Monday, August 13, 2007

In the beginning



καλῶς μοι δοκεῖς λέγειν κελεύων πειρᾶσθαι σὺν τοῖς θεοῖς ἄρχεσθαι παντὸς ἔργου. (Xenophon, Oec. 6.1)

"I believe you are right when you require that in everything we do we should try to begin by invoking the help of the gods."

So, here goes, in the words of a long-dead friend:

"O Mother of gods and men, you who sit by the side of Zeus and share his throne [...], O life-giving goddess, the counsel, the providence, and the maker of our souls [...], O giver of all good things to the intellectual gods, you, who fill with all things this sensible world and who give us all things good! Do grant to all humans happiness, especially that highest happiness of all, the knowledge of the gods; and grant that to the Roman people in all respects, but most of all that they may cleanse themselves of the stain of godlessness; grant them also a favorable fate, lending them a helping hand to steer the helm of their Empire for many thousands of years! And for myself, grant me as fruit of my worship to you that I may discern the truth in all the teachings about the gods and that I may attain perfection in theurgy! And in all that I undertake in the affairs of the state and the army, grant me virtue and good fortune, and that the close of my life may find me without sorrow and with a good reputation, in the good hope that my last journey will bring me to you!"

Emperor Julian, Hymn to the Mother of the Gods 179D-180C

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