23. Helios
Lord of the celestial gods, the Fixed Stars and Planets, eldest
celestial god, link between supercelestial and celestial gods,
link between the immortal and the mortal parts of the universe,
most powerful of the participated (μεθεκτῶν) intelligences. Leader
(ἡγεμών) of heaven, creator (δημιουργός), in common with Kronos, of the entire mortal nature
within the heavens. Helios gives mortal, temporal things their
form, Selene gives them matter. He
contains the forms of all mortal, temporal things in his mind, but
once produced they proceed toward their own perfection; his soul
governs animal behavior and the growth of plants and animals. With
Selene, he measures time for us.
Presides over our immortal part; with the help of Kronos and the Titans under him, forms
our mortal part, and preserves us so far as fated each of us.
Governs the terrestrial daimons, who serve the other gods. The
eldest and most powerful of the high-born (“legitimate”: γνήσιος)
children of Poseidon and Hera. Poseidon
received from Zeus an intellect (νοῦς);
with it he creates a soul (ψυχή); he creates a body with Hera; this is Helios.
Mode: Phrygian
O lord of heaven, Helios, be kind to us,
and you, Seléne, holy mistress, be thou kind,
and Phôsphoros and Stílbôn, of the shining Sun
attendants always, Phaínôn and Phaéthôn too,
and you Pyróeis; all are subject to the Sun,
your lord, whom you assist in his concern for us
that we not suffer need, and so we sing to you
this hymn, to you who are our splendid guardians,
and to the stars sent forth by providence divine.
Mode: Phrygian
O Kronos, of the supercelestial Titans Lord,
who govern them, and you who all the heavens rule,
O Helios, and the other planets following you,
by you two the whole race of mortals is produced,
from both of you, from Kronos and from Helios.
O Titans and O planets, second to these two,
in one way or another helpers; hence to you
sing we who have these many benefits from you,
and with you to the holy daimons and fixed stars.
Laws III.15
[106–14], III.31
[120], III.34
[136, 154, 166, 178–80, fol. 119v], III.35
[210, 218].
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