Makedonikos' hymn to Apollo and Asklepios
IG II3 4 777 Date: 2nd-1st century BC
Relief in cymatium Makedonikos of Amphipolis composed this, when the god commanded it.[1] Hymn the Delian of the good quiver, Zeus’ child, of the silver bow,
with a cheerful spirit, with an auspicious tongue – Ie Paian! –
(5) Place in your hand a suppliant branch of olive and
a glorious shoot [of laurel], Athenian youths (kouroi) – Ie Paian! –
O youths, might a blameless hymn sing of Leto’s son, Hekatos (i.e. Apollo),
famous leader of the Muses . . . – Ie Paian! –
the helper, whom he once begot, the [averter (alktēra)] of diseases and mortal
(10) woe, Asklepios, a cheerful youth – Ie! Oh! Ie Paian! –
On Pelion’s summits, the Centaur taught him,[2] the whole art (technēn) . . . that wards off pain from humans, – [Ie Paian!] –
son of Koronis, gentle to men, most venerable spirit (daimona semnotaton), – [Ie Paian!] –
and to him were born youths, Podaleirios and Machaon, for the Greeks . . . (15) of the lance, – Ie Paian! –
and Iaso, Akeso, and Aigle and Panakeia, (daughters) of Epione – with
very distinguished Hygieia[3] – Ie Paian! –
Greetings, great boon to mortals, most famous spirit – [Ie!] Oh! [Ie Paian!] –
Asklepios, and grant that those hymning your wisdom may flourish forever
(20) in life with most pleasant health (Hygieia), – Ie Paian! –
And may you preserve the Kekropian Attic city,[4] visiting it always, – Ie Paian! –
be kind, blessed one, and draw away loathsome diseases – Ie! Oh! Ie Paian!