27. Μητρὸς θεῶν, θυμίαμα ποικίλα.
To the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods
Divine media: manifold
Ἀθανάτων θεότιμε θεῶν μῆτερ, τροφὲ πάντων,
Immortal, divinely-honored Mother of the Goddesses and Gods, nurturer of all.
τῇιδε μόλοις, κράντειρα θεά, σέο, πότνι’, ἐπ' εὐχαῖς,
From Ida[1], come, Ruler, Goddess, Potnia[2], upon these prayers,
ταυροφόνων ζεύξασα ταχύδρομον ἅρμα λεόντων,
Yoked to a bullslaying[3], whirling, speedily-coursing carriage pulled by lions[4].
σκηπτοῦχε κλεινοῖο πόλου, πολυώνυμε, σεμνή,
Scepter-bearer, renowned to all by many honored names,
ἣ κατέχεις κόσμοιο μέσον θρόνον, οὕνεκεν αὐτὴ
Holding the center of the cosmos, the middle throne, alone.
γαῖαν ἔχεις θνητοῖσι τροφὰς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς.
Earth’s foundation, mortal nurterer, bountiful provider,
ἐκ σέο δ' ἀθανάτων τε γένος θνητῶν τ' ἐλοχεύθη,
Of thou immortals are born, mortals, too, brought to birth.
σοὶ ποταμοὶ κρατέονται ἀεὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα,
Thou rules the rivers eternally and all seas[5].
Ἑστία αὐδαχθεῖσα· σὲ δ' ὀλβοδότιν καλέουσι,
Hestia’s[6] audible divine foundation of whole-life gifts I call
παντοίων ἀγαθῶν θνητοῖς ὅτι δῶρα χαρίζῃ,
To all purified mortals give grace,
ἔρχεο πρὸς τελετήν, ὦ πότνια, τυμπανοτερπής,
Set forth, lead the completion rites, Potnia[7] who delights in the tympanum[8],
πανδαμάτωρ, Φρυγίης, σώτειρα, Κρόνου συνόμευνε,
All-directing Mother, Phrygian savior, Kronos’[9] partner,
Οὐρανόπαι, πρέσβειρα, βιοθρέπτειρα, φίλοιστρε·
Ouranos’[10] child, honored elder, life-nourisher, lover of history.
ἔρχεο γηθόσυνος[11], κεχαρημένη εὐσεβίηισιν.
Come, joyful, charming power, well-revered.
[1] Mount Ida (modern day Turkey) is considered to be the home of the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[2] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses, i.e. Queen, revered.
[3] Lions are often referred to as “bull-slaying.” Since the bull is associated with male deities and the lion with the Great Mother of the Goddesses and Gods, “bull-slayng lion” may be a metaphor for the Great Mother’s ultimate power over all.
[4] The constellation Virgo (August-September), the Virgin--meaning independent female, appears to be “pulled” through the zodiac by the side-by-side constellations Leo (the lion) and Leo Minor (the little lion) (July-August). “In a chariot pulled by lions” is a common epithet of the Great Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[5] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the seas.
[6] (H)estia (Ἑστία) is the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire. Since the foundation of fire is typically wood that crackles when burned, the Goddess who provides the wood (Demeter) is the “audible foundation.”
[7] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses.
[8] The tympanum is a hand drum, a tambourine.
[9] Kronos is the immortal God of Time.
[10] Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
[11] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
To the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods
Divine media: manifold
Ἀθανάτων θεότιμε θεῶν μῆτερ, τροφὲ πάντων,
Immortal, divinely-honored Mother of the Goddesses and Gods, nurturer of all.
τῇιδε μόλοις, κράντειρα θεά, σέο, πότνι’, ἐπ' εὐχαῖς,
From Ida[1], come, Ruler, Goddess, Potnia[2], upon these prayers,
ταυροφόνων ζεύξασα ταχύδρομον ἅρμα λεόντων,
Yoked to a bullslaying[3], whirling, speedily-coursing carriage pulled by lions[4].
σκηπτοῦχε κλεινοῖο πόλου, πολυώνυμε, σεμνή,
Scepter-bearer, renowned to all by many honored names,
ἣ κατέχεις κόσμοιο μέσον θρόνον, οὕνεκεν αὐτὴ
Holding the center of the cosmos, the middle throne, alone.
γαῖαν ἔχεις θνητοῖσι τροφὰς παρέχουσα προσηνεῖς.
Earth’s foundation, mortal nurterer, bountiful provider,
ἐκ σέο δ' ἀθανάτων τε γένος θνητῶν τ' ἐλοχεύθη,
Of thou immortals are born, mortals, too, brought to birth.
σοὶ ποταμοὶ κρατέονται ἀεὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα,
Thou rules the rivers eternally and all seas[5].
Ἑστία αὐδαχθεῖσα· σὲ δ' ὀλβοδότιν καλέουσι,
Hestia’s[6] audible divine foundation of whole-life gifts I call
παντοίων ἀγαθῶν θνητοῖς ὅτι δῶρα χαρίζῃ,
To all purified mortals give grace,
ἔρχεο πρὸς τελετήν, ὦ πότνια, τυμπανοτερπής,
Set forth, lead the completion rites, Potnia[7] who delights in the tympanum[8],
πανδαμάτωρ, Φρυγίης, σώτειρα, Κρόνου συνόμευνε,
All-directing Mother, Phrygian savior, Kronos’[9] partner,
Οὐρανόπαι, πρέσβειρα, βιοθρέπτειρα, φίλοιστρε·
Ouranos’[10] child, honored elder, life-nourisher, lover of history.
ἔρχεο γηθόσυνος[11], κεχαρημένη εὐσεβίηισιν.
Come, joyful, charming power, well-revered.
[1] Mount Ida (modern day Turkey) is considered to be the home of the Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[2] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses, i.e. Queen, revered.
[3] Lions are often referred to as “bull-slaying.” Since the bull is associated with male deities and the lion with the Great Mother of the Goddesses and Gods, “bull-slayng lion” may be a metaphor for the Great Mother’s ultimate power over all.
[4] The constellation Virgo (August-September), the Virgin--meaning independent female, appears to be “pulled” through the zodiac by the side-by-side constellations Leo (the lion) and Leo Minor (the little lion) (July-August). “In a chariot pulled by lions” is a common epithet of the Great Mother of the Goddesses and Gods.
[5] Thalassa is the immortal Goddess of the seas.
[6] (H)estia (Ἑστία) is the immortal Goddess of the hearth and altar fire. Since the foundation of fire is typically wood that crackles when burned, the Goddess who provides the wood (Demeter) is the “audible foundation.”
[7] Potnia is a title of honor addressed to women and Goddesses.
[8] The tympanum is a hand drum, a tambourine.
[9] Kronos is the immortal God of Time.
[10] Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
[11] Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.
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