Votive Offerings Discovered at Kythnos Sanctuary

 

"Archaeologists excavating a hilltop temple complex on the Cycladic island of Kythnos (commonly called Thermia) Greece have unearthed more than 2,000 intact votive offerings dedicated by ancient worshippers. . . Several ceremonial pottery vessels discovered are associated with Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, to whom the excavated sanctuary complex was dedicated."

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(© photo Greece Culture Ministry)

Hymn to Persephone

 

TO PROSERPINE

"Illustrious, horned, of a bounteous mind,
Alone desired by those of mortal kind.
O, Vernal Queen, whom grassy plains delight,
Sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight:
Whose holy form in budding fruits we view,
Earth's vigorous offspring of a various hue.

"Espoused in Autumn: life and death alone
To wretched mortals from thy power is known:
For thine the task according to thy will,
Life to produce, and all that lives to kill.
Hear, blessed Goddess, send a rich increase
Of various fruits from earth, with lovely Peace;

"Send Health with gentle hand, and crown my life
With blest abundance, free from noisy strife;
Last in extreme old age the prey of Death,
Dismiss we willing to the realms beneath,
To thy fair palace, and the blissful plains
Where happy spirits dwell, and Pluto reigns."
 

("The Hymns of Orpheus", trans. T. Taylor; © art by Stef Tastan, copyright reserved)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

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Hymn to Persephone

TO PROSERPINE

"Illustrious, horned, of a bounteous mind,
Alone desired by those of mortal kind.
O, Vernal Queen, whom grassy plains delight,
Sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight:
Whose holy form in budding fruits we view,
Earth's vigorous offspring of a various hue.

"Espoused in Autumn: life and death alone
To wretched mortals from thy power is known:
For thine the task according to thy will,
Life to produce, and all that lives to kill.
Hear, blessed Goddess, send a rich increase
Of various fruits from earth, with lovely Peace;

"Send Health with gentle hand, and crown my life
With blest abundance, free from noisy strife;
Last in extreme old age the prey of Death,
Dismiss we willing to the realms beneath,
To thy fair palace, and the blissful plains
Where happy spirits dwell, and Pluto reigns."
 

("The Hymns of Orpheus", trans. T. Taylor; painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874.)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Hymn to Persephone

TO PROSERPINE

"Illustrious, horned, of a bounteous mind,

Alone desired by those of mortal kind.

O, vernal queen, whom grassy plains delight,

Sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight:

Whose holy form in budding fruits we view,

Earth's vigorous offspring of a various hue:

Espoused in Autumn: life and death alone

To wretched mortals from thy power is known:

For thine the task according to thy will,

Life to produce, and all that lives to kill.

Hear, blessed Goddess, send a rich increase

Of various fruits from earth, with lovely Peace;

Send Health with gentle hand, and crown my life

With blest abundance, free from noisy strife;

Last in extreme old age the prey of Death,

Dismiss we willing to the realms beneath,

To thy fair palace, and the blissful plains

Where happy spirits dwell, and Pluto reigns."

("The Hymns of Orpheus", trans. T. Taylor, Painting of Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874.)

Other Hymns and Devotions to be found on our website:  In Her Name