Translated by Catherine Proppe May 24, 2016
72. Τύχης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Tyche, Goddess of Fortune
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
Δεῦρο, Τύχη· καλέω σ’, ἀγαθὴν κράντειραν, ἐπ’ εὐχαῖς,
Come, Tyche[1], I call thou, good foundational ruler,
μειλιχίαν, ἐνοδῖτιν, ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν,
Sweetly convey upon us pure whole life prosperity,
Ἄρτεμιν ἡγεμόνην, μεγαλώνυμον, Εὐβουλῆος
Artemisian’[2] leader, majestically-named Good Counselor,
αἵματος ἐκγεγαῶσαν, ἀπρόσμαχον εὖχος ἔχουσαν,
Let this blood offering bring forth without resistance prayers that take hold.
τυμβιδίαν, πολύπλαγκτον, ἀοίδιμον ἀνθρώποισιν.
Entomb the many wandering songs of humanity,
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ βίοτος θνητῶν παμποίκιλός ἐστιν·
In thou bring forth life, mortality’s all-variable essence.
οἷς μὲν γὰρ τεύχεις κτεάνων πλῆθος πολύολβον,
Indeed, build wealth in abundance, plentiful whole life blessings,
οἷς δὲ κακὴν πενίην θυμῶι χόλον ὁρμαίνουσα.
And not evil poverty, passion’s wrath, or anxiety.
ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε μολεῖν βίωι εὐμενέουσαν,
But, Goddess, I pray your arrival in life brings steadfast
ὄλβοισι πλήθουσαν ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν.
Whole life, plentiful wellness, and bestow a good whole life’s prosperity.
[1] Tyche is the Goddess of fortune, good or bad, literally “stretch/extend (Τ) + pure (ύ) + foundation (χ) + ης.”
Pindar in Olympian Ode 12. 1 ff (trans. Conway) appeals to:
“Fortune [Tyche] our saviour [G]oddess,
I pray your guardian care for Himera,
And prosper her city's strength. For your hand steers
The ships of ocean on their flying course,
And rules on land the march of savage wars,
And the assemblies of wise counsellors."
It is of interest to note that ephesia grammata were discovered at Himera (Sicily) and that lead tablets containing the ephesia grammata were discovered at Selinous (Sicily) prominently featuring the name Τύχα/Tyche:
“In tablet N the noun Τύχα appears indented from the left margin of the tablet and it has been engraved in bigger characters, as if it were a kind of title or heading. The edition of tablet A asserts that the noun Τύχα is also emphasized by the size of the letters…” (Tracing Orpheus, “Τύχα in Two Lead Tablets from Selinous (OF 830),” by Raquel Martin Hernandez, Universidad Computense de Madrid, p. 311-312)
The ephesia grammata are:
ΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΚΑΤΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΛΙΞ ΤΕΤΡΑΞ ΔΑΜΝΑΜΕΝΕΥΣ ΑΙΣΙΟΝ (or ΑΙΣΙΑ
Unshaded shaded lungs/breath fourfold forced/subdued/tamed auspicious/opportune/fitting)
Tablets N and A in Hernandez’ article read as follows (my translation in parens):
Tablet N recto:
1. τύχα (Tyche/Fortune)
2. ]υσσκι κατά σκιερον έν δ' άμ[ο]λγο[ι (vagina/vulva, or, shaded pig + over + shade + deepest)
3. αἶγ]α βίαι έ(κ) κάπου έλαύνει ταιδ'
ὄνομα τετ[ραγος (goat/Aegean/sacred/holy + force + out of + breath + expel/drive out + here + in the name of + four times)
-------------
--------------
4. ]δαμνυμενα δάμασον δὲ κακος ἀ(έ)κοντας[ (taming/subduing power + tame + evil + involuntarily/unwillingly)
5. ὄ]ι κε τοδε σκεδαθει κατασικονιαος και
φρασ[ἰν (inhabit/home to + scatter/disperse + plaster/stucco/lime/titans + and + speech/phrase)
6. ἔ]χει μακάρον άποκεδεαειδος (hold/keep + blessings + preserve/eternal)
Tablet N verso
1. σ]κιρον ἐν δ' άμο[λγ]ο[ι (shade + in + deep)
2. ὲ]λαὐνει τ[α?]ιδ' ὄνομα τετρ[αγος (expel/drive out + here + in the name of + four times)
3. δἀμ]ασον [δ]ἑ κακος ά(έ)κοντα[ς (tame/subdue + evil + involuntarily/unwillingly)
4. σκεδαθε]ι κατα[σι]κονιαος και
φρασ[ἰν (scatter/disperse + plaster/stucco/lime/titans + and + speech/phrase)
5. ά]ποκεδε[αε]ιδος (scatter/disperse + forever)
Tablet A recto:
1. τὐχα (Tyche/Fortune)
2. ]υσσκι κατ[ὰ σκιρον (vagina/vulva, or, shaded pig + over + shade)
3. ]βἰαι ἐ(κ) κἀπου (force + out of + breath)
4. δ]αμνυμενα[ (taming/subduing power)
5. ]τοδε σκεδα[θει] (this + disperse)
6. ἔχε]ι μακἀρον[ (hold/keep + blessings)
Tablet A verso:
1. ]σεφ[ (revere)
2. ασσκι[ (unshaded)
3. αἵξ αἵγ[α (detach/ goat) (Note: ἅγιος means sacred, holy and is a title of Artemis of Ephesus)
4. τετρα[γος (four times)
5. ὅλβιος ὅ[ι (whole life)
6. αὐτὀς ε[ (alone)
Pausanias (9.39.5-13, trans. Jones) describes the procedure to inquire of the “oracle” of Trophonios, who was nurtured by Demeter. (The name Trophonios means feed, rear, nurture. He is the legendary builder of the first temple of Apollo at Delphi.) The inquirer “first lodges in a certain building for an appointed number of days, this being sacred to the good Spirit and to good Fortune [Tyche Τύχη].” After the inquirer’s descent to the “oracle,” which Pausanias describes in detail, the inquirer is carried back to the building of Good Fortune [Tyche] and Good Spirit. http://www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias9B.html
William Smith in his Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) gives a detailed description of the "oracle" of Trophonios in Boeotia and says, “Pausanias says that the Hercyna rose in a cavern, from two fountains, close to one another, one called the fountain of Oblivion and the other the fountain of Memory, of which the persons who were going to consult the oracle were obliged to drink.” http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=lebadeia-geo
Pausanias [2.2.8] names a temple of Fortune/Tyche in Thessaly (aka Αἰολία) in central Greece.
[2] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence. (Her hunting skills, virginity, and role in childbirth are emblematic). Artemis of Ephesus is associated with the Great Mother who first tamed/castrated bulls for agricultural purposes. It should be noted that the ephesia grammata are named for Ephesus, where the great temple to Artemis was located and where the Ephesia festival was held in her honor.
72. Τύχης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Tyche, Goddess of Fortune
Divine connection: libanon (frankincense)
Δεῦρο, Τύχη· καλέω σ’, ἀγαθὴν κράντειραν, ἐπ’ εὐχαῖς,
Come, Tyche[1], I call thou, good foundational ruler,
μειλιχίαν, ἐνοδῖτιν, ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν,
Sweetly convey upon us pure whole life prosperity,
Ἄρτεμιν ἡγεμόνην, μεγαλώνυμον, Εὐβουλῆος
Artemisian’[2] leader, majestically-named Good Counselor,
αἵματος ἐκγεγαῶσαν, ἀπρόσμαχον εὖχος ἔχουσαν,
Let this blood offering bring forth without resistance prayers that take hold.
τυμβιδίαν, πολύπλαγκτον, ἀοίδιμον ἀνθρώποισιν.
Entomb the many wandering songs of humanity,
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ βίοτος θνητῶν παμποίκιλός ἐστιν·
In thou bring forth life, mortality’s all-variable essence.
οἷς μὲν γὰρ τεύχεις κτεάνων πλῆθος πολύολβον,
Indeed, build wealth in abundance, plentiful whole life blessings,
οἷς δὲ κακὴν πενίην θυμῶι χόλον ὁρμαίνουσα.
And not evil poverty, passion’s wrath, or anxiety.
ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε μολεῖν βίωι εὐμενέουσαν,
But, Goddess, I pray your arrival in life brings steadfast
ὄλβοισι πλήθουσαν ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν.
Whole life, plentiful wellness, and bestow a good whole life’s prosperity.
[1] Tyche is the Goddess of fortune, good or bad, literally “stretch/extend (Τ) + pure (ύ) + foundation (χ) + ης.”
Pindar in Olympian Ode 12. 1 ff (trans. Conway) appeals to:
“Fortune [Tyche] our saviour [G]oddess,
I pray your guardian care for Himera,
And prosper her city's strength. For your hand steers
The ships of ocean on their flying course,
And rules on land the march of savage wars,
And the assemblies of wise counsellors."
It is of interest to note that ephesia grammata were discovered at Himera (Sicily) and that lead tablets containing the ephesia grammata were discovered at Selinous (Sicily) prominently featuring the name Τύχα/Tyche:
“In tablet N the noun Τύχα appears indented from the left margin of the tablet and it has been engraved in bigger characters, as if it were a kind of title or heading. The edition of tablet A asserts that the noun Τύχα is also emphasized by the size of the letters…” (Tracing Orpheus, “Τύχα in Two Lead Tablets from Selinous (OF 830),” by Raquel Martin Hernandez, Universidad Computense de Madrid, p. 311-312)
The ephesia grammata are:
ΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΚΑΤΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΛΙΞ ΤΕΤΡΑΞ ΔΑΜΝΑΜΕΝΕΥΣ ΑΙΣΙΟΝ (or ΑΙΣΙΑ
Unshaded shaded lungs/breath fourfold forced/subdued/tamed auspicious/opportune/fitting)
Tablets N and A in Hernandez’ article read as follows (my translation in parens):
Tablet N recto:
1. τύχα (Tyche/Fortune)
2. ]υσσκι κατά σκιερον έν δ' άμ[ο]λγο[ι (vagina/vulva, or, shaded pig + over + shade + deepest)
3. αἶγ]α βίαι έ(κ) κάπου έλαύνει ταιδ'
ὄνομα τετ[ραγος (goat/Aegean/sacred/holy + force + out of + breath + expel/drive out + here + in the name of + four times)
-------------
--------------
4. ]δαμνυμενα δάμασον δὲ κακος ἀ(έ)κοντας[ (taming/subduing power + tame + evil + involuntarily/unwillingly)
5. ὄ]ι κε τοδε σκεδαθει κατασικονιαος και
φρασ[ἰν (inhabit/home to + scatter/disperse + plaster/stucco/lime/titans + and + speech/phrase)
6. ἔ]χει μακάρον άποκεδεαειδος (hold/keep + blessings + preserve/eternal)
Tablet N verso
1. σ]κιρον ἐν δ' άμο[λγ]ο[ι (shade + in + deep)
2. ὲ]λαὐνει τ[α?]ιδ' ὄνομα τετρ[αγος (expel/drive out + here + in the name of + four times)
3. δἀμ]ασον [δ]ἑ κακος ά(έ)κοντα[ς (tame/subdue + evil + involuntarily/unwillingly)
4. σκεδαθε]ι κατα[σι]κονιαος και
φρασ[ἰν (scatter/disperse + plaster/stucco/lime/titans + and + speech/phrase)
5. ά]ποκεδε[αε]ιδος (scatter/disperse + forever)
Tablet A recto:
1. τὐχα (Tyche/Fortune)
2. ]υσσκι κατ[ὰ σκιρον (vagina/vulva, or, shaded pig + over + shade)
3. ]βἰαι ἐ(κ) κἀπου (force + out of + breath)
4. δ]αμνυμενα[ (taming/subduing power)
5. ]τοδε σκεδα[θει] (this + disperse)
6. ἔχε]ι μακἀρον[ (hold/keep + blessings)
Tablet A verso:
1. ]σεφ[ (revere)
2. ασσκι[ (unshaded)
3. αἵξ αἵγ[α (detach/ goat) (Note: ἅγιος means sacred, holy and is a title of Artemis of Ephesus)
4. τετρα[γος (four times)
5. ὅλβιος ὅ[ι (whole life)
6. αὐτὀς ε[ (alone)
Pausanias (9.39.5-13, trans. Jones) describes the procedure to inquire of the “oracle” of Trophonios, who was nurtured by Demeter. (The name Trophonios means feed, rear, nurture. He is the legendary builder of the first temple of Apollo at Delphi.) The inquirer “first lodges in a certain building for an appointed number of days, this being sacred to the good Spirit and to good Fortune [Tyche Τύχη].” After the inquirer’s descent to the “oracle,” which Pausanias describes in detail, the inquirer is carried back to the building of Good Fortune [Tyche] and Good Spirit. http://www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias9B.html
William Smith in his Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) gives a detailed description of the "oracle" of Trophonios in Boeotia and says, “Pausanias says that the Hercyna rose in a cavern, from two fountains, close to one another, one called the fountain of Oblivion and the other the fountain of Memory, of which the persons who were going to consult the oracle were obliged to drink.” http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=lebadeia-geo
Pausanias [2.2.8] names a temple of Fortune/Tyche in Thessaly (aka Αἰολία) in central Greece.
[2] Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence. (Her hunting skills, virginity, and role in childbirth are emblematic). Artemis of Ephesus is associated with the Great Mother who first tamed/castrated bulls for agricultural purposes. It should be noted that the ephesia grammata are named for Ephesus, where the great temple to Artemis was located and where the Ephesia festival was held in her honor.
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