Post by Demetra on Apr 20, 2007 16:45:34 GMT -5
Dark, black robes adorned the long, beautiful form of Demetra, daughter of Stelios, as she knelt before the statue of Artemis, playing out her nightly worship to the Goddess, as was her duty. Her back was flexed so her nose touched the ground, arms stretched before her, palms up as a sign of submission. Dark hair was down and parted on either side of her, lapping across the ground, her lean form looking absolutely amazing in the moonlight that lapped through the entrance of marble collumns. She prayed soft, her voice barely bouncing off the walls around her.
"Artemis Agrotera, lady of the wild, I call to thee.
Artemis Iokheaira far-shooting ranges the mountainside - on lofty Taygetos, it may be, or it may be on Erymanthos - taking her pleasure among the boars and the running deer; Nymphai Agronomoi , daughters of Zeus who holds the aigis, are all around her and share her pastime.
Zeus has made you a lion among women, and given you leave to kill any at your pleasure ... you hunt down the ravening beasts in the mountains and deer of the wilds."
The young woman stood, moving to the various candle holders about her and lit several oils and incense, filling the entire temple with the smell of a pine forest. She then went back before the statue and resumed her position.
"Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earth quakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, then Theroskopos Iokheaira slackens her supple bow.
The lone huntress Artemis, who hath yoked the brood of savage lions for Bromios, who is enchanted even by the dancing herds of wild beasts.
O Artemis, thou maid divine, Diktynna , huntress, fair to see, O bring that keen-nosed pack of thine, and hunt through all the house with me.
Praise Artemis, the maiden huntress, who wanders on the mountains and through the woods.
The Child of Zeus, the tireless Huntress Artemis sleeping, what time her feet forwearied are with following lions with her flying shafts over the hills far-stretching.
Driving off with her fast-trotting deer over the hills ... fawning beasts whimper in homage and tremble as she passes by.
And how often goddess , didst thou make trial of thy silver bow? First at an elm, and next at an oak didst thou shoot, and third again at a wild beast.
And do thou be with thy follower, O manlike goddess, for whose sovereignty earth’s secret places are reserved, whose darts with unerring aim seek out the prey which drinks the cool Araxes or sports on Ister’s frozen streams. Thy hand aims at Gaetulian lions, thine at Cretan deer; and now with lighter stroke dost thou pierce swift-fleeing does. The striped tigers face thee, but the shaggy-backed bisons flee, and the wild ox with wide-spreading horns. All things that feed in the lonely fields, whether the Arabian knows them in his rich forests, or the needy Garamantian and the wandering Sarmatian on his desert plains, whatever the heights of the rough Pyrenees or the Hyrcanian glades conceal, all fear thy bow, Artemis. If, his offerings paid, thy worshipper takes thy favour with him to the glades, his nets hold the tangled prey, no feet break through his snares; his game is brought in on groaning wains, his hounds have their muzzles red with blood, and all the rustic throng come home in long triumphant line. Lo, goddess, thou dost hear me: the shrill-tongued hounds have given the sign. I am summoned to the woods."
She remained in her kneeling position for several more minutes, until she began to hear footsteps. She moved out of her bow to simply be sitting on her knees, pulling the dagger from her leg to look about her cautiously.
"Artemis Agrotera, lady of the wild, I call to thee.
Artemis Iokheaira far-shooting ranges the mountainside - on lofty Taygetos, it may be, or it may be on Erymanthos - taking her pleasure among the boars and the running deer; Nymphai Agronomoi , daughters of Zeus who holds the aigis, are all around her and share her pastime.
Zeus has made you a lion among women, and given you leave to kill any at your pleasure ... you hunt down the ravening beasts in the mountains and deer of the wilds."
The young woman stood, moving to the various candle holders about her and lit several oils and incense, filling the entire temple with the smell of a pine forest. She then went back before the statue and resumed her position.
"Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earth quakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, then Theroskopos Iokheaira slackens her supple bow.
The lone huntress Artemis, who hath yoked the brood of savage lions for Bromios, who is enchanted even by the dancing herds of wild beasts.
O Artemis, thou maid divine, Diktynna , huntress, fair to see, O bring that keen-nosed pack of thine, and hunt through all the house with me.
Praise Artemis, the maiden huntress, who wanders on the mountains and through the woods.
The Child of Zeus, the tireless Huntress Artemis sleeping, what time her feet forwearied are with following lions with her flying shafts over the hills far-stretching.
Driving off with her fast-trotting deer over the hills ... fawning beasts whimper in homage and tremble as she passes by.
And how often goddess , didst thou make trial of thy silver bow? First at an elm, and next at an oak didst thou shoot, and third again at a wild beast.
And do thou be with thy follower, O manlike goddess, for whose sovereignty earth’s secret places are reserved, whose darts with unerring aim seek out the prey which drinks the cool Araxes or sports on Ister’s frozen streams. Thy hand aims at Gaetulian lions, thine at Cretan deer; and now with lighter stroke dost thou pierce swift-fleeing does. The striped tigers face thee, but the shaggy-backed bisons flee, and the wild ox with wide-spreading horns. All things that feed in the lonely fields, whether the Arabian knows them in his rich forests, or the needy Garamantian and the wandering Sarmatian on his desert plains, whatever the heights of the rough Pyrenees or the Hyrcanian glades conceal, all fear thy bow, Artemis. If, his offerings paid, thy worshipper takes thy favour with him to the glades, his nets hold the tangled prey, no feet break through his snares; his game is brought in on groaning wains, his hounds have their muzzles red with blood, and all the rustic throng come home in long triumphant line. Lo, goddess, thou dost hear me: the shrill-tongued hounds have given the sign. I am summoned to the woods."
She remained in her kneeling position for several more minutes, until she began to hear footsteps. She moved out of her bow to simply be sitting on her knees, pulling the dagger from her leg to look about her cautiously.
