Translated by Catherine Proppe
June 8, 2015
36. Ἀρτέμιδος
θυμίαμα μάνναν
To Artemis[1]
Divine connection: manna[2]
Κλῦθί μου, ὦ βασίλεια, Διὸς πολυώνυμε κούρη,
I call my Basileia[3], Dios’[4] many-realmed Daughter,
Τιτανίς, βρομία, μεγαλώνυμε, τοξότι, σεμνή,
Titan[5] of resounding, massive realm, archer most solemn,
πασιφαής, δαιδοῦχε, θεά Δίκτυννα, λοχείη,
All-illuminating torch-bearer[6], Goddess Diktynna[7], in childbirth’s
ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγὲ καὶ ὠδίνων ἀμύητε,
Travail you aid and in travail cause to open,
λυσίζωνε, φίλοιστρε, κυνηγέτι, λυσιμέριμνε,
Releasing the zone[8] to favor history’s web[9], O Huntress, release distress,
εὔδρομε, ἰοχέαιρα, φιλαγρότι, νυκτερόφοιτε,
Swift-coursing archer, lover of the wilds, night-roamer,
κληισία, εὐάντητε, λυτηρία, ἀρσενόμορφε,
Unlock opposition, deliver a manly form,
Ὀρθίη, ὠκυλόχεια, βροτῶν κουροτρόφε δαῖμον,
Bring a straight, swift birth, humanity’s child-nurturing deity,
ἀμβροτέρα, χθονία, θηροκτόνε, ὀλβιόμοιρε,
Immortal earthly Lady, animal-slayer, grant a whole-life fate,
ἣ κατέχεις ὀρέων δρυμούς, ἐλαφηβόλε, σεμνή,
Rain your favor upon mountain forests and the deer-hunt, Solemn
πότνια, παμβασίλεια, καλὸν θάλος αἰὲν ἐοῦσα,
Potnia[10], Queen of All, beautiful bloom, eternally young
δρυμονία, σκυλακῖτι, Κυδωνιάς, αἰολόμορφε·
Forest-dweller, pup-nurturing Kydonian[11], eternally changing form.
ἐλθέ, θεὰ σώτειρα, φίλη, μύστηισιν ἅπασιν
Come, Goddess Savior, beloved Lady, every mystae[12]
εὐάντητος, ἄγουσα καλοὺς καρποὺς ἀπὸ γαίης
Greet kindly, bring-forth the bloom of fruits from Gaia[13],
εἰρήνην τ' ἐρατὴν καλλιπλόκαμόν θ' ὑγίειαν·
Eirene[14], too, and lovely beautifully-crowned Goddess Hygiea[15].
πέμποις δ' εἰς ὀρέων κεφαλὰς νούσους τε καὶ ἄλγη.
Cast to the highest mountain peaks disease and distress.
[1] Art- (άρτ-) is a prefix meaning fresh, new, young; complete, perfect; literally “arising outflow extend.”
Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence as exemplified by her hunting skills and virginity, which enable a lifestyle free from societal obligations. In addition to her skill in hunting, she tames wild animals, further extending her power in the wilds.
Artemis is often depicted as a warrior and is closely associated with the female Amazon warriors who lived in a society independent of men.
Artemis’ role in aiding the process of childbirth enables the independent existence of both the child and the mother from one another.
Artemis is closely associated with the moon, a heavenly body that exists alone in a realm of the sky separate from that of the sun, planets, and stars. The moon is linked to procreation and childbirth because its 28- day cycles correspond with women’s 28-day menses (moon) periods.
[2] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[3] Basileia means Queen; basis of rule.
[4] Dios refers to Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[5] Artemis’ mother, Leto, is a Titan. Her father, Zeus, is an Olympian. 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] Artemis is a torchbearer because of her association with the moon which gives light at night.
[7] Diktynna is the immortal Goddess of hunting and fishing nets, a regional name for Artemis. Dikt- (Δίκτ-) means net.
[8] The zone of pregnancy.
[9] Life and a person’s portion of life are woven and portioned out by the immortal Goddesses of Fate.
[10] Potnia is a title of honor meaning revered, august, Queen.
[11] Kydonia is a town on the island of Crete, named for the quince, a fruit resembling a pear.
[12] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
[13] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
[14] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of Peace.
[15] Hygiea is the immortal Goddess of Health.
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