Hymn to the Kouretes (2)
translated by Catherine Proppe
November 30, 2014
This hymn seems to associate the Kouretes with the regenerative Springtime breezes.
38. Κουρήτων II, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
Χαλκόκροτοι Κουρῆτες, Ἀρήια τεύχε' ἔχοντες,
Bronze-striking Kouretes, Ares’[1] artisans, founders of
οὐράνιοι χθόνιοί τε καὶ εἰνάλιοι, πολύολβοι,
The Starry Heavens[2], Earth[3], and blessed Seas
ζωιογόνοι πνοιαί, κόσμου σωτῆρες ἀγαυοί,
Life-giving winds, the cosmos’ shining saviors,
οἵτε Σαμοθράικην, ἱερὴν χθόνα, ναιετάοντες
On Samothrace’s[4] holy ground prevailing
κινδύνους θνητῶν ἀπερύκετε ποντοπλανήτων·
Whose kinetic powers--death defying--roam the seas
ὑμεῖς καὶ τελετὴν πρῶτοι μερόπεσσιν ἔθεσθε,
And complete the very first fate brought to maturity
ἀθάνατοι Κουρῆτες, Ἀρήια τεύχε' ἔχοντες·
Immortal Kouretes, Ares’ founding technicians
νωμᾶτ' Ὠκεανόν, νωμᾶθ' ἅλα δένδρεά θ' αὕτως·
Prevailing over the Ocean, solely prevailing over the forests
ἐρχόμενοι γαῖαν κοναβίζετε ποσσὶν ἐλαφροῖς,
Commencing Gaia’s[5] clashing nimble dance
μαρμαίροντες ὅπλοις· πτήσσουσι δὲ θῆρες ἅπαντες
Whose gleaming armor makes all beasts cower
ὁρμώντων, θόρυβος δὲ βοή τ' εἰς οὐρανὸν ἵκει
The charging roar of the heavenly Bull[6] comes
εἱλιγμοῖς τε ποδῶν κονίη νεφέλας ἀφικάνει
Whirling, tracking dusty clouds it arrives
ἐρχομένων· τότε δή ῥα καὶ ἄνθεα πάντα τέθηλε.
Commencing then the flow and bloom of all sprouting
δαίμονες ἀθάνατοι, τροφέες καὶ αὖτ' ὀλετῆρες,
Power immortal, nurturers and sole safeguarders
ἡνίκ' ἂν ὁρμαίνητε χολούμενοι ἀνθρώποισιν
Whenever the aroused wrath of humans
ὀλλύντες βίοτον καὶ κτήματα ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς
Destroy life and property and autonomously
πιμπλάντες, στοναχεῖ δὲ μέγας πόντος βαθυδίνης,
Fill with groans great ocean’s depths
δένδρη δ' ὑψικάρην' ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἐς χθόνα πίπτει,
And towering forests out of rooted essence fall to Earth
ἠχὼ δ' οὐρανία κελαδεῖ ῥοιζήμασι φύλλων.
Echoing to the heavens the crash of rustling leaves
Κουρῆτες Κορύβαντες, ἀνάκτορες εὐδύνατοί τε
Kouretes, Korybantes, rulers dynastic
ἐν Σαμοθράικηι ἄνακτες, ὁμοῦ <δὲ> Διόσκοροι αὐτοί,
In Samothrace preside alongside the autonomous Dioskuri[7]
πνοιαὶ ἀέναοι, ψυχοτρόφοι, ἀεροειδεῖς,
Breathing eternal Soul[8]-nurturing air
οἵτε καὶ οὐράνιοι δίδυμοι κλήιζεσθ' ἐν Ὀλύμπωι,
And, so, heaven’s celebrated Olympian twins
εὔπνοοι, εὔδιοι, σωτήριοι ἠδὲ προσηνεῖς,
Breathe well, ruling saviors and foreseers,
ὡροτρόφοι, φερέκαρποι ἐπιπνείοιτε ἄνακτες.
Season[9] nurturers, bear fruit, upon your restorative breath.
[1] Ares is the immortal God of Battle.
[2] Ouranos and Ourania are the immortal God and Goddess of the Heavens.
[3] Chthonos/Chthona is the immortal Goddess of foundational Earth.
[4] Samos (Σάμος) is the original name of Samothrace Island and also the name of another important Greek island near Ephesus. The Samos Islands are believed to be birthplaces of humanity, religious rituals, and divinity. Note that ama (ἅμᾰ) means at once, at the same time with, together with, so that Samos (Σάμος) means “in-sync-to start at the same time.”
Samothrakee (Σᾰμοθράκη), Samothrace, is described by Diodorus of Sicily as an island that was not colonized, rather, its first inhabitants “were sprung from the soil itself.” (Diodorus of Sicily. Library of History 5.47.1-2, translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA and London: Harvard University Press, 1939) 227-229.)
Ancient coins of Samothrace feature profiles of the immortal Goddess of Athens, Athena, on one side and the immortal Mother of the Goddesses and Gods, Kybele, seated on a throne on the reverse side.
Samothrace AR Didrachm. After 280 BCE. Head of Athena right, in crested Corinthian helmet with coiled serpent device on bowl / Kybele enthroned left, holding phiale & scepter, lion seated left under throne, SAMO to right, to left magistrate's name MHTRWNA. BMC 1. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/thrace/samothrace/i.html
Samothrace coin featuring Athena and Kybele.
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/thrace/samothrace/Moushmov_5606.jpg
[5] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
[6] Tauros, the Bull, is the April-May springtime constellation.
[7] The Dioskuri are the May-June springtime constellation also known as Gemini, the Twins.
[8] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the Soul.
[9] The Hours are the immortal Goddesses of the Seasons/Time of Year/Time of Day.
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