Translated by Catherine Proppe, May 15, 2014
16. Ἥρης[1], θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Hera
Divine connection/incense: aromatics
Κυανέοις κόλποισιν ἐνημένη, ἀερόμορφε,
Cyanic[2], enfolding, calm-aired, aerial-formed,
Ἥρη παμβασίλεια, Διὸς σύλλεκτρε μάκαιρα,
Hera[3], all-Basileia[4], Dios’[5] happy bed-partner,
ψυχοτρόφους αὔρας θνητοῖς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς,
Psyche[6]-nurturing, exhalation of mortals, foundation of wind,
ὄμβρων μὲν μήτηρ, ἀνέμων τροφέ, παντογένεθλε·
Stormy powerful mother, gale-nourisher, all-birthgiving.
χωρὶς γὰρ σέθεν οὐδὲν ὅλως ζωῆς φύσιν ἔγνω·
Alone generating together not one[7] whole life[8] from Phusis’[9] egg.
κοινωνεῖς γὰρ ἅπασι κεκραμένη ἠέρι σεμνῶι·
In partnership generating all mixing[10], aerial, solemn.
πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις μούνη πάντεσσί τ' ἀνάσσεις
All-generating power alone, over all four[11] extending Queen,
ἠερίοις ῥοίζοισι τινασσομένη κατὰ χεῦμα.
Aerial-whistling, shaking-mightily, catlalyst of flow.
ἀλλά, μάκαιρα θεά, πολυώνυμε, παμβασίλεια,
But, happy Goddess of many realms, all-Basileia,
ἔλθοις εὐμενέουσα καλῶι γήθουσα προσώπωι.
Come with goodwill, beautifully rejoicing, come before us.
[1] Literally “shared center (Ἥ) + flow (ρ).”
[2] Cyan is lapis lazuli, a dark-blue stone historically considered holy. Lapis lazuli is associated with the sky because of its deep blue color and sparkling, star-like crystals. http://www.answers.com/topic/lapis-lazuli#ixzz2g0dbIWD1
[3] Hera is the immortal Goddess of Air, one of the four elements, as cited by Empedocles, below (Zeus=Fire, Hera=Air, Aidoneus=Earth, Nestis=Water):
“τέσσαρα γάρ πάντων ῥιζωματα πρῶτον ἅκουε.
Ζεύς άργής Ἥρη τε φερέσβιος ήδ' Άιδωνεύς
Νῆστίς θ', ἥ δακρύοις τέγγει κρούνωμα βρότειον.
“And first the fourfold root of all things hear! –
White gleaming Zeus, life-bringing Hera, Dis [sic],
And Nestis whose tears bedew mortality.”
(Empedocles. Poeta Philosophus 6.1, cited in The Fragments of Empedocles, translated by William Ellery Leonard (Chicago: Open Court Publishing, 1908) 17.)
Also see: Empedocles, Physics (7(6).2-3); H.J. Rose, Handbook of Greek Mythology, Introduction).
[4] Basileia means Queen.
[5] Dios is Zeus, the immortal God of Rainstorms, Lightning, and the male fertility principle. Hera is wedded to Zeus.
[6] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the Soul.
[7] Hera generates life through combining the elements, alone she produces no life.
[8] Zo means life: spark (ζ) + egg (ω).
[9] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of Physics, of Nature (the phusion of force and matter).
[10] Hera is also the Goddess of Marriage/Generative Mixing.
[11] The four elements: earth, air, fire, water.
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