Hymn to Nephele #HymnsOfOrpheus

Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 6, 2015 

21. Νεφῶν, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.

To Nephele/Nephon[1]

Divine connection: myrrh

 

Αέριοι νεφέλαι, καρποτρόφοι, οὐρανόπλαγκτοι,

Aerial clouds fruit nurturing heavenly wanderers

 

ὁμβροτόκοι, πνοιαῖσιν ἐλαυνόμεναι κατὰ κόσμον,

Rain-birthing, blown around about the cosmos

 

βρονταῖαι, πυρόεσσαι, ἐρίβρομοι, ὑγροκέλευθοι,

On a thundering fiery roaring watery path

 

ἀέρος ἐν κόλπωι πάταγον φρικώδη ἔχουσαι,

Air enfolded crashing frisson holders

 

πνεύμασιν ἀντίσπαστοι ἐπιδρομάδην παταγεῦσαι,

Blowing against paroxysmic free-flowing crashes.

 

ὑμᾶς νῦν λίτομαι, δροσοείμονες, εὔπνοοι αὔραις,

Hymn, now, entreat dew-clothing kind breaths of air

 

πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.

Send fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[2].


[1] Nephele are the beautiful, young, immortal Goddesses of the clouds. http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Nephelai.html  

Interestingly, the word for “snow” is very similar: neipho (νείφω). Both are white, water bearing-entities.


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