Homeric Hymn to Artemis

From Pagan Meditations by Ginette Paris

The Homeric Hymns: To Artemis II

I sing of burning Artemis of the golden arrows, the
adored Virgin, the Archeress who with one shot strikes
the stag; the true sister of Apollo of the golden
sceptre, she who, on the shadowy mountains and the
wind-swept peaks, draws her bow of pure gold and shoots
death-dealing arrows in the joy of the chase. The summits
of the high mountains tremble, and the shady forest
holds the frightened cries of the beasts of the woods;
the earth trembles, as well as the seas, filled with fish.
The goddess of the valiant heart springs forth on all sides,
and sows death among the race of wild animals.

trans. Apostolos N. Athanassakis

The Homeric Hymns, To Artemis II

I lift my voice in song to flaming Artemis of the pure
golden arrow—beloved Eternal Maiden, bull’s-eye archer,
who with one shot fells the mighty stag.

True sister to Apollo of the sun-gold sceptre—
she who stands firmly on the wind-swept peak
of the shadowed mountain, to draw back
her golden bow, to loose her fatal, piercing
arrows in the ecstasy of the hunt.

The tops of the high mountains tremble,
through all the dark forest echo terrified cries of
the creatures of the woods.

The earth shakes—
oceans, teeming with fish, roll and moan.
The goddess of the invincible heart springs out,
surrounds everything, unleashes merciful, sudden death
among the wild beasts of the wood.

Adaptive Translation I
Kat Lansing Davis

The Homeric Hymns, To Artemis II

I lift my voice in song to brilliant Artemis of the pure
silver arrow—beloved Eternal Maiden, bull’s-eye archer,
with one shot fells the mighty stag.

True sister to Apollo of the golden sceptre—
she who stands firmly on the wind-swept peak
of the dark mountain, to draw back her silver bow,
to loose her fatal, piercing arrows
in the ecstasy of the hunt.

The tops of the high mountains tremble,
throughout the night-cloaked forest echo panicked cries
of the creatures of the woods.

The earth shakes—
oceans, teeming with fish, roll and moan.
The goddess of the invincible heart springs out,
surrounds all, unleashes merciful, sudden death
into the wild beasts of the wood.

Adaptive Translation II, Kat Lansing Davis

In this “creative adaptation” I’ve made forthright changes in the direction of my own interpretation and study up to this point. What seemed to me to be images of day or sun, I would associate with Apollo, rather than with Artemis. Many writings of Artemis tell that her bow and arrows were silver, a moon image. Speculating, one might consider the possibility that the Homeric poem is placing her on an equal footing with Apollo, and finds it more praise-worthy to give her bow and arrows of gold, perhaps because its image seems more “pure” like Artemis herself, or perhaps also because (feminist hopefulness) the poet wishes to show her as equal in power. “Archeress,” although it has an appeal for me, may be aging like the word “actress.” All the younger actresses I know prefer to be called “actors” rather than “actresses.” This has gone the way of “stewardess”—think “flight attendant.” Perhaps “waitress” is next. In addition, I replaced the idea of “sowing” death (agricultural) with the image of “unleashing” which goes along with the use of a weapon.

Posted by john at May 25, 2005 09:50 PM