Translated by Catherine Proppe
December 16, 2014
27. Μητρὸς θεῶν, θυμίαμα ποικίλα.
To the Mother Divine
Divine medium: many kinds
Ἀθανάτων θεότιμε θεῶν μῆτερ, τροφὲ πάντων,
Immortal divinely honored divine Mother, nurturer of all
τῇιδε μόλοις, κράντειρα θεά, σέο, πότνι’, ἐπ' εὐχαῖς,
From Ida[1] come, Ruler, Goddess, Potnia[2] of Prayer,
ταυροφόνων ζεύξασα ταχύδρομον ἅρμα λεόντων,
Bullslaying, yoking a whirling speedy-coursing carriage of lions[3]
σκηπτοῦχε κλεινοῖο πόλου, πολυώνυμε, σεμνή,
Scepter-bearer, renowned to all, many-realmed, revered
ἣ κατέχεις κόσμοιο μέσον θρόνον, οὕνεκεν αὐτὴ
Holding the center of the cosmos, the middle throne, alone
γαῖαν ἔχεις θνητοῖσι τροφὰς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς.
Earth’s foundation, mortal nurterer, providing with ease,
ἐκ σέο δ' ἀθανάτων τε γένος θνητῶν τ' ἐλοχεύθη,
Of thou immortals born, mortals, too, brought to birth
σοὶ ποταμοὶ κρατέονται ἀεὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα,
Thou rivers the ruler eternally and all seas[4].
Ἑστία αὐδαχθεῖσα· σὲ δ' ὀλβοδότιν καλέουσι,
Hestia’s[5] audible divine foundation of whole-life gifts I call
παντοίων ἀγαθῶν θνητοῖς ὅτι δῶρα χαρίζῃ,
To all purified mortals give grace
ἔρχεο πρὸς τελετήν, ὦ πότνια, τυμπανοτερπής,
Set forth, lead the completion, Potnia[6] delighting in the tympanum[7]
πανδαμάτωρ, Φρυγίης, σώτειρα, Κρόνου συνόμευνε,
All-directing Mother, Phrygian savior, Kronos’[8] partner
Οὐρανόπαι, πρέσβειρα, βιοθρέπτειρα, φίλοιστρε·
Ouranos’ child, honored elder, life-nourisher, loving history
ἔρχεο γηθόσυνος[9], κεχαρημένη εὐσεβίηισιν.
Come, joyful, charming, and revered.
[1] Mount Ida (modern day Turkey) is considered to be the home of the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[2] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses, i.e. Queen, revered.
[3] The constellation Virgo, the Virgin (meaning independent), is “pulled” through the zodiac by the constellation Leo, the lions.
[4] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the seas.
[5] (H)estia is the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire.
[6] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses.
[7] The tympanum is a hand drum, a tambourine.
[8] Kronos is the immortal God of Time.
[9] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
December 16, 2014
27. Μητρὸς θεῶν, θυμίαμα ποικίλα.
To the Mother Divine
Divine medium: many kinds
Ἀθανάτων θεότιμε θεῶν μῆτερ, τροφὲ πάντων,
Immortal divinely honored divine Mother, nurturer of all
τῇιδε μόλοις, κράντειρα θεά, σέο, πότνι’, ἐπ' εὐχαῖς,
From Ida[1] come, Ruler, Goddess, Potnia[2] of Prayer,
ταυροφόνων ζεύξασα ταχύδρομον ἅρμα λεόντων,
Bullslaying, yoking a whirling speedy-coursing carriage of lions[3]
σκηπτοῦχε κλεινοῖο πόλου, πολυώνυμε, σεμνή,
Scepter-bearer, renowned to all, many-realmed, revered
ἣ κατέχεις κόσμοιο μέσον θρόνον, οὕνεκεν αὐτὴ
Holding the center of the cosmos, the middle throne, alone
γαῖαν ἔχεις θνητοῖσι τροφὰς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς.
Earth’s foundation, mortal nurterer, providing with ease,
ἐκ σέο δ' ἀθανάτων τε γένος θνητῶν τ' ἐλοχεύθη,
Of thou immortals born, mortals, too, brought to birth
σοὶ ποταμοὶ κρατέονται ἀεὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα,
Thou rivers the ruler eternally and all seas[4].
Ἑστία αὐδαχθεῖσα· σὲ δ' ὀλβοδότιν καλέουσι,
Hestia’s[5] audible divine foundation of whole-life gifts I call
παντοίων ἀγαθῶν θνητοῖς ὅτι δῶρα χαρίζῃ,
To all purified mortals give grace
ἔρχεο πρὸς τελετήν, ὦ πότνια, τυμπανοτερπής,
Set forth, lead the completion, Potnia[6] delighting in the tympanum[7]
πανδαμάτωρ, Φρυγίης, σώτειρα, Κρόνου συνόμευνε,
All-directing Mother, Phrygian savior, Kronos’[8] partner
Οὐρανόπαι, πρέσβειρα, βιοθρέπτειρα, φίλοιστρε·
Ouranos’ child, honored elder, life-nourisher, loving history
ἔρχεο γηθόσυνος[9], κεχαρημένη εὐσεβίηισιν.
Come, joyful, charming, and revered.
[1] Mount Ida (modern day Turkey) is considered to be the home of the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[2] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses, i.e. Queen, revered.
[3] The constellation Virgo, the Virgin (meaning independent), is “pulled” through the zodiac by the constellation Leo, the lions.
[4] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the seas.
[5] (H)estia is the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire.
[6] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses.
[7] The tympanum is a hand drum, a tambourine.
[8] Kronos is the immortal God of Time.
[9] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
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