Translated by Catherine Proppe, March 21, 2015
18. Εἰς Πλούτωνα.
Enter Plouton
Ὠ τὸν ὑποχθόνιον ναίων δόμον, ὀμβριμόθυμε,
Stretch forth from your dwelling place beneath the earth, O mighty spirit,
Ταρτάριον λειμῶνα βαθύσκιον ἠδὲ λιπαυγῆ,
From Tartarian[1] meadows deeply shaded and deprived of dawn’s light,
Ζεῦ χθόνιε, σκηπτοῦχε, τάδ' ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,
Zeus[2] of the foundation divine, scepter-bearer, extend your sacred right hand, welcoming spirit,
Πλούτων, ὃς κατέχεις γαίης κληῖδας ἁπάσης,
Plouton[3], pure foundation, Gaia’s[4] key for all,
πλουτοδοτῶν γενεὴν βροτέην καρποῖς ἐνιαυτῶν·
Wealth-giving genesis of mortal fruit each year,
ὃς τριτάτης μοίρης ἔλαχες χθόνα παμβασίλειαν,
The third portion[5] thou lot, all-ruler[6] of the foundation divine,
ἕδρανον ἀθανάτων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν·
Seated amongst immortals, mortal-sustaining power,
ὃς θρόνον ἐστήριξας ὑπὸ ζοφοειδέα χῶρον
Enthroned firmly below in the nether dark region,
τηλέπορον τ', ἀκάμαντα, λιπόπνοον, ἄκριτον Ἅιδην
Where far-reaching passages extend unsupported, without air, to indiscriminate Aidon[7], the place of departed souls,
κυάνεόν τ' Ἀχέρονθ', ὃς ἔχει ῥιζώματα γαίης·
Darkly stretching to Acheron[8], the foundation rooted in Gaia.
ὃς κρατέεις θνητῶν θανάτου χάριν, ὦ πολυδέγμων
Ruler of mortal death, charitably receive the multitude,
Εὔβουλ', ἁγνοπόλου Δημήτερος ὅς ποτε παῖδα
Good counselor, pure axis, when the child of Demeter
νυμφεύσας λειμῶνος ἀποσπαδίην διὰ πόντου
In the Nymphs’[9] meadow was torn away across Pontos[10]
τετρώροις ἵπποισιν ὑπ' Ἀτθίδος ἤγαγες ἄντρον
On four, yoked horses to beneath Attica’s[11] central cave,
δήμου Ἐλευσῖνος, τόθι περ πύλαι εἴσ' Ἀίδαο.
In the deme of Eleusis[12], where surrounding gates lead to Aidao[13],
μοῦνος ἔφυς ἀφανῶν ἔργων φανερῶν τε βραβευτής,
There alone nature’s invisible works made visible, then judged.
ἔνθεε, παντοκράτωρ, ἱερώτατε, ἀγλαότιμε,
With thee, all ruler, holy power, gloriously honored,
σεμνοῖς μυστιπόλοις χαίρων ὁσίοις τε σεβασμοῖς·
Solemn mystic charitable axis, devoutly revered,
ἵλαον ἀγκαλέω σε μολεῖν κεχαρηότα μύσταις.
Generously summon thou transplants, your grace extend to the mystae[14].
[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] Plouton is the God of the afterlife: under-the-same-roof (Π) + bathe/wash/cleanse impurities (λούτων): release (λ) + entity (ο) + pure (ύ) + stretch/extend (τ) + bring-forth (ω) + ν.
[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth: generative (γ) + arising (α) + divine power (ί).
[5] The sky is allotted to Zeus, the sea to Poseidon, the realm beneath the earth to Plouton.
[6] Basileian means ruling base.
[7] Aidon is the eternal place of deceased souls: transcendant/arising (Ἅ) + divine-power (ι) + directing (δ) + center (η) + ν.
[8] Acheron is the river and lake of the afterlife: transcendant/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/)
[9] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who preside over a particular location in nature.
[10] Pontos is the immortal God of the sea, suggesting that Kore was spirited away over the sea when she was abucted by Plouton.
[11] Attica is the region of Athens.
[12] Eleusis is the city of the Eleusinian Mysteries of the immortal Mother Demeter and her Daughter Kore/Persephone.
[13] Aidao is the region of the afterlife, aka “Hades.”
[14] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
18. Εἰς Πλούτωνα.
Enter Plouton
Ὠ τὸν ὑποχθόνιον ναίων δόμον, ὀμβριμόθυμε,
Stretch forth from your dwelling place beneath the earth, O mighty spirit,
Ταρτάριον λειμῶνα βαθύσκιον ἠδὲ λιπαυγῆ,
From Tartarian[1] meadows deeply shaded and deprived of dawn’s light,
Ζεῦ χθόνιε, σκηπτοῦχε, τάδ' ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,
Zeus[2] of the foundation divine, scepter-bearer, extend your sacred right hand, welcoming spirit,
Πλούτων, ὃς κατέχεις γαίης κληῖδας ἁπάσης,
Plouton[3], pure foundation, Gaia’s[4] key for all,
πλουτοδοτῶν γενεὴν βροτέην καρποῖς ἐνιαυτῶν·
Wealth-giving genesis of mortal fruit each year,
ὃς τριτάτης μοίρης ἔλαχες χθόνα παμβασίλειαν,
The third portion[5] thou lot, all-ruler[6] of the foundation divine,
ἕδρανον ἀθανάτων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν·
Seated amongst immortals, mortal-sustaining power,
ὃς θρόνον ἐστήριξας ὑπὸ ζοφοειδέα χῶρον
Enthroned firmly below in the nether dark region,
τηλέπορον τ', ἀκάμαντα, λιπόπνοον, ἄκριτον Ἅιδην
Where far-reaching passages extend unsupported, without air, to indiscriminate Aidon[7], the place of departed souls,
κυάνεόν τ' Ἀχέρονθ', ὃς ἔχει ῥιζώματα γαίης·
Darkly stretching to Acheron[8], the foundation rooted in Gaia.
ὃς κρατέεις θνητῶν θανάτου χάριν, ὦ πολυδέγμων
Ruler of mortal death, charitably receive the multitude,
Εὔβουλ', ἁγνοπόλου Δημήτερος ὅς ποτε παῖδα
Good counselor, pure axis, when the child of Demeter
νυμφεύσας λειμῶνος ἀποσπαδίην διὰ πόντου
In the Nymphs’[9] meadow was torn away across Pontos[10]
τετρώροις ἵπποισιν ὑπ' Ἀτθίδος ἤγαγες ἄντρον
On four, yoked horses to beneath Attica’s[11] central cave,
δήμου Ἐλευσῖνος, τόθι περ πύλαι εἴσ' Ἀίδαο.
In the deme of Eleusis[12], where surrounding gates lead to Aidao[13],
μοῦνος ἔφυς ἀφανῶν ἔργων φανερῶν τε βραβευτής,
There alone nature’s invisible works made visible, then judged.
ἔνθεε, παντοκράτωρ, ἱερώτατε, ἀγλαότιμε,
With thee, all ruler, holy power, gloriously honored,
σεμνοῖς μυστιπόλοις χαίρων ὁσίοις τε σεβασμοῖς·
Solemn mystic charitable axis, devoutly revered,
ἵλαον ἀγκαλέω σε μολεῖν κεχαρηότα μύσταις.
Generously summon thou transplants, your grace extend to the mystae[14].
[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] Plouton is the God of the afterlife: under-the-same-roof (Π) + bathe/wash/cleanse impurities (λούτων): release (λ) + entity (ο) + pure (ύ) + stretch/extend (τ) + bring-forth (ω) + ν.
[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth: generative (γ) + arising (α) + divine power (ί).
[5] The sky is allotted to Zeus, the sea to Poseidon, the realm beneath the earth to Plouton.
[6] Basileian means ruling base.
[7] Aidon is the eternal place of deceased souls: transcendant/arising (Ἅ) + divine-power (ι) + directing (δ) + center (η) + ν.
[8] Acheron is the river and lake of the afterlife: transcendant/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/)
[9] Nymphs are beautiful young Goddesses who preside over a particular location in nature.
[10] Pontos is the immortal God of the sea, suggesting that Kore was spirited away over the sea when she was abucted by Plouton.
[11] Attica is the region of Athens.
[12] Eleusis is the city of the Eleusinian Mysteries of the immortal Mother Demeter and her Daughter Kore/Persephone.
[13] Aidao is the region of the afterlife, aka “Hades.”
[14] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
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