Translated by Catherine Proppe
January 7, 2015
64. Ὕμνος Νόμου.
Hymn to Nomos
Ἀθανάτων καλέω καὶ θνητῶν ἁγνὸν ἄνακτα,
Immortals I call and mortals’ pure ruler
οὐράνιον Νόμον, ἀστροθέτην, σφραγῖδα δικαίαν
Ouranian[1] Nomos[2], star placer, seal of Dike[3]
πόντου τ’ εἰναλίου καὶ γῆς, φύσεως τὸ βέβαιον
Pontos’[4] seas' and Ge’s physics' [5] firm foundation
ἀκλινὲς ἀστασίαστον ἀεὶ τηροῦντα νόμοισιν,
Unswerving without rest, eternal guardian of law
οἷσιν ἄνωθε φέρων μέγαν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸς ὁδεύει,
Bearing from on high majestic Ouranos’ solo journeys
καὶ φθόνον οὐ δίκαιον ῥοίζου τρόπον ἐκτὸς ἐλαύνει
And begrudging not Dike’s sudden turning external initiatives
ὃς καὶ θνητοῖσιν βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐγείρει·
And in mortals’ lives full goodness arousing
αὐτὸς γὰρ μοῦνος ζώιων οἴακα κρατύνει
Alone generating solely eternal life’s guiding rules
γνώμαις ὀρθοτάταισι συνών, ἀδιάστροφος αἰεί,
Wise upright impositions together with unturning eternity
ὠγύγιος, πολύπειρος, ἀβλάπτως πᾶσι συνοικῶν
From Ogygios’[6] many pierced unharmed community.
τοῖς νομίμοις, ἀνόμοις δὲ φέρων κακότητα βαρεῖαν.
For Nomos’ inspiration arises above inspiration bearing evil basis.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πάντιμε, φερόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινέ,
So, blessed, all-honored, bearer of whole life’s all longings
εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων μνήμην σέο πέμπε, φέριστε.
Gracious counselor, heart’s foundation, remembering thou, send the best.
[1] Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
[2] Nomos is the immortal God of law. Nomos is the father of Dike (Justice).
[3] Dike is the immortal Goddess of justice.
[4] Pontos is the primordial God of the sea. http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Pontos.html
[5] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics/nature.
[6] Ogygios is called the first king of Attica (Thebes) whose people came from the earth itself, that is, did not move from elsewhere. Hence reference to Ogygios (“of the Earth/Ge”) implies primordial, primal, from earliest times.
Nonnos, Dionysiaca 3, translated by W.H.D. Rouse describes how Ogygos pierced through the surface of the first of three floods:
[205] Ogygos24 made proof of the first roaring deluge, as he cut the air through the highclimbing waters, when all the earth was hidden under the flood, when the tops of the Thessalian rocks were covered, when the summit of the Pythian rock near the clouds on high was bathed in the snow-cooled25 flood. There was a second deluge, when tempestuous waters covered the circuit of the round earth in a furious flood, when all mortal men [sic] perished, and Deucalion alone with his mate Pyrrha in a hollow ark cutting the swirling flood of infinite deluge went on his eddying voyage through the air turned water.
[215] When the third time rain from Zeus flooded the solid earth and covered the hills, and even the unwetted slopes of Sithonia with Mount Athos itself,26 then Dardanos, cutting through the stream of the uplifted flood, landed on the ancient mountain of Ida his neighbour.
http://www.theoi.com/Text/NonnusDionysiaca3.html
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