Trans Ally and Momma Bear, Callimachus, Greek Anthology 7.728

Trans Ally and Momma Bear

Name: Callimachus Date:    305 – 240 BCE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:    Greek Anthology 7.728

The following is an epitaph of a priestess who served many goddesses throughout her life, including Cybele. As a priestess of Cybele, she was a protector and mentor of the goddess’ galli worshippers.

I was once the sacred priestess of Demeter, then the Cabeiri,

O traveler, and then I served Cybele.

I was a momma bear for many young ladies. 

Then I became an old woman, and now I’m ashes; 

And the locks of golden hair that used to adorn my shoulders.

I had two sons, and I closed my eyes a final time in their arms. 

Go on your merry way.  

Ἱερέη Δήμητρος ἐγώ ποτε, καὶ πάλιν Καβείρων, ὦνερ, καὶ μετέπειτα Δινδυμήνης, ἡ γρηῢς γενόμην, ἡ νῦν κόνις, ἡνο ... πολλῶν προστασίη νέων γυναικῶν. καί μοι τέκν᾽ ἐγένοντο δύ᾽ ἄρσενα, κἠπέμυς᾽ ἐκείνων εὐγήρως ἐνὶ χερσίν. ἕρπε χαίρων.

Virgo sacerdos Cereris ego olim, et rursus Cabirorum, o homo, et deinde Dindymenae, anus fui, quae nunc sum cinis [a diis nacta] multarum patrocinium iuvenum mulierum. Et mihi pueri fuerunt duo mares, et oculos clausi illorum grandaeva in manibus. Repta gaudens. Translated into Latin by  Hugo Grotius

Callimachus [310 – 240 BCE, modern Libya] is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the extant fragments of his works are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.