43. Ὡρῶν, θυμίαμα ἀρώματα.
To the Horai, Goddesses of the Time for Things to Occur
Divine medium: aromatics
Ὧραι θυγατέρες Θέμιδος καὶ Ζηνὸς ἄνακτος,
Horai[1], daughters of ruling Themis[2] and Zenos[3],
Εὐνομίη τε Δίκη τε καὶ Εἰρήνη πολύολβε,
Eunomia[4] and Dike[5] and Eirene[6], and the wealth of
εἰαριναί, λειμωνιάδες, πολυάνθεμοι, ἁγναί,
Springtime meadow flowers many pure blossoms
παντόχροοι, πολύοδμοι ἐν ἀνθεμοειδέσι πνοιαῖς,
In every color with plentiful scents in each blossoms’ exhalation,
Ὧραι ἀειθαλέες, περικυκλάδες, ἡδυπρόσωποι,
Horai, eternally blooming, all-encircling sweet countenance,
πέπλους ἑννύμεναι δροσεροὺς ἀνθῶν πολυθρέπτων,
Clothed in peplos[7] of dewy blossoms richly nurtured,
ἁγνῆς Περσεφόνης συμπαίκτορες, ἡνίκα Μοῖραι
Pure Persephone’s[8] playmates when the Morai[9]
καὶ Χάριτες κυκλίοισι χοροῖς πρὸς φῶς ἀνάγωσι
And Charites[10] circling dance bring forth arising light,
Ζηνὶ χαριζόμεναι καὶ μητέρι καρποδοτείρηι·
With Zenos’ grace of life, and Mother’s[11] gifts of fruit,
ἔλθετ' ἐπ' εὐφήμους τελετὰς ὁσίας νεομύστοις
Come, upon these fair words, grant completion to hallowed new initiates,
εὐκάρπους καιρῶν γενέσεις ἐπάγουσαι ἀμεμφῶς.
A fruitful, timely genesis bring forth, above reproach.
[1] The Horai are the Goddesses of the proper time for things to occur, including natural seasonal events such as the budding of blossoms and birth of living things and their decline, the changing seasons and weather, as well as the timing of law, justice, and peace; literally “bring-forth (Ὧ) + flow (ρ) + αι.”
Hora (ὥρα) means hour: any period, fixed by natural laws and revolutions, whether of the year, month, or day.
[2] Themis is the immortal Goddess of divine law.
[3] Zenos is another name for Zeus, the immortal God of lightning storms and the spark of fire/spark of life.
[4] Eunomia is the immortal Goddess of good order and lawful conduct.
[5] Dike is the immortal Goddess of justice.
[6] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.
[7] A peplos is a Greek robe.
[8] Persephone is the immortal Goddess of the afterlife and new life in Spring.
[9] The Morai are the immoral Goddesses of fate who determine a person’s “portion” of life.
[10] The Charites are beautiful Goddesses of glory, abundance, and goodwill. Charites (Χάριτες) is usually translated as “Graces,” meaning something wonderful bestowed that one did nothing to earn, literally “foundation (Χ) + arising (ά) + flow (ρ) + of divine power (ι) + extended (τ) + essence (ες).”
[11] Mother is the immortal Goddess Demeter, the directing mother of life.