Glaukopis

The poets call me the gray-eyed Goddess.
Flashing-eyed.
Sliver as the glint from a spear point.
Wild with battle fury.
But my sight is sharper than a weapon.

The scholars claim I came from a storm.
Mosture laden.
Eerie dark grey-green as the most dangerous clouds.
Bright as Zeus's lightning.
But my wisdom is more penetrating than rain.

The priests say I stare like an owl.
Unflinching.
Glassy blue pupils with no whites.
Able to see even in the faintest light.
But my eyes are older than the darkness.

Turn not away from my gaze, mortal.
I see all.
Rather, look me in the eyes and know the mystery.
Drink of my ancient pools of wisdom.
Know you the color of my eyes.

Written for Noumenia, Mounukhion 1.

Glaukopis is the epithet of Athena that I usually honor in my everyday worship. It has many translations: silver, blue-green, and gray-eyed, shining, flashing, and glinting-eyed, and, the oldest, and one of particular relevance to my own practice: owl-eyed. I have come to think of these many translations not just as an accident of an evolving language, but as a kind of mystery. Athena's eyes cannot be described completely by any one of the translations above, but encompasses all of them. I feel greatly honored to have 'seen' the color of Athena's eyes, although I will never be able to find the right words to explain them. This little hymn is my feeble attempt.

Hilarious Teeshirt

This is appropriate on so many levels.

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.