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.