Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 23, 2015
11. Πανός, θυμίαμα ποικίλα.
To Pan
Divine connection: various incense and aromas
Πᾶνα καλῶ κρατερόν, νόμιον, κόσμοιο τὸ σύμπαν,
Pan[1] I call, mighty law-giver of the cosmos together as one
οὐρανὸν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν ἰδὲ χθόνα παμβασίλειαν
Ouranos[2] and Thalassa[3] and Earth all-ruling
καὶ πῦρ ἀθάνατον· τάδε γὰρ μέλη ἐστὶ τὰ Πανός.
And Fire eternal too here given limb in Hestia[4] to Pan.
ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, σκιρτητά, περίδρομε, σύνθρονε Ὥραις,
Come blessed one on your skipping encircling course enthroned with the Horai[5]
αἰγομελές, βακχευτά, φιλένθεε, ἀστροδίαιτε,
Goat-limbed[6] Bacchian[7] loving enthusiastically the starry lifestyle[8]
ἁρμονίαν κόσμοιο κρέκων φιλοπαίγμονι μολπῆι,
Harmonious cosmic strummer loving playful solo song and dance
φαντασιῶν ἐπαρωγέ, φόβων ἔκπαγλε βροτείων,
When fantasies promote sustained phobic wonders in humans
αἰγονόμοις χαίρων ἀνὰ πίδακας ἠδέ τε βούταις,
Goatherd charmer giving rise to springs and ox-herds[9], too
εὔσκοπε, θηρητήρ, Ἠχοῦς φίλε, σύγχορε νυμφῶν,
Keen-sighted hunter of Echo’s[10] love together with the chorus of Nymphs[11],
παντοφυής, γενέτωρ πάντων, πολυώνυμε δαῖμον,
All-nature’s[12] parent of all, many-realmed power,
κοσμοκράτωρ, αὐξητά, φαεσφόρε, κάρπιμε Παιάν,
Cosmos’ ruler giving rise to enlightening fruitful Paians[13]!
ἀντροχαρές, βαρύμηνις, ἀληθὴς Ζεὺς ὁ κεράστης.
Cave-delighting deepest power, truly Zeus with horns
σοὶ γὰρ ἀπειρέσιον γαίης πέδον ἐστήρικται,
Thou gives impenetrable Gaia[14] ground firmly set
εἴκει δ' ἀκαμάτου πόντου τὸ βαθύρροον ὕδωρ
Giving way to unwearying Pontos’[15] deepflowing water
Ὠκεανός τε πέριξ ἐν ὕδασι γαῖαν ἑλίσσων,
Oceanos’[16] surrounding waters against Gaia whirling,
ἀέριόν τε μέρισμα τροφῆς, ζωοῖσιν ἔναυσμα,
Aerial too, assigning nurturing life’s spark
καὶ κορυφῆς ἐφύπερθεν ἐλαφροτάτου πυρὸς ὄμμα.
And the summit of the upper highest lightest fire visible
βαίνει γὰρ τάδε θεῖα πολύκριτα σαῖσιν ἐφετμαῖς
Your dancing gives to here divine many critical synchronized commands
ἀλλάσσεις δὲ φύσεις πάντων ταῖς σαῖσι προνοίαις
Exchanging with Phusis all extended synchronized Forethought[17]
βόσκων ἀνθρώπων γενεὴν κατ' ἀπείρονα κόσμον.
Nourishing human genesis pure, impenetrable, cosmic.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, βακχευτά, φιλένθεε, βαῖν' ἐπὶ λοιβαῖς
Yet blessed Bacchian, loving enthusiasm, dancing with libations[18],
εὐιέροις, ἀγαθὴν δ' ὄπασον βιότοιο τελευτὴν
Let holy goodness accompany life-extending completion
Πανικὸν ἐκπέμπων οἶστρον ἐπὶ τέρματα γαίης.
Pan come, dispatch madness to the ends of the earth.
[1] Pan is the immortal God of “all” of nature. The term “panic” is derived from the sense of being surrounded by danger on “all” sides.
[2] Ouranos is the immortal God of the heavens.
[3] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the sea.
[4] Hestia is the immortal Goddess of the altar/hearth fire.
[5] The Horai are the immortal Goddesses of the Seasons and the Hours, the proper time for events of nature.
[6] Pan is often depicted as a goat-limbed, music playing shepherd.
[7] Bacchos is the immortal God of wine and its effects.
[8] Living under the stars, in the great outdoors.
[9] Probably a joke about Pan’s randiness.
[10] Echo is the immortal Goddess of the echo to Pan’s music.
[11] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who prevail over a particular location in nature.
[12] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of nature.
[13] A paian is a song of triumph or thanksgiving that unites “all” in a community, literally “under the same roof (Π) + give rise to (α) + divine power (ι) + arise and (ά) + prevail (ν).”
[14] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[15] Pontos is the primordial immortal God of the sea with this name emphasizing the all-encompassing nature of the ocean, literally “under the same roof (π) + entity (ό) + prevailing (ν) + stretches/extends (του).”
[16] Oceanos is another name for Pontos, the sea or ocean emphasizing the generative aspect of the ocean, literally “bring-forth (Ὠ) + core (κ) + essence (ε) + arising (α) + prevailing (ν) + entity (ό).” The salty sea water is poetically compared to divine semen with the earth its partner, thus the comparison of the sea God Poseidon with horses, that is, “hung like a horse” and the epithet “Gaia’s ox (γαιήοχε).”
[17] Pronoia is the immortal Goddess of forethought or foresight. http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NymphePronoia.html
[18] Libations are drink offerings.
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