Translated by Catherine Proppe
February 2, 2015
18. Εἰς Πλούτωνα.
To Plouton
Ὠ τὸν ὑποχθόνιον ναίων δόμον, ὀμβριμόθυμε,
Bring forth from subterranean dominion the mighty spirit
Ταρτάριον λειμῶνα βαθύσκιον ἠδὲ λιπαυγῆ,
Of Tartarian[1] meadows deeply shadowed and deprived of dawn’s light,
Ζεῦ χθόνιε, σκηπτοῦχε, τάδ' ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,
Zeus[2] subterranean, scepter-bearer, extend your sacred right hand, welcoming spirit,
Πλούτων, ὃς κατέχεις γαίης κληῖδας ἁπάσης,
Plouton[3], pure foundation, Gaia’s[4] key to all,
πλουτοδοτῶν γενεὴν βροτέην καρποῖς ἐνιαυτῶν·
Wealth-giving genesis of mortal fruit perennial,
ὃς τριτάτης μοίρης ἔλαχες χθόνα παμβασίλειαν,
The third portion thou lot, subterranean all-ruler[5]
ἕδρανον ἀθανάτων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν·
Seated amongst immortals, mortal-sustaining might,
ὃς θρόνον ἐστήριξας ὑπὸ ζοφοειδέα χῶρον
Enthroned firmly below in the nether dark region,
τηλέπορον τ', ἀκάμαντα, λιπόπνοον, ἄκριτον Ἅιδην
Where distant passages dissolve mad lack of breath, indiscriminate Aidon[6]
κυάνεόν τ' Ἀχέρονθ', ὃς ἔχει ῥιζώματα γαίης·
Darkly stretching to Acheron[7], foundation rooted in Gaia,
ὃς κρατέεις θνητῶν θανάτου χάριν, ὦ πολυδέγμων
Ruler of mortal death charitably accepting many received,
Εὔβουλ', ἁγνοπόλου Δημήτερος ὅς ποτε παῖδα
Good counselor, pure axis, when Demeter’s child in the
νυμφεύσας λειμῶνος ἀποσπαδίην διὰ πόντου
Nymphs’[8] meadow was torn away across Pontos
τετρώροις ἵπποισιν ὑπ' Ἀτθίδος ἤγαγες ἄντρον
On four yoked horses to beneath Attica’s[9] central cave,
δήμου Ἐλευσῖνος, τόθι περ πύλαι εἴσ' Ἀίδαο.
The deme of Eleusis[10], where surrounding gates lead to Aidao[11],
μοῦνος ἔφυς ἀφανῶν ἔργων φανερῶν τε βραβευτής,
There solely nature’s invisible workings made visible then judged,
ἔνθεε, παντοκράτωρ, ἱερώτατε, ἀγλαότιμε,
Enthusiastic all ruler, holy power gloriously honored,
σεμνοῖς μυστιπόλοις χαίρων ὁσίοις τε σεβασμοῖς·
Solemn mystic axis, charitable, wholly revered
ἵλαον ἀγκαλέω σε μολεῖν κεχαρηότα μύσταις.
Generously embrace thou transplants, your grace extend to mystae[12].
[1] Tartaros is the deepest realm beneath the earth’s surface, according to Hesiod’s Theogony 715, the cosmic inverse of the highest point of the heavens:
“For a brazen anvil falling down from heaven nine nights
and days would reach the earth upon the tenth: and again, a
brazen anvil falling from earth nine nights and days would
reach Tartarus upon the tenth.”
[2] Zeus is the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life: spark (Ζ) + essence (ε) pure (ῦ). This suggests that Plouto is the God of the spark of life beneath the earth.
[3] Plouto is the God of the afterlife: under-the-same-roof (Π) + bathe/wash/cleanse impurities (λούτων).
[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth: generative (γ) + arising (α) + divine power (ί).
[5] Basileian means ruling base.
[6] Aidon is the eternal place of deceased souls.
[7] Acheron is the river and lake of the afterlife: arising (Ἀ) + foundation (χ) + essence (έ) + flow (ρ). One of Sappho’s poems speaks of a yearning to see Acheron:
"but a kind of yearning has hold of me—to die
and to look upon the dewy lotus banks
of Acheron.”
(Sappho. If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho, Fragment 95, translated by Anne Carson (New York: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, 2000) 189. http://inamidst.com/stuff/sappho/ )
[8] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who preside over a particular location in nature.
[9] Attica is the region of Athens.
[10] Eleusis is the city of the Eleusinian Mysteries of the immortal Mother Demeter and her Daughter Kore/Persephone.
[11] Aidao is the region of the afterlife, aka “Hades.”
[12] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
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