Translated by Catherine Proppe December 16, 2015
71. Μηλινόης, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Melinoe
Divine connection: aromatics
Μηλινόην καλέω, νύμφην χθονίαν, κροκόπεπλον,
I call Melinoe[1], earthly[2] Nymph[3], saffron-robed[4],
ἣν παρὰ Κωκυτοῦ προχοαῖς ἐλοχεύσατο σεμνὴ
Near Kokytos’[5] flowing waters, with reverence born[6].
Φερσεφόνη λέκτροις ἱεροῖς Ζηνὸς Κρονίοιο,
Phersephone[7] lay with holy Zenos[8] of Kronos[9],
ἧι ψευσθεῖς Πλούτων’ ἐμίγη δολίαις ἀπάταισι,
Disguised as Plouton[10], his identity enmixed to lure her with deceit.
θυμῶι Φερσεφόνης δὲ δισώματον ἔσπασε χροιήν,
Enraged Phersephone, of two bodies[11], draws away[12] skin
ἣ θνητοὺς μαίνει φαντάσμασιν ἠερίοισιν,
A mortal manic phantasm in midair[13]
ἀλλοκότοις ἰδέαις μορφῆς τύπον ἐκπροφαίνουσα,
Then, vengeful ideas form into the type shown forth
ἄλλοτε μὲν προφανής, ποτὲ δὲ σκοτόεσσα[14], νυχαυγής,
Then, powers come to light when out of darkness night brightens[15]
ἀνταίαις ἐφόδοισι κατὰ ζοφοειδέα νύκτα.
Offsetting the approach of the nether darkness of night.
ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε, καταχθονίων βασίλεια,
Yet, Goddess, please, thou pure earthly Basileia[16],
ψυχῆς ἐκπέμπειν οἶστρον ἐπὶ τέρματα γαίης,
Dispel Psychic[17] madness to the ends of the Earth[18].
εὐμενὲς εὐίερον μύσταις φαίνουσα πρόσωπον.
Gracious holy mystae[19] enlighten before silencing.
[1] Melinoe’s role as a Goddess is unclear. With only this hymn as reference, Theoi.com writes that “she was a frightful underworld Goddess who presided over the propitiations offered to the ghosts of the dead. She wandered the earth at night with a retinue of ghosts, striking fear into the hearts of mankind. Her limbs were black one one side of her body and white on the other, revealing her dual chthonian and heavenly aspects.” http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Melinoe.html
Theoi.com’s characterization seems rather definite and “wandering the earth at night with a retinue of ghosts, striking fear into the hearts of mankind” seems somewhat weakly supported.
The meaning of the name “Melinoe (Μηλινόη)” is puzzling. The prefix Μηλ- has several meanings including sheep, goat, or esp. a sacrificial animal; it is also a prefix meaning apple, melon, or other tree-fruit such as apricot, peach, citron, quince; in addition, it can mean probe (for example, promelo (προμηλόω) means probe beforehand). There seems to be little to connect these various meanings. The literal meaning is “medium of (Μ) + shared-center (η) + release (λ) + divine power (ι) ν.”
It is possible that Melinoe may be the immortal Goddess of the moon’s phases (including eclipses), literally “medium of (Μ) + the Sun, Helios (ἥλιος).”
[2] Chthonian means having to do with the earth: foundational (χ) + divine (θ) + entity (ο) + prevailing (ν) ίαν.
[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 of the travail of childbirth.
[7] Phersephone is another name for Persephone, the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and spring rebirth.
[8] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[9] Zeus’ father is Kronos, the immortal God of time.
[10] Plouton is the immortal subterranean God of the afterlife. Disguised as Pluto, Zeus tricked P(h)ersephone into sleeping with him. If Melinoe is a moon Goddess, Melinoe’s ambiguous paternity (Zeus, God of the sky disguised as Pluto, God of the realm beneath the earth) and dual-realmed mother (Persephone, Goddess of the afterlife as well as new life in Spring) may explain the dark and light phases of the moon.
[11] If “of two bodies” describes an eclipse and Phersephone is the Goddess of earth, then her influence affects two bodies: the earth and the moon.
[12] The word ἔσπασε was translated by Athanassakis as “mangled” and by others as “rended.” Spao (σπάω) is defined by Liddell & Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon as “draw, of a sword…having their swords drawn…pull, hoist away…pluck off or out…tear, rend…wrench, sprain…snatch, tear or drag away…carry away, draw aside…cause convulsion or spasm…draw in…draw tight, pull…”
[13] This sounds like a rather dramatic description of an eclipse.
[14] skotosis (σκοτωσις) - darkening, eclipse
episkoteesis (ἐπισκοτησις) - darkening, obscurity, of the sun or moon in eclipse
[15] This may describe the sudden appearance of the moon, or the waning of an eclipse.
[16] Basileia means Queen.
[17] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
[18] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[19] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
Notes:
Some of the ancient Greek words in the Liddell-Scott Lexicon referring to eclipses include:
anakatharsis (άνακαθαρσις - arising (άνα) + cleansed, purified (καθαρσις)) - end of an eclipse; opp. emptosis (έμπτωσις – in (έμ) + falling (πτωσις)) – beginning of an eclipse
anapleeroo (άναπληρόω – arising (άνα) + made full (πληρόω)) - to be restored to its former size or state, after an eclipse
antiphraksis (άντίφραξις – against (άντί) + barricade (φραξις)) - barricading, the interposition of the earth, so as to cause a lunar eclipse
anakatastasis (άνακατάστᾰσις – arising (άνα) + settled, established (κατάστᾰσις)) - restoration of sun and moon after eclipse
apotomee (άποτομή) - of the moon in eclipse
ekleiptikos (έκλειπτικός) - of or caused by an eclipse; part of the moon's orbit in which eclipses take place; leipo (λεἰπω) - leave, quit
ekleipo (ἐκλεἰπω) - of the Sun or Moon, suffer eclipse; leipo (λεἰπω) - leave, quit
ekleipsis (ἕκλειψις) - of Sun or Moon, eclipse
episkoteesis (ἐπισκοτησις) - darkening, obscurity, of the sun or moon in eclipse
epoxee (ἐποχή) - stoppage, pause, of light during an eclipse
parekseimi (παρεξειμι) - emerge, of sun from eclipse
skotosis (σκοτωσις) - darkening, eclipse
uperaugazo (ύπεραυγάζω) - eclipse by superior light
71. Μηλινόης, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Melinoe
Divine connection: aromatics
Μηλινόην καλέω, νύμφην χθονίαν, κροκόπεπλον,
I call Melinoe[1], earthly[2] Nymph[3], saffron-robed[4],
ἣν παρὰ Κωκυτοῦ προχοαῖς ἐλοχεύσατο σεμνὴ
Near Kokytos’[5] flowing waters, with reverence born[6].
Φερσεφόνη λέκτροις ἱεροῖς Ζηνὸς Κρονίοιο,
Phersephone[7] lay with holy Zenos[8] of Kronos[9],
ἧι ψευσθεῖς Πλούτων’ ἐμίγη δολίαις ἀπάταισι,
Disguised as Plouton[10], his identity enmixed to lure her with deceit.
θυμῶι Φερσεφόνης δὲ δισώματον ἔσπασε χροιήν,
Enraged Phersephone, of two bodies[11], draws away[12] skin
ἣ θνητοὺς μαίνει φαντάσμασιν ἠερίοισιν,
A mortal manic phantasm in midair[13]
ἀλλοκότοις ἰδέαις μορφῆς τύπον ἐκπροφαίνουσα,
Then, vengeful ideas form into the type shown forth
ἄλλοτε μὲν προφανής, ποτὲ δὲ σκοτόεσσα[14], νυχαυγής,
Then, powers come to light when out of darkness night brightens[15]
ἀνταίαις ἐφόδοισι κατὰ ζοφοειδέα νύκτα.
Offsetting the approach of the nether darkness of night.
ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε, καταχθονίων βασίλεια,
Yet, Goddess, please, thou pure earthly Basileia[16],
ψυχῆς ἐκπέμπειν οἶστρον ἐπὶ τέρματα γαίης,
Dispel Psychic[17] madness to the ends of the Earth[18].
εὐμενὲς εὐίερον μύσταις φαίνουσα πρόσωπον.
Gracious holy mystae[19] enlighten before silencing.
[1] Melinoe’s role as a Goddess is unclear. With only this hymn as reference, Theoi.com writes that “she was a frightful underworld Goddess who presided over the propitiations offered to the ghosts of the dead. She wandered the earth at night with a retinue of ghosts, striking fear into the hearts of mankind. Her limbs were black one one side of her body and white on the other, revealing her dual chthonian and heavenly aspects.” http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Melinoe.html
Theoi.com’s characterization seems rather definite and “wandering the earth at night with a retinue of ghosts, striking fear into the hearts of mankind” seems somewhat weakly supported.
The meaning of the name “Melinoe (Μηλινόη)” is puzzling. The prefix Μηλ- has several meanings including sheep, goat, or esp. a sacrificial animal; it is also a prefix meaning apple, melon, or other tree-fruit such as apricot, peach, citron, quince; in addition, it can mean probe (for example, promelo (προμηλόω) means probe beforehand). There seems to be little to connect these various meanings. The literal meaning is “medium of (Μ) + shared-center (η) + release (λ) + divine power (ι) ν.”
It is possible that Melinoe may be the immortal Goddess of the moon’s phases (including eclipses), literally “medium of (Μ) + the Sun, Helios (ἥλιος).”
[2] Chthonian means having to do with the earth: foundational (χ) + divine (θ) + entity (ο) + prevailing (ν) ίαν.
[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 of the travail of childbirth.
[7] Phersephone is another name for Persephone, the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and spring rebirth.
[8] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[9] Zeus’ father is Kronos, the immortal God of time.
[10] Plouton is the immortal subterranean God of the afterlife. Disguised as Pluto, Zeus tricked P(h)ersephone into sleeping with him. If Melinoe is a moon Goddess, Melinoe’s ambiguous paternity (Zeus, God of the sky disguised as Pluto, God of the realm beneath the earth) and dual-realmed mother (Persephone, Goddess of the afterlife as well as new life in Spring) may explain the dark and light phases of the moon.
[11] If “of two bodies” describes an eclipse and Phersephone is the Goddess of earth, then her influence affects two bodies: the earth and the moon.
[12] The word ἔσπασε was translated by Athanassakis as “mangled” and by others as “rended.” Spao (σπάω) is defined by Liddell & Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon as “draw, of a sword…having their swords drawn…pull, hoist away…pluck off or out…tear, rend…wrench, sprain…snatch, tear or drag away…carry away, draw aside…cause convulsion or spasm…draw in…draw tight, pull…”
[13] This sounds like a rather dramatic description of an eclipse.
[14] skotosis (σκοτωσις) - darkening, eclipse
episkoteesis (ἐπισκοτησις) - darkening, obscurity, of the sun or moon in eclipse
[15] This may describe the sudden appearance of the moon, or the waning of an eclipse.
[16] Basileia means Queen.
[17] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
[18] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[19] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
Notes:
Some of the ancient Greek words in the Liddell-Scott Lexicon referring to eclipses include:
anakatharsis (άνακαθαρσις - arising (άνα) + cleansed, purified (καθαρσις)) - end of an eclipse; opp. emptosis (έμπτωσις – in (έμ) + falling (πτωσις)) – beginning of an eclipse
anapleeroo (άναπληρόω – arising (άνα) + made full (πληρόω)) - to be restored to its former size or state, after an eclipse
antiphraksis (άντίφραξις – against (άντί) + barricade (φραξις)) - barricading, the interposition of the earth, so as to cause a lunar eclipse
anakatastasis (άνακατάστᾰσις – arising (άνα) + settled, established (κατάστᾰσις)) - restoration of sun and moon after eclipse
apotomee (άποτομή) - of the moon in eclipse
ekleiptikos (έκλειπτικός) - of or caused by an eclipse; part of the moon's orbit in which eclipses take place; leipo (λεἰπω) - leave, quit
ekleipo (ἐκλεἰπω) - of the Sun or Moon, suffer eclipse; leipo (λεἰπω) - leave, quit
ekleipsis (ἕκλειψις) - of Sun or Moon, eclipse
episkoteesis (ἐπισκοτησις) - darkening, obscurity, of the sun or moon in eclipse
epoxee (ἐποχή) - stoppage, pause, of light during an eclipse
parekseimi (παρεξειμι) - emerge, of sun from eclipse
skotosis (σκοτωσις) - darkening, eclipse
uperaugazo (ύπεραυγάζω) - eclipse by superior light
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