Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 12, 2015
82. Νότου, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Notos[1]
Divine connection: libanon/frankincense
Λαιψηρὸν πήδημα δι’ ἠέρος ὑγροπόρευτον,
Fleet-footed dancer, air’s water-bearing
ὠκείαις πτερύγεσσι δονούμενον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
Swift-winged shaking power again and again
ἔλθοις σὺν νεφέλαις νοτίαις, ὄμβροιο γενάρχα·
Come, together with southern clouds’[2], rains’ generative origin
τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκ Διός ἐστι σέθεν γέρας ἠερόφοιτον,
Too, then, generate out of Dios’[3] ancient hearth, air-wandering
ὀμβροτόκους νεφέλας ἐξ ἠέρος εἰς χθόνα πέμπειν.
Water-birthing clouds out of the air’s essence send to earth
τοιγάρ τοι λιτόμεσθα, μάκαρ, ἱεροῖσι χαρέντα
Then to this simple prayer, blessed holy endearing,
πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.
Send forth fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[4].
[1] Notos is the immortal God of the south wind, “the wet, storm-bringing wind of late summer and early autumn.” Hesiod, Works and Days 663
[2] Nephelai are the beautiful young immortal Goddesses of the clouds.
[3] Dios is a reference to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
January 12, 2015
82. Νότου, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Notos[1]
Divine connection: libanon/frankincense
Λαιψηρὸν πήδημα δι’ ἠέρος ὑγροπόρευτον,
Fleet-footed dancer, air’s water-bearing
ὠκείαις πτερύγεσσι δονούμενον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
Swift-winged shaking power again and again
ἔλθοις σὺν νεφέλαις νοτίαις, ὄμβροιο γενάρχα·
Come, together with southern clouds’[2], rains’ generative origin
τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκ Διός ἐστι σέθεν γέρας ἠερόφοιτον,
Too, then, generate out of Dios’[3] ancient hearth, air-wandering
ὀμβροτόκους νεφέλας ἐξ ἠέρος εἰς χθόνα πέμπειν.
Water-birthing clouds out of the air’s essence send to earth
τοιγάρ τοι λιτόμεσθα, μάκαρ, ἱεροῖσι χαρέντα
Then to this simple prayer, blessed holy endearing,
πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.
Send forth fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[4].
[1] Notos is the immortal God of the south wind, “the wet, storm-bringing wind of late summer and early autumn.” Hesiod, Works and Days 663
[2] Nephelai are the beautiful young immortal Goddesses of the clouds.
[3] Dios is a reference to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
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