Malias - Page 3

The third page of the Maliad. The poem is 61 lines long now, and I've reached the critical moment of the first scene.

Then rising to his feet, Kameus said to the men: The temples have vast riches from the gifts that they receive, those golden labryses and many herd animals. Why do they deny me a just portion as a tribute? For the sky and the wind have no need of such things. Therefore let her go and bring me my just due!

Some nodded in approval, for indeed his store rooms were full of the things they had brought, olive oil and wine, prized ivory from Libya and other kinds of goods; and the halls of the palace smelled of their cooked sacrifices. They had given generously, so why should the temples hold back?

But gray-haired Dionides came forward and said: Man cannot take that which was offered to the gods, nay, however much he may desire it, lest they become angry with him and punish him for his hubris.

And Teliassa said: Hear now, Kameus, the words of wise Dionides, and do not hunger for that which is above you, for you are but a king and dust before the gods.

Now Kameus was furious, his pride wounded, and he said: Behold now, brethren, if she does not give me wealth from the temple, then I will take what she did bring!

Malias - Page 2

Here is the second page of the Malias. If you read the first page, you should note that I made a change to it - I changed the somewhat anachronistic name Alexius to the older Adamaos, a name attested in Linear B script.

Now fiery-haired Teliassa, priestess of the temple on the mountain where Zeus was born, entered the palace dressed in a gown with sparkling purple trim. She wore an iron armlet in the form of a serpent, and sandals stitched with cloth of silver. All eyes were upon her; women, envious of her great beauty, chatted in the corners, and men watched her with ravenous looks. She approached the alabaster throne with a regal gait, her gaze fixed on Kameus, and said: I offer you honors from those who serve the gods, Zeus and Hera, and Poseidon and Posideia, Hermes and well-girdled Aphrodite.

Nearby, Adamaos was staring at Teliassa as if struck by the arrow, for indeed he was, standing mute on the spot where love had overcome him.

The king too was struck by desire, but desire of another kind. He wrung his bear-like hands and said: I see you have the richest clothes, and an armlet more valuable than gold¹; yet in spite of your wealth, you bring me only words.

¹ In the bronze age, iron was extremely difficult to produce and was therefore more valuable than gold

Malias - Page 1

So here is the completed first page of the Malias Papyrus.

Sing, O Heaven, the heart of fiery-haired Teliassa, who brought about the downfall of the tyrant Kameus. What frightful, divine force could wreak such damage as befell the unfortunate Cretans? Indeed, only the most powerful of any that are known - love.

The goddess of seduction stirs the soul like wind upon the water, and changes the shape of our world forever. Thus it was for Malia on the night when King Kameus assumed the crown, carousing with men of renown and nobles from the surrounding lands.

Gray-haired Dionides was there, who had offered the hecatomb to all the gods, praying for their blessing and for a long and peaceful reign, alas but in vain; and bronze-skinned Alexius, who leaped over bulls with the aerial grace of a soaring kite; and great captains of ships which swiftly sailed the mercurial sea, laden with riches, and others whose names are now forgotten, feasting on the roasted meat by the light of the braziers.