια,
ἣ μέσον οἶκον ἔχεις πυρὸς ἀενάοιο, μεγίστου,
τούσδε σὺ ἐν τελεταῖς ὁσίους μύστας ἀναδείξαις,
θεῖσ’ αἰειθαλέας, πολυόλβους, εὔφρονας, ἁγνούς·  
οἶκε θεῶν μακάρων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν,
ἀιδίη, πολύμορφε, ποθεινοτάτη, χλοόμορφε·
μειδιόωσα, μάκαιρα, τάδ’ ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,
ὄλβον ἐπιπνείουσα καὶ ἠπιόχειρον ὑγείαν.
 
 
Hestia (Ἑστία) is the Goddess of the power and force of the friendly presence of fire.

This could be the fire in a fireplace, at a campsite, on an altar, in a government building, in a torch, or candle.

In modern times, the Olympic torch relay is an example of the honor paid to Hestia, as her fire is transported from the altar of Olympos in Greece to the Olympic venue. In ancient mystery rituals and for explorers setting forth to establish new colonies, the torchbearer was conferred a sacred trust.
 
Hestia is the first deity to receive offerings in religious rites. Socrates discusses Hestia’s name and honored status by explaining that Hestia means essence:

“‘Socrates: Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?’
“‘Hermogenes: That is the proper thing.’
“‘Socrates: . . . those who called the essence of things essia (έσσία) would naturally sacrifice to Hestia first of all the [Goddesses and G]ods.’”[1]
 
William Smith in A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology says of Hestia: “…as the [G]oddess of the sacred fire of the altar, she had a share in the sacrifices in all the temples of the [Goddesses and G]ods… Hence when sacrifices were offered, she was invoked first, and the first part of the sacrifice was offered to her….
 
“Solemn oaths were sworn by the [G]oddess of the hearth, and the hearth itself was the sacred asylum where suppliants implored the protection of the inhabitants of the house…
 
“A town or city…had likewise its sacred hearth, the symbol of an harmonious community of citizens and of a common worship... As this public hearth was the sacred asylum in every town, the state usually received its guests and foreign ambassadors there...
 
“When a colony was sent out, the emigrants took the fire which was to burn on the hearth of their new home from that of the mother town…
 
“If ever the fire of her hearth became extinct, it was not allowed to be lighted again with ordinary fire, but either by fire produced by friction, or by burning glasses drawing fire from the sun.
 
“The mystical speculations of later times…assumed a sacred hearth not only in the centre of the earth, but even in that of the universe…
 
“There were but few special temples of Hestia in Greece, as in reality every prytaneum [fireplace] was a sanctuary of the [G]oddess, and as a portion of the sacrifices, to whatever divinity they were offered, belonged to her.”[2]
 
Hestia is called “Basileia,” meaning Queen or ruler.
 
Hestia’s father, Kronos, is the God of time. Kronos is the son of Ouranos—God of the sky—and Gaia—Goddess of earth. In the ancient world, people knew what time it was by observing the fire-lit sky in relation to earth and by the position of the sun and stars and phases of the moon. Note that Hestia was the first-born of the Olympian Goddesses and Gods (Hesiod Theogony 454).
 
Hestia’s divine essence is present in sulphur (θειόω), which is used in matchheads to start fires.
 
The “greenish light” referenced in the hymn may pertain to boron or copper, which produce green flames when burned. Interestingly, copper pyrites, also called chalcopyrites (χαλκοπῠρί̄της), are mined from hydrothermal springs and can create sparks for starting a fire when struck against metal or stone. Copper sulphate is widely used as fertilizer.
 
Hygieia is the Goddess of health. Hygieia and Eirene--Goddess of peace--are frequently invoked at the conclusion of the Orphic Hymns.
 
 

[1] Plato (circa 350 BCE),“Cratylus 401b – 401d,” in Plato in Twelve Volumes, vol. 12, trans. Harold N. Fowler (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, 1921).

[2]  William Smith. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London. John Murray: printed by Spottiswoode and Co., New-Street Square and Parliament Street, 1873.

​Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
 
8. Εἰς Ἥλιον, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Helios, God of the Sun
Divine medium: libanon mannan (frankincense and manna)
 
  
I call the blessed, all-seeing foundation, eternal eye,
Titan of golden dawn, Hyperion’s heavenly light in the sky,
 
Singular arising arc, life-giving, sweet face bright,
On the right, giving birth to Dawn, and, on the left, to Night,
  
Mixing the foundation’s four horizons, counting dance circling,
Light-bestowing chariot, on a course fire-hurtling,
 
Whirling without intermission on a wheeling path well steered,
Fair-honored guided cycle, beautiful might cavalier,
 
The golden-lyred cosmos, then, harmonically follows course,  
You signal the good time for work, hour-turning youthful force,
 
Cosmic ruler, trailing fire in a cycling spiral,
Light-bearing changeful dictator, bringing life to fruitful Gaia,
 
Ethereal, exemplary father of time, eternal Zeus of the sky,
Fair-coursing, all-light of the the cosmos, circumnavigating eye,
 
From extinguished lamp to beautiful noonday brilliance bright,
Despot of the cosmos, with Dike streaming cosmic light,
  
Trusted sentinel, eternally uppermost, aiding all beings,
Eye of justice, light of life, driver of noble steeds,
 
Whip sharply your four-horsed chariot, impel speeding flight.
I call with sweet words of life, mystai, come before the light.
 
 
8. Εἰς Ἥλιον, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
Κλῦθι μάκαρ, πανδερκὲς ἔχων αἰώνιον ὄμμα,
Τιτὰν χρυσαυγής, Ὑπερίων, οὐράνιον φῶς,
αὐτοφυής, ἀκάμας, ζώιων ἡδεῖα πρόσοψι,
δεξιὲ μὲν γενέτωρ ἠοῦς, εὐώνυμε νυκτός,
κρᾶσιν ἔχων ὡρῶν, τετραβάμοσι ποσσὶ χορεύων,  
εὔδρομε, ῥοιζήτωρ, πυρόεις, φαιδρωπέ, διφρευτά,
ῥόμβου ἀπειρεσίου δινεύμασιν οἶμον ἐλαύνων,  
εὐσεβέσιν καθοδηγὲ καλῶν, ζαμενὴς ἀσεβοῦσιν,
χρησολύρη, κόσμου τὸν ἐναρμόνιον δρόμον ἕλκων,
ἔργων σημάντωρ ἀγαθῶν, ὡροτρόφε κοῦρε,  
κοσμοκράτωρ, συρικτά, πυρίδρομε, κυκλοέλικτε,
φωσφόρε, αἰολόδικτε, φερέσβιε, κάρπιμε Παιάν,
ἀιθαλής, ἀμίαντε, χρόνου πάτερ, ἀθάνατε Ζεῦ,
εὔδιε, πασιφαής, κόσμου τὸ περίδρομον ὄμμα,
σβεννύμενε λάμπων τε καλαῖς ἀκτῖσι φαειναῖς,
δεῖκτα δικαιοσύνης, φιλονάματε, δέσποτα κόσμου,
πιστοφύλαξ, αἰεὶ πανυπέρτατε, πᾶσιν ἀρωγέ,
ὄμμα δικαιοσύνης, ζωῆς φῶς· ὦ ἐλάσιππε,
μάστιγι λιγυρῆι τετράορον ἅρμα διώκων,
κλῦθι λόγων, ἡδὺν δὲ βίον μύστηισι πρόφαινε.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
78. Ἠοῦς, θυμίαμα μάνναν.   
To Eos, Goddess of Dawn
Divine medium: manna
 
I call the Goddess who brings light to mortals, each day’s dawn,
Eos, lamp-bearing light, blushing cosmic pure, crimson,
 
Divine herald, majestic, exalted Titan,
Conveyed through Night’s darkest black skin,
 
East-rising, stretching, sweeping, dispatching Night to Gaia’s netherworld,
Initiating the life of work, death’s precursor,
 
Your gracious blessings give birth to mortal destiny,
And none escape your view from the highest apogee.
When sweet Sleep springs from eyelids fluttering,
  
All humanity of Ge divine, all earth’s creatures, all progenies,
All the four-footed, winged, and sea’s many species,
 
All commence the work life’s mortality provides.
Now then, blessed, pure, holy mystai, see light arise.
 
 
78. Ἠοῦς, θυμίαμα μάνναν.
Κλῦθι, θεά, θνητοῖς φαεσίμβροτον ἦμαρ ἄγουσα,
Ἠὼς λαμπροφαής, ἐρυθαινομένη κατὰ κόσμον,
ἀγγέλτειρα θεοῦ μεγάλου Τιτᾶνος ἀγαυοῦ,
ἣ νυκτὸς ζοφόεντα κελαινόχρωτα πορείην
ἀντολίαις ταῖς σαῖς πέμπεις ὑπὸ νέρτερα γαίης·
ἔργων ἡγήτειρα, βίου πρόπολε θνητοῖσιν·   
ἧι χαίρει θνητῶν μερόπων γένος· οὐδέ τίς ἐστιν,
ὃς φεύγει τὴν σὴν ὄψιν καθυπέρτερον οὖσαν,
 ἡνίκα τὸν γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἀπὸ βλεφάρων ἀποσείσηις,
πᾶς δὲ βροτὸς γήθει, πᾶν ἑρπετὸν ἄλλα τε φῦλα
τετραπόδων πτηνῶν τε καὶ εἰναλίων πολυεθνῶν·
πάντα γὰρ ἐργάσιμον βίοτον θνητοῖσι πορίζεις.
ἀλλά, μάκαιρ’, ἁγνή, μύσταις ἱερὸν φάος αὔξοις. 

Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
12. Ἡρακλέος, θυμίαμα λίβανον.   
To Herakles
Divine medium: libanon (frankincense)
 
Herakles, mighty, impassioned, powerful, courageous Titan,
Strong-armed, indominatable, teeming, competing, potent,
  
Ever-changing father Time, everlasting, circumspect,
Tacit untamed spirit, much entreatied, all-dynastic,
 
All-powerful heart, foundational power, prophetic archer observing,
All-slayer, all-parent, all-reigning, all-serving,
 
Giving pause to death, fulfilling fate, tribally impelled,
Desiring Eirene’s peace, child-nurturer, glorious, honorable,
 
Singular in nature, unbending sprout Gaia-borne,
Protogonos twister, launching, mighty-named Savior,
 
All-encompassing power carrying both Eos’ light and Night’s darkness,
Twelve spring from the far east, the contest setting, passing west,
 
Immortals of many trials, impervious, harsh in no way,
Come, with blessings, incline toward soothing all you convey,
  
Expel the evil, the ruinous, brandish club in hand,
Let fly poison arrows at cruel death and disband.
 
 
12. Ἡρακλέος, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
Ἥρακλες ὀμβριμόθυμε, μεγασθενές, ἄλκιμε Τιτάν,
καρτερόχειρ, ἀδάμαστε, βρύων ἄθλοισι κραταιοῖς,
αἰολόμορφε, χρόνου πάτερ, ἀίδιέ τε ἐύφρων,
ἄρρητ', ἀγριόθυμε, πολύλλιτε, παντοδυνάστα,
παγκρατὲς ἦτορ ἔχων, κάρτος μέγα, τοξότα, μάντι,
παμφάγε, παγγενέτωρ, πανυπέρτατε, πᾶσιν ἀρωγέ,
ὃς θνητοῖς κατέπαυσας ἀνήμερα φῦλα διώξας,
εἰρήνην ποθέων κουροτρόφον, ἀγλαότιμον,
αὐτοφυής, ἀκάμας, γαίης βλάστημα φέριστον,
πρωτογόνοις στράψας βολίσιν, μεγαλώνυμε Παιών,
ὃς περὶ κρατὶ φορεῖς ἠῶ καὶ νύκτα μέλαιναν,
δώδεκ' ἀπ' ἀντολιῶν ἄχρι δυσμῶν ἆθλα διέρπων,
ἀθάνατοις, πολύπειρος, ἀπείριτος, ἀστυφέλικτος·  
ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, νούσων θελκτήρια πάντα κομίζων,
ἐξέλασον δὲ κακὰς ἄτας κλάδον ἐν χερὶ πάλλων,
πτηνοῖς τ' ἰοβόλοις κῆρας χαλεπὰς ἀπόπεμπε. 

Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
16. Ἥρης, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Hera, Goddess of Air*
Divine media: aromatics
 
  
Deep blue essence of the vaulted throne, air-formed godhead,
All-ruling blessed Hera, Dios’ partner in bed,
 
Psyche-nurturing breath, mortal foundation, gentle
Mother of rainstorms, wind-nurturer, giving birth to all,
 
Separate, for thou, and not the whole, determines life’s nature,
In union, for all mixes by means of sacred air,
 
All, for all four realms are ruled solely by your regime,
Winds, sounds, motion’s power, and every stream.
 
And so, blessed Goddess, many-named Basileia over all,
Come, kindly power, bring your countenance, beautiful, joyful.
 
Notes:
*“And first the fourfold root of all things hear!--
White gleaming Zeus (Ζεύς), life-bringing Here (Ἥρη), Dis (Ἀϊδωνεύς),
And Nestis (Νῆστις) whose tears bedew mortality."
  -Empedocles, Poeta Philosophus (On Nature) 6.1-3

Also, Plutarch, Isis and Osiris 32 and Virgil, Aeneid I.42-45

Dios, Zeus, God of the spark of lightning and spark of fire, spark of life

 
16. Ἥρης, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
Κυανέοις κόλποισιν ἐνημένη, ἀερόμορφε,
Ἥρη παμβασίλεια, Διὸς σύλλεκτρε μάκαιρα,   
ψυχοτρόφους αὔρας θνητοῖς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς,
ὄμβρων μὲν μήτηρ, ἀνέμων τροφέ, παντογένεθλε·
χωρὶς γὰρ σέθεν οὐδὲν ὅλως ζωῆς φύσιν ἔγνω·
κοινωνεῖς γὰρ ἅπασι κεκραμένη ἠέρι σεμνῶι·
πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις μούνη πάντεσσί τ' ἀνάσσεις
ἠερίοις ῥοίζοισι τινασσομένη κατὰ χεῦμα.
ἀλλά, μάκαιρα θεά, πολυώνυμε, παμβασίλεια,
ἔλθοις εὐμενέουσα καλῶι γήθουσα προσώπωι. 

 
Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
  
66. Ἡφαίστου, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Hephaistos, God of Volcanic Fire
Divine medium: libanon (frankincense), manna
 
Hephaistos, mighty soul, magnificent force, pyre undying,
Radiant power, blazing, beaming, gory light divine,
  
Luminent overpowering flow, eternally creating, day-by-day,
Workshop of the cosmos, impeccable elemental fate,
 
All-devourer, all-dominator, all-above-all, each and every day,
Aither’s, Helios’, Astra’s, and Selene’s pure ray,
 
Likewise, sweet Hephaistos, bestow your lights upon mortals,
Foundation of all cities, all tribes, all households,
 
Body of our mortal home, power of many blessings,
I call, blessed one, with praise and holy drink-offerings,
 
Come, eternally grant grace upon work each day,
Pause the furious, manic, untiring pyric way,
 
Caustic foundation of Phusis, in the body of our land.
 
Note:
Aither, God of stratosphere.
Helios, God of the sun.
Astra, God/dess of the stars.
Selene, Goddess of the moon.
Phusis, Goddess of physics. 

 
66. Ἡφαίστου, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
Ἥφαιστ’ ὀμβριμόθυμε, μεγασθενές, ἀκάματον πῦρ,
 λαμπόμενε φλογέαις αὐγαῖς, φαεσίμβροτε δαῖμον,
 φωσφόρε, καρτερόχειρ, αἰώνιε, τεχνοδίαιτε,
ἐργαστήρ, κόσμοιο μέρος, στοιχεῖον ἀμεμφές,
παμφάγε, πανδαμάτωρ, πανυπέρτατε, παντοδίαιτε,
αἰθήρ, ἥλιος, ἄστρα, σελήνη, φῶς ἀμίαντον·
ταῦτα γὰρ Ἡφαίστοιο μέλη θνητοῖσι προφαίνει.
πάντα δὲ οἶκον ἔχεις, πᾶσαν πόλιν, ἔθνεα πάντα,
σώματά τε θνητῶν οἰκεῖς, πολύολβε, κραταιέ.
κλῦθι, μάκαρ, κλήιζω σε πρὸς εὐιέρους ἐπιλοιβάς,
αἰεὶ ὅπως χαίρουσιν ἐπ’ ἔργοις ἥμερος ἔλθοις.
παῦσον λυσσῶσαν μανίαν πυρὸς ἀκαμάτοιο
καῦσιν ἔχων φύσεως ἐν σώμασιν ἡμετέροισιν. 

​Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 2, 2017 from the Hymns of Orpheus in ancient Greek.
  
22. Θαλάσσης, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Thalassa, Goddess of the Sea
Divine medium: libano, manna (frankincense and manna)
 
  
I call Ocean’s grey-eyed Nymph, Tethys, Queen,
Cyan-robed, rolling, undulating,
 
Exhaling sweet breaths, striking powerfully Gaia’s shore,
Fracturing the rocky coast with might as waves roar;
  
In calm weather, a gentle, serene course convey  
For glorious, mighty ships; nurture sea creatures’ watery way,
  
Mother of the Kyprian, Mother of clouds’ woolly fleece,
Mother of all fountain Nymphs’ flowing bounty,
 
I call, O greatly revered and kind benefactor,
Send with blessings a fair course for the seafarer.
 
 
Note:
The "Kyprian" is Aphrodite, Goddess of sexual desire.
 
22. Θαλάσσης, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
Ὠκεανοῦ καλέω νύμφην, γλαυκώπιδα Τηθύν,
κυανόπεπλον ἄνασσαν, εὔτροχα κυμαίνουσαν,
αὔραις ἡδυπνόοισι πατασσομένην περὶ γαῖαν,
θραύουσ' αἰγιαλοῖσι πέτρηισί τε κύματα μακρά,
εὐδίνοις ἁπαλοῖσι γαληνιόωσα δρόμοισι,
ναυσὶν ἀγαλλομένη, θηροτρόφε, ὑγροκέλευθε,
μήτηρ μὲν Κύπριδος, μήτηρ νεφέων ἐρεβεννῶν
καὶ πάσης πηγῆς νυμφῶν νασμοῖσι βρυούσης·
κλῦθί μου, ὦ πολύσεμνε, καὶ εὐμενέουσ' ἐπαρήγοις,
εὐθυδρόμοις οὖρον ναυσὶν πέμπουσα, μάκαιρα.