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.