Ace Allies Living Together in Honor and Joy: Callimachus, In Delos 291-299

Living Together in Love and Joy

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:    Hymn to Delos 291-299

Artemis, the first to [worship] you from golden Thule

Were the daughters of Boreas,

 Upis and Loxo, and happy-in-life Hecaerge,

Along with the best [unmarried] men.

They never returned home,

But they got their happily-ever-afters,

And are never forgotten in memory.

For whenever sweet-singing Hymenaeos [1]

Terrifies the hearts of maidens

Before their wedding day,

Young women offer a lock of their hair to these immortal maidens,

And young men offer their first sprouts of facial hair

To these immortal youths.

 

---

[1] Hymenaeos was the personification of weddings and marriage.

πρῶταί τοι τάδ᾽ ἔνεικαν ἀπὸ ξανθῶν Ἀριμασπῶν Οὖπίς τε Λοξώ τε καὶ εὐαίων Ἑκαέργη, θυγατέρες Βορέαο, καὶ ἄρσενες οἱ τότ᾽ ἄριστοι ἠιθέων: οὐδ᾽ οἵ γε παλιμπετὲς οἴκαδ᾽ ἵκοντο, εὔμοιροι δ᾽ ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἀκλέες οὔποτ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι. ἦ τοι Δηλιάδες μέν, ὅτ᾽ εὐήχης ὑμέναιος ἤθεα κουράων μορμύσσεται, ἥλικα χαίτην παρθενικαῖς, παῖδες δὲ θέρος τὸ πρῶτον ἰούλων ἄρσενες ἠιθέοισιν ἀπαρχόμενοι φορέουσιν.

Primae hos tibi tulerunt fulvis ab Arimaspis Upis & Loxo, felix aevi Hecaerge, filiae Boreae, & mares, qui tum optimi iuvenum: neque illo retro domum rediere. Beati autem facti, nec unquam illi inglorii futuri sunt. Nam Deliades quidem, cum sonorus Hymenaeus Thalamos puellarum terret, aequaevam comam virgines; pueri aute primam lanuginis messem iuvenibus primitias ferunt.   Translated into Latin by Johann August Ernesti

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

Trans Ally and Momma Bear, Callimachus, Greek Anthology 7.728

Trans Ally and Momma Bear

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:    Greek Anthology 7.728

The following is an epitaph of a priestess who served many goddesses throughout her life, including Cybele. As a priestess of Cybele, she was a protector and mentor of the goddess’ galli worshippers.

I was once the sacred priestess of Demeter, then the Cabeiri,

O traveler, and then I served Cybele.

I was a momma bear for many young ladies. 

Then I became an old woman, and now I’m ashes; 

And the locks of golden hair that used to adorn my shoulders.

I had two sons, and I closed my eyes a final time in their arms. 

Go on your merry way.  

Ἱερέη Δήμητρος ἐγώ ποτε, καὶ πάλιν Καβείρων, ὦνερ, καὶ μετέπειτα Δινδυμήνης, ἡ γρηῢς γενόμην, ἡ νῦν κόνις, ἡνο ... πολλῶν προστασίη νέων γυναικῶν. καί μοι τέκν᾽ ἐγένοντο δύ᾽ ἄρσενα, κἠπέμυς᾽ ἐκείνων εὐγήρως ἐνὶ χερσίν. ἕρπε χαίρων.

Virgo sacerdos Cereris ego olim, et rursus Cabirorum, o homo, et deinde Dindymenae, anus fui, quae nunc sum cinis [a diis nacta] multarum patrocinium iuvenum mulierum. Et mihi pueri fuerunt duo mares, et oculos clausi illorum grandaeva in manibus. Repta gaudens. Translated into Latin by  Hugo Grotius

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

M/M: For the Love of Admetus, Callimachus, Hymn to Apollo, 47-54

 

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:   Hymn to Apollo, 47 – 54

We also call Phoebus the “Shepherd,”

From the time that he watched over

Teams of horses on the banks of the Amphrysus River

All for the love of the youth Admetus.

The fields were full of cows,

The goats lacked no woolly kids;

The livestock under the watchful eye of Apollo

Were neither sterile nor barren;

Mother ewes suddenly birthed not just one offspring, but twins.

Φοῖβον καὶ Νόμιον κικλήσκομεν ἐξέτι κείνου, ἐξότ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Ἀμφρυσσῷ ζευγίτιδας ἔτρεφεν ἵππους ἠιθέου ὑπ᾽ ἔρωτι κεκαυμένος Ἀδμήτοιο. ῥεῖά κε βουβόσιον τελέθοι πλέον, οὐδέ κεν αἶγες δεύοιντο βρεφέων ἐπιμηλάδες ᾗδιν Ἀπόλλων βοσκομένῃσ᾽ ὀφθαλμὸν ἐπήγαγεν: οὐδ᾽ ἀγάλακτες οἴιες οὐδ᾽ ἄκυθοι, πᾶσαι δέ κεν εἶεν ὕπαρνοι, ἡ δέ κε μουνοτόκος διδυμητόκος αἶψα γένοιτο.

Phoebum etiam pastorem vocamus ex eo tempore, quo ad Amphrysum iugales pavit equas pueri Admeti ardens amore. Facile utique pascua sint plena bubus, neque caprae inerrantes lanigeris careant subole, quas Apollo pascentes respexerit: neque sine lacte oves, aut steriles fuerint, sed omnes prolem habeant, et unipara repente fiat gemellipara. Translated into Latin by Johann August Ernesti

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

A Lover's Words: Catullus 70 & Callimachus 5.6.1-4

Although Callimachus uses this literary trope for lovers of any gender, Catullus uses this trope specifically against his lady (mulier, sometimes identified as Lesbia).

Callimachus, Greek Anthology V.6.1-4 (Translated into Latin by Friedrich Duebner):

Callignotus swore to Ionis

That no one—man or woman—would be dearer to him than her.

He swears this, but what they say is true:

The oaths of a lover never reach the immortal gods.

Iuravit Callignotus Ionidi, numquam se illa

habiturum-esse amicum potiorem neque amicam.

Iuravit: sed vere dicunt, amantium iuramenta

non penetrare in aures immortalium.

ὤμοσε Καλλίγνωτος Ἰωνίδι, μήποτε κείνης

ἕξειν μήτε φίλον κρέσσονα μήτε φίλην.

ὤμοσεν: ἀλλὰ λέγουσιν ἀληθέα, τοὺς ἐν ἔρωτι

ὅρκους.μὴ δύνειν οὔατ᾽ ἐς ἀθανάτων.

vs. Catullus 70:

My lady says that she’d rather marry no one but me,

Not even if Jupiter himself asked her.

So she says: but what a woman tells a desirous lover

Should be written on the wind and rushing water.

Nulli se dicit mulier mea nubere malle

quam mihi, non si se Iuppiter ipse petat.

dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,

in vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua.

 Callimachus (305 - 240 BCE) is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the fragments that remain are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

W/W: Artemis' Love Among the Ladies, Callimachus, Hymn to Artemis, 183-219

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:    Hymn to Artemis, 183-219

The poet Callimachus portrays Artemis as both asexual / chaste as well as the lover of women. 

Tell me, what island pleases you most? 

What mountain? What lake? What city?

What nymph do you love the most, 

what heroines do you keep as companions?

Tell me, Goddess, and I will tell others.

Doliche is your favorite island, Perga is your favorite city,

Taygeton is your favorite mountain, and Euripis is your favorite strait.

Of all the nymphs, you passionately loved the Gortynian Britomartis,

The amazing archer and slayer of deer. Once, Minos was smitten by her, 

and he wandered over the mountains of Crete in search of her.

The nymph hid under the leafy oak trees and in marshes.

He searched for her among the stones and craigs for nine months;

He never stopped searching for her, until

Nearly captured by him, she leapt into the sea from a tall cliff

Landed in a fisherman’s net, and was saved.

Thereafter the Cretans called the nymph “Dictynna,”  [Net Lady]

And called the cliff that she jumped from “Dictaen” [Net Cliff];

They made a dedicatory altar there and made their sacrifices.

On that holiday, they make garlands of pine or mastic tree, but never myrtle.

For while she was fleeing, her tunic was caught on a myrtle branch

And so Britomartis *hates* the myrtle tree.

Upis, o beautiful light-bringer, the Cretans even call you this, too.

Then you took up Cyrene as your companion, and you gave her

Two of your hunting dogs, which Hypseis’ daughter used to gain victory

At Iolchus’ tomb.

You also loved the golden-haired wife of Cephalus,  

And made her your hunting companion:

And they say that you loved  the beautiful Anticlea more than your own eyes;

These women were the first to wear their hunting bow

And quiver upon their naked shoulder;

Their right shoulder was always naked,

Their right breast was always exposed.

You really loved swift-footed Atalanta,

The boar-slaying daughter of Arcadian Iasius,

You taught her to hunt and use her arrows with skill.

τίς δέ νύ τοι νήσων, ποῖον δ᾽ ὄρος εὔαδε πλεῖστον,

τίς δὲ λιμήν, ποίη δὲ πόλις; τίνα δ᾽ ἔξοχα νυμφέων

 φίλαο, καὶ ποίας ἡρωίδας ἔσχες ἑταίρας;

εἰπὲ θεὴ σὺ μὲν ἄμμιν, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἑτέροισιν ἀείσω.

νήσων μὲν Δολίχη, πολίων δέ τοι εὔαδε Πέργη,

Τηύγετον δ᾽ ὀρέων, λιμένες γε μὲν Εὐρίποιο.

ἔξοχα δ᾽ ἀλλάων Γορτυνίδα φίλαο νύμφην,

 ἐλλοφόνον Βριτόμαρτιν ἐύσκοπον: ἧς ποτε Μίνως

πτοιηθεὶς ὑπ᾽ ἔρωτι κατέδραμεν οὔρεα Κρήτης.

ἣ δ᾽ ὁτὲ μὲν λασίηισιν ὑπὸ δρυσὶ κρύπτετο νύμφη,

ἄλλοτε δ᾽ εἱαμενῆισιν: ὃ δ᾽ ἐννέα μῆνας ἐφοίτα

παίπαλά τε κρημνούς τε καὶ οὐκ ἀνέπαυσε διωκτύν,

 μέσφ᾽ ὅτε μαρπτομένη καὶ δὴ σχεδὸν ἥλατο πόντον

πρηόνος ἐξ ὑπάτοιο καὶ ἔνθορεν εἰς ἁλιήων

δίκτυα, τά σφ᾽ ἐσάωσαν: ὅθεν μετέπειτα Κύδωνες

νύμφην μὲν Δίκτυναν, ὄρος δ᾽ ὅθεν ἥλατο νύμφη

Δικταῖον καλέουσιν, ἀνεστήσαντο δὲ βωμούς

 ἱερά τε ῥέζουσι: τὸ δὲ στέφος ἤματι κείνωι

ἢ πίτυς ἢ σχῖνος, μύρτοιο δὲ χεῖρες ἄθικτοι:

δὴ τότε γὰρ πέπλοισιν ἐνέσχετο μύρσινος ὄζος

τῆς κούρης, ὅτ᾽ ἔφευγεν: ὅθεν μέγα χώσατο μύρτωι.

Οὖπι ἄνασσ᾽ εὐῶπι φαεσφόρε, καὶ δὲ σὲ κείνην

 Κρηταέες καλέουσιν ἐπωνυμίην ἀπὸ νύμφης.

καὶ μὴν Κυρήνην ἑταρίσσαο, τῆι ποτ᾽ ἔδωκας

αὐτὴ θηρητῆρε δύω κύνε, τοῖς ἔνι κούρη

Ὑψηὶς παρὰ τύμβον Ἰώλκιον ἔμμορ᾽ ἀέθλου.

καὶ Κεφάλου ξανθὴν ἄλοχον Δηιονίδαο

 πότνια σὴν ὁμόθηρον ἐθήκαο: καὶ δὲ σὲ φασί

καλὴν Ἀντίκλειαν ἴσον φαέεσσι φιλῆσαι,

αἳ πρῶται θοὰ τόξα καὶ ἀμφ᾽ ὤμοισι φαρέτρας

ἰοδόκους ἐφόρησαν: ἀσύλλωτοι δέ φιν ὦμοι

δεξιτεροὶ καὶ γυμνὸς ἀεὶ παρεφαίνετο μαζός.

 ἤινησας δ᾽ ἔτι πάγχυ ποδορρώρην Ἀταλάντην,

κούρην Ἰασίοιο συοκτόνον Ἀρκασίδαο,

καί ἑ κυνηλασίην τε καὶ εὐστοχίην ἐδίδαξας.

Quae autem, quaeso, insularum, quique mons placuit maxime?

Quique lacus? Quaeque urbs? Quamque inprimis Nympham

amas, & quas heroinas habuisti sodales?

Dic, Dea, tu quidem nobis, ego vero aliis canam.

Ex insulis quidem Doliche, ex urbibus autem tibi placuit Perga,

Teugetus e montibus, portusque Euripi.

Prae ceteris autem Gortyniam adamasti Nympham,

Cervorum interfectricem, Britomartin, bene collimantem: cuius quondam Minos

Percussus amore, pererravit montes Cretae.

Nympha autem modo sub umbrosis latebus querubus comantibus,

modo in paludibus. Ille vero per novem menses erravit

in saxis & rupibus; neque destiti persequi,

Donec, propemodum deprensa, desiluit in mare

Rupe de summa, insiluitque in piscatorum

Retia, per quae est servata. Unde postea Cydones

Nympham quidem Dictynnam, montem autem, unde desiluit Nympha,

Dictaeum vocarunt, dedicaruntque aras

et sacra faciunt. Sertum autem illa die

aut pinus est, aut lentiscus: myrto autem manus sunt intactae.

Nam tum myrteo ramo adhaesit peplum

puellae, cum fugeret, eaque propter valde indignata est myrto.

Upi regina, pulcra, faces gestans, etiam te illa

Cretenses cognomine vocant a nympha.

Enimvero etiam Cyrenen sodalem sumsisti, cui aliquando dedisti

ipsa duos canes venaticos, per quos virgo

Hypseis ad tumulum Iolcium adepta est palmam.

Etiam Cephali flavam uxorem Deionidae,

Veneranda, comitem venationum tuarum fecisti: atque etiam te dicunt

pulchram Anticleam, ut oculos tuos, amasse,

Quae primae celeres arcus, inque humeris pharetras

sagittiferas tulerunt: cum nudus ipsis humerus

Dexter, nudaque semper extaret mamma

Amasti praeterea valde pedibus celerem Atalantam,

Filiam Iasii apricidam Arcasidae,

eamque & venari & sagittis scite uti docuisti.

Translated into Latin by Jo. Augustus Ernest

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

I Never Shall Marry: Artemis, Callimachus' Hymn to Artemis, 1.1-25

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:    Hymn to Artemis 1.1-25

I sing of Diana (for who can forget her in song?!),

Whose heart is full of archery & hunting,

her flock of followers, and her mountain-adventures.

While still a girl, she sat upon her father’s lap, and began as follows:

“Father, give me control over my virginity, so that I may keep it forever.

Give me may names, so Phoebus may not look down upon me.

Give me a bow & arrows: please, Father!

I’m not asking you for a quiver, or a great bow:

The Cyclops will build these for me straightaway,

But let me be a bringer of light, and let me wear my skirt knee-length

And I will be a slayer of wild beasts.

Give me sixty Ocean-maidens, who can join me on my quest,

All of them still young, still girls,

And give me also an entourage of maidens, twenty nymphs of Amnisius

Who can take care of my hunting boots and my hunting dogs

Whenever I want to hunt lynxes & stags

And give me all mountains: and whatever city you want, I guess.

For Diana does not like the cities.

I shall dwell in the mountains: I’ll only enter cities

Whenever women are having difficulties in childbirth

And call upon me to help. That’s something the Fates

Gave me the ability to help with: as soon as I was born,

When she gave birth, my Mother did not have labor pains,

But birthed me from her belly without pain.”

Ἄρτεμιν （οὐ γὰρ ἐλαφρὸν ἀειδόντεσσι λαθέσθαι）

ὑμνέομεν, τῆι τόξα λαγωβολίαι τε μέλονται

καὶ χορὸς ἀμφιλαφὴς καὶ ἐν οὔρεσιν ἑψιάασθαι,

ἄρχμενοι, ὡς ὅτε πατρὸς ἐφεζομένη γονάτεσσι

παῖς ἔτι κουρίζουσα τάδε προσέειπε γονῆα

'δός μοι παρθενίην αἰώνιον ἄππα φυλάσσειν,

καὶ πολυωνυμίην, ἵνα μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐρίζηι.

δὸς δ᾽ ἰοὺς καὶ τόξα — ἔα πάτερ, οὔ σε φαρέτρην

οὐδ᾽ αἰτέω μέγα τόξον: ἐμοὶ Κύκλωπες ὀιστοὺς

αὐτίκα τεχνήσονται, ἐμοὶ δ᾽ εὐκαμπὲς ἄεμμα:

ἀλλὰ φαεσφορίην τε καὶ ἐς γόνυ μέχρι χιτῶνα

ζώννυσθαι λεγνωτόν, ἵν᾽ ἄγρια θηρία καίνω.

δὸς δέ μοι ἑξήκοντα χορίτιδας Ὠκεανίνας,

πάσας εἰνέτεας, πάσας ἔτι παῖδας ἀμίτρους.

δὸς δέ μοι ἀμφιπόλους Ἀμνισίδας εἴκοσι νύμφας,

αἵ τέ μοι ἐνδρομίδας τε καί, ὁππότε μηκέτι λύγκας

μήτ᾽ ἐλάφους βάλλοιμι, θοοὺς κύνας εὖ κομέοιεν,

δὸς δέ μοι οὔρεα πάντα: πόλιν δέ μοι ἥντινα νεῖμον

ἥντινα λῆις: σπαρνὸν γὰρ ὅτ᾽ Ἄρτεμις ἄστυ κάτεισιν:

οὔρεσιν οἰκήσω, πόλεσιν δ᾽ ἐπιμείξομαι ἀνδρῶν

μοῦνον ὅτ᾽ ὀξείηισιν ὑπ᾽ ὠδίνεσσι γυναῖκες

τειρόμεναι καλέουσι βοηθόον, ἧισί με Μοῖραι

γεινομένην τὸ πρῶτον ἐπεκλήρωσαν ἀρήγειν,

ὅττι με καὶ τίκτουσα καὶ οὐκ ἤλγησε φέρουσα

μήτηρ, ἀλλ᾽ ἀμογητὶ φίλων ἀπεθήκατο γυίων᾽.

 Dianam (grave enim canentibus oblivisci)

Canimus, cui arcus venationesque cordi,

Et chorus magnus & in montibus ludi.

Incipientes inde, ut in patris sedens genubus,

Puela adhuc parvula, sic allocuta est patrem:

“Da mihi virginitatem, Pater, aeternam servare

et nomina multa, ne mihi se praeferat Phoebus.

Da etiam saggitas & arcum: sine Pater. Non te pharetram,

aut magnam posco arcum: mihi Cyclopes sagittas

statim elaborabunt, mihi etiam flexilem arcum:

sed ut faces geram, et ad genua usque tunica

succingar virgata, ferasque perimam.

Da mihi porro sexaginta Oceaninas, quae mecum choros agant,

Omnes iuvenculas, omnes adhuc puellas impuberes

da etiam ministras, viginti nymphas Amnisidas,

quae mihi venatica calceamenta & cum lyncas

cervosque venari desidero, veloces canes recte curent.

Da mihi denique montes omnes: urbem autam unam attribue,

quamcumque. Raro enim in urbem veniet Diana.

In montibus habitabo: urbes autem accedam

tum modo, cum mulieres, accutis partus doloribus,

vexatae, auxiliatricem vocent, quibus me Parcae,

ut primum nata sum, destinarun opem ferre:

quod me pariens ferensque (utero) non doluit,

Mater, sed sine labore doposuit gremio."

 

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.