36. Ἀρτέμιδος[1], θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Artemis
Divine connection/incense: manna[2]
Κλῦθί μου, ὦ βασίλεια, Διὸς πολυώνυμε κούρη,
Be open to me, O Basileia[3], Dios’[4] daughter of many domains,
Τιτανίς, βρομία, μεγαλώνυμε, τοξότι, σεμνή,
Titanic[5], Bromian,[6] of megalithic realm, revered archer,
πασιφαής, δαιδοῦχε, θεά Δίκτυννα, λοχείη,
All-illuminator, torch-bearer, Goddess Diktynna[7], childbirth’s
ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγὲ καὶ ὠδίνων ἀμύητε,
Travail you aid and travail cause to open,
λυσίζωνε, φίλοιστρε, κυνηγέτι, λυσιμέριμνε,
Loosen the zone[8], favor history’s web[9], Huntress, release distress,
εὔδρομε, ἰοχέαιρα, φιλαγρότι, νυκτερόφοιτε,
Swift-runner, arrow-pourer, lover of the wilds, night-roamer,
κληισία, εὐάντητε, λυτηρία, ἀρσενόμορφε,
Unlock, greet kindly, deliver a manly form,
Ὀρθίη, ὠκυλόχεια, βροτῶν κουροτρόφε δαῖμον,
Bring a straightforward[10], swift birth, humanity’s child-nurturing power,
ἀμβροτέρα, χθονία, θηροκτόνε, ὀλβιόμοιρε,
Immortal earthly Lady, beast-slayer, grant a whole-life fate,
ἣ κατέχεις ὀρέων δρυμούς, ἐλαφηβόλε, σεμνή,
Rain your favor upon mountain forests and the solemn deer-hunt,
πότνια, παμβασίλεια, καλὸν θάλος αἰὲν ἐοῦσα,
Potnia[11], Queen of All, beautifully blooming, eternally young,
δρυμονία, σκυλακῖτι, Κυδωνιάς, αἰολόμορφε·
Forest-dwelling, pup-nurturing Kydonian[12], eternally changing form.
ἐλθέ, θεὰ σώτειρα, φίλη, μύστηισιν ἅπασιν
Come, Goddess Savior, beloved Lady, every mystae[13]
εὐάντητος, ἄγουσα καλοὺς καρποὺς ἀπὸ γαίης
Greet kindly, bring-forth the bloom of fruits from Gaia[14],
εἰρήνην τ' ἐρατὴν καλλιπλόκαμόν θ' ὑγίειαν·
Eirene[15], too, and lovely beautifully-crowned Goddess Hygiea[16].
πέμποις δ' εἰς ὀρέων κεφαλὰς νούσους τε καὶ ἄλγη.
Cast to the highest mountain peaks disease and distress.
[1] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of Independence, exemplified by her virginity and hunting skills which free her from societal obligations. In keeping with this role, she frees/makes independent the woman and child at parturition. Art- (άρτ-) is a prefix meaning fresh, new, young; complete, perfect, even; safe, sound; bread; spice, seasoning--all meanings consistent with the notion of being complete and whole.
[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[3] Basileia means royal, Queen.
[4] Dios means Heavenly; the immortal God of Rainstorms/the male fertilizing principle: Zeus.
[5] The Titans reside in Tartaros, the depths of the Earth, as contrasted with the Olympians, who reside at the heights of Mount Olympus. Titan means stretch/extend.
[6] Bromios is another name for Bacchos, the immortal God of Wine. Bromos means a) a loud sound, and, b) oats, Avena sativa, literally “base outflow-of entity.”
[7] Diktynna is the immortal Goddess of hunting and fishing nets. Dikt- (Δίκτ-) means net.
[8] The zone is the area of the girdle, the area of pregnancy.
[9] A person’s life is considered to be woven by the Fates at birth.
[10] Orthia means upright, upstanding, straight.
[11] Potnia is a title of honor meaning revered, august, Queen.
[12] Kydonia is a town in Crete, named for the quince, a fruit resembling a pear.
[13] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
[14] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of Earth.
[15] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of Peace.
[16] Hygiea is the immortal Goddess of Health.