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Prayers to the Charites

4 prayers
What is asked
Fontes · Sources
  • Anonymous (Homeric corpus) · Homeric Hymns1
  • Anonymous (inscription from the shrine of Asclepius at Epidaurus) · Greek Lyric (Campbell, vol. V)1
  • Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns1
  • Pindar · Olympian Odes1
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Prayer to the Charites

    Pindar · Olympian Odes · 14.1 ff

    Whose haunts are by Kephissos' river, you queens beloved of poets' song, ruling Orkhomenos, that sunlit city and land of lovely steeds, watch and ward of the ancient Minyan race, hear now my prayer, you Kharites three. For in your gift are all our mortal joys, and every sweet thing, be it wisdom, beauty, or glory, that makes rich the soul of man. Nor even can the immortal gods order at their behest the dance and festals, lacking the Kharites' aid; who are the steward of all rites of heaven, whose thrones are set at Pytho beside Apollon of the golden bow, and who with everlasting honour worship the Father, lord of great Olympos. Euphrosyne, lover of song, and Aglaia revered, daughters of Zeus the all-highest, hearken, and with Thalia, darling of harmony, look on our songs of revel, on light feet stepping to grace this happy hour... I come to praise Asopikhos, whose Minyan house, Thalia, now of your favour wears the pride of the Olympian victor.

    GreekInvocationPraise
  2. 002

    Hymn to Artemis

    Anonymous (Homeric corpus) · Homeric Hymns · 27

    I sing of Artemis with shafts of gold, strong-voiced, the revered virgin, deer-shooting, delighter in arrows, own sister to Apollon of the golden sword. 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 the huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoibos Apollon, to the rich land of Delphoi, there to order the lovely dance of the Mousai and Kharites. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals both in thought and deed. Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will remember you and another song also.

    GreekInvocationPraise
  3. 003

    Prayer to Asclepius

    Anonymous (inscription from the shrine of Asclepius at Epidaurus) · Greek Lyric (Campbell, vol. V) · fr. 937

    High-skilled Asklepios; and summon the two Dioskouroi and the august Kharites and glorious Mousai and kindly Moirai and unwearied Helios and Selene at her full and all the signs with which heaven is crowned. Greetings, all you immortal gods everlasting and immortal goddesses!

    GreekInvocation
  4. 004

    Hymn to the Charites

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 60

    Hear me, illustrious Kharites, mighty named, from Zeus descended, and Eunomia famed, Thalia and Aglaia fair and bright, and blest Euphrosyne, whom joys delight: mothers of mirth; all lovely to the view, pleasure abundant, pure, belongs to you: various, for ever flourishing and fair, desired by mortals, much invoked in prayer; circling, dark-eyed, delightful to mankind, come, and you mystics' bless with bounteous mind.

    GreekInvocationPetition
Invoked alongside
Aglaia2Euphrosyne2Thalia2the Muses2Apollo1Artemis1Asclepius1Helios1Leto1Selene1the Dioscuri1the Moirai1
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