Translated by Catherine Proppe, August 28, 2015
84. Ἑστίας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Hestia
Divine connection: aromatics
Ἑστία εὐδυνάτοιο Κρόνου θύγατερ βασίλεια,
Hestia[1], mighty Kronos’[2] daughter, Basileia[3],
ἣ μέσον οἶκον ἔχεις πυρὸς ἀενάοιο, μεγίστου,
Central midpoint of every dwelling, foundation fiery, eternal, majestic,
τούσδε σὺ ἐν τελεταῖς ὁσίους μύστας ἀναδείξαις,
Then from thou complete the holy initiation, mystae[4] arise and bring to light,
θεῖσ’ αἰειθαλέας, πολυόλβους, εὔφρονας, ἁγνούς·
Sulphur[5] eternally bloom[6] with plentiful blessings, kindly, pure.
οἶκε θεῶν μακάρων, θνητῶν στήριγμα κραταιόν,
Dwellings divinely bless, mortal-sustaining power,
ἀιδίη, πολύμορφε, ποθεινοτάτη, χλοόμορφε·
Eternal, many-shaped, longed for green form[7].
μειδιόωσα, μάκαιρα, τάδ’ ἱερὰ δέξο προθύμως,
Smile, bring blessings here, holy welcoming spirit of life,
ὄλβον ἐπιπνείουσα καὶ ἠπιόχειρον ὑγείαν.
Bestow whole-life blessings upon each breath and the easing hand of health.
[1] Estia is Hestia, the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire, the friendly presence of the “essence” in the household/community.
Estia is the first and last deity to receive libations and sacrifices at meals and public occasions. Socrates discusses Estia’s name and honored status by explaining that (H)Estia means essence:
“‘Socrates: Shall we, then, begin with Hestia, according to custom?
“‘Hermogenes: That is the proper thing.
“‘Socrates: . . . those who called the essence of things essia (έσσία) would naturally sacrifice to Hestia first of all the [G]ods [and Goddesses].”
Plato (circa 350 BCE),“Cratylus 401b – 401d,” in Plato in Twelve Volumes, vol. 12, trans. Harold N. Fowler (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, 1921).
[2] Kronos is the immortal God of the Golden Age of peace, prosperity, and justice. Kronos (God of Time) is the son of Ouranos (God of the Sky) and the father of Zeus (God of the spark of fire/spark of life).
[3] Basileia means Queen.
[4] Mystae are initiates into divine mysteries.
[5] Sulphur is what match heads were made of.
Seneca, Medea 824 ff (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st CE.): "… fires which subtly lurk in sulphur."
Theocritus, Idyll XXIII. (100) “…for the cleansing of your house, first burn ye therein sulphur pure…” http://www.theoi.com/Text/TheocritusIdylls4.html
[6] The flame is the "bloom" of sulphur.
[7] Some chemicals, such as chloroform, boron, and copper, can produce green flame when burned. “… if thrown upon hot coals, it [chloroform] immediately ignites, diffusing much smoke, and producing a very beautiful green flame.” (“Chloroform,” Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical Vol. 1 by Sheridan Muspratt, Eben Norton Horsford, p. 470. https://books.google.com/books?id=DS4OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA470&lpg=PA470&dq=chloroform+green+flame&source=bl&ots=OWK0ruvplb&sig=XZAb1S90e6a_FMwmcpJysnjrMfg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCsQ6AEwBGoVChMIhM_z0vHLxwIVgtSACh1yQwGV#v=snippet&q=chloroform&f=false )
When powdered zinc is mixed with sulphur “the mixture burns with a yellowish-green flame.” http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/kboudrea/demos/zinc_sulfur/zinc_sulfur.htm “Hazard!! This reaction produces a great deal of heat energy; clear the area of flammable materials. This reaction must be performed in a fume hood or some open, well-ventilated area.”
“Zinc and sulfur react with each other violently to produce zinc sulfide; the reaction is accompanied by a vigorous evolution of gas, heat, and light.”
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