Monday, February 22, 2010

Homeric Hymn to Athena

Homeric Hymn #28

Eis Athênan

To Athena


Pallad' Athênaiên, kudrên theon, archom' aeidein

I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious goddess,


glaukôpin, polumêtin, ameilichon êtor echousan,

bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart,


parthenon aidoiên, erusiptolin, alkêessan,

pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous,


Tritogenê, tên autos egeinato mêtieta Zeus

Tritogeneia. From his awful head wise Zeus


semnês ek kephalês, polemêia teuche' echousan,

himself bare her arrayed in warlike arms


chrusea, pamphanoônta: sebas d' eche pantas horôntas

of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed.


athanatous: hê de prosthen Dios aigiochoio

But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis,


essumenôs ôrousen ap' athanatoio karênou,

shaking a sharp spear:


seisas' oxun akonta: megas d' elelizet' Olumpos

great Olympos began to reel horribly


deinon hupo brimês glaukôpidos: amphi de gaia

at the might of the grey-eyed goddess, and earth round about


smerdaleon iachêsen: ekinêthê d' ara pontos,

cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves,


kumasi porphureoisi kukômenos: ekchuto d' halmê

while foam burst forth suddenly:


exapinês: stêsen d' Huperionos aglaos huios

the bright Son of Hyperion stopped


hippous ôkupodas dêron chronon, eisote kourê

his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden


heilet' ap' athanatôn ômôn theoeikela teuchê

stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders,


Pallas Athênaiê: gêthêse de mêtieta Zeus.

Pallas Athena. And wise Zeus was glad.


kai su men houtô chaire, Dios tekos aigiochoio:

Hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aigis!


autar egô kai seio kai allês mnêsom' aoidês.

Now I will remember you and another song as well.

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