Translated by Catherine Proppe, December 8, 2015
74. Λευκοθέας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Leukothea, the White Goddess of the Sea
Divine connection: aromatics
Λευκοθέαν καλέω Καδμηίδα, δαίμονα σεμνήν,
Leukothea[1] I call, revered Kadmean[2] Goddess,
εὐδύνατον, θρέπτειραν ἐυστεφάνου Διονύσου.
Kindly power, nurturer of fair-crowned Dionysos[3],
κλῦθι, θεά, πόντοιο βαθυστέρνου μεδέουσα,
I call the Goddess of the deep-bosomed seas, guardian
κύμασι τερπομένη, θνητῶν σώτειρα μεγίστη·
Of swelling marvelous power, majestic mortal savior,
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ νηῶν πελαγοδρόμος ἄστατος ὁρμή,
To thou then seafaring ships on tumultuous high seas cling for
μούνη δὲ θνητῶν οἰκτρὸν μόρον εἰν ἁλὶ λύεις,
Mortals’ sole compassionate fate when the seas let loose--
οἷς ἂν ἐφορμαίνουσα φίλη σωτήριος ἔλθοις.
Carry them above, rule the raging, loving savior, come!
ἀλλά, θεὰ δέσποινα, μόλοις ἐπαρωγὸς ἐοῦσα
Yet, Queenly Goddess, kindly come to aid each
νηυσὶν ἐπ’ εὐσέλμοις σωτήριος εὔφρονι βουλῆι,
Ship upon each deck, good-hearted savior and counselor,
μύσταις ἐν πόντωι ναυσίδρομον οὖρον ἄγουσα.
When the seafaring mystae[4] sail a course to dawn’s horizon.
[1] Leukothea literally means “White Goddess,” the immortal Goddess of the whitecaps of the sea. Stong winds cause whitecaps to form, white foam blows in streaks across the surface of the water, and in very strong storms the sea is mostly covered in white foam. http://www.msc.ucla.edu/oceanglobe/pdf/seastate_descr.pdf
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s definitions of various storms include:
“Violent storm: Exceptionally high waves (37-52 ft), foam patches cover sea, visibility reduced;
Hurricane: Air filled with foam, waves over 45 ft, sea completely white with driving spray, visibility greatly reduced.” http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html
[2] Kadmeia (Καδμεία) is the citadel of the very ancient Greek city of Thebes. Before her apotheosis, Leukothea was Ino, the mortal daughter of Kadmos.
[3] As the mortal Ino, Leukothea nursed the infant Dionysos (the God of wine and its effects). Her fostering of Dionysos enraged either Hera or Zeus, depending on who tells the story, and the deity caused Ino’s husband to go into a murderous insane rage, prompting Ino to leap from a cliff into the sea with her child(ren) to escape. Ino then became the Goddess Leukothea who comes to the aid of sailors in distress.
[4] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
74. Λευκοθέας, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To Leukothea, the White Goddess of the Sea
Divine connection: aromatics
Λευκοθέαν καλέω Καδμηίδα, δαίμονα σεμνήν,
Leukothea[1] I call, revered Kadmean[2] Goddess,
εὐδύνατον, θρέπτειραν ἐυστεφάνου Διονύσου.
Kindly power, nurturer of fair-crowned Dionysos[3],
κλῦθι, θεά, πόντοιο βαθυστέρνου μεδέουσα,
I call the Goddess of the deep-bosomed seas, guardian
κύμασι τερπομένη, θνητῶν σώτειρα μεγίστη·
Of swelling marvelous power, majestic mortal savior,
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ νηῶν πελαγοδρόμος ἄστατος ὁρμή,
To thou then seafaring ships on tumultuous high seas cling for
μούνη δὲ θνητῶν οἰκτρὸν μόρον εἰν ἁλὶ λύεις,
Mortals’ sole compassionate fate when the seas let loose--
οἷς ἂν ἐφορμαίνουσα φίλη σωτήριος ἔλθοις.
Carry them above, rule the raging, loving savior, come!
ἀλλά, θεὰ δέσποινα, μόλοις ἐπαρωγὸς ἐοῦσα
Yet, Queenly Goddess, kindly come to aid each
νηυσὶν ἐπ’ εὐσέλμοις σωτήριος εὔφρονι βουλῆι,
Ship upon each deck, good-hearted savior and counselor,
μύσταις ἐν πόντωι ναυσίδρομον οὖρον ἄγουσα.
When the seafaring mystae[4] sail a course to dawn’s horizon.
[1] Leukothea literally means “White Goddess,” the immortal Goddess of the whitecaps of the sea. Stong winds cause whitecaps to form, white foam blows in streaks across the surface of the water, and in very strong storms the sea is mostly covered in white foam. http://www.msc.ucla.edu/oceanglobe/pdf/seastate_descr.pdf
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s definitions of various storms include:
“Violent storm: Exceptionally high waves (37-52 ft), foam patches cover sea, visibility reduced;
Hurricane: Air filled with foam, waves over 45 ft, sea completely white with driving spray, visibility greatly reduced.” http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html
[2] Kadmeia (Καδμεία) is the citadel of the very ancient Greek city of Thebes. Before her apotheosis, Leukothea was Ino, the mortal daughter of Kadmos.
[3] As the mortal Ino, Leukothea nursed the infant Dionysos (the God of wine and its effects). Her fostering of Dionysos enraged either Hera or Zeus, depending on who tells the story, and the deity caused Ino’s husband to go into a murderous insane rage, prompting Ino to leap from a cliff into the sea with her child(ren) to escape. Ino then became the Goddess Leukothea who comes to the aid of sailors in distress.
[4] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.
RSS Feed