Works and Days Devotion, Day 6: Artemis, Prothyraia, Leto, Tyche
Orphic Hymns translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis (36, 2, 35, 72)
To Artemis
Hear me, O queen, Zeus's daughter of many names, Titanic and Bacchic, Reverend, renowned archer, torch-bearing goddess bringing light to all, Diktynna, helper at childbirth. You aid women in labor, though you know not what labor is. O frenzy-loving huntress, you loosen girdles and drive cares away. Swift, arrow-pouring, you love the outdoors and you roam in the night. Fame-bringing, affable, redeeming, nurturer of mortal youths. Immortal and yet of this earth, you slay wild beasts, O blessed one, And your realm is in mountain forests. You hunt deer, O august and mighty queen of all, fair blossom, Eternal, sylvan, dog-loving, many-shaped lady of Kydonia. Come, dear goddess, as savior, accessible to all the initiates, And bring earth's fair fruits and lovely Peace and well-tressed Health, And do banish disease and pain to the mountain peaks.
To Prothyraia
Hear me, revered goddess, many-named divinity. You aid in travail, O sight sweet to women in labor; You save women and you alone love children, O kindly goddess of swift birth, ever helpful to young women, O Prothyraia. Accessible to all, O mistress, you are gracious and fond of nurture, Yours is the power in every house and you delight in festivities; You loosen girdles and, though invisible, you are seen in every deed. You share pain, and rejoice in every birth, O Eileithyia, Freeing from pain those in terrible distress. Upon you alone pregnant women call, O comforter of souls, And in you alone there is relief from pains of labor. Artemis, Eileithyia, Prothyraia! Hearken, O blessed one, succor me, grant offspring, And save me, for it is your nature to be a savior of all.
To Leto
Dark-veiled Leto, revered goddess and mother of twins, Great-souled daughter of Koios, queen to whom many pray, To your lot fell the birth pains for Zeus' fair child. You bore Phoibos and arrow-pouring Artemis, her on Ortygia, and him on rocky Delos. Hear, lady goddess, and with favor in your heart, Come to this all-holy rite and bring sweet end.
To Tyche
With prayer in mind, I summon you here, Tyche, noble ruler, Gentle goddess of the roads, for wealth and possessions, As Artemis who guides, renowned, sprung from the loins of Eubouleus. Your wish is irresistible. Funereal and delusive, you are the theme of men's songs. In you lies the great variety of men's livelihood. To some you grant a wealth of blessings and possessions, While to others, against whom you harbor anger, you give evil poverty. But, O goddess, I beseech you to come in kindness to my life, And with abundance grant me happiness and riches.
