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Prayers to Persephone

12 prayers

Persephone is asked for two things, and they are the same thing seen from opposite ends: the return of the grain and the safe keeping of the dead. The Orphic hymns address her as queen below; the funerary inscriptions ask her, plainly and without literary ambition, to be gentle with one named person.

What is asked
Fontes · Sources
  • Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns6
  • Anonymous (Homeric corpus) · Homeric Hymns2
  • Anonymous · Greek Lyric V (Campbell), Scolia1
  • Callimachus · Hymns1
  • LABRYS Polytheistic Community · Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship1
  • Plethon / Mousaios adaptation · Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship1
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Prayer to Demeter

    Callimachus · Hymns · 6.1-21; 117-138

    As the Basket comes, greet it, ye women, saying 'Demeter, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' As the Basket comes, from the ground shall ye behold it, ye uninitiated, and gaze not from the roof or from aloft — child nor wife nor maid hath shed her hair — neither then nor when we spit from parched mouths fasting. Hesperos from the clouds marks the time of its coming: Hesperos, who alone persuaded Demeter to drink, what time she pursued the unknown tracks of her stolen daughter. Lady, how were thy feet able to carry thee unto the West, unto the Melanoi and where the golden apples are? Thou didst not drink nor didst thou eat during that time nor didst thou wash. Thrice didst thou cross Akheloios with his silver eddies, and as often didst thou pass over each of the ever-flowing rivers, and thrice didst thou seat thee on the ground beside the fountain Kallikhoros, parched and without drinking, and didst not eat nor wash. Nay, nay, let us not speak of that which brought the tear to Deo! Better to tell how she gave cities pleasing ordinances; better to tell how she was the first to cut straw and holy sheaves of corn-ears and put in oxen to tread them, what time Triptolemos was taught the good craft... O Demeter, never may that man be my friend who is hateful to thee, nor ever may he share party-wall with me; ill neighbours I abhor. Sing, ye maidens, and ye mothers, say with them: 'Damater, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.' And as the four white-haired horses convey the Basket, so unto us will the great goddess of wide dominion come bringing white spring and white harvest and winter and autumn, and keep us to another year. And as unsandalled and with hair unbound we walk the city, so shall we have foot and head unharmed for ever. And as the van-bearers bear vans full of gold, so may we get gold unstinted. Far as the City Chambers let the uninitiated follow, but the initiated even unto the very shrine of the goddess — as many as are under sixty years. But she that is heavy and she that stretches her hand to Eileithyia and she that is in pain — sufficient it is that they go so far as their knees are able. And to them Deo shall give all things to overflowing, even as if they came unto her temple. Hail, goddess, and save this people in harmony and in prosperity, and in the fields bring us all pleasant things! Feed our kine, bring us flocks, bring us the corn-ear, bring us harvest! And nurse peace, that he who sows may also reap. Be gracious, O thrice-prayed for, great Queen of goddesses!

    GreekInvocationPetition
  2. 002

    Hymn to Demeter

    Anonymous (Homeric corpus) · Homeric Hymns · 2

    I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter reverend goddess — of her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away... Right blessed is he among men on earth whom they freely love: soon they do send Ploutos as guest to his great house, Ploutos who gives wealth to mortal men. And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, queen, giver of good gifts, bringer of seasons, lady Deo, be gracious, you and your daughter all beauteous Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering substance.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  3. 003

    Hymn to Demeter of Eleusis

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 40

    O universal mother, Deo famed, august, the source of wealth, and various named: great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine, who joyest in peace; to nourish corn is thine. Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, harvest and threshing are thy constant care. Lovely delightful queen, by all desired, who dwellest in Eleusis' holy vales retired. Nurse of all mortals, who benignant mind first ploughing oxen to the yoke confined; and gave to men what nature's wants require, with plenteous means of bliss, which all desire. In verdure flourishing, in glory bright, assessor of great Bromios bearing light: rejoicing in the reapers' sickles, kind, whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find. Prolific, venerable, nurse divine, thy daughter loving, holy Koure. A car with Drakones yoked 'tis thine to guide, and, orgies singing, round thy throne to ride. Only-begotten, much-producing queen, all flowers are thine, and fruits of lovely green. Bright Goddess, come, with summer's rich increase swelling and pregnant, leading smiling peace; come with fair concord and imperial health, and join with these a needful store of wealth.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  4. 004

    Hymn to Dionysus and Persephone

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 30

    Dionysos I call loud-sounding and divine, inspiring God, a twofold shape is thine: thy various names and attributes I sing, O firstborn, thrice begotten, Bakkheion king. Rural, ineffable, two-formed, obscure, two-horned, with ivy crowned, and Euion pure: bull-faced and martial, bearer of the vine, endued with counsel prudent and divine: Eubouleos, whom the leaves of vines adorn, of Zeus and Persephoneia occultly born in beds ineffable; all-blessed power, whom with triennial offerings men adore. Immortal Daimon, hear my suppliant voice, give me in blameless plenty to rejoice; and listen gracious to my mystic prayer surrounded with thy choir of nurses fair.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  5. 005

    Hymn to Chthonic Hermes

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 57

    Hermes, I call, whom fate decrees to dwell near to Kokytos, the famed stream of Haides, and in necessity's dread path, whose bourn to none that reach it ever permits return. O Bakkheios Hermes, progeny divine of Dionysos, parent of the vine, and of celestial Aphrodite, Paphian queen, dark-eyelashed Goddess, of a lovely mien: who constant wanderest through the sacred seats where Haides' dread empress, Persephone, retreats; to wretched souls the leader of the way, when fate decrees, to regions void of day. Thine is the wand which causes sleep to fly, or lulls to slumberous rest the weary eye; for Persephone, through Tartaros dark and wide, gave thee for ever flowing souls to guide. Come, blessed power, the sacrifice attend, and grant thy mystics' works a happy end.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  6. 006

    The Prayer of Musaeus

    Plethon / Mousaios adaptation · Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship · Noumenia Ceremony — Prayer of Mousaios

    King Zeus and Gaia and sacred heavenly flames of Helios; holy light of Mene and all the stars; and You, dark haired Poseidon, earth-shaker; pure Persephone and Demetra of the bountiful fruit; Artemis, the maiden archer and farshooting Phoibos, who dwells in the sacred valley of Delphi, holding the highest honours amongst the Blessed; dancing Dionysos, bold Ares and powerful holy Ephaistos, foam-born goddess, bearer of famous gifts, and You, King of the Underworld, great and venerable God; Hebe and Eileithia and brave Heracles, and the great providence of Dikaiosyne and Eusevia; I also call the splendid Nymphs and Pan, the Great, and Hera, vigorous wife of aegis-bearing Zeus; I invoke the lovely Mnemosyne and the nine sublime Muses and the Kharites and the Horês of the Eniautos, Leto with the beautiful limbs, the modest Theio and Dione, the Kouretes, the armed Koryvantes, and the Kaveires, as well as our great Saviours, the indestructible children of Zeus, the great Idaian gods and the heavenly messenger, Hermes, the communicator, and Themis, the diviner of men, I invite venerable Nyx and brightly glowing Day, Pisti and Dike and the immaculate Lawgiver, Rhea and Kronos and the dark-veiled Tethys, Okeanos, the Great, and his daughters, the Okeanides, Atlas' and Aionos' superior power, and the eternal Time, and the splendid water of Styx, the soothing Gods and the benevolent Pronoia; the all-holy Daimona of the Gods and the malevolent of mortals, all heavenly, air and water Gods, all Gods of the earth, and of the fire, and of the underworld. Semele and the company of Bakkhos; Ino Leukothea and Palaimon, the bliss-giver, Sweet tongued Nike and queen Adrastea, and the great king, giver of tranquillity, Asclepios, Pallas, the fearsome maiden, and all the Winds and the Thunder, the steady foundation of the Kosmos, Mother of the Immortals, Attis and Mena, I call the Goddess Ourania together with her immortal pure Adonis, the Beginning and the End — the greatest of all. Come with benevolence and happy hearts, to this holy ceremony and sacred libation.

    GreekInvocationPraise
  7. 007

    Hymn to Demeter and Persephone

    Anonymous (Homeric corpus) · Homeric Hymns · 13

    I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess, of her and of her daughter lovely Persephone. Hail, goddess! Keep this city safe, and govern my song.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  8. 008

    Hymn to Dionysus Amphietes

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 53

    Khthonion Dionysos, hear my prayer, rise vigilant with Nymphai of lovely hair: great Bakkhos Amphietos, annual God, who laid asleep in Persephone's abode, her sacred seat, didst lull to drowsy rest the rites triennial and the sacred feast; which roused again by thee, in graceful ring, thy nurses round thee mystic anthems sing; when briskly dancing with rejoicing powers, thou movest in concert with the circling hours. Come blessed, fruitful, horned, and divine, and on this sacred consecration propitious shine; accept the pious incense and the prayer, and make prolific the holy fruits thy care.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  9. 009

    Hymn to Mother Antaia

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 41

    Basileia Antaia, of celebrated name, from whom both men and Gods immortal came; who widely wandering once, oppressed with grief, in Eleusis' valleys foundest relief, discovering Persephone thy daughter pure in dread Aides, dismal and obscure. A sacred youth while through the earth you stray, Dysaulos Iakkhos, attending leader of the way; the holy marriage Khthonios Zeus relating, while oppressed with grief you rove. Come, much invoked, and to these rites inclined, thy mystic suppliant bless, with favouring mind.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  10. 010

    Hymn to Dionysus Liknites

    Anonymous (Orphic corpus) · Orphic Hymns · 46

    Liknitos Dionysos, bearer of the vine, thee I invoke to bless these rites divine: florid and gay, of Nymphai the blossom bright, and of fair Aphrodite, Goddess of delight. 'Tis thine mad footsteps with mad Nymphai to beat, dancing through groves with lightly leaping feet: from Zeus' high counsels nursed by Persephoneia, and born the dread of all the powers divine. Come, blessed God, regard thy suppliant's voice, propitious come, and in these rites rejoice.

    GreekInvocation
  11. 011

    Prayer to Demeter

    Anonymous · Greek Lyric V (Campbell), Scolia · fr. 885

    I sing of the mother of Ploutos, Demeter Olympia, in the garland-wearing season, and of you, Persephone, child of Zeus: greetings, both! Tend the city well.

    GreekInvocationPetition
  12. 012

    Prayer to Persephone

    LABRYS Polytheistic Community · Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship · Burial Ceremony — Farewell to the Deceased

    Farewell, beloved [name of deceased], you will be in our memories throughout this life. We shall commemorate and honour you as you deserve. Mighty Persephone, receive [name of deceased], all that is beautiful flows unto you. Beloved [name of deceased], may your memory be everlasting.

    GreekDedication
Invoked alongside
Demeter7Dionysus6Aphrodite3Hermes2Plutus2the Nymphs2Apollo1Ares1Artemis1Asclepius1Athena1Dis Pater1Eileithyia1Gaia1Hades1Helios1Hephaestus1Hera1Iacchus1Poseidon1Zeus1
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