Translated by Catherine Proppe
17. Ποσειδῶνος, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Poseidon
Divine connection: myrrh
Κλῦθι, Ποσειδάον γαιήοχε, κυανοχαῖτα,
I call Poseidon[1], Gaia’s[2] ox[3], with navy[4]-maned
ἵππιε, χαλκοτόρευτον ἔχων χείρεσσι τρίαιναν,
Steeds, holding fast in hand the embossed-copper[5] trident[6],
ὃς ναίεις πόντοιο βαθυστέρνοιο θέμεθλα,
Prevailing over Pontos’[7] deep-chested foundation.
ποντομέδων, ἁλίδουπε, βαρύκτυπε, ἐννοσίγαιε,
Pontos-ruling, sea-roaring, deep-crashing, Gaia-ennauseating,
κυμοθαλής, χαριτῶπα, τετράορον ἅρμα διώκων,
With beautiful swells, charming to behold, your four-yoked chariot driven
εἰναλίοις ῥοίζοισι τινάσσων ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,
In the seas’ rushing, shaking, briny water,
ὃς τριτάτης ἔλαχες μοίρης βαθὺ χεῦμα θαλάσσης,
The third, least fate deep in the streams of Thalassa[8].
κύμασι τερπόμενος θηρσίν θ' ἅμα, πότνιε δαῖμον·
Swelling, dancing, beastly power, as one with Queens divine,
ἕδρανα γῆς σῴζοις καὶ νηῶν εὔδρομον ὁρμήν,
Seat of Ge, save and propell ships’ fair course,
εἰρήνην, ὑγίειαν ἄγων, ἠδ' ὄλβον ἀμεμφῆ.
With Eirene[9] and Hygieia[10] engage, and grant a whole life above reproach.
[1] Poseidon is the immortal Olympian God of the sea: a quantity (Ποσ) + of forms (ειδάον); or, husband (Ποσ) + form (ειδάον); or, drink (Ποσ) + form (ειδάον).
“Quantity of forms” is a likely translation considering the multitude of shapes that the ocean’s surface can take.
“Husband-form” seems unlikely, except that one of Poseidon’s epithets is “Gaia’s ox” (often euphemistically translated as “earth-shaker.”)
“Drink-form” is likely since the ocean is water, although it is not drinkable because of the salt.
[2] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[3] An ox is a male stud animal kept for breeding.
[4] Cyan is dark blue.
[5] Cyprus was a major copper supplier during the Late Bronze Age (ca.1650-1100 BCE). The copper was exported by ship all over the Mediterranean. In fact, the word “copper” is derived from the name of this Greek island. (“The Archaeology of Late Bronze Age Coper Production” by A. Bernard Knapp and Vasiliki Kassianidou, 2008 http://www.academia.edu/1179089/The_Archaeology_of_Late_Bronze_Age_Copper_Production_Politiko_Phorades_on_Cyprus
“The mining, production and export of Cypriot copper peaked at this time (ca.1650-1100 BCE), an era of settlement growth and unprecedented prosperity on the island. Urban centres with harbours arose all along the Cypriot coast, along with other prominent centres inland (Knapp 1997: 53-63). The wealth of all these sites stemmed from widening trade contacts in the eastern Mediterranean, and the demand for Cypriot copper throughout the Mediterranean world (Muhlyet al. 1988; Knapp 2008: 357-363).
The copper of Cyprus was traded both commercially and through gift-exchange in oxhide-shaped ingots widely regarded as an internationally accepted unit of trade during the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Muhly et al. 1988; Gale 1991; cf. Bass 1967: 71-72). Such ingots have been found throughout the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Marseille and now even at Oberwilflingen in Germany (Lo Schiavo 1998; 2003: 23-25; 2005a; 2005b; Primas & Pernicka 1998; Domergue & Rico 2002: 141-144).”
[6] The trident is a three-pronged fishing spear.
[7] Pontos the ancient primordial God of the sea.
[8] Thalassa is an ancient immortal sea Goddess.
[9] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.
[10] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health.
17. Ποσειδῶνος, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Poseidon
Divine connection: myrrh
Κλῦθι, Ποσειδάον γαιήοχε, κυανοχαῖτα,
I call Poseidon[1], Gaia’s[2] ox[3], with navy[4]-maned
ἵππιε, χαλκοτόρευτον ἔχων χείρεσσι τρίαιναν,
Steeds, holding fast in hand the embossed-copper[5] trident[6],
ὃς ναίεις πόντοιο βαθυστέρνοιο θέμεθλα,
Prevailing over Pontos’[7] deep-chested foundation.
ποντομέδων, ἁλίδουπε, βαρύκτυπε, ἐννοσίγαιε,
Pontos-ruling, sea-roaring, deep-crashing, Gaia-ennauseating,
κυμοθαλής, χαριτῶπα, τετράορον ἅρμα διώκων,
With beautiful swells, charming to behold, your four-yoked chariot driven
εἰναλίοις ῥοίζοισι τινάσσων ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,
In the seas’ rushing, shaking, briny water,
ὃς τριτάτης ἔλαχες μοίρης βαθὺ χεῦμα θαλάσσης,
The third, least fate deep in the streams of Thalassa[8].
κύμασι τερπόμενος θηρσίν θ' ἅμα, πότνιε δαῖμον·
Swelling, dancing, beastly power, as one with Queens divine,
ἕδρανα γῆς σῴζοις καὶ νηῶν εὔδρομον ὁρμήν,
Seat of Ge, save and propell ships’ fair course,
εἰρήνην, ὑγίειαν ἄγων, ἠδ' ὄλβον ἀμεμφῆ.
With Eirene[9] and Hygieia[10] engage, and grant a whole life above reproach.
[1] Poseidon is the immortal Olympian God of the sea: a quantity (Ποσ) + of forms (ειδάον); or, husband (Ποσ) + form (ειδάον); or, drink (Ποσ) + form (ειδάον).
“Quantity of forms” is a likely translation considering the multitude of shapes that the ocean’s surface can take.
“Husband-form” seems unlikely, except that one of Poseidon’s epithets is “Gaia’s ox” (often euphemistically translated as “earth-shaker.”)
“Drink-form” is likely since the ocean is water, although it is not drinkable because of the salt.
[2] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[3] An ox is a male stud animal kept for breeding.
[4] Cyan is dark blue.
[5] Cyprus was a major copper supplier during the Late Bronze Age (ca.1650-1100 BCE). The copper was exported by ship all over the Mediterranean. In fact, the word “copper” is derived from the name of this Greek island. (“The Archaeology of Late Bronze Age Coper Production” by A. Bernard Knapp and Vasiliki Kassianidou, 2008 http://www.academia.edu/1179089/The_Archaeology_of_Late_Bronze_Age_Copper_Production_Politiko_Phorades_on_Cyprus
“The mining, production and export of Cypriot copper peaked at this time (ca.1650-1100 BCE), an era of settlement growth and unprecedented prosperity on the island. Urban centres with harbours arose all along the Cypriot coast, along with other prominent centres inland (Knapp 1997: 53-63). The wealth of all these sites stemmed from widening trade contacts in the eastern Mediterranean, and the demand for Cypriot copper throughout the Mediterranean world (Muhlyet al. 1988; Knapp 2008: 357-363).
The copper of Cyprus was traded both commercially and through gift-exchange in oxhide-shaped ingots widely regarded as an internationally accepted unit of trade during the Late Bronze Age (e.g. Muhly et al. 1988; Gale 1991; cf. Bass 1967: 71-72). Such ingots have been found throughout the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Marseille and now even at Oberwilflingen in Germany (Lo Schiavo 1998; 2003: 23-25; 2005a; 2005b; Primas & Pernicka 1998; Domergue & Rico 2002: 141-144).”
[6] The trident is a three-pronged fishing spear.
[7] Pontos the ancient primordial God of the sea.
[8] Thalassa is an ancient immortal sea Goddess.
[9] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.
[10] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health.
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