60. Χαρίτων, θυμίαμα στύρακα.
To the Charites, Goddesses of Grace
Divine medium: storax, styrax
Κλῦτέ μοι, ὦ Χάριτες μεγαλώνυμοι, ἀγλαότιμοι,
Come, Charites[1], of majestic name, gloriously honored,
θυγατέρες Ζηνός τε καὶ Εὐνομίης βαθυκόλπου,
Daughters of Zenos[2] and deep-bosomed Eunomia[3],
Ἀγλαΐη Θαλίη τε καὶ Εὐφροσύνη πολύολβε,
The many blessings of Aglaia[4], Thalia,[5] and Euphrosyne[6],
χαρμοσύνης γενέτειραι, ἐράσμιαι, εὔφρονες, ἁγναί,
Delighting in giving birth to loveliness, goodwill, and purity,
αἰολόμορφοι, ἀειθαλέες, θνητοῖσι ποθειναί·
Variously formed, eternally abundant, longed for by mortals,
εὐκταῖαι, κυκλάδες, καλυκώπιδες, ἱμερόεσσαι·
Holding fast the cycles of the veiled handles of desire
ἔλθοιτ' ὀλβοδότειραι, ἀεὶ μύσταισι προσηνεῖς.
Come, whole life givers, let your eternal mysteries lead to the signs.
[1] The Charites are beautiful Goddesses of the the freely bestowed joys of life, the divine gifts of glory (Ἀγλαΐη), abundance/beauty (Θαλίη), and goodwill/merriment (Εὐφροσύνη).
Charites (Χάριτες), usually translated as “Graces,” are the Goddesses of divine gifts that one did nothing to earn. The Charites are the Goddesses of divine blessings (ι) that flow (ρ) and extend (τ) directly from the foundation (Χ).
The realm of the Charites includes natural beauty, splendor, plenty, abundance, beautiful blossoms, mirth, merriment, song, dance, laughter, gaiety, joy, kindness, gratitude, favor: the good things in life.
The similar word charma (χάρμα) means a source of joy or delight, the basis for the word “charming.”
Pindar, in his Olympian Ode 14. 1 ff (trans. Conway), writes of the Charites:
"… Hear now my prayer, you Graces (Χάριτες) three.
For in your gift are all our mortal joys,
And every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty
Or glory, that makes rich the soul…”
Translations of verses by Anacreon convey the spirit of the Charites (Graces):
ODE XXXVII
On Spring
Behold, the rose-cheeked gracile spring
Brings in again her laughing hours
And shakes delight from either wing.
The Graces dancing in a ring
In naked beauty scatter flowers,
The calm blue waves are slumbering.
Behold, the duck in waters clear
Dives airily: the wandering crane
Flaps white wings by the grass-fringed mere.
Ploughed field, bare fallow, flowering lea,
Fell, mountain, plain and wold and dell
Are clad in joyous greenery.
The tender olive, too, we see
Shoot forth: the vines full laden swell,
Foreshadowing fair fruits to be.
(THE ANACREONTEA: PRINCIPAL REMAINS OF ANACREON OF TEOS, IN ENGLISH VERSE, BY JUDSON FRANCE DAVIDSON, LONDON AND TORONTO, J. M. DENT & SONS LTD., NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON y CO., 1915
https://archive.org/stream/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft_djvu.txt )
ODE LIII
The Rose
Brow-bound with garlands of the gracious
spring
The splendours of the royal rose I sing:
The joy of mortals and the [Goddesses and G]ods' delight,
Emblem of tender love and beauty bright!
The flower-fair Graces in their flowing hair
Thee in the Loves' all-flowery season wear.
(THE ANACREONTEA: PRINCIPAL REMAINS OF ANACREON OF TEOS, IN ENGLISH VERSE, BY JUDSON FRANCE DAVIDSON, LONDON AND TORONTO, J. M. DENT & SONS LTD., NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON y CO., 1915
https://archive.org/stream/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft_djvu.txt )
The word for papyrus/paper/document is charteeria (χαρτηρία), the basis for the word “chart.” The word teerio (τηρέω) means protect, guard, take care of, suggesting that the word for papyrus/paper means grace (χαρ) + preserving (τηρία).
Characteer (χᾰρακτήρ) means an engraving or impression or the nature of a person or thing, the basis for the word “character,” both meaning a mark or letter and meaning a basic feature of something, as in “characteristic.” The word ἀκτήρ means something that binds.
Other words that begin with the letter “X” pertain to the foundation of the earth.
Charon (χάρων) is the ferryman of the Styx, the underworld boundary river between life and the afterlife.
Chasis (χάσις) means chasm, an extremely deep crevice, but also the basis for the word “chasis,” the foundation of a vehicle. A charadra (χᾰράδρα) is a deep gully or ravine.
On architectural renderings, the foundation is designated with an “X.”
Chaos (Χάος) is named by Hesiod and others as the originating state of the universe; the Pythagorean name for one. (Note that Proclus says that Chronos (Χρόνος), the immortal God of time, pre-existed Chaos. Both terms begin with the letter “X.”) Chaos (χᾱός) is defined by the Lexicon as meaning genuine, true, good. This suggests that the Charites are the Goddesses presiding over the natural outflow of foundational, genuine, true goodness.
Hesiod’s Theogony (ll. 116-117) describes Chaos (Χάος) as existing prior to everything else:
“Verily at the first Chaos came to be,
but next wide-bosomed Earth, the ever-sure foundations of
all . . .”133
Earth is the ever-sure foundation. Choo- (χοο-) is a prefix meaning earth, literally “foundation entity.”
Chthon (χθών) means earth, “foundation divine.”
[2] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life. Zenion (Ζήνιον) means rain-water. Zesis (ζῆσις) means vitalization.
[3] Eunomia is the immortal Goddess of good laws. The Charites are the daughters of the spark of life and divine law.
[4] Aglaia is the immortal Goddess of glory, splendor, magnificence.
[5] Thalia is the immortal Goddess of abundance, plenty, flourishing, thriving.
[6] Euphrosyne is the immortal Goddess of good thoughts, goodwill, good cheer.
To the Charites, Goddesses of Grace
Divine medium: storax, styrax
Κλῦτέ μοι, ὦ Χάριτες μεγαλώνυμοι, ἀγλαότιμοι,
Come, Charites[1], of majestic name, gloriously honored,
θυγατέρες Ζηνός τε καὶ Εὐνομίης βαθυκόλπου,
Daughters of Zenos[2] and deep-bosomed Eunomia[3],
Ἀγλαΐη Θαλίη τε καὶ Εὐφροσύνη πολύολβε,
The many blessings of Aglaia[4], Thalia,[5] and Euphrosyne[6],
χαρμοσύνης γενέτειραι, ἐράσμιαι, εὔφρονες, ἁγναί,
Delighting in giving birth to loveliness, goodwill, and purity,
αἰολόμορφοι, ἀειθαλέες, θνητοῖσι ποθειναί·
Variously formed, eternally abundant, longed for by mortals,
εὐκταῖαι, κυκλάδες, καλυκώπιδες, ἱμερόεσσαι·
Holding fast the cycles of the veiled handles of desire
ἔλθοιτ' ὀλβοδότειραι, ἀεὶ μύσταισι προσηνεῖς.
Come, whole life givers, let your eternal mysteries lead to the signs.
[1] The Charites are beautiful Goddesses of the the freely bestowed joys of life, the divine gifts of glory (Ἀγλαΐη), abundance/beauty (Θαλίη), and goodwill/merriment (Εὐφροσύνη).
Charites (Χάριτες), usually translated as “Graces,” are the Goddesses of divine gifts that one did nothing to earn. The Charites are the Goddesses of divine blessings (ι) that flow (ρ) and extend (τ) directly from the foundation (Χ).
The realm of the Charites includes natural beauty, splendor, plenty, abundance, beautiful blossoms, mirth, merriment, song, dance, laughter, gaiety, joy, kindness, gratitude, favor: the good things in life.
The similar word charma (χάρμα) means a source of joy or delight, the basis for the word “charming.”
Pindar, in his Olympian Ode 14. 1 ff (trans. Conway), writes of the Charites:
"… Hear now my prayer, you Graces (Χάριτες) three.
For in your gift are all our mortal joys,
And every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty
Or glory, that makes rich the soul…”
Translations of verses by Anacreon convey the spirit of the Charites (Graces):
ODE XXXVII
On Spring
Behold, the rose-cheeked gracile spring
Brings in again her laughing hours
And shakes delight from either wing.
The Graces dancing in a ring
In naked beauty scatter flowers,
The calm blue waves are slumbering.
Behold, the duck in waters clear
Dives airily: the wandering crane
Flaps white wings by the grass-fringed mere.
Ploughed field, bare fallow, flowering lea,
Fell, mountain, plain and wold and dell
Are clad in joyous greenery.
The tender olive, too, we see
Shoot forth: the vines full laden swell,
Foreshadowing fair fruits to be.
(THE ANACREONTEA: PRINCIPAL REMAINS OF ANACREON OF TEOS, IN ENGLISH VERSE, BY JUDSON FRANCE DAVIDSON, LONDON AND TORONTO, J. M. DENT & SONS LTD., NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON y CO., 1915
https://archive.org/stream/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft_djvu.txt )
ODE LIII
The Rose
Brow-bound with garlands of the gracious
spring
The splendours of the royal rose I sing:
The joy of mortals and the [Goddesses and G]ods' delight,
Emblem of tender love and beauty bright!
The flower-fair Graces in their flowing hair
Thee in the Loves' all-flowery season wear.
(THE ANACREONTEA: PRINCIPAL REMAINS OF ANACREON OF TEOS, IN ENGLISH VERSE, BY JUDSON FRANCE DAVIDSON, LONDON AND TORONTO, J. M. DENT & SONS LTD., NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON y CO., 1915
https://archive.org/stream/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft/anacreonteaprinc00anacuoft_djvu.txt )
The word for papyrus/paper/document is charteeria (χαρτηρία), the basis for the word “chart.” The word teerio (τηρέω) means protect, guard, take care of, suggesting that the word for papyrus/paper means grace (χαρ) + preserving (τηρία).
Characteer (χᾰρακτήρ) means an engraving or impression or the nature of a person or thing, the basis for the word “character,” both meaning a mark or letter and meaning a basic feature of something, as in “characteristic.” The word ἀκτήρ means something that binds.
Other words that begin with the letter “X” pertain to the foundation of the earth.
Charon (χάρων) is the ferryman of the Styx, the underworld boundary river between life and the afterlife.
Chasis (χάσις) means chasm, an extremely deep crevice, but also the basis for the word “chasis,” the foundation of a vehicle. A charadra (χᾰράδρα) is a deep gully or ravine.
On architectural renderings, the foundation is designated with an “X.”
Chaos (Χάος) is named by Hesiod and others as the originating state of the universe; the Pythagorean name for one. (Note that Proclus says that Chronos (Χρόνος), the immortal God of time, pre-existed Chaos. Both terms begin with the letter “X.”) Chaos (χᾱός) is defined by the Lexicon as meaning genuine, true, good. This suggests that the Charites are the Goddesses presiding over the natural outflow of foundational, genuine, true goodness.
Hesiod’s Theogony (ll. 116-117) describes Chaos (Χάος) as existing prior to everything else:
“Verily at the first Chaos came to be,
but next wide-bosomed Earth, the ever-sure foundations of
all . . .”133
Earth is the ever-sure foundation. Choo- (χοο-) is a prefix meaning earth, literally “foundation entity.”
Chthon (χθών) means earth, “foundation divine.”
[2] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life. Zenion (Ζήνιον) means rain-water. Zesis (ζῆσις) means vitalization.
[3] Eunomia is the immortal Goddess of good laws. The Charites are the daughters of the spark of life and divine law.
[4] Aglaia is the immortal Goddess of glory, splendor, magnificence.
[5] Thalia is the immortal Goddess of abundance, plenty, flourishing, thriving.
[6] Euphrosyne is the immortal Goddess of good thoughts, goodwill, good cheer.
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