How should we sing of him, as Dictaean or Lycaean? [Dicte and Lycaeum are mts. in Crete and Arcadia with competing traditions of Zeus' birth.] My mind is full of doubt, since his birth is disputed. Zeus, some say you were born in the Idaian hills [Crete], but others say, Zeus, you were born in Arcadia. Which ones, O Father, are the liars? "The Cretans always lie." For the Cretans built you a tomb, Lord. Yet you did not die; you are eternal.
Rhea bore you in Parrhasia, where there was a hill sheltered with thick brush. Thus the place is holy, and no creeping creature that has need of Eileithyia [the birth goddess] nor any human female approaches it, but the Apidanes [ancient Arcadians] call it the primeval childbed of Rhea. There when your mother had let you down from her great lap, straightaway she sought a stream of water, with which she might cleanse herself of the pollution of childbirth, and bathe your body too.
[But at that time in earth's history there were no rivers in Arcadia.]
And gripped by distress the Lady Rhea said, "Dear Earth, give birth also. Your birthpains are light." Thus the goddess spoke and lifting her great arm up she struck the mountain with her staff. For her it split in two, and out poured a flood. After she washed you with this, she swaddled you and gave you to Neda to bring inside the Cretan hollow, in order that you might grow up in hiding; to Neda, the eldest of the nymphs who were about her bed, first-born after Styx and Philyra [Neda is both a nymph and a river that flows through Arcadia. Styx and Philyra are daughters of Oceanus.]
[The poet tells how Rhea named the stream Neda after the nymph in gratitude for her help, and how as Neda was carrying baby Zeus to Crete, his umbilicus fell away at the town of Thenae near Knossos. This explains why the area is called "The Plain of the Navel."]
But you, Zeus, the companions of the Corybantes [male protective spirits=Curetes below] took to their embrace, the Meliae of Mt. Dicte [the ash-tree nymphs]; and Adrasteia [ a personification of the Inevitable] laid you in a golden cradle, and you sucked the rich teat of the goat Amaltheia and ate sweet honeycomb. For suddenly on the Idaian hills, which men call Panacra, there appeared the works of the Panacrian bee. And about you the Couretes danced a war-dance, beating their armor, so that Cronus might hear with his ears the din of the shield, but not your infant cries.
You grew well, and you were well nurtured, heavenly Zeus, and quickly you came to manhood, and soon there was down on your cheeks. But while yet a child you conceived all the deeds of your maturity. Therefore your siblings, though earlier born, did not grudge you heaven for your own domain.
[The poet protests that the story about Zeus and his brothers casting lots for sky, sea, and underworld is not correct, for Zeus gained his lot through his great deeds and strength. Then follows a discussion of Zeus' special relationship to kings and a final prayer to Zeus to grant prosperity.]
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