Translated by Catherine Proppe, June 10, 2015
67. Ἀσκληπιοῦ,
θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Asklepios
Divine connection: manna[1]
Ἰητὴρ πάντων, Ἀσκληπιέ, δέσποτα Παιάν,
Healer of all, Asklepios[2], all-powerful physician,
θέλγων ἀνθρώπων πολυαλγέα πήματα νούσων,
Soothing humanity’s many ailments, miseries, and disease,
ἠπιόδωρε, κραταιέ, μόλοις κατάγων ὑγίειαν
Gently giving powerful means for prevailing Hygieia[3]
καὶ παύων νούσους, χαλεπὰς κῆρας θανάτοιο,
And ending nauseous agonies of mortal hearts.
αὐξιθαλής, ἐπίκουρ’, ἀπαλεξίκακ’, ὀλβιόμοιρε,
Increase prosperity and youthfulness, stave off evil, give a whole life fate
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος κρατερὸν θάλος ἀγλαότιμον,
O bright Apollo’s mighty bloom[4], gloriously honored
ἐχθρὲ νόσων, Ὑγίειαν ἔχων σύλλεκτρον ἀμεμφῆ,
Enemy of illness, Hygieia’s firm partner above reproach.
ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, σωτήρ, βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ὀπάζων.
Come, blessed savior, life-completing and welcome companion.
[1] The Manna ash tree, Fraxinus Ornus.
[2] Asklepios is the immortal God of healing, medicine, and surgery.
“…he healed many sick whose lives had been despaired of, and for this reason it was believed that he had brought back to life many who had died.” (Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 4.71.3 (trans. Oldfather))
“To Apollo and Coronis was born Asclepius, who learned from his father many matters which pertain to the healing art, and then went on to discover the art of surgery and the preparations of drugs and the strength to be found in roots, and, speaking generally, he introduced such advances into the healing art that he is honoured as if he were its source and founder." (Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 5.74.6 (trans. Oldfather))
[3] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health.
[4] Asklepios is a son of Apollo.
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