Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 31, 2016
22. Θαλάσσης, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Thalassa, Goddess of the Sea
Divine medium: libano, manna (frankincense and manna)
Ὠκεανοῦ καλέω νύμφην, γλαυκώπιδα Τηθύν,
I call Ocean’s grey-eyed Nymph, Tethys,
κυανόπεπλον ἄνασσαν, εὔτροχα κυμαίνουσαν,
Cyan-robed Queen, whirling, undulating,
αὔραις ἡδυπνόοισι πατασσομένην περὶ γαῖαν,
Exhaling sweet breaths, striking powerfully all ‘round Gaia
θραύουσ' αἰγιαλοῖσι πέτρηισί τε κύματα μακρά,
Fracturing the rocky shoreline with mighty waves;
εὐδίνοις ἁπαλοῖσι γαληνιόωσα δρόμοισι,
In calm weather, a gentle, serene course
ναυσὶν ἀγαλλομένη, θηροτρόφε, ὑγροκέλευθε,
For glorious, mighty ships, nurturing marine life’s watery journey,
μήτηρ μὲν Κύπριδος, μήτηρ νεφέων ἐρεβεννῶν
Mother of the Kyprian, Mother of woolly clouds,
καὶ πάσης πηγῆς νυμφῶν νασμοῖσι βρυούσης·
And of all Nymphs of fresh water’s flowing abundance.
κλῦθί μου, ὦ πολύσεμνε, καὶ εὐμενέουσ' ἐπαρήγοις,
I call O greatly revered and kindly benefactor,
εὐθυδρόμοις οὖρον ναυσὶν πέμπουσα, μάκαιρα.
A straight course and fair wind for seafarers, send forth with blessings.
NOTES
Thalassa (Θάλασσα) is the immortal Goddess of the sea; literally “divine (Θ) + sea (αλς).” Tethys (Τηθύς) is equated with Thalassa.
Okeanos (Ὠκεανός) is the immortal God of the ocean, husband of Tethys.
A Nymph is a young, beautiful Goddess who prevails over a particular location in nature.
Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
The Kyprian is another name for Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of sexual desire, so-called because of her famous temple on Kypros and the legnd of her birth from the sea near the island of Kypros.
Translated by Catherine Proppe, October 31, 2016
22. Θαλάσσης, θυμίαμα λιβανομάνναν.
To Thalassa, Goddess of the Sea
Divine medium: libano, manna (frankincense and manna)
Ὠκεανοῦ καλέω νύμφην, γλαυκώπιδα Τηθύν,
I call Ocean’s grey-eyed Nymph, Tethys,
κυανόπεπλον ἄνασσαν, εὔτροχα κυμαίνουσαν,
Cyan-robed Queen, whirling, undulating,
αὔραις ἡδυπνόοισι πατασσομένην περὶ γαῖαν,
Exhaling sweet breaths, striking powerfully all ‘round Gaia
θραύουσ' αἰγιαλοῖσι πέτρηισί τε κύματα μακρά,
Fracturing the rocky shoreline with mighty waves;
εὐδίνοις ἁπαλοῖσι γαληνιόωσα δρόμοισι,
In calm weather, a gentle, serene course
ναυσὶν ἀγαλλομένη, θηροτρόφε, ὑγροκέλευθε,
For glorious, mighty ships, nurturing marine life’s watery journey,
μήτηρ μὲν Κύπριδος, μήτηρ νεφέων ἐρεβεννῶν
Mother of the Kyprian, Mother of woolly clouds,
καὶ πάσης πηγῆς νυμφῶν νασμοῖσι βρυούσης·
And of all Nymphs of fresh water’s flowing abundance.
κλῦθί μου, ὦ πολύσεμνε, καὶ εὐμενέουσ' ἐπαρήγοις,
I call O greatly revered and kindly benefactor,
εὐθυδρόμοις οὖρον ναυσὶν πέμπουσα, μάκαιρα.
A straight course and fair wind for seafarers, send forth with blessings.
NOTES
Thalassa (Θάλασσα) is the immortal Goddess of the sea; literally “divine (Θ) + sea (αλς).” Tethys (Τηθύς) is equated with Thalassa.
Okeanos (Ὠκεανός) is the immortal God of the ocean, husband of Tethys.
A Nymph is a young, beautiful Goddess who prevails over a particular location in nature.
Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
The Kyprian is another name for Aphrodite, the immortal Goddess of sexual desire, so-called because of her famous temple on Kypros and the legnd of her birth from the sea near the island of Kypros.
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