To Proteos
Divine Connection: storax/styrax
Πρωτέα κικλήσκω, πόντου κληῖδας ἔχοντα,
Protea[1] I call, Ocean’s[2] key-holder,
πρωτογενῆ, πάσης φύσεως ἀρχὰς ὃς ἔφηνεν
First-creation of all Nature,[3] first to appear,
ὕλην ἀλλάσσων ἱερὴν ἰδέαις πολυμόρφοις,
Matter transforming, sacrificing form to numerous shapes,
πάντιμος, πολύβουλος, ἐπιστάμενος τά τ' ἐόντα
Honored by all, Counselor to many, from the framework to real actualization,
ὅσσα τε πρόσθεν ἔην ὅσα τ' ἔσσεται ὕστερον αὖτις·
Sole prophet of the future so far as essence extends to what comes next,
πάντα γὰρ αὐτὸς ἔχων μεταβάλλεται οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
In every way alone the foundation of change and not any of the other
ἀθανάτων, οἳ ἔχουσιν ἕδος νιφόεντος Ὀλύμπου
Immortals who hold the thrones of snowy Olympos[5].
καὶ πόντον καὶ γαῖαν ἐνηέριοί τε ποτῶνται·
Of Pontos’ and Gaia’s[6] and Hera’s[7] winged creatures
πάντα γὰρ Πρωτεῖ πρώτη φύσις ἐγκατέθηκε.
In every way the very first of the first within Phusis,
ἀλλά, πάτερ, μόλε μυστιπόλοις ὁσίαισι προνοίαις
Yet, Father, bring the mystic axis of hallowed foresight,
πέμπων εὐόλβου βιότου τέλος ἐσθλὸν ἐπ' ἔργοις.
Send whole life blessings and complete goodness upon these works.
[1] Protea means the very first; before (Πρω) + stretch/extension (τέα). Note the feminine ending – α.
Proteos is described as a sea-deity who can tell the future and the past and who can change shape into any animal, plant, or object.
[2] Pontos is the immortal God of the sea.
[3] Phusis is the immortal Goddess of physics/nature.
[4] “The container” is probably a reference to pregnancy and seeds and eggs.
[5] Olympos is a mountain in Greece believed to be the home of the Olympian deities.
[6] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
[7] Hera is the immortal Goddess of air.