Greek Poems to the Gods by Barry B. Powell

Author:Barry B. Powell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780520302877
Publisher: University of California Press

ORPHIC HYMN 36: TO ARTEMIS

Artemis is goddess of the forest and mountains, the great huntress, who also presides over childbirth and brings prosperity.

Hear me, O queen, daughter of Zeus, of many names,

of a Titan born,53 Bacchic,54 great of name, archer,

blessed, bringer of light, torch-bearer,55 divine Diktunna,56

helper at childbirth, helper of women in labor,

5 though you yourself have never experienced labor.

O freer of women from virginity,57 you love frenzy,

you are a huntress, you dispel care, you are a fine

runner, an archer, a lover of the chase. You roam

through the night, you bring fame, O gracious one,

10 you set us free, in masculine guise, Orthia.58

You are the goddess of quick childbirth, nurturer

of human young, lover of the chase, divine yet

of this earth, killer of wild beasts, blessed one.

You wander the forests and mountains, slayer of deer,

15 exalted, revered, queen of all, fair-blossomed, eternal.

You haunt the woods, driver of hounds, many-shaped

lady of KUDONIA!59

Come, dear goddess, savior

of all the initiates, accessible to all, bringing

lovely fruits from the earth and a beautiful

20 peace and fair-tressed health. May you drive

disease and pain to the peaks of the mountains!

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