Translated by Catherine Proppe, March 17, 2014.
34. Ἀπόλλωνος[1], θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Apollo
Divine-medium/incense: manna[2]
Ἐλθέ, μάκαρ Παιάν, Τιτυοκτόνε, Φοῖβε Λυκωρεῦ,
Come forth, felicitous Savior, Tityos’[3] slayer, Phoebe’s[4] liberator,
Μεμφῖτ'[5], ἀγλαότιμε, ἰήιε, ὀλβιοδῶτα,
Memphian, gloriously honored divinity, whole life-giver,
χρυσολύρη, σπερμεῖε, ἀρότριε, Πύθιε, Τιτάν,
Chryso-lyred[6], spermatic, aerator of fields, Pythian[7], Titan[8],
Γρύνειε, Σμινθεῦ, Πυθοκτόνε, Δελφικέ, μάντι,
Grynion[9], Smintheion[10], Python-slayer[11], Delphic[12], mantic[13],
ἄγριε, φωσφόρε δαῖμον, ἐράσμιε, κύδιμε κοῦρε,
Agrarian light-bearing power, beloved, celebrated son,
Μουσαγέτα, χαροποιέ, ἑκηβόλε, τοξοβέλεμνε,
Muse-guiding, cheerful archer, bow-launching,
Βράγχιε καὶ Διδυμεῦ, ἑκάεργε, Λοξία, ἁγνέ,
Branching and Twin, aerial, indirect, pure
Δήλι' ἄναξ, πανδερκὲς ἔχων φαεσίμβροτον ὄμμα,
Delian[14] Commander, all-seeing foundation, mortal light’s eye,
χρυσοκόμα, καθαρὰς φήμας χρησμούς τ' ἀναφαίνων·
Chryso-crowned[15], pure prophetic chreesmos[16] bring to light.
κλῦθί μευ εὐχομένου λαῶν ὕπερ εὔφρονι θυμῶι·
Be open to my entreaty, release from above your kindly-disposed spirit.
τόνδε σὺ γὰρ λεύσσεις τὸν ἀπείριτον αἰθέρα πάντα
Reach out, look upon us, extend unbroken and aetherial over all
γαῖάν τ' ὀλβιόμοιρον ὕπερθέ τε καὶ δι' ἀμολγοῦ,
Of Gaia[17], the blessed Fates[18] above, too, and from starry
νυκτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίαισιν ὑπ' ἀστεροόμματον ὄρφνην
Night[19] within the silence above, starry Mother’s darkness
ῥίζας νέρθε δέδορκας, ἔχεις δέ τε πείρατα κόσμου
The root of Earth’s sight, foundation of the pierced cosmos[20]
παντός· σοὶ δ' ἀρχή τε τελευτή τ' ἐστὶ μέλουσα,
Over all. Together from origin to completion let festal melodies
παντοθαλής, σὺ δὲ πάντα πόλον κιθάρηι πολυκρέκτωι
Gladden all, synchronizing all poles, your kitharas’[21] many-strummed
ἁρμόζεις, ὁτὲ μὲν νεάτης ἐπὶ τέρματα βαίνων,
Harmonies[22], when the lowest[23] string turns the dance,
ἄλλοτε δ' αὖθ' ὑπάτην, ποτὲ Δώριιον εἰς διάκοσμον
And then, alone, the highest, giving throughout the cosmos
πάντα πόλον κιρνὰς κρίνεις βιοθρέμμονα φῦλα,
Over all poles mixing separate life-nurtured tribes
ἁρμονίηι κεράσας τὴν παγκόσμιον ἀνδράσι μοῖραν,
Harmonically mix then all of the cosmos’ human fate
μίξας χειμῶνος θέρεός τ' ἴσον ἀμφοτέροισιν,
Mix winter, summer too, then, equally both of the two
εἰς ὑπάτας χειμῶνα, θέρος νεάταις διακρίνας,
The height of winter, summer’s depth through separation
Δώριον εἰς ἔαρος πολυηράτου ὥριον ἄνθος.
Give early Spring’s much-loved season of blooms.
ἔνθεν ἐπωνυμίην σε βροτοὶ κλήιζουσιν ἄνακτα,
Thence named, mortals herald the revival of
Πᾶνα, θεὸν δικέρωτ', ἀνέμων συρίγμαθ' ἱέντα·
Pan[24], divine Dike’s[25] rotation, the winds[26] piping[27] tune.
οὕνεκα παντὸς ἔχεις κόσμου σφραγῖδα τυπῶτιν.
On your account all foundation of the cosmos consign their forms.
κλῦθι μάκαρ, σώζων μύστας ἱκετηρίδι φωνῆι.
Be open felicitous savior to the mystic suppliants’ voices.
[1] The prefix apo- (άπό-) means to spring from = arising above (ά) + united (π) + entity (ό). The prefix apol- (άπόλ-) means arising above (ά) the pole (πόλ)/axis -or- arising above the polis/city. The name “Apollo” may also be interpreted as “arising (ά) + unifier (π) + of all (όλ).” Lo (λω) means wish, desire. Apollo’s many attributes may be united under the title of the God of Inspiration.
[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[3] Tityos is a Giant who attacked Apollo’s mother, Leto, and is stretched out in Tartaros (the deepest realm of the afterlife) for eternal punishment.
[4] The immortal Goddess Phoebe bequeathed province over the Delphic “oracle” to Apollo, her grandson (Aeschylus, Eumenides I)
[5] Memphis, a major capital of ancient Egypt, occupied a strategic position at the mouth of the Nile Delta. The sacred uncastrated Apis bull of Memphis fertilized the herd.
[6] Chryso means “golden.”
[7] Pytho is the ancient name of Delphi. Pyth- (πύθ-) means base, foundation, essence, pith.
[8] The Tartaros-based Titans reside in the depths of the Earth, while the Olympians reside at the heights of Mount Olympus. Apollo’s mother, Leto, is a Titan. (His father, Zeus, is an Olympian.) Titan (Τιτάν) means stretch, extend.
[9] Grynion (Γρύνιον) was an Aeloian city near Myrina (Turkey) hosting a sanctuary of Apollo. Grunos (γρῡνός) means torch, a burning piece of wood.
[10] Sminthe was a city near Troy (Turkey) (Hom. Il. i. 3.9; Ov. Fast. vi. 425, Met. xii. 585; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 34). Sminth- (Σμινθ-) means mouse, an animal associated with Apollo.
[11] Upon taking province of the “oracle” at Delphi, Apollo killed the python (serpent, dragon) who guarded it.
[12] Delph- (δελφ-) is a prefix meaning womb; pig; dolphin; and tripod.
[13] “Mantic” means capable of channeling/inspiring.
[14] Delos Island is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Delos literally means “disclose, make manifest.”
[15] Chryso- means “golden.”
[16] Chreesmos means “oracle, message from the divine.”
[17] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
[18] The Moirai (Μοῒραι) are the immortal Goddesses who transmit a person’s fate.
[19] Night is a primordial Goddess, the mother of Day (Hesiod, Theogony 123-124).
[20] The night sky appears to be pierced with stars. According to Hesiod, Earth is the mother (without paternity) of the Heavens/Stars. (Hesiod, Theogony 123-124).
[21] A kithara is a lyre, a seven-stringed instrument.
[22] Apollo is believed to harmonize the cosmos with his music.
[23] The lowest three strings provide the highest pitch.
[24] Pan is the immortal God of All.
[25] Dike is the immortal Goddess of Justice.
[26] Anemones are scarlet, spring-blooming flowers associated with Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and Adonis, God of rebirth. Poppy anemone, Anemone coronaria; scarlet wind-flower, Anemone fulgens; mountain wind-flower, Anemone blanda; ἀνέμ is a prefix that means “wind, winds, windy”
[27] The syrinx is a flute, “Pan-pipe” made of reeds.
RSS Feed