Date: Thursday, 26 Aug 1993 02:41:23 EDT From: Subject: Ancient Hymn to Isis Giver of wealth, Queen of the gods, Lady Hermouthis, Ruler of All, Good Fortune, Isis of the Great Name, exalted Deo, Discoverer of all life, You put Your hand to mighty works of all kinds, so as to give life and an ordered society to all mankind, You introduced laws so that there might be a measure of justice, You revealed sciences so that men might live decently, You discovered the flowering nature of all fruitful plants. For You the sky came into being, the whole earth, the breath of the breezes, the Sun with its welcome radiance. By Your power the streams of the Nile are all filled full at the summer season, and its water pours turbulent over the whole land so that the crop may never fail. All mortals who live on the limitless earth, Thracians, Greeks, and foreigners as well, utter Your Glorious Name which all honor, each in his own language, each in his own land. Syrians call You Astarte, Artemis, Nanaea, the tribes of Lycia call you Queen Leto, men in Thrace call you Mother of the Gods, Greeks call you Hera of the lofty throne, and Aphrodite, kindly Hestia, Rheia, and Demeter. Egyptians call you Thiouis because You, being One, are all the other goddesses named by all peoples. My Lady, I shall not stop hymning your Mighty Power, Immortal Saviour, goddess of the many names, almighty Isis, rescuing from war cities and all of their citizens, men, their wives, possessions and dear children. All who are held in the destiny of Death, all in bondage, all who are racked with pain which will not let them sleep, all men journeying in a foreign country, all who sail on the great sea in stormy weather, when ships are wrecked and men lose their livesQ all these find salvation if they pray for Your present help. Hear my prayers, You whose Name has Mighty Power, be propitious to me and free me from all affliction. (Taken from V. F. Vanderlip The Four Greek Hymns of Isidorus and the Cult of Isis) ------- Charles Hope a54si@cunyvm.bitnet a54si@cunyvm.cuny.edu