Libations to Dionysus (2015)

Today, before the sun goes down, we pour libations to Dionysus. This is the last libation for this regular year and, even though I don't personally honor him, I will pour him libation and give him offerings. Have a good one and may the god of the vine make your month of December wonderful and joyous.

Athenian Month of Poseidon Begins (2015)

Sundown, tonight, marks not only the Athenian month of Poseidon but the half-way point in the Athenian year. I do hope that all of you have had a good year, so far. Here are the holiday's that fall during this month.

December 12: Nourmia
December 13: Agathos Daemon
December 14: Honoring Athena
December 15: Honoring Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros
December 17: Honoring Artemis
December 18: Honoring Apollo
December 19: Honoring Poseidon and Theseus
December 23: Poseideia
December 25: Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Artemis, and Hecate)
December 27: Sacrifices to Zeus Horios
January 1: Rural Dionysia
January 6: Haloa
January 9:  During the morning, before sundown, Libations to Hera
                 Hena Kai Nea (New Moon)

Hena Kai Nea (December 2015)

Tonight, at sundown, is Hena Kai Nea, or the 'old and the new' Hecate. It's a time to clean up our homes, frigs, and even our altar spaces. We throw out the old and make way for the new. I consider this observance a time to clean the place up and make it look nice. I do hope that you have a great observance and may you be protected.

Pompaia (2015)

Well we roll around again to Pompaia. It's to honor Zeus Meilikhos, which is the underworld aspect of Zeus. He's seen as a snake but it's not the same as Agathos Daemon. Pour whatever you have in his honor and have a great festival.

I Believe We Should Look Beyond Traditional Offerings

One of the things that I've noticed reading the lovely book that Labrys brought out is that they list offerings that the gods accept. Now there is already shaking of heads at the suggestion that only statues should be venerated, or honored, and not prints. I'm pretty sure that this has everything to do with the kind of Christianity that's practiced over there. But most here in the States love our prints. Yes, statues are wonderful but some of us don't have the money for them or are afraid that our cats, or dogs, will knock them over.

I've given the kinds of offerings that the book has suggested and, while they are nice, I don't feel as though the gods are accepting them. Now I give them something that isn't on the list and I feel that they've accepted it. The reason that I feel this way, or have gotten that impression, is that I'm trying so hard to follow how the Greeks do things that I feel that I'm sort of stuck somewhere. Traditional offerings are considered traditional because the ancient Greeks gave them to the gods.

However I believe that the gods accept what we can give them. Even if it's our time around them and acknowledging their existence. I don't believe that we should be bounded by what the ancient Greeks did. We should look beyond traditional offerings and give what we have. That's the purpose of sacrifice. Your giving the gods something that you normally would eat. In return the gods protect you and your home and make sure that you can provide for them. It's a relationship that I enjoy taking part in.

Giving what I have also tells the gods, and spirits, that I appreciate what I have and I want to share what I have. I think that makes the offerings just as good as what's written in the book.

Ancient Etruscan Tomb Found 'Undisturbed' In Italy

Found this on Huffpost Science. I thought the whole thing was fascinating. I couldn't put any video's up but I'll give you the link to the article and even the article itself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/etruscan-tomb-found_56650848e4b08e945fefe486?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000022

An intact 2,300-year-old Etruscan tomb recently discovered in Italy may help shed light on an ancient civilization that flourished centuries before the rise of the Roman Empire.
The tomb, found in a field near Città della Pieve, about 30 miles southwest of Perugia, had been partially buried in a landslide, according to local news outlet Perugia Today. 
Inside, archaeologists have found a number of artifacts including urns and a marble head, as well as two sarcophagi:

A worker had been plowing the field above the tomb in October when the machine jammed, leading to the spectacular find, according to Italian news outlet Umbria24, which says the tomb is at the end of a corridor 40 feet deep.
"It was a totally unexpected discovery," Clarita Natalini of the archaeological superintendency of Umbria told Discovery News. "The area is away from the sites visited by tomb robbers and indeed the burial is undisturbed."
She said one of the sarcophagi has the name "Laris" on it.
The other also contains an inscription but was damaged, apparently long ago.

 

A marble head found in the tomb had been broken off at the neck.  "It portrays the beautiful face of a young man," Natalini told Discovery. "We do not know yet its meaning. Perhaps it was part of a statue that honored one of the deceased."
The Etruscans have long been considered enigmatic by historians because little is known about their origins and even their language, which is not related to the Indo-European languages in the region.
However, discoveries in recent years have helped shed light on the civilization. For example, a 2013 study traced the origins of French winemaking to the Etruscans at around 525 BC.
The new discovery could help scientists learn even more, and local officials say other discoveries could be waiting in the area. Umbria24 reports that researchers may use ground-penetrating radar to scan for other hidden tombs. 

I look forward to hearing more about this.
 

December Shrine to Dionysus

I've finally gotten around to actually posting this photo. I would of done it at the beginning of the month but I had such a crazy week and I didn't have the time to do it. So I hope that you enjoy it and sorry about not being on as much as I had at one time.

I had to turn the light button on so that you could see it. My lighting sucks and I have a curtain that's suppose to keep the cold air out.

Libations to Ares (2015)

Today is Ares turn to receive monthly libations. We pour libation and give Ares honor on this day. I hope that you have a good libation and sorry about this being a short post.

Athenian Month of Maimakterian Begins (2015)

Tonight, at sundown, is the Athenian month of Maimakteria. Last Athenian month did not have a Libation to Olympian. This one has one. Have a good month and may the gods bless your month.

November 12: Nourmia
November 13: Agathos Daemon
November 14: Libations to Ares
                        Honoring Athena
November 15: Honoring Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros.
November 17: Honoring Artemis
November 18: Honoring Apollo
November 19: Honoring Poseidon and Theseus
November 25: Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Artemis, and Hecate)
December 10: Pumpaia
December 11: Hena Kai Nea (New Moon)

Gods bless

Sorry About Not Being On

I wanted to come on here and say that I'm sorry about not being on. I've had a very busy month and not getting the kind of sleep that I need. The main reason is that my brother has a full time job and I've made it a priority that he wakes up; on-time. Thanks everyone that has been following and liking my posts. Oh and I hope that everyone had a happy Veterans Day.

Athenian Month of Puanepsion Begins (2015)

Tonight, at sundown, the Athenian month of Puanepsion begins. Down below are the dates of holy days and festivals.

October 13: Nourmia
October 14: Agathos Daemon
October 15: Honoring Athena
October 16: Honoring Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros.
October 18: Honoring Artemis
                    Proirosia
October 19: Honoring Apollo
                    Puanepia
October 20: Honoring Poseidon and Theseus
                    Theseia
October 21: Stenia
October 23-25: Thesmophoria
October 26: Sacrifices to the Heroines
October 27: Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Artemis, and Hecate)
October 31: Apateria
November 11: Khalkeia and Hena Kai Nea (New Moon)


Have a good one.

Hena Kai Nea (October 2015)

Tonight, at sundown, we close the Athenian month of Boedronion with cleaning our altars and homes and getting ready for the new month by honoring Hecate. Personally I'm glad that this holiday is tonight. This month was just insane! Have a good night and may Hecate bless you.

Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelvos, Hermes, Athena, and Gaia (2015)

Once again we have a night that multiple deities are honored. This is one of the festivals that I will not be observing. Not because I don't want to but because I just don't feel the need to do it. One of the things that I learned is that you don't have to observe every Hellenic holiday and festivals that there is. You can decide which ones that you want to observe and observe them. For those that are celebrating tonight I do hope that you have a good one.

Libations to Poseidon (2015)

Today we pour our libations to Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas. I do this libation outside with water that's mixed with salt. I would love to go to a beach and do this but I don't have any near where I'm at. Which sucks, sometimes. I really love the god Poseidon and I feel drawn to the ocean. I hope that you all have a good libation and may Poseidon watch over you.

When Someone Tradmarks the Gods

So I was on Facebook and someone had blogged about not being able to use the name Hermes in her description of devotional work that she does. As a follower of Hecate I find this disrespectful and stupid. Why can't I do devotional work and not get slammed for using the name Hecate? Why? Because it's trademarked. The gods are damn trademarked, what the heck?

I find this to be stupid and revolting. Why are the gods trademarked? Because someone with a ton of money bought the name and not thinking that there would be a problem. Yes, there is a problem. The problem is that there are people out there that honor the Greek gods and do devotional work that has their name on it. It's our way of honoring the gods by doing works of art.

Trademarks and copyrighting is a very sensitive subject. Yes ago Warner Brothers actually took down a little girls Harry Potter site because it violated copyrights. Artists have taken people to court for downloading free music that they didn't pay for, though the money goes to the company and not the artist. We are so worried about other people breaking the law that we will trample on the rights of those who create original work and just happen to use a trademarked word.

Personally this needs to stop. This violates the law and we do have laws protecting the religious rights of those that practice certain religions. I think that if it's original and not a copy then the name should be allowed. This person actually had her store shut down due to this, which makes me want to scream. I really shake my head at the problems that I see and how companies can get away with anything and not care about the feelings of others who are having their creative juices stopped just because someone had more money and trademarked at a certain time.

Giving Thanks to the Gods

One of the things that I'm thankful for is my religion and being able to live in a country where you can worship however you want and don't have to worry about being killed for it. I thank the gods all the time for the small gifts that they have given me. This time, however, I'm giving thanks to the goddess Tyche for blessing our family with luck and fortune. For years we have suffered from not having enough and having to rely on others. My brother, now, having full time work has removed that worry and I'm going to be thanking Tyche for bringing fortune and luck our way.

I believe thanking the gods for things like this, and even small things, is very important. It lets them know that your grateful for what you have and what they have given you.

Making Your Own Greek Statues

One of the things that I really hate about statues that are on the internet is that they cost so much money. Or sometimes they don't have the one that your looking for. I think that's the problem with most paths. You find a deity that you feel drawn to, using a Wiccan example, and find that there is no statues of them. One of the coolest things that I've found was oven baked clay. Some companies even have them in different colors.

You don't even have to be good at making statues to make them. Yes, they won't look perfect but, if you have talent, you can make them great. Even if you don't have talent you can make something that looks like a Greek god or goddess. And this applies to any path. I think that Hellenists should make their own statues instead of putting money out to buy one. I might be wrong, but I think that it's a great idea.

Personally I'm not buying any statues because my mother is making a big stink about statues. But I think the idea is good to pass along.

Eleusinian Mysteries and Epidauria

So, now that my net is back, I can get back to blogging. Tonight is Epidauria, which is to honor Asclepius. Asclepius was the son of Apollo and was struck by Zeus for bring the dead back to life. I'm really excited about celebrating this festival as I didn't have a chance to last year. Another festival that's going on right now is the Eleusinian Mysteries, honoring Demeter and Persephone. That festival I did celebrate on the first night, but I don't do it every night. I don't know why I don't, I just don't. I hope that you all have a good festival and may Asclepius watch over every one of you and give you good health.

Sorry about Not Blogging

The ups and downs of anyone's lives sometimes can affect simple things like blogging. My net went down last Monday and I had also totally forgot to blog about anything. This month has been one nasty nightmare with the weather, worrying if my brother was going to get hired full time, and money. Money seems to be the highlight worry this month. Oh, forgot to add house inspection. Glad that all worries are gone and I'm back blogging.

I hope that you all had a great month, better than mine was, and your not getting wet. It's freaking raining right now, the weather affects my ability to stay awake, and people just have to argue about dumb stuff. I swear my block has more issues than a news stand, as my brother would say. Have a good week and I'll be around.

Hellenic Month of Boedroinion Begins (2015)

Tonight, at sundown, we enter the Hellenic holiday of Boedroinion. I hope that you will have a good month and below are the holy days and festivals of this month.

September 14: Nourmina
September 15: Agathos Daemon
September 16: Athena
September 17: Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros
                        Sacrifices to Basile
September 18: Genesia
September 19: Artemis
                        Sacrifices to Artemis Agrotera
September 20: Apollo
September 21: Poseidon and Theseus
September 23: Autumn begins, Persephone descends into the Underworld to be with Hades.
September 25: Demokratia
September 27: Full Moon (Honoring Selene and Artemis)
September 28: Eleusinian Mysteries.
September 30: Epidauria
October 10: Libations to Poseidon
                   Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia
October 12: Hena Kai Nea (New Moon)


Thanks

Hena Kai Nea (New Moon, September 2015)

Tonight we clean our homes and our altars. We throw away the old and we make way for the new. Tonight we honor Hecate and stay inside while she's on her wild hunt. We also lay out our Hecate supper for her and the dead. This is something that I haven't been able to do for reasons that I won't blog about. However I do clean things up and I do get my altar ready for the coming month. I hope that you all have a wonderful New Moon and be safe.

Libations to Demeter and Persephone (2015)

Today we pour libation and give offerings to Demeter and Persephone. Persephone is due to return to the Underworld to be with her husband when Fall begins. It's a sad time for Demeter because she won't see her daughter until Spring. For those that have been suffering in the heat this is the last libation of the warmth and heat that comes with the growing season.

I hope that you all have a good one and a good libation.

Hymn to the Dioscuri

This is the final hymn that from the Perseus Digital Library. I will not be including a photo but I do hope that you'll enjoy the hymn.



Bright-eyed Muses, tell of the Tyndaridae, the Sons of Zeus, glorious children of neat-ankled Leda, Castor the tamer of horses, and blameless Polydeuces. When Leda [5] had lain with the dark-clouded Son of Cronos, she bare them beneath the peak of the great hill Taygetus, —children who are deliverers of men on earth and of swift-going ships when stormy gales rage over the ruthless sea.

Then the shipmen call upon the sons of great Zeus [10] with vows of white lambs, going to the forepart of the prow; but the strong wind and the waves of the sea lay the ship under water, until suddenly these two are seen darting through the air on tawny wings. Forthwith they allay the blasts of the cruel winds [15] and still the waves upon the surface of the white sea: fair signs are they and deliverance from toil. And when the shipmen see them they are glad and have rest from their pain and labour.

Hail, Tyndaridae, riders upon swift horses! Now I will remember you and another song also.

Not Doing Double Posts

Since this blog is now over a year old I've had to go back and look at all the posts that I've done. I'm not going to be doing double posts of other posts that I've done. So if you don't see a post for a Hellenic holiday then I've already written about it. If I haven't written about it, then I'll post it. I hope that you all have a good week and a good holidays.

Sacrifices to the Heroines

So this is the first Hellenic holiday for the month of September (normal calendar month). We are at the half-way point of this Hellenic month, the New Moon approaching. Tonight we pour libation and give offering to the Heroines. I'm still confused at whom the heroines are, though some say that they were women that faced great odds, hardships, and had the strength to survive this things and stand tall as any male hero.

I think that we should add modern day heroines to this and give them offering as well. Enjoy your holiday and thanks for reading.

Hymn to Selene

This is the hymn to Selene. I got this from Perseus Digital Library. I hope that you enjoy.











And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged¹ Moon. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth [5] from her shining light. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team,

[10] drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men.

[15] Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods.
Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! And now I will leave you and sing the glories of men half-divine, whose deeds minstrels, [20] the servants of the Muses, celebrate with lovely lips.

1 The epithet is a usual one for birds, cp. Hesiod, Works and Days, 210; as applied to Selene it may merely indicate her passage, like a bird, through the air, or mean “far-flying.”

Sacrifices to Kourotrophos

Tonight, at sundown, we give sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hecate, Artemis. They are connected through the title Kourotrophos. We pour libations, but do not take part. I hope that you all have a good one and I hope that your month was wonderful.

Hymn to Helios

This is the hymn to Helios. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.



And now, O Muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin to sing of glowing Helios whom mild-eyed Euryphaessa, the far-shining one, bare to the Son of Earth and starry Heaven. For Hyperion wedded glorious Euryphaessa, [5] his own sister, who bare him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios who is like the deathless gods. As he rides in his chariot, he shines upon men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes [10] from his golden helmet. Bright rays beam dazzlingly from him, and his bright locks streaming from the temples of his head gracefully enclose his far-seen face: a rich, fine-spun garment glows upon his body and flutters in the wind: and stallions carry him.

[15] Then, when he has stayed his golden-yoked chariot and horses, [15a] he rests there upon the highest point of heaven, until he marvelously drives them down again through heaven to Ocean.

Hail to you, lord! Freely bestow on me substance that cheers the heart. And now that I have begun with you, I will celebrate the race of mortal men half-divine whose deeds the Muses have showed to mankind.

Eleusinia (2015)

Tonight, at sundown, is Eleusinia. If' I've done an entry for this then I'm sorry for repeating myself. It's a four day celebration of games held every four years. However, in this day and age, we do it every year. How I celebrate is by playing games. No matter if it's board games or games on the computer. I try and keep things competitive. We might not have the kinds of games that the Greeks had, but we have games.

I hope that you all have a good one and have fun.

Hymn to Earth, Mother of All

I believe that I've already written this down, but I decided to give it it's own entry. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.


I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings. She feeds all creatures that are in the world, all that go upon the goodly land, and all that are in the paths of the seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her store. [5] Through you, O queen, men are blessed in their children and blessed in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give means of life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the man whom you delight to honor! He has all things abundantly: his fruitful land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered

[10] with cattle, and his house is filled with good things. Such men rule orderly in their cities of fair women: great riches and wealth follow them: their sons exult with ever-fresh delight, and their daughters in flower-laden bands [15] play and skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field. Thus is it with those whom you honor O holy goddess, bountiful spirit.

Hail, Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven; freely bestow upon me for this my song substance that cheers the heart! And now I will remember you and another song also.

Forced to Budget Practice

The annual letter that 'lets you know how much money your landlord wants to suck out of you' came in and it's nearly $600.00. Yeah, you heard me right. We have to pay nearly $600.00 a month for rent. In the spirit of high rent I was thinking about ways to practice on a budget. This amount makes it clear that statues, even if my mother allowed more to come in, is clearly off the table. One of the blessed things about living where I'm at is that there's a Dollar Tree and a library nearby.

I'm thinking about running off images of the gods and taping them to cheap $1.00 candles. I'm already planning on buying candle labels and prayer cards this week. I'm going to be adding seven day candles as well. When the winter months come upon us they won't be lit so that I don't use them up. I'm getting the label that has all the gods on them. I'm going to be doing plenty of 'picking pennies off the ground and putting them in my pocket' during the winter months.

I'm going to be praying to the gods that this seasonal months will not be as bad as they are claiming that it will be. I know that the gods will be with me and I'm not worried.

Remember Pompeii, Once Again

Once again the time has come around to honor those that died on this date. This is the 1,936th anniversary of the destruction of both Pompeii and Herculaneum. It was a sad time and one that can happen anywhere at any time. The lessons that we have learned from this disaster has helped countless other countries that have these monsters. I'm going to be pouring libations to Hades, Persephone, and Hermes and doing a prayer.

I hope that you all have a good day and thanks for reading.

Making My Space Simple

This post is hard to write for many reasons. One: I want my words to come out correctly and not in the area of bashing. I know that bashing others is something that most Hellenists don't approve of. Of course if it's the truth then it's not bashing. Early this week I had to make changes to my altar based on, once again, her dislike for statues. Sometimes I wonder if she's got bipolar or something. Not that I'm attacking those that have it.

For several months she says nothing about statues and then she watches some program and, once again, she doesn't like statues. This time around, however, she didn't say that they had to go. Just that statues get between you and G-d. I was thinking about how I could have a altar, or space, that wouldn't rile her up. I remember Baring the Aegis has a altar that doesn't have statues. She just has a box with a candle for Hestia. So I decided to do something like that.

I have a box, which I keep coins in, a candle holder with a homemade candle in it. Yes, I've gotten into making my own candles which I consider part of my practice, a picture that I got off the net from Pompeii, a candle sniffer, one of those lighters for candles that you use when the candle burns down into the container and you can't reach it, and an incense burner. I set it up and waited to see what would happen.

Glory to the gods, she said that she liked it. There were no statues, just things that I already had or things that I had bought this month. So I'm using the space and not having statues. I would like to note that she didn't tell me that I couldn't practice, just that she doesn't like statues. I consider the space to be much more simpler and a heck of a lot easier to clean up. So I'm going to keep it this way and I will admit, I happen to like it just as much as she did.

Note: I'm talking about my mother.

Hymn to Hestia

This is the hymn to Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.

 

Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind [5] with Zeus the all-wise —draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.



Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honor: glorious is your portion and your right. [5] For without you mortals hold no banquet, —where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last.
And you, Slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod,

[10] giver of good, be favorable and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear. [9] Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship together; [11] for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom and their strength.

Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, bearer of the golden rod! Now I will remember you and another song also.

Hymn to Poseidon

This is the hymn to Poseidon, god of the sea. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.

 



  I begin to sing about Poseidon, the great god, mover of the earth and fruitless sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae. A two-fold office the gods allotted you, O Shaker of the Earth, [5] to be a tamer of horses and a saviour of ships!

Hail, Poseidon, Holder of the Earth, dark-haired lord! O blessed one, be kindly in heart and help those who voyage in ships!

Been a Hellenist for One Year and So has this Blog

Today marks one year as a Hellenist and one year that this blog has been up. I personally can't believe that it's been a whole year since I started this blog and blogged about all sorts of different things. It has been one amazing journey and I'm glad that all of you have come on here and spent even a short amount of time reading my blogs and liking them.

I look forward to another year of blog writing and going through my journey's. Thanks, everyone, for being here and following me.

Hymn to Hephaestus

This is the hymn to Hephaestus, the forge god and the husband to Aphrodite. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.

 


 Sing, clear-voiced Muse, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With bright-eyed Athena he taught men glorious crafts throughout the world, —men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains like wild beasts. [5] But now that they have learned crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round.

Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!

The Athenian Month of Metageitnion Begins (2015)

The Athenian month of Metageitnion begins (sorry for any misspellings). Below are the holidays that are observed.

August 15: Nourmina
August 16: Agathos Daemon
August 17: Athena
August 18: Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros.
August 20: Artemis
August 21: Apollo
August 22: Poseidon and Theseus
August 29-September 1: Eleusinia
August 29: Full Moon (Honor Selene and Artemis)
August 30: Sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hecate, Artemis
September 2: Sacrifices to the Heroines.
September 3: Sacrifices to Hera Thelkhinia
September 8: Sacrifices to Zeus Epoptes
September 12: Libations to Hermes
September 13: Hena Kai Nea

I hope that you all have a wonderful month and may the gods bless you.

Nena Kai Nea (August 2015)

Tonight is the New Moon and the end of the Athenian month of Hekatoinbaion (once again sorry if I make any misspelling mistakes). We honor Hecate and we clean and purify our spaces and house. This is the last day of Panathenaia and I hope that yours was wonderful. Enjoy and may the gods bless you for another month.

Hymn to Pan

This is the hymn to Pan, the son of Hermes. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.





Muse, tell me about Pan, the dear son of Hermes, with his goat's feet and two horns —a lover of merry noise. Through wooded glades he wanders with dancing nymphs who foot it on some sheer cliff's edge, [5] calling upon Pan, the shepherd-god, long-haired, unkempt. He has every snowy crest and the mountain peaks and rocky crests for his domain; hither and thither he goes through the close thickets, now lured by soft streams, [10] and now he presses on amongst towering crags and climbs up to the highest peak that overlooks the flocks. Often he courses through the glistening high mountains, and often on the shouldered hills he speeds along slaying wild beasts, this keen-eyed god. Only at evening, [15] as he returns from the chase, he sounds his note, playing sweet and low on his pipes of reed: not even she could excel him in melody —that bird who in flower-laden spring pouring forth her lament utters honey-voiced song amid the leaves. At that hour the clear-voiced nymphs are with him and [20] move with nimble feet, singing by some spring of dark water, while Echo wails about the mountain-top, and the god on this side or on that of the choirs, or at times sidling into the midst, plies it nimbly with his feet. On his back he wears a spotted lynx-pelt, and he delights in high-pitched songs [25] in a soft meadow where crocuses and sweet-smelling hyacinths bloom at random in the grass.
They sing of the blessed gods and high Olympus and choose to tell of such an one as luck-bringing Hermes above the rest, how he is the swift messenger of all the gods, [30] and how he came to Arcadia, the land of many springs and mother of flocks, there where his sacred place is as god of Cyllene. For there, though a god, he used to tend curly-fleeced sheep in the service of a mortal man, because there fell on him and waxed strong melting desire to wed the rich-tressed daughter of Dryops, [35] and there he brought about the merry marriage. And in the house she bare Hermes a dear son who from his birth was marvellous to look upon, with goat's feet and two horns —a noisy, merry-laughing child. But when the nurse saw his uncouth face and full beard, she was afraid and sprang up and fled and left the child. [40] Then luck-bringing Hermes received him and took him in his arms: very glad in his heart was the god. And he went quickly to the abodes of the deathless gods, carrying his son wrapped in warm skins of mountain hares, and set him down beside Zeus [45] and showed him to the rest of the gods. Then all the immortals were glad in heart and Bacchic Dionysus in especial; and they called the boy Pan¹ because he delighted all their hearts.
And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with a song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

1 The name Pan is here derived fromπάντες“all.” Cp. Hesiod, Works and Days 80-82, Hymn to Aphrodite （v） 198, for the significance of personal names.

Anonymous. The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Homeric Hymns. Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.

Panathenaia (2015)

Sorry if I misspelled the name of this holiday. This is the Panthenaia, which lasts from sundown today to the last day of the month. It always seems to go right into the New Moon every year. I hope that all of you have a good Panathenaia and may Athena bless all of you.

Hymn to Dioscuri

This is the hymn to Dioscuri. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.




(Short Version)

Sing, clear-voiced Muse, of Castor and Polydeuces, the Tyndaridae, who sprang from Olympian Zeus. Beneath the heights of Taygetus stately Leda bare them, when the dark-clouded Son of Cronos had privily bent her to his will.

[5] Hail, children of Tyndareus, riders upon swift horses!

(A Bit Longer Version)

Bright-eyed Muses, tell of the Tyndaridae, the Sons of Zeus, glorious children of neat-ankled Leda, Castor the tamer of horses, and blameless Polydeuces. When Leda [5] had lain with the dark-clouded Son of Cronos, she bare them beneath the peak of the great hill Taygetus, —children who are deliverers of men on earth and of swift-going ships when stormy gales rage over the ruthless sea. Then the shipmen call upon the sons of great Zeus [10] with vows of white lambs, going to the forepart of the prow; but the strong wind and the waves of the sea lay the ship under water, until suddenly these two are seen darting through the air on tawny wings. Forthwith they allay the blasts of the cruel winds [15] and still the waves upon the surface of the white sea: fair signs are they and deliverance from toil. And when the shipmen see them they are glad and have rest from their pain and labour.

Hail, Tyndaridae, riders upon swift horses! Now I will remember you and another song also.

Hymn to Asclepius

This is the hymn to Asclepius, god of health and son of Apollo. Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.



The short version of this hymn is the only one available. Which I'm fine with. 


I begin to sing of Asclepius, son of Apollo and healer of sicknesses. In the Dotian plain fair Coronis, daughter of King Phlegyas, bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel pangs.

[5] And so hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to thee!

Sunaikia and the Full Moon (July 2015)

So tonight, at sundown, we celebrate Sunaikia and the Full Moon. In my former religion this would be considered the Blue Moon. But, as I don't follow it, it's a time to honor Selene and Artemis. However we add the additional holiday of Sunaikia today, as well. As this is the last day of the month of July I will be adding that this coming Monday I will be ordering the final three mini statues of the gods. They are Hephaestus, Apollo, and Zeus. I'm also going to the hardware store and get shelves for the beginning of what my Hellenic space will become.

I'm thinking about getting remakes of Greek plates and vases for each god and goddess of the Pantheon, but that will be many months, or even a couple of years, away. Smile! At least I can say that I have some kind of goal in life. I think the space will look really nice when I'm done. I hope that your month has been wonderful and may the gods bless you all in the month of August.

Hymn to Hercules

So I'm posting another hymn to the gods. This one is the last one for the month of July. I hope that you had a great month and may your August be just as good.




I will sing of Heracles, the son of Zeus and much the mightiest of men on earth. Alcmena bare him in Thebes, the city of lovely dances, when the dark-clouded Son of Cronos had lain with her. Once he used to wander over unmeasured tracts of land and sea [5] at the bidding of King Eurystheus, and himself did many deeds of violence and endured many; but now he lives happily in the glorious home of snowy Olympus, and has neat-ankled Hebe for his wife.

Hail, lord, son of Zeus' Give me success and prosperity.

Kronia (2015)

Tonight, at Sundown, is Kronia. This festival honors Kronos, who is the father of the Olympians. I don't actually honor Kronos, even though there are Hellenists that do. I believe it has everything to do with the fact that he ate his children. However, for those that do, I hope that you have a good one and may Kronos bless you.

Hymn to The Mother of All the Gods

Now I'm going to say that I was confused by this title 'Mother of All the Gods.' If anyone could tell me which goddess that is being mentioned I would be very happy. I get this hymn from the Perseus Digital Library.

I Prithee, clear-voiced Muse, daughter of mighty Zeus, sing of the mother of all gods and men. She is well-pleased with the sound of rattles and of timbrels, with the voice of flutes and the outcry of wolves and bright-eyed lions, [5] with echoing hills and wooded coombes.

And so hail to you in my song and to all goddesses as well!

Hymn to Artemis

This is the hymn to Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon. Sister to Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto. I hope that you enjoy this hymn and I got it from Perseus Digital Library.




First Hymn to Artemis

Muse, sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the virgin who delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollo. She waters her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives her all-golden chariot through Smyrna [5] to vine-clad Claros where Apollo, god of the silver bow, sits waiting for the far-shooting goddess who delights in arrows.

And so hail to you, Artemis, in my song and to all goddesses as well. Of you first I sing and with you I begin; now that I have begun with you, I will turn to another song.


Second Hymn to Artemis

  I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks [5] she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earth quakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart [10] turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, [15] there to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children [20] supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed.

Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will remember you and another song also.

Aphrodisia (2015)

So tonight, at sundown, we celebrate Aphrodisia along with Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, and Eros. Another word was mentioned by Baring the Aegis and that was Peitho (Persuasion). I know that Peitho is very connected to Aphrodite, how else would it be here. However I'm just going to focus on Aphrodite and not Peitho. I hope that you all have a good one.

Hymn to Hera

Time for me to post my hymn to Hera, the Queen of the Gods. I hope that you enjoy this hymn and may Hera bless you. I got this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.




Hymn to Hera (Short Version)

I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of the immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister and the wife of loud-thundering Zeus, —the glorious one whom all the blessed throughout high Olympus [5] reverence and honor even as Zeus who delights in thunder.

Been Hellenic for Eleven Months

So today marks eleven months since I started this blog and journey. I will admit that it's been a very exciting time and I feel most blessed to be on this journey and experiencing all the wonderful things that came with it. My four statues came in, which I'm so happy about, and I feel that I'm much closer to my goal then I was months ago. My plans for the coming month of August will be to buy floating shelves so that I can put my photo of Agathos Daemon up and Hecate as well.

I'm going to have my main shrine to the gods, in the middle which ever deity that is to be honored during the coming month. It's going to be a very interesting experience to see my shrine become what I've wanted it to become for a long time. I want to thank everyone that is following me on my blog and I hope that you have a wonderful remainder of your month.

The Athenian Month of Hekatombaion Begins (2015)

Well, it's offical, we are now in the first Athenian month of 2015-2016. It has been one wild ride and I'm glad to of been apart of it. The following holidays happen during this Athenian month and I do hope that you all have a good one.

July 16: Nourmina
July 17: Agathos Daemon
July 18: Athena
July 19: Aphrodite, Hermes, Hercules, Eros, and Aphrodisia
July 21: Artemis
July 22: Apollo
July 23: Poseidon and Theseus
July 27: Kronia
July 31: Sunokia and the Full Moon: Honoring Selene and Artemis
August 5: Sacrifices to the Kourotrophos
August 7-14: Panathanaia
August 8: Libations to Hermes
August 14: New Moon 'Hena Kai Nea'

I hope that you all have a good one and may the gods bless your month.

Note: I will be combining my Hecate ritual that I do from the book that I bought and my Athena ritual that I created.

New Moon (July 2015)

So tonight, at sundown, we honor Hecate in whatever manner that you've chosen. As I've written before I clean my ritual room, I try and clean the house, and I throw out what I have collected during the month. I do hope that you all have a good one and may your new month be blessed by the gods and be well.

Euro Drama and the Cultural Present

The Euro drama in Greece has come to an end, though I don't think that it will ever end. The Greek government has come to a deal with other European nations to get a huge bailout of 96 Billions dollars. Included in this deal is the horrible part of selling some of their national treasures to raise more money. This means that items that are normally found in museums could end up in a museum in England or other places.

That's what I get from the whole 'selling some of their national treasures' from. The Greeks consider this deal 'humiliating' to them and I agree. I'm going to give the full article as Yahoo has a bad habit of making it hard to find anything. Let me know what you think.

Athens (AFP) - Greeks were rattled Monday by news the nation's jewels might be snatched as collateral as part of a bailout deal slammed as 'humiliating'.

"We avoided an exit from the eurozone," said sharply-dressed retired businessman Michaelis Sarides, as he sipped a coffee at a bar in central Athens.

"But I warn you, if they take the Acropolis from us, it's war," he said darkly.

The outline deal thrashed out between the 19 eurozone nations in strained overnight talks calls for Greece to push through a range of reforms to secure a bailout worth up to 86 billion euros ($96 billion). Without it, the country's economy will collapse and Greece could crash out of the eurozone.

But among the key measures Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will have to rush through parliament is the creation of a controversial debt repayment fund, which aims to raise 50 billion euros ($55 billion) by selling off valuable Greek assets.

"They can't take a part of the country," said an aghast Lefteris Paboulidis, who owns a dating service business.

"Has that happened anywhere else so it can happen here? The situation is dramatic."

Like many ordinary Greeks, he was sceptical that the deal would bring about any improvement to their lives.

- Worse for years to come -

"It would be better not to have a deal than the way it was done because it will certainly be worse for the years to follow," the 35-year old said.

"I would have preferred something else to happen, such as Grexit, where we would have starved in the beginning but dealt with it ourselves."

Ilias, a 26-year-old civil servant, insisted that "the important thing is for the country to be better off -- not so much if we stay in Europe or not, that is the last thing to think of."

 "If we stay in Europe and the country goes from bad to worse, I can't see anything positive about that," he said.

Haralambos Rouliskos, a 60-year-old economist, described the agreement with Greece's eurozone partners as "misery, humiliation and slavery".

His feelings were echoed by Katerina Katsaba, a 52-year-old working for a pharmaceutical company, who said: "I am not in favour of this deal. I know they (the eurozone creditors) are trying to blackmail us."

But despite belief in many quarters that radical left PM Alexis Tsipras has been taken to the cleaners by Europe, she added: "I trust our prime minister -- the decisions he will take will be in the best interests of all of us."

Among the measures demanded that would directly affect citizens are lifting a ban on Sunday trading for shops, opening up ownership of pharmacies and opening up closed professions such as ferry transport.

"I think the terms agreed for the bailout are going to make life very hard for all of us. But I agree with the idea of Sunday openings... it can only help the economy," said Melina Petropoulou, 41, the manager of a women's clothes shop.

But in an upmarket jewellery store across the street, office manager Gianna Georgakopoulou, 43, protested that "everyone thinks we Greeks are lazy but we work hard. With Sunday gone, when are we supposed to rest?"

- Hashtag hostility -

Others inside the country, and in other EU member states, took to Twitter to express anger at the deal and perceived bullying of Greece by Germany.

A hashtag, #ThisIsACoup, was trending widely in Greece, France, Germany and Britain as they claimed that Greece was effectively being stripped of fiscal sovereignty.

"Germany is destroying Europe once again," tweeted @KostasKainakis, whose profile says he is a marketing lecturer in Athens.

"The Germans could not do it with tanks so now they try it with banks Trying to STEAL Greek assets BrITS MUST vote to get out," opined a tweet from Britain by @AllanSkerratt, who said he was a non-partisan retired soldier and ex-teacher.

Prominent commentators such as Paul Krugman, the Nobel-winning economist who writes for the New York Times, helped propel the term into the mainstream.

Krugman wrote: "The trending hashtag #ThisIsACoup is exactly right. This goes beyond harsh into pure vindictiveness, complete destruction of national sovereignty, and no hope of relief."

Sad day for Athens

Hymn to Hecate

This is the hymn to Hecate. Enjoy! I got this hymn from the site The Living Wiccan. A site that I don't normally go on, but I was looking for a hymn to Hecate. I know, I know, there are better sites.




Hecate of the wayside ,who frequents crossroads, Lovely dame, of earthly, watery and celestial frame, around tombs, in a saffron veil arrayed, pleased with dark ghosts that wander through the shade;  destroyer, solitary goddess, hail! The world’s key bearer, never doomed to fail; In stags rejoicing, huntress, nightly seen, and drawn by bulls, unconquerable queen; leader, nymphe, nurse on mountains wandering, hear the suppliants who with holy rites thy power revere, and to the herdsman with a favouring mind draw near…

Sacrifices to Zeus the Savior and Athena the Savior (2015)

Tonight, at sundown, we start the last Hellenic festival of this Athenian month of Skirophonion. This isn't just the last Athenian festival of the month, but also of the year. We end it officially tomorrow when we honor Hecate. I find this a fitting end to this month and I'm excited about the coming, new, Athenian year. I hope that you all will have a good one and may Athena and Zeus bless you.

Note: I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Athena and Savior and Zeus the Savior is connected to Zeus overthrowing his father and saving the soon-to-be humanity from being subject to Kronos and Athena the Savior is talking about Athena protecting and saving her people from enemies. I'm going to have to do more research on this.

Hymn to Aphrodite

This is the hymn to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. As well as sexuality! Enjoy and I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library.






First Hymn to Aphrodite (Somewhat small version)

I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea [5] in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, [10] and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father’s house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had fully decked her, [15] they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea.

Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess! Grant that I may gain the victory in this contest, [20] and order you my song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

Hymn to Aphrodite (short version)

Of Cytherea, born in Cyprus, I will sing. She gives kindly gifts to men: smiles are ever on her lovely face, and lovely is the brightness that plays over it.

Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis [5] and sea-girt Cyprus; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

Libations to Athena (July 2015)

Today, according to Hellion, we pour libations to Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom. This isn't going to be a long post but I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Libations. I've noticed that this libation is perfect for Athena as this is the month that we celebrate liberty and democracy. I hope that you have a great Libation to Athena and may she bless you all.

Hymn to Ares

This is the hymn to Ares, the God of War. I was going to put his hymn up on the fourth but decided against it. I thought that the fourth was better for Athena. Unlike in the Roman pantheon, Ares wasn't considered a nice god. He was war like and even his own father, Zeus, hated him. I hope that you have a good day and enjoy this hymn.

I get this hymn from Perseus Digital Library






Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defence of Olympus, father of warlike Victory, ally of Themis, [5] stern governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aether wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! [10] Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread [15] the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death.

Hymn to Athena

In honoring of Independence Day I'm posting the Hymn to Athena. I really find this hymn to be fitting for this day and I will be doing a small ritual to Athena today. For without her we wouldn't have the democracy that we do have. And I do believe that Athena had her hand in the founding of this country. Enjoy and have a wonderful Independence Day.

Note: This hymn comes from the site Perseus Digital Library.







First Hymn to Athena

I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. Wise Zeus himself bare her [5] from his awful head, arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel horribly [10] at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athena [15] had stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad.

And so hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis! Now I will remember you and another song as well.


Second Hymn to Athena

Of Pallas Athena, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the sack of cities and the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people as they go out to war and come back.

[5] Hail, goddess, and give us good fortune with happiness!

Ordering Hermes, Demeter, Dionysus, and Aphrodite

So today, a little bit after one in the morning, I ordered my four statues that I will be putting on my shrine when their months come around. And they are Hermes, Demeter, Dionysus, and Aphrodite. With the seasonal months just three months away I wanted to get them, as well as the last three statues, before the cold months come around. That was my goal at the beginning of this year, to get all twelve statues of the gods.

Even if they are just mini's.

Now I'm not saying that pictures of the gods aren't as good as statues of the gods, but they do look prettier and I love them. I do intend to start buying busts and medium size statues of the gods once I"m done fulfilling my vow that I made to myself. I found a wonderful medium size statue of Hera and Demeter, which I hope the seller (different one from the one that I"m going with) still has them. He also has three busts of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena.

When I get them, and future statues in, I will be showing them off. I hope that you all have a wonderful remainder of your week and may the gods bless you.

Full Moon (July 1, 2015)

So tonight is the Full Moon and, unlike in Wicca, we honor Selene and Artemis. I really do love the Full Moon, though I do wish that it didn't bring all the crazies out and crime didn't go up. We pour libations, give offerings, say our hymns, and pray to Artemis and Selene. The ones that represents the actual moon and the light of the moon.

I hope that your time with Selene and Artemis are wonderful.

Hymn to Hermes

This is the Hymn to Hermes. I give both short and long versions. Enjoy. I get this information from The Perseus Digital Library.



Hymn to Hermes (Short Version)

I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of the deathless gods. He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, when she had mated with Zeus, — [5] a shy goddess she. Ever she avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph at dead of night, while white-armed Hera lay bound in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it.

[10] And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun: now I will turn to another song!

Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things!

Hymn to Hermes (Long version)

  Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the luck-bringing messenger of the immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed nymph, when she was joined in love with Zeus, [5] —a shy goddess, for she avoided the company of the blessed gods, and lived within a deep, shady cave. There the son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph, unseen by deathless gods and mortal men, at dead of night while sweet sleep should hold white-armed Hera fast. [10] And when the purpose of great Zeus was fulfilled, and the tenth moon with her was fixed in heaven, she was delivered and a notable thing was come to pass. For then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, [15] a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo on the fourth day of the month; for on that day queenly Maia bare him. [20] So soon as he had leaped from his mother's heavenly womb, he lay not long waiting in his holy cradle, but he sprang up and sought the oxen of Apollo. But as he stepped over the threshold of the high-roofed cave, he found a tortoise there and gained endless delight. [25] For it was Hermes who first made the tortoise a singer. The creature fell in his way at the courtyard gate, where it was feeding on the rich grass before the dwelling, waddling along. When he saw it, the luck-bringing son of Zeus laughed and said:

[30] “An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight it. Hail, comrade of the feast, lovely in shape, sounding at the dance! With joy I meet you! Where got you that rich gaud for covering, that spangled shell —a tortoise living in the mountains? But I will take and carry you within: you shall help me [35] and I will do you no disgrace, though first of all you must profit me. It is better to be at home: harm may come out of doors. Living, you shall be a spell against mischievous witchcraft¹; but if you die, then you shall make sweetest song.”

Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both hands [40] and went back into the house carrying his charming toy. Then he cut off its limbs and scooped out the marrow of the mountain-tortoise with a scoop of grey iron. As a swift thought darts through the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him, [45] or as bright glances flash from the eye, so glorious Hermes planned both thought and deed at once. He cut stalks of reed to measure and fixed them, fastening their ends across the back and through the shell of the tortoise, and then stretched ox hide all over it by his skill. [50] Also he put in the horns and fitted a cross-piece upon the two of them, and stretched seven strings of sheep-gut. But when he had made it he proved each string in turn with the key, as he held the lovely thing. [55] At the touch of his hand it sounded marvelously; and, as he tried it, the god sang sweet random snatches, even as youths bandy taunts at festivals. He sang of Zeus the son of Cronos and neat-shod Maia, the converse which they had before in the comradeship of love, telling all the glorious tale of his own begetting. [60] He celebrated, too, the handmaids of the nymph, and her bright home, and the tripods all about the house, and the abundant cauldrons.

But while he was singing of all these, his heart was bent on other matters. And he took the hollow lyre and laid it in his sacred cradle, [65] and sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a watch-place, pondering sheer trickery in his heart —deeds such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time; for he longed to taste flesh.

The Sun was going down beneath the earth towards Ocean with his horses and chariot when Hermes [70] came hurrying to the shadowy mountains of Pieria, where the divine cattle of the blessed gods had their steads and grazed the pleasant, unmown meadows. Of these the Son of Maia, the sharp-eyed slayer of Argus then cut off from the herd fifty loud-lowing kine, [75] and drove them straggling-wise across a sandy place, turning their hoof-prints aside. Also, he bethought him of a crafty ruse and reversed the marks of their hoofs, making the front behind and the hind before, while he himself walked the other way.² Then he wove sandals with wicker-work by the sand of the sea,

[80] wonderful things, unthought of, unimagined; for he mixed together tamarisk and myrtle-twigs, fastening together an armful of their fresh, young wood, and tied them, leaves and all securely under his feet as light sandals. That brushwood the glorious Slayer of Argus [85] plucked in Pieria as he was preparing for his journey, making shift³ as one making haste for a long journey.

But an old man tilling his flowering vineyard saw him as he was hurrying down the plain through grassy Onchestus. So the Son of Maia began and said to him:

[90] “Old man, digging about your vines with bowed shoulders, surely you shall have much wine when all these bear fruit, [91a] if you obey me and strictly remember not to have seen what you have seen, and not to have heard what you have heard, and to keep silent when nothing of your own is harmed.”

When he had said this much, he hurried the strong cattle on together: [95] through many shadowy mountains and echoing gorges and flowery plains glorious Hermes drove them. And now the divine night, his dark ally, was mostly passed, and dawn that sets folk to work was quickly coming on, while bright Selene, [100] daughter of the lord Pallas, Megamedes' son, had just climbed her watch-post, when the strong Son of Zeus drove the wide-browed cattle of Phoebus Apollo to the river Alpheus.

And they came unwearied to the high-roofed byres and the drinking-troughs that were before the noble meadow. [105] Then, after he had well-fed the loud-bellowing cattle with fodder and driven them into the byre, close-packed and chewing lotus and dewy galingal, he gathered a pile of wood and began to seek the art of fire. He chose a stout laurel branch and trimmed it with the knife ...
 
⁴ [110] held firmly in his hand: and the hot smoke rose up. For it was Hermes who first invented fire-sticks and fire. Next he took many dried sticks and piled them thick and plenty in a sunken trench: and flame began to glow, spreading afar the blast of fierce-burning fire.

[115] And while the strength of glorious Hephaestus was beginning to kindle the fire, he dragged out two lowing, horned cows close to the fire; for great strength was with him. He threw them both panting upon their backs on the ground, and rolled them on their sides, bending their necks over,⁵ and pierced their vital chord. [120] Then he went on from task to task: first he cut up the rich, fatted meat, and pierced it with wooden spits, and roasted flesh and the honorable chine and the paunch full of dark blood all together. He laid them there upon the ground, and spread out the hides on a rugged rock: [125] and so they are still there many ages afterwards, a long, long time after all this, and are continually⁶. Next glad-hearted Hermes dragged the rich meats he had prepared and put them on a smooth, flat stone, and divided them into twelve portions distributed by lot, making each portion wholly honorable. [130] Then glorious Hermes longed for the sacrificial meat, for the sweet savour wearied him, god though he was; nevertheless his proud heart was not prevailed upon to devour the flesh, although he greatly desired.⁷ But he put away in the high-roofed byre [135] the fat and all the flesh, placing them high up to be a token of his youthful theft. And after that he gathered dry sticks and utterly destroyed with fire all the hoofs and all the heads.

And when the god had duly finished all, he threw his sandals into deep-eddying Alpheus, [140] and quenched the embers, covering the black ashes with sand, and so spent the night while Selene's soft light shone down. Then the god went straight back again at dawn to the bright crests of Cyllene, and no one met him on the long journey either of the blessed gods or mortal men, [145] nor did any dog bark. And luck-bringing Hermes, the son of Zeus, passed edgeways through the key-hole of the hall like the autumn breeze, even as mist: straight through the cave he went and came to the rich inner chamber, walking softly, and making no noise as one might upon the floor. [150] Then glorious

Hermes went hurriedly to his cradle, wrapping his swaddling clothes about his shoulders as though he were a feeble babe, and lay playing with the covering about his knees; but at his left hand he kept close his sweet lyre.

But the god did not pass unseen by the goddess his mother; but she said to him: [155] “How now, you rogue! Whence come you back so at night-time, you that wear shamelessness as a garment? And now I surely believe the son of Leto will soon have you forth out of doors with unbreakable cords about your ribs, or you will live a rogue's life in the glens robbing by whiles. [160] Go to, then; your father got you to be a great worry to mortal men and deathless gods.”

Then Hermes answered her with crafty words: “Mother, why do you seek to frighten me like a feeble child whose heart knows few words of blame, [165] a fearful babe that fears its mother's scolding? Nay, but I will try whatever plan is best, and so feed myself and you continually. We will not be content to remain here, as you bid, alone of all the gods unfee'd with offerings and prayers. [170]

Better to live in fellowship with the deathless gods continually, rich, wealthy, and enjoying stores of grain, than to sit always in a gloomy cave: and, as regards honor, I too will enter upon the rite that Apollo has. If my father will not give it me, [175] I will seek —and I am able —to be a prince of robbers. And if Leto's most glorious son shall seek me out, I think another and a greater loss will befall him. For I will go to Pytho to break into his great house, and will plunder therefrom splendid tripods, and cauldrons, [180] and gold, and plenty of bright iron, and much apparel; and you shall see it if you will.”

With such words they spoke together, the son of Zeus who holds the aegis, and the lady Maia. Now Eos the early born, bringing light to men, [185] was rising from deep-flowing Ocean, when Apollo, as he went, came to Onchestus, the lovely grove and sacred place of the loud-roaring Holder of the Earth. There he found an old man grazing his beast along the pathway from his court-yard fence, and the all-glorious Son of Leto began and said to him.

[190] “Old man, weeder⁸ of grassy Onchestus, I am come here from Pieria seeking cattle, cows all of them, all with curving horns, from my herd. The black bull was grazing alone away from the rest, but fierce-eyed hounds followed the cows, [195] four of them, all of one mind, like men. These were left behind, the dogs and the bull —which is a great marvel; but the cows strayed out of the soft meadow, away from the pasture when the sun was just going down. Now tell me this, old man born long ago: have you seen [200] one passing along behind those cows?”

Then the old man answered him and said: “My son, it is hard to tell all that one's eyes see; for many wayfarers pass to and fro this way, some bent on much evil, and some on good: [205] it is difficult to know each one. However, I was digging about my plot of vineyard all day long until the sun went down, and I thought, good sir, but I do not know for certain, that I marked a child, whoever the child was, that followed long-horned cattle— [210] an infant who had a staff and kept walking from side to side: he was driving them backwards way, with their heads towards him.”

So said the old man. And when Apollo heard this report, he went yet more quickly on his way, and presently, seeing a long-winged bird, he knew at once by that omen that the thief was the child of Zeus the son of Cronos. [215] So the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, hurried on to goodly Pylos seeking his shambling oxen, and he had his broad shoulders covered with a dark cloud. But when the Far-Shooter perceived the tracks, he cried:

“Oh, oh! Truly this is a great marvel that my eyes behold! [220] These are indeed the tracks of straight-horned oxen, but they are turned backwards towards the flowery meadow. But these others are not the footprints of man or woman or grey wolves or bears or lions, nor do I think they are the tracks of a rough-maned Centaur — [225] whoever it be that with swift feet makes such monstrous footprints; wonderful are the tracks on this side of the way, but yet more wonderful are those on that.”

When he had so said, the lord Apollo, the Son of Zeus hastened on and came to the forest-clad mountain of Cyllene and the deep-shadowed cave in the rock where the divine nymph [230] brought forth the child of Zeus who is the son of Cronos. A sweet odor spread over the lovely hill, and many thin-shanked sheep were grazing on the grass. Then far-shooting Apollo himself stepped down in haste over the stone threshold into the dusky cave.

[235] Now when the Son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo in a rage about his cattle, he snuggled down in his fragrant swaddling-clothes; and as wood-ash covers over the deep embers of tree-stumps, so Hermes cuddled himself up when he saw the Far-Shooter. [240] He squeezed head and hands and feet together in a small space, like a new born child seeking sweet sleep, though in truth he was wide awake, and he kept his lyre under his armpit. But the Son of Leto was aware and failed not to perceive the beautiful mountain-nymph and her dear son, [245] albeit a little child and swathed so craftily. He peered in every corner of the great dwelling and, taking a bright key, he opened three closets full of nectar and lovely ambrosia. And much gold and silver was stored in them, [250] and many garments of the nymph, some purple and some silvery white, such as are kept in the sacred houses of the blessed gods. Then, after the Son of Leto had searched out the recesses of the great house, he spake to glorious Hermes:

“Child, lying in the cradle, make haste and tell me of my cattle, [255] or we two will soon fall out angrily. For I will take and cast you into dusky Tartarus and awful hopeless darkness, and neither your mother nor your father shall free you or bring you up again to the light, but you will wander under the earth and be the leader amongst little folk.”⁹

[260] Then Hermes answered him with crafty words: “Son of Leto, what harsh words are these you have spoken? And is it cattle of the field you are come here to seek? I have not seen them: I have not heard of them: no one has told me of them. I cannot give news of them, nor win the reward for news.

[265] Am I like a cattle-lifter, a stalwart person? This is no task for me: rather I care for other things: I care for sleep, and milk of my mother's breast, and wrappings round my shoulders, and warm baths.

Let no one hear the cause of this dispute; [270] for this would be a great marvel indeed among the deathless gods, that a child newly born should pass in through the forepart of the house with cattle of the field: herein you speak extravagantly. I was born yesterday, and my feet are soft and the ground beneath is rough; nevertheless, if you will have it so, I will swear a great oath by my father's head and vow that [275] neither am I guilty myself, neither have I seen any other who stole your cows —whatever cows may be; for I know them only by hearsay.”

So, then, said Hermes, shooting quick glances from his eyes: and he kept raising his brows and looking this way and that, [280] whistling long and listening to Apollo's story as to an idle tale.
But far-working Apollo laughed softly and said to him: “O rogue, deceiver, crafty in heart, you talk so innocently that I most surely believe that you have broken into many a well-built house and stripped more than one poor wretch bare this night, [285] ¹⁰ gathering his goods together all over the house without noise. You will plague many a lonely herdsman in mountain glades, when you come on herds and thick-fleeced sheep, and have a hankering after flesh. But come now, if you would not sleep your last and latest sleep, [290] get out of your cradle, you comrade of dark night. Surely hereafter this shall be your title amongst the deathless gods, to be called the prince of robbers continually.”

So said Phoebus Apollo, and took the child and began to carry him. But at that moment the strong Slayer of Argus [295] had his plan, and, while Apollo held him in his hands, sent forth an omen, a hard-worked belly-serf, a rude messenger, and sneezed directly after. And when Apollo heard it, he dropped glorious Hermes out of his hands on the ground: [300] then sitting down before him, though he was eager to go on his way, he spoke mockingly to Hermes:

“Fear not, little swaddling baby, son of Zeus and Maia. I shall find the strong cattle presently by these omens, and you shall lead the way.”

When Apollo had so said, Cyllenian Hermes sprang up quickly, [305] starting in haste. With both hands he pushed up to his ears the covering that he had wrapped about his shoulders, and said:
“Where are you carrying me, Far-Worker, hastiest of all the gods? Is it because of your cattle that you are so angry and harass me? O dear, would that all the sort of oxen might perish; for it is not I [310] who stole your cows, nor did I see another steal them —whatever cows may be, and of that I have only heard report. Nay, give right and take it before Zeus, the Son of Cronos.”

So Hermes the shepherd and Leto's glorious son [315] kept stubbornly disputing each article of their quarrel: Apollo, speaking truly ...
not unfairly sought to seize glorious Hermes because of the cows; but he, the Cyllenian, tried to deceive the God of the Silver Bow with tricks and cunning words. But when, though he had many wiles, he found the other had as many shifts, [320] he began to walk across the sand, himself in front, while the Son of Zeus and Leto came behind. Soon they came, these lovely children of Zeus, to the top of fragrant Olympus, to their father, the Son of Cronos; for there were the scales of judgement set for them both. [325] There was an assembly on snowy Olympus, and the immortals who perish not were gathering after the hour of gold-throned Dawn.

Then Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow stood at the knees of Zeus: and Zeus who thunders on high spoke to his glorious son and asked him:

[330] “Phoebus, whence come you driving this great spoil, a child new born that has the look of a herald? This is a weighty matter that is come before the council of the gods.”

Then the lord, far-working Apollo, answered him: “O my father, you shall soon hear no trifling tale though you reproach me [335] that I alone am fond of spoil. Here is a child, a burgling robber, whom I found after a long journey in the hills of Cyllene: for my part I have never seen one so pert either among the gods or all men that catch folk unawares throughout the world. [340] He stole away my cows from their meadow and drove them off in the evening along the shore of the loud-roaring sea, making straight for Pylos. There were double tracks, and wonderful they were, such as one might marvel at, the doing of a clever sprite; for as for the cows, the dark dust kept and showed their footprints leading towards the flowery meadow; [345] but he himself —bewildering creature —crossed the sandy ground outside the path, not on his feet nor yet on his hands; but, furnished with some other means he trudged his way —wonder of wonders! —as though one walked on slender oak-trees. [350] Now while he followed the cattle across sandy ground, all the tracks showed quite clearly in the dust; but when he had finished the long way across the sand, presently the cows' track and his own could not be traced over the hard ground. But a mortal man noticed him [355] as he drove the wide-browed kine straight towards Pylos. And as soon as he had shut them up quietly, and had gone home by crafty turns and twists, he lay down in his cradle in the gloom of a dim cave, as still as dark night, so that not even [360] an eagle keenly gazing would have spied him. Much he rubbed his eyes with his hands as he prepared falsehood, and himself straightway said roundly: `I have not seen them: I have not heard of them: no man has told me of them. I could not tell you of them, nor win the reward of telling.'”

[365] When he had so spoken, Phoebus Apollo sat down. But Hermes on his part answered and said, pointing at the Son of Cronos, the lord of all the gods:

“Zeus, my father, indeed I will speak truth to you; for I am truthful and I cannot tell a lie. [370] He came to our house to-day looking for his shambling cows, as the sun was newly rising. He brought no witnesses with him nor any of the blessed gods who had seen the theft, but with great violence ordered me to confess, threatening much to throw me into wide Tartarus. [375] For he has the rich bloom of glorious youth, while I was born but yesterday —as he too knows —, nor am I like a cattle-lifter, a sturdy fellow. Believe my tale （for you claim to be my own father）, that I did not drive his cows to my house —so may I prosper— [380] nor crossed the threshold: this I say truly. I reverence Helios greatly and the other gods, and you I love and him I dread. You yourself know that I am not guilty: and I will swear a great oath upon it:—No! by these rich-decked porticoes of the gods. [385] And some day I will punish him, strong as he is, for this pitiless inquisition; but now do you help the younger.”

So spake the Cyllenian, the Slayer of Argus, while he kept shooting sidelong glances and kept his swaddling-clothes upon his arm, and did not cast them away. But Zeus laughed out loud to see his evil-plotting child [390] well and cunningly denying guilt about the cattle. And he bade them both to be of one mind and search for the cattle, and guiding Hermes to lead the way and, without mischievousness of heart, to show the place where now he had hidden the strong cattle. [395] Then the Son of Cronos bowed his head: and goodly Hermes obeyed him; for the will of Zeus who holds the aegis easily prevailed with him.

Then the two all-glorious children of Zeus hastened both to sandy Pylos, and reached the ford of Alpheus, and came to the fields and the high-roofed byre [400] where the beasts were cherished at night-time. Now while Hermes went to the cave in the rock and began to drive out the strong cattle, the son of Leto, looking aside, saw the cowhides on the sheer rock. And he asked glorious Hermes at once:

[405] “How were you able, you crafty rogue, to flay two cows, new-born and babyish as you are? For my part, I dread the strength that will be yours: there is no need you should keep growing long, Cyllenian, son of Maia!”

So saying, Apollo twisted strong withes with his hands [409a] meaning to bind Hermes with firm bands; [409b] but the bands would not hold him, and the withes of osier fell far from him [410] and began to grow at once from the ground beneath their feet in that very place. And intertwining with one another, they quickly grew and covered all the wild-roving cattle by the will of thievish Hermes, so that Apollo was astonished as he gazed.

Then the strong slayer of Argus [415] looked furtively upon the ground with eyes flashing fire ...
desiring to hide ...

Very easily he softened the son of all-glorious Leto as he would, stern though the Far-shooter was. He took the lyre upon his left arm and tried each string in turn with the key, so that at his touch [420] it sounded awesomely. And Phoebus Apollo laughed for joy; for the sweet throb of the marvellous music went to his heart, and a soft longing took hold on his soul as he listened. Then the son of Maia, harping sweetly upon his lyre, took courage and stood at the left hand [425] of Phoebus Apollo; and soon, while he played shrilly on his lyre, he lifted up his voice and sang, and lovely was the sound of his voice that followed. He sang the story of the deathless gods and of the dark earth, how at the first they came to be, and how each one received his portion. First among the gods he honored Mnemosyne, [430] mother of the Muses, in his song; for the son of Maia was of her following. And next the goodly son of Zeus hymned the rest of the immortals according to their order in age, and told how each was born, mentioning all in order as he struck the lyre upon his arm. But Apollo was seized with a longing not to be allayed, [435] and he opened his mouth and spoke winged words to Hermes:
“Slayer of oxen, trickster, busy one, comrade of the feast, this song of yours is worth fifty cows, and I believe that presently we shall settle our quarrel peacefully. But come now, tell me this, resourceful son of Maia: [440] has this marvellous thing been with you from your birth, or did some god or mortal man give it you —a noble gift —and teach you heavenly song? For wonderful is this new-uttered sound I hear, the like of which I vow that no man [445] nor god dwelling on Olympus ever yet has known but you,O thievish son of Maia. What skill is this? What song for desperate cares? What way of song? For verily here are three things to hand all at once from which to choose, —mirth, and love, and sweet sleep. [450] And though I am a follower of the Olympian Muses who love dances and the bright path of song —the full-toned chant and ravishing thrill of flutes —yet I never cared for any of those feats of skill at young men's revels, as I do now for this: [455] I am filled with wonder, O son of Zeus, at your sweet playing. But now, since you, though little, have such glorious skill, sit down, dear boy, and respect the words of your elders For now you shall have renown among the deathless gods, you and your mother also. This I will declare to you exactly: [460] by this shaft of cornel wood I will surely make you a leader renowned among the deathless gods, and fortunate, and will give you glorious gifts and will not deceive you from first to last.”
Then Hermes answered him with artful words: “You question me carefully, O Far-worker; yet I am

[465] not jealous that you should enter upon my art: this day you shall know it. For I seek to be friendly with you both in thought and word. Now you well know all things in your heart, since you sit foremost among the deathless gods, O son of Zeus, and are goodly and strong. And wise Zeus loves you [470] as all right is, and has given you splendid gifts. And they say that from the utterance of Zeus you have learned both the honors due to the gods, O Far-worker, and oracles from Zeus, even all his ordinances. Of all these I myself have already learned that you have great wealth. Now, you are free to learn whatever you please; [475] but since, as it seems, your heart is so strongly set on playing the lyre, chant, and play upon it, and give yourself to merriment, taking this as a gift from me, and do you, my friend, bestow glory on me. Sing well with this clear-voiced companion in your hands; for you are skilled in good, well-ordered utterance. [480] From now on bring it confidently to the rich feast and lovely dance and glorious revel, a joy by night and by day. Whoso with wit and wisdom enquires of it cunningly, him it teaches [485] through its sound all manner of things that delight the mind, being easily played with gentle familiarities, for it abhors toilsome drudgery; but whoso in ignorance enquires of it violently, to him it chatters mere vanity and foolishness. But you are able to learn whatever you please. [490] So then, I will give you this lyre, glorious son of Zeus, while I for my part will graze down with wild-roving cattle the pastures on hill and horse-feeding plain: so shall the cows covered by the bulls calve abundantly both males and females. And now there is no need for you, [495] bargainer though you are, to be furiously angry.”

When Hermes had said this, he held out the lyre: and Phoebus Apollo took it, and readily put his shining whip in Hermes' hand, and ordained him keeper of herds. The son of Maia received it joyfully, [500] while the glorious son of Leto, the lord far-working Apollo, took the lyre upon his left arm and tried each string with the key. Awesomely it sounded at the touch of the god, while he sang sweetly to its note.

Afterwards they two, the all-glorious sons of Zeus turned the cows back towards the sacred meadow, [505] but themselves hastened back to snowy Olympus, delighting in the lyre. Then wise Zeus was glad and made them both friends. And Hermes loved the son of Leto continually, even as he does now, when he had given the lyre as token to the Far-shooter, [510] who played it skilfully, holding it upon his arm. But for himself Hermes found out another cunning art and made himself the pipes whose sound is heard afar.

Then the son of Leto said to Hermes: “Son of Maia, guide and cunning one, I fear [515] you may steal from me the lyre and my curved bow together; for you have an office from Zeus, to establish deeds of barter amongst men throughout the fruitful earth. Now if you would only swear me the great oath of the gods, either by nodding your head, or by the potent water of Styx, [520] you would do all that can please and ease my heart.”

Then Maia's son nodded his head and promised that he would never steal anything of all the Far-shooter possessed, and would never go near his strong house; but Apollo, son of Leto, swore to be fellow and friend to Hermes, [525] vowing that he would love no other among the immortals, neither god nor man sprung from Zeus, better than Hermes: [526a] and the Father sent forth an eagle in confirmation. And Apollo swear also: “Verily I will make you only to be an omen for the immortals and all alike, trusted and honored by my heart. Moreover, I will give you a splendid staff of riches and wealth: [530] it is of gold, with three branches, and will keep you scatheless, accomplishing every task, whether of words or deeds that are good, which I claim to know through the utterance of Zeus. But as for sooth-saying, noble, heaven-born child, of which you ask, it is not lawful for you to learn it, nor for any other [535] of the deathless gods: only the mind of Zeus knows that. I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a strong oath that no other of the eternal gods save I should know the wise-hearted counsel of Zeus. And do not you, my brother, bearer of the golden wand, bid me [540] tell those decrees which all-seeing Zeus intends. As for men, I will harm one and profit another, sorely perplexing the tribes of unenviable men. Whosoever shall come guided by the call and flight of birds of sure omen, [545] that man shall have advantage through my voice, and I will not deceive him. But whoso shall trust to idly-chattering birds and shall seek to invoke my prophetic art contrary to my will, and to understand more than the eternal gods, I declare that he shall come on an idle journey; yet his gifts I would take.

[550] But I will tell you another thing, Son of all-glorious Maia and Zeus who holds the aegis, luck-bringing genius of the gods. There are certain holy ones, sisters born —three virgins¹¹ gifted with wings: their heads are besprinkled with white meal, [555] and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus. These are teachers of divination apart from me, the art which I practised while yet a boy following herds, though my father paid no heed to it. From their home they fly now here, now there, feeding on honey-comb and bringing all things to pass. [560] And when they are inspired through eating yellow honey, they are willing to speak truth; but if they be deprived of the gods' sweet food, then they speak falsely, as they swarm in and out together. These, then, I give you; enquire of them strictly [565] and delight your heart: and if you should teach any mortal so to do, often will he hear your response —if he have good fortune. Take these, Son of Maia, and tend the wild roving, horned oxen and horses and patient mules.”

[568a] So he spake. And from heaven father Zeus himself gave confirmation to his words, [568b] and commanded that glorious Hermes should be lord over all birds of omen and grim-eyed lions, and boars with gleaming tusks, [570] and over dogs and all flocks that the wide earth nourishes, and over all sheep; also that he only should be the appointed messenger to Hades, who, though he takes no gift, shall give him no mean prize.

Thus the lord Apollo showed his kindness for the Son of Maia [575] by all manner of friendship: and the Son of Cronos gave him grace besides. He consorts with all mortals and immortals: a little he profits, but continually throughout the dark night he cozens the tribes of mortal men.
And so, farewell, Son of Zeus and Maia; [580] but I will remember you and another song also.

1 Pliny notices the efficacy of the flesh of a tortoise against witchcraft. In Geoponica i. 14. 8 the living tortoise is prescribed as a charm to preserve vineyards from hail.

2 Hermes makes the cattle walk backwards way, so that they seem to be going towards the meadow instead of leaving it （cp. 1. 345）; he himself walks in the normal manner, relying on his sandals as a disguise.

3 Such seems to be the meaning indicated by the context, though the verb is taken by Allen and Sikes to mean, “to be like oneself,” and so “to be original.”

4 Kuhn points out that there is a lacuna here. In 1. 109 the borer is described, but the friction of this upon the fire-block （to which the phrase “held firmly” clearly belongs） must also have been mentioned.

5 The cows being on their sides on the ground, Hermes bends their heads back towards their flanks and so can reach their backbones.

6 O. Muller thinks the “hides” were a stalactite formation in the “Cave of Nestor” near Messenian Pylos, —though the cave of Hermes is near the Alpheus （1. 139）. Others suggest that actual skins were shown as relics before some cave near Triphylian Pylos.

7 Gemoll explains that Hermes, having offered all the meat as sacrifice to the Twelve Gods, remembers that he himself as one of them must be content with the savour instead of the substance of the sacrifice. Can it be that by eating he would have forfeited the position he claimed as one of the Twelve Gods?

8 Lit. “thorn-plucker.”

9 Hermes is ambitious （1.175）, but if he is cast into Hades he will have to be content with the leadership of mere babies like himself, since those in Hades retain the state of growth —whether childhood or manhood —in which they are at the moment of leaving the upper world.

10 Literally, “you have made him sit on the floor,” i.e. “you have stolen everything down to his last chair.”

11 The Thriae, who practised divination by means of pebbles （also calledθριαί）. In this hymn they are represented as aged maidens （ll. 553-4）, but are closely associated with bees （ll. 559-563） and possibly are here conceived as having human heads and breasts with the bodies and wings of bees. See the edition of Allen and Sikes, Appendix III.

Anonymous. The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Homeric Hymns. Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914.