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songofapollon · 4 days ago

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Homeric Hymn III. TO APOLLO

Translated by H. G. Evelyn-White

TO DELIAN APOLLO

[1] I will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who shoots afar. As he goes through the house of Zeus, the gods tremble before him and all spring up from their seats when he draws near, as he bends his bright bow. But Leto alone stays by the side of Zeus who delights in thunder; and then she unstrings his bow, and closes his quiver, and takes his archery from his strong shoulders in her hands and hangs them on a golden peg against a pillar of his father's house. Then she leads him to a seat and makes him sit: and the Father gives him nectar in a golden cup welcoming his dear son, while the other gods make him sit down there, and queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a mighty son and an archer. Rejoice, blessed Leto, for you bare glorious children, the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in arrows; her in Ortygia, and him in rocky Delos, as you rested against the great mass of the Cynthian hill hard by a palm-tree by the streams of Inopus.

[19] How, then, shall I sing of you who in all ways are a worthy theme of song? For everywhere, O Phoebus, the whole range of song is fallen to you, both over the mainland that rears heifers and over the isles. All mountain-peaks and high headlands of lofty hills and rivers flowing out to the deep and beaches sloping seawards and havens of the sea are your delight. Shall I sing how at the first Leto bare you to be the joy of men, as she rested against Mount Cynthus in that rocky isle, in sea-girt Delos -- while on either hand a dark wave rolled on landwards driven by shrill winds -- whence arising you rule over all mortal men?

[30] Among those who are in Crete, and in the township of Athens, and in the isle of Aegina and Euboea, famous for ships, in Aegae and Eiresiae and Peparethus near the sea, in Thracian Athos and Pelion's towering heights and Thracian Samos and the shady hills of Ida, in Scyros and Phocaea and the high hill of Autocane and fair-lying Imbros and smouldering Lemnos and rich Lesbos, home of Macar, the son of Aeolus, and Chios, brightest of all the isles that lie in the sea, and craggy Mimas and the heights of Corycus and gleaming Claros and the sheer hill of Aesagea and watered Samos and the steep heights of Mycale, in Miletus and Cos, the city of Meropian men, and steep Cnidos and windy Carpathos, in Naxos and Paros and rocky Rhenaea -- so far roamed Leto in travail with the god who shoots afar, to see if any land would be willing to make a dwelling for her son. But they greatly trembled and feared, and none, not even the richest of them, dared receive Phoebus, until queenly Leto set foot on Delos and uttered winged words and asked her:

[51] "Delos, if you would be willing to be the abode of my son "Phoebus Apollo and make him a rich temple --; for no other will touch you, as you will find: and I think you will never be rich in oxen and sheep, nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants abundantly. But if you have the temple of far-shooting Apollo, all men will bring you hecatombs and gather here, and incessant savour of rich sacrifice will always arise, and you will feed those who dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your own soil is not rich."

[62] So spake Leto. And Delos rejoiced and answered and said: "Leto, most glorious daughter of great Coeus, joyfully would I receive your child the far-shooting lord; for it is all too true that I am ill-spoken of among men, whereas thus I should become very greatly honoured. But this saying I fear, and I will not hide it from you, Leto. They say that Apollo will be one that is very haughty and will greatly lord it among gods and men all over the fruitful earth. Therefore, I greatly fear in heart and spirit that as soon as he sets the light of the sun, he will scorn this island -- for truly I have but a hard, rocky soil -- and overturn me and thrust me down with his feet in the depths of the sea; then will the great ocean wash deep above my head for ever, and he will go to another land such as will please him, there to make his temple and wooded groves. So, many-footed creatures of the sea will make their lairs in me and black seals their dwellings undisturbed, because I lack people. Yet if you will but dare to sware a great oath, goddess, that here first he will build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, then let him afterwards make temples and wooded groves amongst all men; for surely he will be greatly renowned."

[83] So said Delos. And Leto sware the great oath of the gods: "Now hear this, Earth and wide Heaven above, and dropping water of Styx (this is the strongest and most awful oath for the blessed gods), surely Phoebus shall have here his fragrant altar and precinct, and you he shall honour above all."

[89] Now when Leto had sworn and ended her oath, Delos was very glad at the birth of the far-shooting lord. But Leto was racked nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont. And there were with her all the chiefest of the goddesses, Dione and Rhea and Ichnaea and Themis and loud-moaning Amphitrite and the other deathless goddesses save white-armed Hera, who sat in the halls of cloud-gathering Zeus. Only Eilithyia, goddess of sore travail, had not heard of Leto's trouble, for she sat on the top of Olympus beneath golden clouds by white-armed Hera's contriving, who kept her close through envy, because Leto with the lovely tresses was soon to bear a son faultless and strong.

[102] But the goddesses sent out Iris from the well-set isle to bring Eilithyia, promising her a great necklace strung with golden threads, nine cubits long. And they bade Iris call her aside from white-armed Hera, lest she might afterwards turn her from coming with her words. When swift Iris, fleet of foot as the wind, had heard all this, she set to run; and quickly finishing all the distance she came to the home of the gods, sheer Olympus, and forthwith called Eilithyia out from the hall to the door and spoke winged words to her, telling her all as the goddesses who dwell on Olympus had bidden her. So she moved the heart of Eilithyia in her dear breast; and they went their way, like shy wild-doves in their going.

[115] And as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto, and she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree and kneeled on the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath. Then the child leaped forth to the light, and all the goddesses washed you purely and cleanly with sweet water, and swathed you in a white garment of fine texture, new-woven, and fastened a golden band about you.

[123] Now Leto did not give Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, her breast; but Themis duly poured nectar and ambrosia with her divine hands: and Leto was glad because she had borne a strong son and an archer. But as soon as you had tasted that divine heavenly food, O Phoebus, you could no longer then be held by golden cords nor confined with bands, but all their ends were undone. Forthwith Phoebus Apollo spoke out among the deathless goddesses: "The lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to me, and I will declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus."

[133] So said Phoebus, the long-haired god who shoots afar and began to walk upon the wide-pathed earth; and all goddesses were amazed at him. Then with gold all Delos was laden, beholding the child of Zeus and Leto, for joy because the god chose her above the islands and shore to make his dwelling in her: and she loved him yet more in her heart, and blossomed as does a mountain-top with woodland flowers.

[140] And you, O lord Apollo, god of the silver bow, shooting afar, now walked on craggy Cynthus, and now kept wandering about the island and the people in them. Many are your temples and wooded groves, and all peaks and towering bluffs of lofty mountains and rivers flowing to the sea are dear to you, Phoebus, yet in Delos do you most delight your heart; for there the long robed Ionians gather in your honour with their children and shy wives: mindful, they delight you with boxing and dancing and song, so often as they hold their gathering. A man would say that they were deathless and unageing if he should then come upon the Ionians so met together. For he would see the graces of them all, and would be pleased in heart gazing at the men and well-girded women with their swift ships and great wealth. And there is this great wonder besides -- and its renown shall never perish -- the girls of Delos, hand-maidens of the Far-shooter; for when they have praised Apollo first, and also Leto and Artemis who delights in arrows, they sing a strain-telling of men and women of past days, and charm the tribes of men. Also they can imitate the tongues of all men and their clattering speech: each would say that he himself were singing, so close to truth is their sweet song.

[165] And now may Apollo be favourable and Artemis; and farewell all you maidens. Remember me in after time whenever any one of men on earth, a stranger who has seen and suffered much, comes here and asks of you: "Whom think ye, girls, is the sweetest singer that comes here, and in whom do you most delight?" Then answer, each and all, with one voice: "He is a blind man, and dwells in rocky Chios: his lays are evermore supreme." As for me, I will carry your renown as far as I roam over the earth to the well-placed this thing is true. And I will never cease to praise far-shooting Apollo, god of the silver bow, whom rich-haired Leto bare.

TO PYTHIAN APOLLO

[179] O Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeonia and Miletus, charming city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you greatly reign your own self.

[182] Leto's all-glorious son goes to rocky Pytho, playing upon his hollow lyre, clad in divine, perfumed garments; and at the touch of the golden key his lyre sings sweet. Thence, swift as thought, he speeds from earth to Olympus, to the house of Zeus, to join the gathering of the other gods: then straightway the undying gods think only of the lyre and song, and all the Muses together, voice sweetly answering voice, hymn the unending gifts the gods enjoy and the sufferings of men, all that they endure at the hands of the deathless gods, and how they live witless and helpless and cannot find healing for death or defence against old age. Meanwhile the rich-tressed Graces and cheerful Seasons dance with Harmonia and Hebe and Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, holding each other by the wrist. And among them sings one, not mean nor puny, but tall to look upon and enviable in mien, Artemis who delights in arrows, sister of Apollo. Among them sport Ares and the keen-eyed Slayer of Argus, while Apollo plays his lyre stepping high and featly and a radiance shines around him, the gleaming of his feet and close-woven vest. And they, even gold-tressed Leto and wise Zeus, rejoice in their great hearts as they watch their dear son playing among the undying gods.

[207] How then shall I sing of you -- though in all ways you are a worthy theme for song? Shall I sing of you as wooer and in the fields of love, how you went wooing the daughter of Azan along with god-like Ischys the son of well-horsed Elatius, or with Phorbas sprung from Triops, or with Ereutheus, or with Leucippus and the wife of Leucippus ((lacuna)) . . . you on foot, he with his chariot, yet he fell not short of Triops. Or shall I sing how at the first you went about the earth seeking a place of oracle for men, O far-shooting Apollo? To Pieria first you went down from Olympus and passed by sandy Lectus and Enienae and through the land of the Perrhaebi. Soon you came to Iolcus and set foot on Cenaeum in Euboea, famed for ships: you stood in the Lelantine plain, but it pleased not your heart to make a temple there and wooded groves. From there you crossed the Euripus, far-shooting Apollo, and went up the green, holy hills, going on to Mycalessus and grassy-bedded Teumessus, and so came to the wood-clad abode of Thebe; for as yet no man lived in holy Thebe, nor were there tracks or ways about Thebe's wheat-bearing plain as yet.

[229] And further still you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and came to Onchestus, Poseidon's bright grove: there the new-broken cold distressed with drawing the trim chariot gets spirit again, and the skilled driver springs from his car and goes on his way. Then the horses for a while rattle the empty car, being rid of guidance; and if they break the chariot in the woody grove, men look after the horses, but tilt the chariot and leave it there; for this was the rite from the very first. And the drivers pray to the lord of the shrine; but the chariot falls to the lot of the god.

[239] Further yet you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and reached next Cephissus' sweet stream which pours forth its sweet- flowing water from Lilaea, and crossing over it, O worker from afar, you passed many-towered Ocalea and reached grassy Haliartus.

[244] Then you went towards Telphusa: and there the pleasant place seemed fit for making a temple and wooded grove. You came very near and spoke to her: "Telphusa, here I am minded to make a glorious temple, an oracle for men, and hither they will always bring perfect hecatombs, both those who live in rich Peloponnesus and those of Europe and all the wave-washed isles, coming to seek oracles. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot fail, giving answer in my rich temple."

[254] So said Phoebus Apollo, and laid out all the foundations throughout, wide and very long. But when Telphusa saw this, she was angry in heart and spoke, saying: "Lord Phoebus, worker from afar, I will speak a word of counsel to your heart, since you are minded to make here a glorious temple to be an oracle for men who will always bring hither perfect hecatombs for you; yet I will speak out, and do you lay up my words in your heart. The trampling of swift horses and the sound of mules watering at my sacred springs will always irk you, and men will like better to gaze at the well-made chariots and stamping, swift-footed horses than at your great temple and the many treasures that are within. But if you will be moved by me -- for you, lord, are stronger and mightier than I, and your strength is very great -- build at Crisa below the glades of Parnassus: there no bright chariot will clash, and there will be no noise of swift-footed horses near your well-built altar. But so the glorious tribes of men will bring gifts to you as Iepaeon (`Hail-Healer'), and you will receive with delight rich sacrifices from the people dwelling round about." So said Telphusa, that she alone, and not the Far-Shooter, should have renown there; and she persuaded the Far-Shooter.

[277] Further yet you went, far-shooting Apollo, until you came to the town of the presumptuous Phlegyae who dwell on this earth in a lovely glade near the Cephisian lake, caring not for Zeus. And thence you went speeding swiftly to the mountain ridge, and came to Crisa beneath snowy Parnassus, a foothill turned towards the west: a cliff hangs over if from above, and a hollow, rugged glade runs under. There the lord Phoebus Apollo resolved to make his lovely temple, and thus he said: "In this place I am minded to build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, and here they will always bring perfect hecatombs, both they who dwell in rich Peloponnesus and the men of Europe and from all the wave-washed isles, coming to question me. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot fail, answering them in my rich temple."

[294] When he had said this, Phoebus Apollo laid out all the foundations throughout, wide and very long; and upon these the sons of Erginus, Trophonius and Agamedes, dear to the deathless gods, laid a footing of stone. And the countless tribes of men built the whole temple of wrought stones, to be sung of for ever.

[300] But near by was a sweet flowing spring, and there with his strong bow the lord, the son of Zeus, killed the bloated, great she-dragon, a fierce monster wont to do great mischief to men upon earth, to men themselves and to their thin- shanked sheep; for she was a very bloody plague. She it was who once received from gold-throned Hera and brought up fell, cruel Typhaon to be a plague to men. Once on a time Hera bare him because she was angry with father Zeus, when the Son of Cronos bare all-glorious Athena in his head. Thereupon queenly Hera was angry and spoke thus among the assembled gods:

[311] "Hear from me, all gods and goddesses, how cloud-gathering Zeus begins to dishonour me wantonly, when he has made me his true-hearted wife. See now, apart from me he has given birth to bright-eyed Athena who is foremost among all the blessed gods. But my son Hephaestus whom I bare was weakly among all the blessed gods and shrivelled of foot, a shame and disgrace to me in heaven, whom I myself took in my hands and cast out so that he fell in the great sea. But silver-shod Thetis the daughter of Nereus took and cared for him with her sisters: would that she had done other service to the blessed gods! O wicked one and crafty! What else will you now devise? How dared you by yourself give birth to bright-eyed Athena? Would not I have borne you a child -- I, who was at least called your wife among the undying gods who hold wide heaven. Beware now lest I devise some evil thing for you hereafter: yes, now I will contrive that a son be born me to be foremost among the undying gods -- and that without casting shame on the holy bond of wedlock between you and me. And I will not come to your bed, but will consort with the blessed gods far off from you."

[331] When she had so spoken, she went apart from the gods, being very angry. Then straightway large-eyed queenly Hera prayed, striking the ground flatwise with her hand, and speaking thus: "Hear now, I pray, Earth and wide Heaven above, and you Titan gods who dwell beneath the earth about great Tartarus, and from whom are sprung both gods and men! Harken you now to me, one and all, and grant that I may bear a child apart from Zeus, no wit lesser than him in strength -- nay, let him be as much stronger than Zeus as all-seeing Zeus than Cronos."

[340] Thus she cried and lashed the earth with her strong hand. Then the life-giving earth was moved: and when Hera saw it she was glad in heart, for she thought her prayer would be fulfilled. And thereafter she never came to the bed of wise Zeus for a full year, not to sit in her carved chair as aforetime to plan wise counsel for him, but stayed in her temples where many pray, and delighted in her offerings, large-eyed queenly Hera. But when the months and days were fulfilled and the seasons duly came on as the earth moved round, she bare one neither like the gods nor mortal men, fell, cruel Typhaon, to be a plague to men. Straightway large-eyed queenly Hera took him and bringing one evil thing to another such, gave him to the dragoness; and she received him. And this Typhaon used to work great mischief among the famous tribes of men. Whosoever met the dragoness, the day of doom would sweep him away, until the lord Apollo, who deals death from afar, shot a strong arrow at her. Then she, rent with bitter pangs, lay drawing great gasps for breath and rolling about that place. An awful noise swelled up unspeakable as she writhed continually this way and that amid the wood: and so she left her life, breathing it forth in blood.

[362] Then Phoebus Apollo boasted over her: "Now rot here upon the soil that feeds man! You at least shall live no more to be a fell bane to men who eat the fruit of the all-nourishing earth, and who will bring hither perfect hecatombs. Against cruel death neither Typhoeus shall avail you nor ill-famed Chimera, but here shall the Earth and shining Hyperion make you rot."

[370] Thus said Phoebus, exulting over her: and darkness covered her eyes. And the holy strength of Helios made her rot away there; wherefore the place is now called Pytho, and men call the lord Apollo by another name, Pythian; because on that spot the power of piercing Helios made the monster rot away.

[375] Then Phoebus Apollo saw that the sweet-flowing spring had beguiled him, and he started out in anger against Telphusa; and soon coming to her, he stood close by and spoke to her: "Telphusa, you were not, after all, to keep to yourself this lovely place by deceiving my mind, and pour forth your clear flowing water: here my renown shall also be and not yours alone?"

[382] Thus spoke the lord, far-working Apollo, and pushed over upon her a crag with a shower of rocks, hiding her streams: and he made himself an altar in a wooded grove very near the clear-flowing stream. In that place all men pray to the great one by the name Telphusian, because he humbled the stream of holy Telphusa.

[388] Then Phoebus Apollo pondered in his heart what men he should bring in to be his ministers in sacrifice and to serve him in rocky Pytho. And while he considered this, he became aware of a swift ship upon the wine-like sea in which were many men and goodly, Cretans from Cnossos,10 the city of Minos, they who do sacrifice to the prince and announce his decrees, whatsoever Phoebus Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, speaks in answer from his laurel tree below the dells of Parnassus. These men were sailing in their black ship for traffic and for profit to sandy Pylos and to the men of Pylos. But Phoebus Apollo met them: in the open sea he sprang upon their swift ship, like a dolphin in shape, and lay there, a great and awesome monster, and none of them gave heed so as to understand11; but they sought to cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the black ship every way and make the timbers quiver. So they sat silent in their craft for fear, and did not loose the sheets throughout the black, hollow ship, nor lowered the sail of their dark-prowed vessel, but as they had set it first of all with oxhide ropes, so they kept sailing on; for a rushing south wind hurried on the swift ship from behind. First they passed by Malea, and then along the Laconian coast they came to Taenarum, sea-garlanded town and country of Helios who gladdens men, where the thick- fleeced sheep of the lord Helios feed continually and occupy a glad-some country. There they wished to put their ship to shore, and land and comprehend the great marvel and see with their eyes whether the monster would remain upon the deck of the hollow ship, or spring back into the briny deep where fishes shoal. But the well-built ship would not obey the helm, but went on its way all along Peloponnesus: and the lord, far-working Apollo, guided it easily with the breath of the breeze. So the ship ran on its course and came to Arena and lovely Argyphea and Thryon, the ford of Alpheus, and well-placed Aepy and sandy Pylos and the men of Pylos; past Cruni it went and Chalcis and past Dyme and fair Elis, where the Epei rule. And at the time when she was making for Pherae, exulting in the breeze from Zeus, there appeared to them below the clouds the steep mountain of Ithaca, and Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. But when they were passed by all the coast of Peloponnesus, then, towards Crisa, that vast gulf began to heave in sight which through all its length cuts off the rich isle of Pelops. There came on them a strong, clear west-wind by ordinance of Zeus and blew from heaven vehemently, that with all speed the ship might finish coursing over the briny water of the sea. So they began again to voyage back towards the dawn and the sun: and the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, led them on until they reached far-seen Crisa, land of vines, and into haven: there the sea-coursing ship grounded on the sands.

[440] Then, like a star at noonday, the lord, far-working Apollo, leaped from the ship: flashes of fire flew from him thick and their brightness reached to heaven. He entered into his shrine between priceless tripods, and there made a flame to flare up bright, showing forth the splendour of his shafts, so that their radiance filled all Crisa, and the wives and well-girded daughters of the Crisaeans raised a cry at that outburst of Phoebus; for he cast great fear upon them all. From his shrine he sprang forth again, swift as a thought, to speed again to the ship, bearing the form of a man, brisk and sturdy, in the prime of his youth, while his broad shoulders were covered with his hair: and he spoke to the Cretans, uttering winged words:

[452] "Strangers, who are you? Whence come you sailing along the paths of the sea? Are you for traffic, or do you wander at random over the sea as pirates do who put their own lives to hazard and bring mischief to men of foreign parts as they roam? Why rest you so and are afraid, and do not go ashore nor stow the gear of your black ship? For that is the custom of men who live by bread, whenever they come to land in their dark ships from the main, spent with toil; at once desire for sweet food catches them about the heart."

[462] So speaking, he put courage in their hearts, and the master of the Cretans answered him and said: "Stranger -- though you are nothing like mortal men in shape or stature, but are as the deathless gods -- hail and all happiness to you, and may the gods give you good. Now tell me truly that I may surely know it: what country is this, and what land, and what men live herein? As for us, with thoughts set otherwards, we were sailing over the great sea to Pylos from Crete (for from there we declare that we are sprung), but now are come on shipboard to this place by no means willingly -- another way and other paths -- and gladly would we return. But one of the deathless gods brought us here against our will."

[474] Then far-working Apollo answered then and said: "Strangers who once dwelt about wooded Cnossos but now shall return no more each to his loved city and fair house and dear wife; here shall you keep my rich temple that is honoured by many men. I am the son of Zeus; Apollo is my name: but you I brought here over the wide gulf of the sea, meaning you no hurt; nay, here you shall keep my rich temple that is greatly honoured among men, and you shall know the plans of the deathless gods, and by their will you shall be honoured continually for all time. And now come, make haste and do as I say. First loose the sheets and lower the sail, and then draw the swift ship up upon the land. Take out your goods and the gear of the straight ship, and make an altar upon the beach of the sea: light fire upon it and make an offering of white meal. Next, stand side by side around the altar and pray: and in as much as at the first on the hazy sea I sprang upon the swift ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me as Apollo Delphinius; also the altar itself shall be called Delphinius and overlooking12 for ever. Afterwards, sup beside your dark ship and pour an offering to the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. But when you have put away craving for sweet food, come with me singing the hymn Ie Paean (Hail, Healer!), until you come to the place where you shall keep my rich temple."

[502] So said Apollo. And they readily harkened to him and obeyed him. First they unfastened the sheets and let down the sail and lowered the mast by the forestays upon the mast-rest. Then, landing upon the beach of the sea, they hauled up the ship from the water to dry land and fixed long stays under it. Also they made an altar upon the beach of the sea, and when they had lit a fire, made an offering of white meal, and prayed standing around the altar as Apollo had bidden them. Then they took their meal by the swift, black ship, and poured an offering to the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. And when they had put away craving for drink and food, they started out with the lord Apollo, the son of Zeus, to lead them, holding a lyre in his hands, and playing sweetly as he stepped high and featly. So the Cretans followed him to Pytho, marching in time as they chanted the Ie Paean after the manner of the Cretan paean-singers and of those in whose hearts the heavenly Muse has put sweet-voiced song. With tireless feet they approached the ridge and straightway came to Parnassus and the lovely place where they were to dwell honoured by many men. There Apollo brought them and showed them his most holy sanctuary and rich temple.

[524] But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts, and the master of the Cretans asked him, saying: "Lord, since you have brought us here far from our dear ones and our fatherland, -- for so it seemed good to your heart, -- tell us now how we shall live. That we would know of you. This land is not to be desired either for vineyards or for pastures so that we can live well thereon and also minister to men."

[531] Then Apollo, the son of Zeus, smiled upon them and said: "Foolish mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek cares and hard toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word and set it in your hearts. Though each one of you with knife in hand should slaughter sheep continually, yet would you always have abundant store, even all that the glorious tribes of men bring here for me. But guard you my temple and receive the tribes of men that gather to this place, and especially show mortal men my will, and do you keep righteousness in your heart. But if any shall be disobedient and pay no heed to my warning, of if there shall be any idle word or deed and outrage as is common among mortal men, then other men shall be your masters and with a strong hand shall make you subject for ever. All has been told you: do you keep it in your heart."

[545] And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will remember you and another hymn also.

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shoukokunoaltairfans · 9 months ago

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The third battle of Centro ( 16/02/79)

The Third Battle of Centro, also known as the Phoenician War, was fought on the 16th of the month of Tencere, in the year 79 CTR, between a combined fleet consisting of the Knights of Rhodes, Sicilia, Naples, Genoa, Balt Rhein, and Li'solani, against the fleet of the Turkiye-Venedik alliance in the sea of Centro, near the city of Phoenicia. This was the third round of fighting in the entire conflict at sea between the two powers, in an attempt by the Imperial and Crusader alliances to dominate the waters of Centro after the failure of the land invasion of Sud. The Turkiye-Venedik fleet won a landslide victory, killing many of the Crusaders' commanders, capturing most of their warships, and taking many prisoners and booty. This battle was the end of the Balt Rhein Empire's dominance of the Centro and the loss of its vassal state on the island of Crete. It also had a major impact on the first appearance of the Turkiye naval dominance as the new ruler of the Centro Seas.

Power map of Balt Rhein Turkiye after the battle of Cinza.

several Countries in Centro and Mediterranean Before a Battle.

Prime Minister Louis of Balt Rhein was still not giving up his passionate determination to continue fighting Turkiye. even though the expeditionary force sent to Sud was destroyed. while according to miller, (who argues that the expedition to Sud was not at the direction of St Michael) Louis once again used his bet to be able to take Sud by sea. His strategy was to cut off all Turkiye lines of communication and supplies by taking control of Centro so that he could directly threaten Imbros (a Venedic colony) and Constantinople. Louis mediated with Pope Nicholas V to organise another Crusade. Despite Rome's difficulties in mobilising the masses, due to internal conflicts in western Europe, the pope's invitation was successful in getting Genoa, Sicily, Naples and the Hosipitaller Knights of Rhodes to form an alliance.

On 22 Lale, 79 CTR, the Naples and Sicily Fleets of 100 galleys each besieged Li'solani. Donattello Doria immediately surrendered, and asked for security guarantees. even offered military assistance in order to fight the Türkiye and Venedik. thus, Li'solani broke out of his agreement with the Türkiye 2 years ago that they had signed themselves. Donatello's betrayal reached the venedik and received a strong reaction from Antonio Lucio, Doge Venedik. Antonio conveyed this news directly to Constantinople. in response to this Zaganos Pasha ordered careful military preparations to Hamza Pasha as the Kapudan Bahriye who was positioned in Phoenicia. in order to mobilise his fleet.

Turkiye Galleys in 15th Century

In addition to taking control of Li'solani, the crusader fleet attacked any ship passing through the western centro. It did not even distinguish which ships belonged to Turkiye from those belonging to their own allies. On the 28th, there was an incident of robbery of a venedic merchant ship by the crusader fleet. The raids expanded to reach Ponente, Tharos, and St. Lucino. The two countries on the island of Crete decided to submit to the crusaders. facing the worsening situation in Centro. Antonio Lucio decided to make military preparations. The levy of goods was increased, and soldiers and archers were recruited. Marco Quirini, one of the Venedic commanders who participated in the first Centro War, was appointed Commander in Chief in place of Silvestro Brega. at the head of the Venedic Fleet mobilised in Imbros, consisting of 150 galleys.

Various Types of Venetian Ships

On the 3rd of Tencere, Hamza Pasha ordered the addition of 150 galleys in Phoenicia and immediately accelerated the mobilisation. With this new navy, Hamza Pasha tried to get out of Phoenike Harbour and met a small part of the crusader fleet that was coincidentally trying to get closer to Phoenike for the sake of looting. A brief battle ensued, and Hamza Pasha was able to repulse the invaders' attack. From this brief battle, Hamza Pasha realised that it seemed that the crusaders were attacking without any coordination or prepared strategy. So there was a possibility of winning the battle.

The next day, the Balt Rhein Imperial Fleet, led by Andreas Patarini, left the vessels for Li'solani, where the Crusader Fleet was supposed to be assembled. In the evening, a council of war was held. A dispute ensued over who would command the combined Crusader Fleet. Andreas put himself forward to lead the fleet. However, the majority of the Sicilian and Genoese forces voted against him. The Genoese instead put forward Giustiniani (their warlord, who was rumoured to have disappeared after the battle of Gallipoli, 77 CTR) to lead their leet. It is known that Giustiniani did not die and managed to survive his humiliating defeat and escape to Rhodes. Giustiniani is currently on his way to lead the Hospitaller Knight Fleet to Li'solani to answer the call of the papal alliance.

However, the Giustiniani's arrival was very slow due to a westerly wind that was contrary to the direction they were travelling. Five days later, on Tencere 8, Giustiniani arrived at Li'solani and immediately convened the council of war once again. Provveditore Venier (Capitan of Naples), Albano Capello (Genoa), and Poei Manfredi (Li'solani) urged a direct attack on the Turkishye Venedik forces towards their headquarters, i.e., Phoenicia, given that both fleets were not yet fully organised. But Giusitiniani was hesitant about this proposal and preferred to target an easier target, i.e., the city of Chielo or the city of Scoglio. This proposal was supported by the commanders of the Balt Rhein. The crusader commander accused the Balt Rhein of greed and stubbornness, wanting only the result of the war for themselves. The division among the councils of war continued into the night. Nevertheless, Giustiniani finally supported the first opinion. and decided to reorganise his fleet, getting ready to face the Combined Turkiye-Venedik Fleet.

Battle

The fleet of the Crusader Alliance, consisting of 400 ships (according to Marino Satino), 200 galleys from Balt Rhein, 40 from Rhodes, 30 from Li'solani, 80 from Sicily, 30 from Genoa, and 20 from Naples. (Among all the ships, those of Genoa and Naples were the largest.) The movement of the Crusader fleet towards the battlefield was very slow due to the lack of wind. and the fleet only departed on the 12th. Meanwhile, the Venedic Turkiye Combined Fleet arrived in Phoenicia, consisting of 300 ships. The Turkish ships were dominated by small galleys (and no large ships), totaling 150 galleys. supported by the Venedic Fleet (100 Galleys, 20 Formosse, and 30 Mescolare). Hamza Pasha was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. and prepared to organise his battle formation. upon hearing that the Crusader Fleet was moving towards Phoenicia.

The two fleets met on the Phoenicia Sea Route on the 16th. Seeing that the enemy forces had more fleets and larger ships, Hamza Pasha decided to face his galleys against the galleys of the Balt Rhein and Rhodes. while the Venedic forces faced the Genoese, Naples, and Li'solani. The two ships approached each other and began to fire arrows. Hamza Pasha arranged the formation of his galleys close to the enemy galleys so as to make it easier for his soldiers to fight each other, like a war on land. The war continued with mutual sword-slashing and arrow-shooting for a long time, turning into a frightening, bloody battle. The Imperial troops tried to break free from the oars of the Turkiye galleys. However, the two galleys had already docked and could not be released. Despite the bumpy and unstable tidal waters, the Turkiye troops were able to take control of the situation. and killed many of the Empire's marine troops. The Balt Rhein troops were in disarray as their commander, Andreas Patarini, was killed, so they decided to retreat, leaving their allies without a second thought. According to Satino, Andreas staggered on his ship due to the tide. then fell into the sea and drowned.

Hamza Pasha General Commander of the Turkiye-Venedik Fleet

On the other hand, the Venedic battles against Naples, Genoa, and Naples are still ongoing. The Naples ships had difficulty keeping their fleet formation. So Marco Quirini took this golden opportunity to close his ships with the Naples ships. Provveditore Venier ordered his ships to retreat for a while in order to draw the Venedic forces further away from their gallai and thus separate them from the Main Fleet. The ships of Naples fought back by advancing ahead of the Venedik fleet; one of its commanders, Girolamo Minotto, misinterpreted Provveditore Venier's signal to stay away, according to Satino, and attacked the Venedik flagship instead. Seeing the tactical failure of the Naples forces, the commander of the Venedik Galleries, Lorenzo Festa, laid siege to the Naples Fleet. while Gianpaolo Cavallo attacked the Li'solani Galleries to separate them.

Marco Quirini commander of the venedic navy, who replaced Silvestro Brega.

Seeing the chaos in the formation of his battle fleet, Giustiniani tried to help by mobilising his remaining reserve ships. in order to release the blockade of the Venedik Force over the Naples troops. However, the Turkiye Galley, led by Hass Murad Pasha and Mesih Pasha, came from the side and intercepted the Genoa ships. The Genoa ships were able to match the Turkiye ships in battle by relying on the large size of their ships. thus being able to escape the interception. Venier himself was badly wounded by the many arrows that pierced him, feeling unable to continue the battle. He decided to withdraw his fleet and retreat. although the effort was quite impossible. However, Venier was able to make a feint with some of his crew by disguising himself as a common soldier and escaping with some of his ships that managed to escape the siege.

As a result, the Genoese and Rhodesians were left alone. This angered Giusitiniani. upset, he decided to return to Li'solani. hoping that he could avenge his painful defeat at the Sea of Phoenicia. This third Centro Sea battle lasted from dawn to sunset. The combined Turkiye-Venedik fleet was finally able to defeat the Crusader fleet. Many captains and crew members of enemy ships were killed and taken prisoner. and captured 57 galleys and 10 galleons, according to Satino's records. while the rest were destroyed during the battle. while the Egyptian historian, Maqrizi, says the number reached 40. Nicollo (one of the Venedik historians who participated in the war) details the ships captured by the Venedik forces. Lorenzo Festa captured 70 galleys belonging to Li'solani, while Marco Quirini captured 10 galleons belonging to Naples and one flagship galleon belonging to Genoa. The record of warships captured by the Turkiye is not mentioned by Nicollo except based on Maqrizi's account. The Turkiye captured 57 galleys, or at least 40 galleys, belonging to the Balt Rhein and 22 galleys belonging to Rhodes and Li'solani. Casualties on the Turkiye and Venedik sides reached at least 4000 men. on the enemy side, as narrated by Maqrizi, reached 30000 men. Most of the casualties were from the Balt Rhein.

Aftermath

Four days after the third Centro battle, Hamza Pasha and Quirini organised a pursuit of the fleeing Crusader fleet. The Turkiye-Venedik fleet approached the island of Crete and laid siege to Tarros and Ponente, which were the bases of the Balt Rhein Fleet's escape. After more than five days of siege, both cities were defeated. ending both city governments and entering into Turkiye domination. Hamza Pasha captured eight generals of the Balt Rhein superintendent and some resisting troops and executed them. Next, on the 27th, the Turkiye Venedik Fleet moved towards Li'solani through the Witch Straits to shorten the journey. Giustinianni had taken full command of the city's controls and taken Donatello Doria prisoner in his own palace, then prepared for the final battle.

On the 28th, fighting broke out again around Li'solani waters. The Genoese and Li'solani Fleets put up a vigorous resistance to the attacks of the Turkiye-Venedik Fleet, destroying parts of their galleys. Giustiniani tried to keep the enemy fleet away from the island, but was unsuccessful. Due to the unstable wind direction, the situation was reversed when the wind direction actually blew to the west, which brought the Genoese and Li'solani ships closer to land. The Turkiye-Venetian fleet took advantage of this opportunity by showering them with fire arrows in order to burn their ships and surrounded them. Giustiniani was forced to change his strategy by adopting defensive tactics in the fortress. The Turkiye troops carried out the siege from the 1st to the 6th of Raki. Li'solani decided to surrender. Despite Giustiniani's ingenuity, he was able to defend the city and thwart two consecutive attacks by the Turkiye-Venedik fleet. Due to the discontent of the inhabitants and merchants, they wanted the Genoese to withdraw from their city.

Hamza Pasha accompanied by the Janisaries entered the city on the 6th and ordered the troops to spread out, in search of Giustiniani. However, they did not find him. Most likely, Giustiniani had escaped with 700 of his troops by robbing some of Li'solani's Galleys and then returning to Italy. Hamza pasha then stormed Donatello's palace and arrested him while expressing his anger for betraying the Anti-Imperial Tripartite that had been agreed 3 years earlier. in return, Hamza Pasha placed Donatello's son, Antonio Doria as the new Li'solani ruler. signifying the end of the independence of the Li'solani government. and transformed into a Vassal state under the auspices of Turkiye.

The victory at Centro marked the beginning of the fledgling Turkiye naval supremacy that would continue to develop until the end of the Stratocracy and the return of the Ottoman Empire. Nicollo says that although the Turkiye lacked the quality of ships capable of matching the Venediks, Genoese, and Li'solani, and their ships were mostly small galleys, their rowers were adept at mobilising them according to the tide and wind direction. Hamza Pasha's strategy, docking fellow galleys until the transfer of rowing troops to enemy ships, and the ambush of the Genoese ship, which was in fact larger, made the Venedik commander, who witnessed the Turkiye way of war for the first time at sea, truly amazed. seen, several times the Turkiye troops applied the strategies of the Venedik troops themselves. One of them was pouring oil or soap on the enemy's deck to throw off their balance when moving. Or, the troops' shoes were coated with sand so that they could walk on the soap. Because of this, Nicollo commented, "This tribe of horsemen has learned something from us.".

According to Seth Perry, "the destruction of the Crusader Fleet at Centro emphasised the influence of Turkiye, this time not only dominating the land but also the sea. This was evidenced by the conquest of Tarros, Ponente, Li'solani, and finally Vessels. making Turkiye a major player in naval warfare. next to Venedik, Li'solani, and Genoa.

#shoukoku no altair #altair a record of battles #kotono kato #kato katono #navy #fanfic #fan fiction #ottoman #centro #zehir zaganos

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