Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 14, 2015
3. Νυκτός, θυμίαμα δαλούς.
To Night
Divine connection: torch
Νύκτα θεῶν γενέτειραν ἀείσομαι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
Nykta[1] divine generator of all eternal ones and mankind
Νὺξ γένεσις πάντων, ἣν καὶ Κύπριν καλέσωμεν
Nyks[2] genesis of all and Kypros’[3] beauty emobodied
κλῦθι, μάκαιρα θεά, κυαναυγής, ἀστεροφεγγής,
I call, blessed Goddess, cyan-dawned[4] star-flamed[5]
ἡσυχίῃι χαίρουσα καὶ ἠρεμίῃι πολυύπνωι,
Stillness’ quiet charm and putting to rest many sleepers[6]
εὐφροσύνη, τερπνή, φιλοπάννυχε, μῆτερ ὀνείρων,
Attentive to delights enjoyed throughout the night, Mother of dreams
ληθομέριμν' ἀγαθή τε πόνων ἀνάπαυσιν ἔχουσα,
Releasing cares too, and toil pausing foundation
ὑπνοδότειρα, φίλη πάντων, ἐλάσιππε, νυχαυγής,
Sleep giving, loved by all, driving night’s dawn chariot
ἡμιτελής, χθονία ἠδ' οὐρανία πάλιν αὐτή,
Across half the earth’s sky, circling alone
ἐγκυκλία, παίκτειρα διώγμασιν ἠεροφοίτοις,
The cycling playful wonder of the aereal chase[7]
ἣ φάος ἐκπέμπεις ὑπὸ νέρτερα καὶ πάλι φεύγεις
Sending light beneath the nether realm and its cycling flight
εἰς Ἀίδην δεινὴ γὰρ ἀνάγκη πάντα κρατύνει.
Aidons’[8] powerful generative Necessity[9] all-ruling
νῦν δε, μάκαιρα, (καλ)ῶ, πολυόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινή,
Here now bring forth many whole life blessings all desire
εὐάντητε, κλύουσα ἱκετηρίδα φωνὴν
Accept and hear supplications spoken
ἔλθοις εὐμενέουσα, φόβους δ' ἀπόπεμπε νυχαυγεῖς.
Come kindly power much feared, send forth night’s dawn.
[1] According to Hesiod’s Theogony 123-124, the immortal Goddess Night emerged from primordial Chaos alongside Earth and then Night created Day. Night is essentially the darkness that prevails in the absence of light/fire, literally Νύ (prevailing pure) + death (κτα (core stretch/extend)). The core/seed/fruit (κ) stretches/extends (τ) at death (κτα) because Kore’s descent into the realm of death is a necessary precursor to the renewal of life in Spring; human and plant death are also precursors to the subsequent renewal of life.
[2] Nyx (Νὺξ) is another name for night, literally Νὺ (prevailing pure) + detachment (ξ); detachment from light/fire/the spark of life.
[3] Kypros is Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of the urge to merge, passionate love.
[4] Night’s dawn is arising darkness in the East (dawn=αυγής (arising pure from (αυ) + Ge/Earth (γής)).
[5] Starry flames are the emergence of visible stars, particularly Venus (Aphrodite), the Night/Morning Star.
[6] Hypnos is the immortal God of sleep, “purely (ύ) + all/under the same roof (π) + prevailing over (ν).”
[7] The “chase” because the constellations appear to “chase” one another across the sky.
[8] Aidon is Hades/Pluto, the immortal God of the afterlife.
[9] Ananke is the immortal Goddess of necessity, of what is necessary.
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