To Hygeia #HymnsOfOrpheus www.GreekAlpahbeta.com

Translated by Catherine Proppe
March 25, 2015


68. Ὑγείας, θυμίαμα μάνναν.

To Hygeia

Divine connection: manna

 

Ἱμερόεσσ’, ἐρατή, πολυθάλμιε, παμβασίλεια,

Yearned for essence, beloved much-blooming all-Basileia[1]

 

κλῦθι, μάκαιρ’ Ὑγίεια, φερόλβιε, μῆτερ ἁπάντων·

I call blessed Hygieia[2], bearer of whole life blessings, Mother of all

 

ἐκ σέο γὰρ νοῦσοι μὲν ἀποφθινύθουσι βροτοῖσι,

From thou is generated illness’s power to waste humans

 

πᾶς δὲ δόμος θάλλει πολυγηθὴς εἵνεκα σεῖο,

And all households thrive with many of Ge’s[3] divine blessings because of thou

 

καὶ τέχναι βρίθουσι· ποθεῖ δέ σε κόσμος, ἄνασσα,

And technologies[4] heavy with longing for the Cosmos’ Anassa[5]

 

μοῦνος δὲ στυγέει σ’ Ἀίδης ψυχοφθόρος αἰεί,

Only despised by[6] Aidees’[7] Psyche[8]-destroying eternity.

 

ἀιθαλής, εὐκταιοτάτη, θνητῶν ἀνάπαυμα·

Eternally bloom, triumph over mortal’s coming repose

 

σοῦ γὰρ ἄτερ πάντ’ ἐστὶν ἀνωφελῆ ἀνθρώποισιν·

With thou boundless all essence buoy humanity

 

οὔτε γὰρ ὀλβοδότης πλοῦτος γλυκερὸς θαλίηισιν,

And extend whole life gifts extending wealth sweetly thriving

 

οὔτε γέρων πολύμοχθος ἄτερ σέο γίγνεται ἀνήρ·

And not old age’s many hardships boundless befalling humanity

 

πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις μούνη καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνάσσεις.

All giving power alone and ruler of all

 

ἀλλά, θεά, μόλε μυστιπόλοις ἐπιτάρροθος αἰεὶ

Goddess, bestow the mystic rites upon preservation eternal

 

ῥυομένη νούσων χαλεπῶν κακόποτμον ἀνίην.

Protect against disease grievous and ill-fated: release.

 



[1] Basileia means Queen, Ruler, literally “basis (βα) + synchronized (σ).”


[2] Hygieia is the immortal Goddess of health, the source of the word “hygiene,” literally “pure (Ὑ) + generative (γ) + divine power (ί).”


[3] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.


[4] Technologies refers to the arts of healing.


[5] Anassa means Goddess, Queen, Lady, literally “arising above (ἄ) + prevailing (ν).”


[6] Stygian means pertaining to the River Styx, the river of the afterlife.


[7] Aidees is also known as “Hades,” the immortal God of the afterlife.


[8] Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.