To Themis, Goddess of Divine Law
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
Οὐρανόπαιδ’ ἁγνὴν καλέω Θέμιν εὐπατέρειαν,
Ouranos’[1] pure child I call, Themis[2], well-sired,
Γαίης τὸ βλάστημα, νέην καλυκώπιδα κούρην,
Gaia’s[3] tender offspring, blossoming daughter
ἣ πρώτη κατέδειξε βροτοῖς μαντήιον ἁγνὸν
First to make known to mortals pure divine messages
Δελφικῶι ἐν κευθμῶνι θεμιστεύουσα θεοῖσι
Concealed within Delphi[4], declaring divine law and right
Πυθίωι ἐν δαπέδωι, ὅθι Πύθων ἐμβασίλευεν·
From the depth of the earth where Python[5] is enthroned
ἣ καὶ Φοῖβον ἄνακτα θεμιστοσύνας ἐδίδαξε·
And Phoibe[6], in turn, great Themis instructed
πάντιμ’, ἀγλαόμορφε, σεβάσμιε, νυκτιπόλευτε·
Honored by all, gloriously formed, majestic, presiding in the night.
πρώτη γὰρ τελετὰς ἁγίας θνητοῖς ἀνέφηνας,
First to give holy rites to mortals for all to see
βακχιακὰς ἀνὰ νύκτας ἐπευάζουσα ἄνακτα·
In Bacchic[7] arising night-time inquiries of life, O Queen,
ἐκ σέο γὰρ τιμαὶ μακάρων μυστήριά θ’ ἁγνά.
From thou come forth honored blessed divine mysteries pure.
ἀλλά, μάκαιρ’, ἔλθοις κεχαρημένη εὔφρονι βουλῆι
So then, happily, come, rejoice in wise Councils
εὐιέρους ἐπὶ μυστιπόλους τελετὰς σέο, κούρη.
Most holy, upon solemn mystic initiations, thou, Daughter.
[1] Ouranos is the immortal God of the sky.
[2] Themis is the immortal Goddess of divine law who inspires divine revelation.
[3] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of earth.
[4] Delphi is the location of one of the most famous locations of proclamations made by priestesses of divine revelation.
[5] Python is the legendary serpent of “earth’s navel” believed to be located at Delphi.
[6] Phoibe is the third Goddess to channel divine revelations at Delphi. The Priestess of Pythian Apollo: “First, in this prayer of mine, I give the place of highest honor among the [Goddesses and G]ods to the first prophet, Earth [Gaia]; and after her to Themis, for she was the second to take this oracular seat of her mother, as legend tells. And in the third allotment, with Themis' consent and not by force, another Titan, child of Earth, Phoebe, took her seat here. She gave it as a birthday gift to Phoebus [Apollo], who has his name from Phoebe.” Aeschylus, Eumenides 1 ff (trans. Weir Smyth)(C 450 BCE) http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0006
[7] Bacchos is the immortal God of the inspiration of wine.