DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9840#0189
138 INSCRIPTION IX THE CAVERN OF MELIDHON1. [CHAP.
Sallonius, about the reading of which any doubt can be
entertained9:i.
O Hermes, dwelling midst Tallaean hills!
This pure libation mayest thou approve,
Which, in thy honour, Salvius Menas fills,
Of holy things, the offerings of his love.
He, erst, while still his consort saw the light,
With her did yearly thy abode frequent ;
But long has failed to observe the annual rite,
Since his chaste wife's career, on earth, was spent.
Yet, knowing that the Gods must honour'd be,
Now brings this double sacrifice divine;
Do thou protect him, Mighty God, that he
May live, and honour long this ground of thine.
Artemis was the name of the chaste wife whose loss
is here deplored.
Undoubtedly the grotto was considered as sacred
to Hermes, whose worship also prevailed in other parts
of the island94. Caverns seem to have been dedicated
93 The following is the inscription in question, as published in the work
of the great philologer of Berlin.
"Apre/ii? rj lEaXovlov dvyaTr/p.
Qvpeai r\a\\cuot<Tiv thpvfxeve Motta'So? 'l^p/xrj,
(rirovZrjv kcii dvcr'trjv Se'£o (piXotppoavvos,
tjv (rut luaXovioi Mrjvas Xoificuai yepaipei,
KTtycreo? e£ 6<Tir]<z xjsv^iKa Stwpa 6tdov<;.
ku\ 7rp\v fxev ^axrj;? dXo^ov tpaoq ehopoisscrrj^,
<rvv Keivr] KaT ero? crou? eyepaipe tottovk'
dvQ' a>v 3' ev^povicras eTreTtjcriov ovk aVeScoKei/,
rrvjx(ilov dyvoTaTa^ rouSe KaTcupBiixa/as,
aXyrjaw; (ppeva 7roX\a, fxaBwv S' oti he? tcc ye deTct
Tijxav, hnrXrjv croi Trjvd' eiropev Qv<Ti{rfjv.
Ka\ (tv de, iravTOKpaTcop 'Fjpiovvie, -rovSe (pvXaacroi^
(^u>6v, oVm? Tifxa (tov St bXov Tefxevoi.
9i As appears from coins of Aptera, Sybritia, and Lyttos, as well as from
some ancient legends, and from the positive testimony of authors, quoted
by Neumann, Rerum Creticarum Specimen, p. 130. and Hoeck, Kreta,
Vol. in. p. 39.
Sallonius, about the reading of which any doubt can be
entertained9:i.
O Hermes, dwelling midst Tallaean hills!
This pure libation mayest thou approve,
Which, in thy honour, Salvius Menas fills,
Of holy things, the offerings of his love.
He, erst, while still his consort saw the light,
With her did yearly thy abode frequent ;
But long has failed to observe the annual rite,
Since his chaste wife's career, on earth, was spent.
Yet, knowing that the Gods must honour'd be,
Now brings this double sacrifice divine;
Do thou protect him, Mighty God, that he
May live, and honour long this ground of thine.
Artemis was the name of the chaste wife whose loss
is here deplored.
Undoubtedly the grotto was considered as sacred
to Hermes, whose worship also prevailed in other parts
of the island94. Caverns seem to have been dedicated
93 The following is the inscription in question, as published in the work
of the great philologer of Berlin.
"Apre/ii? rj lEaXovlov dvyaTr/p.
Qvpeai r\a\\cuot<Tiv thpvfxeve Motta'So? 'l^p/xrj,
(rirovZrjv kcii dvcr'trjv Se'£o (piXotppoavvos,
tjv (rut luaXovioi Mrjvas Xoificuai yepaipei,
KTtycreo? e£ 6<Tir]<z xjsv^iKa Stwpa 6tdov<;.
ku\ 7rp\v fxev ^axrj;? dXo^ov tpaoq ehopoisscrrj^,
<rvv Keivr] KaT ero? crou? eyepaipe tottovk'
dvQ' a>v 3' ev^povicras eTreTtjcriov ovk aVeScoKei/,
rrvjx(ilov dyvoTaTa^ rouSe KaTcupBiixa/as,
aXyrjaw; (ppeva 7roX\a, fxaBwv S' oti he? tcc ye deTct
Tijxav, hnrXrjv croi Trjvd' eiropev Qv<Ti{rfjv.
Ka\ (tv de, iravTOKpaTcop 'Fjpiovvie, -rovSe (pvXaacroi^
(^u>6v, oVm? Tifxa (tov St bXov Tefxevoi.
9i As appears from coins of Aptera, Sybritia, and Lyttos, as well as from
some ancient legends, and from the positive testimony of authors, quoted
by Neumann, Rerum Creticarum Specimen, p. 130. and Hoeck, Kreta,
Vol. in. p. 39.