All Prayers

The complete list of the collection's prayers, hymns, vows and inscriptions — from the Homeric hymns of the seventh century BC to votive inscriptions from the Roman provinces. Every text carries the original in Greek or Latin, a translation, an exact reference to the edition, and a commentary.

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.

   Greek · hymn

   the Charites, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Thalia

   InvocationPraise
   5th c. BC

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2. 002

   Prayer to Bacchus

   SENECA · OEDIPUS · 403-441; 503-508

   Let the people's hymn sound with the praise of Bacchus. Bind your streaming locks with the nodding ivy, and in your soft hands grasp the Nysaean thyrsus! Bright glory of the sky, come hither to the prayers which thine own illustrious Thebes, O Bacchus, offers to thee with suppliant hands. Hither turn with favour thy virginal face; with thy star-bright countenance drive away the clouds, the grim threats of Erebus, and greedy fate. Thee it becomes to circle thy locks with flowers of the springtime, thee to cover thy head with Tyrian turban, or thy smooth brow to wreathe with the ivy's clustering berries; now to fling loose thy lawless-streaming locks, again to bind them in a knot close-drawn; in such guise as when, fearing thy stepdame's wrath, thou didst grow to manhood with false-seeming limbs, a pretended maiden with golden ringlets, with saffron girdle binding thy garments. So thereafter this soft vesture has pleased thee, folds loose hanging and the long-trailing mantle. Seated in thy golden chariot, thy lions with long trappings covered, all the vast coast of the Orient saw thee, both he who drinks of the Ganges and whoever breaks the ice of snowy Araxes. On an unseemly ass old Silenus attends thee, his swollen temples bound with ivy garlands; while thy wanton initiates lead the mystic revels. Along with thee a troop of Bassarids in Edonian dance beat the ground, now on Mount Pangaeus' peak, now on the top of Thracian Pindus; now midst Cadmean dames has come a maenad, the impious comrade of Ogygian Bacchus, with sacred fawn-skins girt about her loins, her hand a light thyrsus brandishing. Their hearts maddened by thee, the matrons have set their hair a-flowing;

   Roman · hymn

   Bacchus, Liber, Phoebus, Ariadne, Palaemon

   InvocationPraise
   1st c. AD

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3. 003

   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.

   Greek · hymn

   Artemis, Apollo, Leto, the Muses, the Charites

   InvocationPraise
   archaic Greek (7th-4th c. BC)

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4. 004

   Prayer to Athena

   LABRYS POLYTHEISTIC COMMUNITY · HELLENIC POLYTHEISM: HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP · Heliodites — Hymn to Athena

   Most High Goddess Pallas, golden wreathed Athena, Great Goddess of the World; You who sprang fully armed from our Father's venerable head. Virgin goddess who awakens in us the indestructible and illuminated Nous. Shield-bearing, Immaculate, You who governs the Whole World. Untamed Metis who merges the opposites, thrice-born Maiden; bright flower. You have filled the mind of the Father with the laws of Universal Beauty. You are all which exists, all which is still to come and all that has been. Glorious Goddess, Bright-eyed Maiden, grant the strength and love to raise me from the embrace of Gaia to illuminated Olympos. O' Goddess, offer to us your immaculate Wisdom and mental power, granting us the blessings of Olympos that uplift the soul, banishing the great illusions of the World.

   Greek · ritual

   Athena

   InvocationPetitionPraise
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5. 005

   Prayer to Mercury

   HORACE · CARMINA · 1.10.1-8; 17-20

   Mercurius, by Atlas born to Maia, God who fashioned our uncivilized ancestors into cultured men of urbane speech and athletic bearing, to You I sing, Messenger of the Gods and of mighty Jove, inventor of the curved lyre, it pleases You to compose secret jokes and play pranks skillfully. Gladly You restore pious souls to their proper places and by the golden staff confine the trivial quarrel. Dear are You to the Gods above and below.

   Roman · literary

   Mercury

   PraiseInvocation
   Augustan

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6. 006

   Prayer to Carmenta

   ANONYMOUS · RITUS CARMENTIS · Hail prayer

   Hail, Carmentis, Goddess of song and prophecy. From Your father Sebathus, Telon, king of the Taphonians, took You away from the river shores of Naples to the isle of Capree, there as Bateia, wife of Oebalus, to become mother to Spartans and Sabines alike. From Campania You set sail with Your son Evander up the River Tiber, showing him where to make land, and teaching him the songs by which to found Paletum. In Your sacred grove beneath the Palatine Hill You sang as Nicostrate the rites by which Hercules was to honor His Father Jupiter. There, too, You met with Dardanian Aeneas, singing for him the vision of Rome that his generations would found upon the Septimonium. There in Your sacred grove you sang to the infant twins as they were nurtured by a she-wolf.

   Roman · ritual

   Carmenta

   PraiseInvocation
   modern reconstruction (Nova Roma)

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7. 007

   Prayer to Carmenta

   LIVIUS ANDRONICUS · ODISIA / EQUOS TROIANOS · 1.1

   Carmena, in hot pursuit of virtuous men, come to me. Before wise Minerva invented Roman numerals, before any Greek inscribed the words of Homer, Latin letters You taught to Eulina of Gabii. Maenelian Voice carried from across the sea, inspire us with song that we may address the Gods, bring charms to teach our children their letters, that they may carry on as pious Romans.

   Roman · literary

   Carmenta

   InvocationPetition
   3rd c. BC

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8. 008

   Prayer to Apollo

   HORACE · CARMINA · 1.31.1-4; 17-20

   What may a poet ask in his prayers of You, Apollo? What can he say as he pours a libation of new wine to You? May Apollo grant that I enjoy good health and a sound mind, and, I pray, when I grow old, may He grant me a strife-free life, a clear mind and a lyre beside me with which to sing His praises.

   Roman · literary

   Apollo

   Petition
   Augustan

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9. 009

   Hymn to Dionysus and Semele

   ANONYMOUS (HOMERIC CORPUS) · HOMERIC HYMNS · 1

   Be favourable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women! We singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and none forgetting you may call holy song to mind. And so, farewell, Dionysos Insewn with your mother Semele whom men call Thyone.

   Greek · hymn

   Dionysus, Semele

   InvocationPraise
   archaic Greek (7th-4th c. BC)

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10. 010

    Hymn to Dionysus and Semele

    ANONYMOUS (HOMERIC CORPUS) · HOMERIC HYMNS · 7

    I sing of Dionysos, the son of glorious Semele... Hail, child of fair-faced Semele! He who forgets you can in no wise order sweet song.

    Greek · hymn

    Dionysus, Semele

    InvocationPraise
    archaic Greek (7th-4th c. BC)

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11. 011

    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.

    Greek · hymn

    the Charites, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Thalia

    InvocationPetition
    Hellenistic to Roman imperial (3rd c. BC – 2nd c. AD)

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12. 012

    Hymn to Artemis and Apollo

    ANONYMOUS (HOMERIC CORPUS) · HOMERIC HYMNS · 9

    Mousa, sing of Artemis, sister of the far-shooter, Parthenos the virgin who delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollon. She waters her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives her all-golden chariot through Smyrna to vine-clad Klaros where Apollon god of the silver bow, sits waiting for far-shooting delighter in arrows. And so hail to you, Artemis, in my song and to all goddesses as well. Of you first I sing and with you I begin; now that I have begun with you, I will turn to another song.

    Greek · hymn

    Artemis, Apollo

    InvocationPraise
    archaic Greek (7th-4th c. BC)

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13. 013

    Prayer to Mars

    OVID · FASTI · 3.1-2

    Bellicose Mars, lay aside for awhile Your round bronze shield and spear. Mars, be present and let loose from its helmet Your sleek, shining hair.

    Roman · personal

    Mars

    Invocation
    early 1st c. AD

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14. 014

    Prayer to Bacchus and Liber

    OVID · FASTI · III.713-714

    There's a popular festival of Bacchus, on the third day after the Ides. Bacchus, favour the poet who sings your feast.

    Roman · personal

    Bacchus, Liber

    Petition
    early 1st c. AD

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15. 015

    Prayer to Bacchus and Liber

    OVID · FASTI · 3.789-790

    Father, turn your mild head here, and gentle horns, and spread the sails of my art to a favourable breeze.

    Roman · personal

    Bacchus, Liber

    Petition
    early 1st c. AD

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16. 016

    Prayer to Flora

    OVID · FASTI · V.377-378

    That Naso's lay may bloom for aye, O strew, I pray thee, goddess, thy boons upon my breast!

    Roman · personal

    Flora

    Petition
    early 1st c. AD

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17. 017

    Prayer to Mercury

    MANILIUS · ASTRONOMICON · 1.30ff

    Mercurius Cyllenius, principle author of all sacred knowledge, at times within Heaven, at other times travelling within the starry signs to open the celestial paths to the highest parts above and the lowest paths beneath the earth. You stitch together the stars in the empty void of space into constellations, name them and determine their course; may it have been for us to reverently use the greater powers of the universe that You make.

    Roman · literary

    Mercury

    InvocationPraise
    Augustan

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18. 018

    Prayer to Minerva

    CICERO · DE DOMO SUA AD PONTIFICES · 144

    O Minerva, You have always come to my aid with Your counsels, witness to the existence of my works.

    Roman · personal

    Minerva

    GratitudeInvocation
    1st c. BC

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19. 019

    Prayer to Minerva

    OVID · FASTI · 6.652

    Come now, golden haired Minerva, to favor the task I've begun.

    Roman · literary

    Minerva

    Invocation
    Augustan

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20. 020

    Prayer to Venus

    VIRGIL · CATALEPTON · 14

    If I am to further my undertaking, to traverse all the world, O Venus, who dwells in Paphos and in Idalian groves, so that Trojan Aeneas is thought worthy at last to sail with You in song through Roman towns, not only with incense or painted tablet shall I adorn Your temple, and with pure hands bring You garlands, but a humble offering of a horned ram and a bull, the greatest sacrifice, their blood a priest shall sprinkle into the fire of an altar erected in Your honor.

    Roman · literary

    Venus

    PetitionDedication
    Augustan

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21. 021

    Prayer to Hercules

    PROPERTIUS · ELEGIAE · 4.9.71-74

    Because Your hands have purified the Earth, the Sabines of Cures called You Sancus, The Holy One. Hail Father Sancus, whom austere Juno now favors. O Sancus, may You wish to be with me and Your spirit be in my books.

    Roman · literary

    Hercules

    PraisePetition
    Augustan

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22. 022

    Prayer to Janus

    HORACE · SATIRES · 2.6.20-21

    Father Matutinus, or else Janus, if You so prefer to hear, regarded by men as the beginning of works and life's labors, so does it please the Gods, may You begin my song.

    Roman · literary

    Janus

    Invocation
    Augustan

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23. 023

    Prayer to Bacchus

    VIRGIL · GEORGICS · 2.2-8

    Now shall I sing of you, Bacchus. Without you there would be no woodland or thicket, or slow growing olive grove. Come hither, O Lenaean Father, all things here beckon to be nurtured by your many gifts, the autumn vineshoots laden the countryside with blossoms, the vintage grape harvest foams plentiful to the lips of the wine vats. Hasten, O Lenaean Father, come and, stripped down, tinge your naked feet in new wine must with me.

    Roman · literary

    Bacchus

    InvocationPraise
    Augustan

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24. 024

    Prayer to Ceres

    VIRGIL · GEORGICS · 1.7-12

    Liber and gentle Ceres, if by your gifts the earth once changed, exchanging Chaonian acorns for rich heads of grain, and receiving your invention of wine from Acheloian cups, and you Fauns, your divine presence an aid for rustics, bring dancing feet, as when Dryad girls frolic with Fauns, of your gifts I sing.

    Roman · literary

    Ceres, Bacchus, the Fauns

    InvocationPraise
    Augustan

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25. 025

    Prayer to Apollo

    MARTIAL · EPIGRAMMATA · 9.42

    May Myrina's richness ever You hold, Apollo, thus always the swan song, too, may You enjoy, may the well versed sisters ever serve You, the Delphic Pythia ever reveal any of Your oracles, may the Palatia ever love and revere You. Were You ever to ask, and Caesar grant, that he should invest Stella with consular powers, then gladly would I by vow become indebted to You.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionPraise
    1st c. AD

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26. 026

    Prayer to Apollo

    OVID · REMEDIA AMORIS · 75-76

    From the very outset I pray to You, Apollo, inventor of music and of all the healing arts, come to my aid and this undertaking; bless it with Your laurel.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    InvocationPetition
    Augustan

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27. 027

    Prayer to Apollo

    STATIUS · ACHILLEIS · 1.9-10

    Grant me, O Phoebus, new fonts of inspiration and weave fortune's garland as a crown upon my head.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    Petition
    1st c. AD

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28. 028

    Prayer to Apollo

    TIBULLUS · ELEGIAE · 2.5.1-4; 122-123

    Give your favour, Phoebus, to a new priest who enters your temple. Be gracious, and with songs and lyre, come! When your fingers pluck the chords, and you give voice to song, I pray you may inspire my words into your praises. May your hair be ever flowing, Phoebus; may your sister be forever chaste.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionInvocationPraise
    1st c. BC

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29. 029

    Prayer to Apollo

    VALERIUS FLACCUS · ARGONAUTICA · 1.5-7

    Advise me, Phoebus Apollo, if ever You inspired the Sibyl of Cumae to see visions waft from a kettle in Your sacred house, if ever a chaplet of fresh laurel dignified a worthy brow, and O You whose great fame opened many a sea.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionInvocation
    1st c. AD

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30. 030

    Prayer to Bacchus

    HORACE · CARMINA · 3.25.18-20

    In spring, O Lenaeus Bacchus, I follow You, a god wreathed with ivy.

    Roman · literary

    Bacchus

    PraiseInvocation
    Augustan

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