Translated by Catherine Proppe, December 1, 2016
64. Ὕμνος Νόμου.
To Nomos, God of Law
A Hymn
Ἀθανάτων καλέω καὶ θνητῶν ἁγνὸν ἄνακτα,
Immortals’ and mortals’ pure ruler I call,
οὐράνιον Νόμον, ἀστροθέτην, σφραγῖδα δικαίαν
Heavenly Nomos, star placer, Dike’s seal,
πόντου τ’ εἰναλίου καὶ γῆς, φύσεως τὸ βέβαιον
On Pontos of the sea and Ge, physics’ firm foundation.
ἀκλινὲς ἀστασίαστον ἀεὶ τηροῦντα νόμοισιν,
Unbiased, upright, impartial, eternal guardian of law.
οἷσιν ἄνωθε φέρων μέγαν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸς ὁδεύει,
Bearing from on high mighty Ouranos’ autonomous journeys,
καὶ φθόνον οὐ δίκαιον ῥοίζου τρόπον ἐκτὸς ἐλαύνει
And begrudging not Dike’s hurtling turns forged externally,
ὃς καὶ θνητοῖσιν βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐγείρει·
And in mortals’ lives complete goodness awakening.
αὐτὸς γὰρ μοῦνος ζώιων οἴακα κρατύνει
Autonomously generating alone eternal life’s guiding rules,
γνώμαις ὀρθοτάταισι συνών, ἀδιάστροφος αἰεί,
Wise, upright impositions in concert with unswerving eternity.
ὠγύγιος, πολύπειρος, ἀβλάπτως πᾶσι συνοικῶν
Ogygios’ many trials inviolate for all who dwell as one.
τοῖς νομίμοις, ἀνόμοις δὲ φέρων κακότητα βαρεῖαν.
For, in accordance with law, lawlessness bears deep evil.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πάντιμε, φερόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινέ,
So, blessed, all-honored bearer of whole lives all long for,
εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων μνήμην σέο πέμπε, φέριστε.
Gracious counselor, heart’s foundation, remembering what thou sent, bring what stands.
NOTES
Nomos (Νόμος) is the immortal God of law and established custom, the father of Dike (Δίκη), Goddess of justice.
Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
Pontos is the immortal God of the sea.
Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics/nature.
Ogygios is called the first king of Attica (Thebes) whose people came from the earth itself, that is, did not move from elsewhere. Reference to Ogygios (“of the Earth/Ge”) implies primordial, primal, from earliest times.
Nonnos, Dionysiaca 3 (trans. Rouse) describes how Ogygos pierced through the surface of the first of three floods, even describing the ark he was in with his wife:
“[205] Ogygos made proof of the first roaring deluge, as he cut the air through the highclimbing waters, when all the earth was hidden under the flood, when the tops of the Thessalian rocks were covered, when the summit of the Pythian rock near the clouds on high was bathed in the snow-cooled flood. There was a second deluge, when tempestuous waters covered the circuit of the round earth in a furious flood, when all mortal men [sic] perished, and Deucalion alone with his mate Pyrrha in a hollow ark cutting the swirling flood of infinite deluge went on his eddying voyage through the air turned water.
“[215] When the third time rain from Zeus flooded the solid earth and covered the hills, and even the unwetted slopes of Sithonia with Mount Athos itself, then Dardanos, cutting through the stream of the uplifted flood, landed on the ancient mountain of Ida his neighbour.”[1]
[1] http://www.theoi.com/Text/NonnusDionysiaca3.html
64. Ὕμνος Νόμου.
To Nomos, God of Law
A Hymn
Ἀθανάτων καλέω καὶ θνητῶν ἁγνὸν ἄνακτα,
Immortals’ and mortals’ pure ruler I call,
οὐράνιον Νόμον, ἀστροθέτην, σφραγῖδα δικαίαν
Heavenly Nomos, star placer, Dike’s seal,
πόντου τ’ εἰναλίου καὶ γῆς, φύσεως τὸ βέβαιον
On Pontos of the sea and Ge, physics’ firm foundation.
ἀκλινὲς ἀστασίαστον ἀεὶ τηροῦντα νόμοισιν,
Unbiased, upright, impartial, eternal guardian of law.
οἷσιν ἄνωθε φέρων μέγαν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸς ὁδεύει,
Bearing from on high mighty Ouranos’ autonomous journeys,
καὶ φθόνον οὐ δίκαιον ῥοίζου τρόπον ἐκτὸς ἐλαύνει
And begrudging not Dike’s hurtling turns forged externally,
ὃς καὶ θνητοῖσιν βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐγείρει·
And in mortals’ lives complete goodness awakening.
αὐτὸς γὰρ μοῦνος ζώιων οἴακα κρατύνει
Autonomously generating alone eternal life’s guiding rules,
γνώμαις ὀρθοτάταισι συνών, ἀδιάστροφος αἰεί,
Wise, upright impositions in concert with unswerving eternity.
ὠγύγιος, πολύπειρος, ἀβλάπτως πᾶσι συνοικῶν
Ogygios’ many trials inviolate for all who dwell as one.
τοῖς νομίμοις, ἀνόμοις δὲ φέρων κακότητα βαρεῖαν.
For, in accordance with law, lawlessness bears deep evil.
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, πάντιμε, φερόλβιε, πᾶσι ποθεινέ,
So, blessed, all-honored bearer of whole lives all long for,
εὐμενὲς ἦτορ ἔχων μνήμην σέο πέμπε, φέριστε.
Gracious counselor, heart’s foundation, remembering what thou sent, bring what stands.
NOTES
Nomos (Νόμος) is the immortal God of law and established custom, the father of Dike (Δίκη), Goddess of justice.
Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
Pontos is the immortal God of the sea.
Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics/nature.
Ogygios is called the first king of Attica (Thebes) whose people came from the earth itself, that is, did not move from elsewhere. Reference to Ogygios (“of the Earth/Ge”) implies primordial, primal, from earliest times.
Nonnos, Dionysiaca 3 (trans. Rouse) describes how Ogygos pierced through the surface of the first of three floods, even describing the ark he was in with his wife:
“[205] Ogygos made proof of the first roaring deluge, as he cut the air through the highclimbing waters, when all the earth was hidden under the flood, when the tops of the Thessalian rocks were covered, when the summit of the Pythian rock near the clouds on high was bathed in the snow-cooled flood. There was a second deluge, when tempestuous waters covered the circuit of the round earth in a furious flood, when all mortal men [sic] perished, and Deucalion alone with his mate Pyrrha in a hollow ark cutting the swirling flood of infinite deluge went on his eddying voyage through the air turned water.
“[215] When the third time rain from Zeus flooded the solid earth and covered the hills, and even the unwetted slopes of Sithonia with Mount Athos itself, then Dardanos, cutting through the stream of the uplifted flood, landed on the ancient mountain of Ida his neighbour.”[1]
[1] http://www.theoi.com/Text/NonnusDionysiaca3.html
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