Revelation 1:11

λεγούσης, Ὃ βλέπεις γράψον εἰς βιβλίον, καὶ πέμψον ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις, εἰς Ἔφεσον, καὶ εἰς Σμύρναν, καὶ εἰς Πέργαμον, καὶ εἰς Θυάτειρα, καὶ εἰς Σάρδεις, καὶ εἰς Φιλαδέλφειαν, καὶ εἰς Λαοδίκειαν.

RBT Greek Interlinear:

Strongs 3004; legousēs; λεγούσης; she who is saying; V-PPA-GFS

Strongs 1473; Egō; {Ἐγώ; I/Myself; PPro-N1S

Strongs 1510; eimi; ἐιμι; am; V-PIA-1S

Strongs 3588; to; τὸ; the; Art-ANS

Strongs 1; A; Α; A; N-NNS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 3588; to; τὸ; the; Art-ANS

Strongs 5598; Ō; Ω; Omega; N-NNS

Strongs 3588; ho; ὁ; the; Art-NMS

Strongs 4413; prōtos; πρῶτος; First; Adj-NMS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 3588; ho; ὁ; the; Art-NMS

Strongs 2078; eschatos; ἔσχατος; end; Adj-NMS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ}; and; Conj

Strongs 3739; Ho; Ὃ; What; RelPro-ANS

Strongs 991; blepeis; βλέπεις; you see; V-PIA-2S

Strongs 1125; grapson; γράψον; write/draw; V-AMA-2S

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 975; biblion; βιβλίον; book; N-ANS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 3992; pempson; πέμψον; send; V-AMA-2S

Strongs 3588; tais; ταῖς; the; Art-DFP

Strongs 2033; hepta; ἑπτὰ; seven; Adj-DFP

Strongs 1577; ekklēsiais; ἐκκλησίαις; summoned assemblies; N-DFP

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 2181; Epheson; Ἔφεσον; Ephesus; N-AFS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 4667; Smyrnan; Σμύρναν; Smyrna; N-AFS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 4010; Pergamon; Πέργαμον; Pergamum; N-AFS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 2363; Thyateira; Θυάτειρα; Thyatira; N-ANP

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 4554; Sardeis; Σάρδεις; Sardis; N-AFP

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 5359; Philadelpheian; Φιλαδέλφειαν; Philadelphia; N-AFS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 1519; eis; εἰς; into; Prep

Strongs 2993; Laodikeian; Λαοδίκειαν; Laodicea; N-AFS

RBT Translation:

she who is saying, "Draw/write what you are looking at into a book, and send it forth to the Seven Summoned Assemblies: into City of the Bee^1d ("Ephesus"), and into Myrrh ("Smyrna") and into Fortified Citadel ("Pergamum") and into Daughter of Stars² ("Thyateira"), and into Precious Stones³ ("Sardis"), and into Love of Brothers ("Philadelphia") and into People's Justice ("Laodicea")!"

The Queen Bee Tetradrachm of Ephesos
380 BCE

"And I turned back to look at the Voice"

This silver tetradrachm (a four-drachma coin) is stamped on the front with a bee within a dotted circular border. The reverse depicts the foreparts of a stag kneeling in right profile, looking back towards a palm tree. The bee, stag, and palm tree are all emblems of Ephesos, the Greek city on the west coast of Turkey. The bee, originally a symbol of an early Anatolian goddess later identified with Artemis, was so integral to this association that the priestesses of Artemis were called "honey bees."
The Greek letters Ε and Φ are an abbreviation for Ephesos, while the palm tree alludes to Artemis' birth beneath a palm on Delos. The stag, sacred to Artemis, symbolizes her role as protector of wild animals...

Source: The J. Paul Getty Museum. (n.d.). Silver tetradrachm of Ephesos. Getty.

LITV Translation:
saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last; also, What you see, write in a scroll, and send to the seven churches of Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

ESV Translation:
saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Footnotes

1d

The association of Ephesus with a "bee" or a "city of the Mother Goddess" is rooted in the city's ancient religious traditions, particularly its connection with the worship of the goddess Artemis, who was later syncretized with earlier Anatolian mother goddess figures. Here is a more detailed exploration of these concepts:

1. The Bee Symbolism:

• The Bee as a Sacred Symbol: In Ephesus, the bee was a significant symbol, often associated with the goddess Artemis. Artemis of Ephesus was distinct from the more widely known Greek Artemis as a virgin huntress. In Ephesus, she was worshipped as a fertility goddess, reflecting earlier Anatolian mother goddess traditions. The priestesses of Artemis were sometimes referred to as "Melissae," which means "bees" in Greek.
• The "Melissae": The term "Melissae" not only referred to the priestesses but also had a symbolic connection with the bees, which were seen as sacred creatures in many ancient cultures, including those of the Aegean and Anatolia. The bee was emblematic of industry, community, and the nurturing aspects of the goddess.
• Archaeological Evidence: The connection between Ephesus and the bee is supported by archaeological finds, including coins from the city that depict bees, often alongside images of the goddess Artemis. These coins date back to as early as the 6th century BCE.

2. City of the Mother Goddess:

• Artemis of Ephesus: The worship of Artemis at Ephesus is well-documented, and her cult was one of the most significant in the ancient Mediterranean world. The Ephesian Artemis was depicted differently from the Greek Artemis; she was often shown with multiple breasts or with symbolic elements like beehives, indicating her role as a mother and fertility goddess. This iconography is thought to be a continuation of earlier Anatolian mother goddess worship, which was prevalent in the region before the arrival of the Greeks.
• The Connection to Cybele: Some scholars suggest that Artemis of Ephesus may have absorbed attributes from Cybele, the Phrygian mother goddess who was also worshipped in Anatolia. Cybele was often associated with fertility, nature, and wild animals, much like Artemis, but her worship was more directly tied to earth and fertility, which may have influenced the depiction of Artemis in Ephesus as a nurturing, motherly figure.

2

The term Θυάτειρα (Thyáteira) does not have a clear etymology. However, breaking it down, there are possibilities:

• Θυά (Thyá) could be a contraction of Θυγάτηρ (Thygátir), which means "daughter."
• θύα (thýā), a feminine noun, refers to a type of plant related to θύον (thýon), which is identified as thyme in Theophrastus' Histories of Plants (HP 5.3.7).
• Θύρα (Thýra) means "door" or "gate."
• θυάς (thyás) a form of attack or charge, also sacrifice/victim
• τειρα (teira) could be a nominative form of τείρεα (térea), which refers to "stars" or "constellations." It is a plural noun used to denote celestial bodies or groups of stars.

The term τείρεα is used in ancient Greek literature to describe heavenly signs or constellations. For instance, in Homer’s Iliad, it refers to stars or constellations that are visible in the sky. (cf. Logeion τείρεα)

Explanation of Θυά (Thyá)

Θυά (Thyá) is a rare term and does not have a standard, clear definition in classical Greek literature. However, it can be found in contexts related to Greek mythology and religion:

From Plutarch, Consolatio ad Apollonium, Chapter 1:

From Plutarch, Consolatio ad Apollonium, Chapter 1:

It is spoken under the lyrical Pindar around the devout in the Underworld ("Hades"),

to them shines indeed the strength of the sun this night below,
in palm-tree groves in grassy suburbs of themselves, and shadowy of frankincense, and weighed down with golden-fruit.
And some indeed with horse athletic contests, and some with dice games,
and they take pleasure in lyres, and beside them
a blooming all-encompassing prosperity has flourished,
and a sensual/charming fragrance spreads down through the space
forever Thyá mixed with fire, all manner of things of the gods, visible from afar on altars."

 

Virgo Constellation (The Maiden)

Mythological Background

Virgo is often linked with Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, or Diana in Roman mythology. Artemis, known for her role as a huntress, symbolizes the wilderness and hunting. Virgo’s association with Artemis reflects her dominion over nature and the hunt, though the constellation itself does not directly represent a huntress.

Throughout various mythologies, Virgo has been connected to goddesses associated with agriculture, fertility, and hunting. While the constellation's association with Artemis is thematic, it highlights the goddess's broader role in nature rather than a specific representation.

In astrology and mythology, Virgo is associated with purity and virginity, attributes shared with Artemis. Although the constellation itself is not depicted as a huntress, its symbolic connection to Artemis is established through these shared qualities.

3

Σάρδεις (Sardis) is a plural form used for the ancient city, while "σάρδης" (sardēs) refers to a type of stone, specifically carnelian. The connection between the city name and the stone suggests that the name of the city could be related to the local significance of carnelian or to the city's trade in gemstones. The term "σάρδης" highlights the city's association with the gemstone industry in antiquity.