atheniangrace

[atheniangrace]

🪞🐚low budget/free Aphrodite offerings🪞🐚

I’ve been an Aphrodite devotee for five ish years and im always looking for low budget/lazy ways to honour her. So here it is!

lighting her candle while you do your everyday makeup, skincare or haircare routine

working out

drawings/paintings/poetry-it doesn’t have to be about her, but she does love art!

aesthetically pleasing love letters-safely burn them using the flame from her candle

your favourite fragrances having a place on her altar

chocolate

roses

seashells/anything ocean related

homemade salt water

anything you’ve baked or handmade

sleeping in

wearing your favourite pyjamas

wearing that outfit you’ve ALWAYS wanted to put on

journalling

watching your comfort movie

make a pinterest board for her

make a playlist for her

crystals such as himalayan salt rock, rose quartz, moonstone, opalite & celestite

self love jar

compliment others

go thrifting for new clothes/altar pieces

shop cruelty free cosmetics only

sing or dance

try something new like a dance class or yoga class

bubble baths

everything showers

face masks

take a nap

have a pyjama day

clean your space, because you deserve it

self-pleasure (18+ ofc)

photos of people/things you find beautiful or love

honey

rosemary

i find she really loves music boxes!

do something for your inner child

if you can, donate to a womens charity or shelter

go swimming

drink chamomile tea

flirt with people you find attractive

research glamour magic

self-love/acceptance affirmations in the mirror

tell her about your long term goals/hopes and dreams

listen to love songs

Hope this helps! ✨💓

[atheniangrace]

Hestia is....

steam curling up from a morning cup of tea.

[atheniangrace]

Aphrodisia

What is Aphrodisia?

Aphrodisia is a festival to honor Lady Aphrodite, specifically Her epithet Aphrodite Pandemos (Lady of All)

When is Aphrodisia?

We don’t know exactly when Aphrodisia is or was in ancient times. Some things that came up in my research were: the third week in July to the third week in August, the summer solstice, and July 13. Because I personally need a specific date to celebrate, I will be celebrating on July 13, which happens to be tomorrow.

Traditional Celebrations

Traditionally, to start the festival, a dove was sacrificed to purify Her temple, and a statue of Her would be brought to the sea and washed, followed by a procession. Feasts were very common during Aphrodisia.

Modern Celebration Ideas

So of course we probably can’t sacrifice doves and parade a statue of Her from a temple to the sea nowadays, but there are many ways we can still celebrate Aphrodisia. These are a few ideas, you don’t have to do all of them or any at all.

🐚 Purify Her Altar

🐚 Spend time with Her

🐚 Bake something

🐚 Offer a libation or some sort of food

🐚 Do whatever makes you feel close to Her

🐚 Offer incense and/or light a candle for Her

🐚 Have a self-care day

🐚 Spend some time researching Her

I will be wearing a color that reminds me of Her, lighting Her candle, enjoying the small things in life, spending time with my partner, painting my nails, listening to music that reminds me of Her, and I may watch a romance movie. I will try to bake something or offer her something if I can.

Remember that no matter what you do for Her, or even if you don’t do anything extra at all, She will be happy. You do not need to do any elaborate celebrations or offerings in order to please Her. Just do what you can, Lady Aphrodite understands ❤️

Khaire!

[atheniangrace]

Some People: Ares and Aphrodite only lust for each other and there isn't any sort of romantic love between them. She should've remained with Hephaestus.

Meanwhile Jean-Marie Vien: Here, have this painting of Aphrodite showing to Ares that her doves made a nest in his helmet.

[atheniangrace]

a reminder to honor aphrodite by maintaining your boundaries and self respect. don't let people walk over you, don't stay in relationships (both romantic and platonic) that aren't bringing you joy. learn to love yourself before worrying about being loved by others.

[atheniangrace]

Only you know your relationship with your god. Don’t second guess it.

It saddens me to see posts on here and on other sites about how having a causal relationship with your god is disrespectful and you shouldn’t give them nicknames. That just makes me so upset every time I see it.

Because one of the things I know for a fact is if a god felt disrespected by your behavior towards them, you’d know.

If xyz didn’t want you to treat them like a sibling, best friend, mentor, parent, (or even a lover. Not my place to judge.), you’d know. Just because you have that type of relationship with them doesn’t mean you don’t respect them or don’t work with and/or worship them.

They’re gods, yes. But they also love you and want to help you. You felt how they appeared to you, I bet you knew very quickly what type of relationship you’d have with them. What type of role in your life they would fill. Or maybe you didn’t and it happened a lot more slowly. All of that is okay. What’s also okay is if you have a very strict relationship with them, that’s also fine.

But my goodness don’t try to police or judge how gods are with other people.

99.9% of the time it’s the gods setting that type of dynamic in the first place so please be respectful to other dynamics.

You’re not better than other worshipers because you don’t joke around or call a god your bestie.

[atheniangrace]

I love Lady Aphrodite (that’s it, that’s the post)

[atheniangrace]

“The pain that you feel is only temporary. The growth that you experience will last forever”

— Nicole Addison

[atheniangrace]

Myth: The Birth Of Athena

Zeus' first wife was Metis, the titan goddess of wisdom, counsel and cunnning, "wisest among gods and mortal men" who had helped him in the Titan War. But when she became pregnant with their first child, Zeus received a prophecy, from either Gaia and Ouranos or Metis herself, that after bearing a daughter "equal to her father in strength and in wise understanding" there would come a son, "of overbearing spirit, king of gods and men," who would continue the cycle of gods overthrowing their fathers as Zeus and Kronos had.

So Zeus tricked Metis into shapeshifting into something small and swallowed her whole, "for fear that she might bring forth something stronger than his thunderbolt," and "that the goddess might devise for him both good and evil."

Shortly after his marriage to Hera, Zeus developed a splitting headache. Hephaistos or Prometheus struck Zeus' head with an axe, cutting it open, and out sprang the fully-armored (and sometimes fully-grown) Athena, shaking her spear with a war cry. Homeric Hymn 28 recounts how "Great Olympos began to quake dreadfully at the might of Glaukopis, and earth all about screamed horribly, and the sea moved and frothed with dark waves, while foam suddenly burst forth. The brilliant son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses for a long time, until the girl, Pallas Athena, stripped the godlike armour from her immortal shoulders, and Metieta Zeus rejoiced." Only when Athena removed her weapons and armor did the universe return to normal, and Zeus welcomed her gladly.

Susan Deacy, in her book 'Athena' notes some interesting things about this myth, which I will just summarize here in bullet points (go read the book, it's good!).

Athena's birth resolves both the male and female lines of succession and power. Ouranos - Kronos - Zeus - Athena and Gaia - Rhea - Metis - Athena.

Athena's birth involved the temporary mixing up of gender roles. Zeus becomes a mother, Hephaistos or Prometheus become the midwife. From the moment she is born she "confounds gender norms."

"Metis was too dangerous to be permitted an independent existence but polymetis Athena is, as it were, a safe version of her mother, who aligns herself with her father and with the patriarchy over which he reigns."

Athena arrives as a warmonger, Glaukopis, who can shake the very universe, but as she takes off her armor she becomes the peaceful Pallas.

The prophecy given to Zeus is one that remains unfulfilled.

Sources of this myth include:

Hesiod, Theogony

Pindar, Olympian Ode

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca

Homeric Hymn to Athena 28

[atheniangrace]

This! 🤍

Friendly reminder

Not everyone can "see" "talk" or "hear" their deities or spirit guides and that is okay. Not everyone can, but they can communicate in many other different ways and it doesn't make your practice, devotion or worship any less worthy.

[atheniangrace]

Aphrodisia

~ 4-7 Hekatombaion ~

In celebration of Aphrodite Pandemos (Aphrodite common to all people) not much is known about Aphrodisia. The festival itself was celebrated largely in Delos, Cythera, Thebes, Elis, Sparta, Corinth, Athens and most towns in Cyprus. It is important with the coming of this day that the modern Hellenic Polytheist examine which festivals they reside with most. Celebrate the gods in the way that suits you best, even if the festival is absent of the calendar you most closely draw from.

The festival was said to be instituted by Theseus, as a way to represent the unified people of Athens under her epithet. Many modern Polytheist prefer the idea of celebration of every person drawn to the Goddess. Aphrodite carefully crafted each and every body, therefore we are all inherently beautiful. Common to all people, our Lady is. Many rather celebrate her as a divine mother, caretaker, friend and most importantly Goddess, on this day.

Aphrodisia begun with a sacrifice of a dove to her altar. The blood from the dove cleansed the temple. No other blood sacrifices were to be made the rest of the festival, as it would dirty the blood of the dove. Afterwards, people would carry imagery of Aphrodite and Peitho to be washed in the sea, a common epithet and image of Aphrodite. The festival itself celebrated both goddess.

Many people would offer an array of different symbols, the most popular being that of a live white he-goat.

Aphrodisia is a wildly popular festival today. Many other worshippers have their own posts! Go check them out and give love! Worshipper to worshipper <3

Traditional Offerings:

Fire

Flowers

Incense

Baked Goods/Bread

Sea Water

Aphrodisiacs

Traditional Acts:

Cleansing Statues

Cleansing your body

Offerings to Aphrodite

Offerings to Peitho

Khaire Aphrodite! Khaire Peitho! 🐚🩷🌊🕊️

[atheniangrace]

aphrodite is so wonderful

[atheniangrace]

Aphrodite's Temples in Ancient Greece

Temple of Aphrodite at Acrocorinth

Aphrodite was the protector of Corinth, and she had 3 temples here, but the one at Acrocorinth was the most famous.

There was a statue of Armed Aphrodite (Aphrodite Areia) here

This temple is famous for alleged prostitution that took place here

Sanctuary of Aphrodite Urania (Athens)

dedicated specifically to Aphrodite Ourania

Temple of Aphrodite in Sparta

built on a hill and had two stories

Upper floor was specifically dedicated to Aphrodite Morpho

Had a statue of Aphrodite Areia in full armor

The remains of this have not been found

Temple of Aphrodite in Lesbos

In Lesbos, where Sappho lived

This is just a few of Her temples! I don't know, just wanted to give a few very basics on some!

[atheniangrace]

Aphrodite isn't just love and sex and frilly pink bows,

She's passion, the raging fire that burns between the hearts of two friends or lovers when one is under duress,

She's the unbreakable bond of family (found or bio), everlasting, infinite, no matter how close or far they are,

She's the pain of a broken heart, manifest in anger and vindication, the one standing behind you as you confront an abusive partner/friend/family member,

She's salvation for everyone who has ever been or is being hurt,

She is self love for everyone with self esteem issues, looking you in the eye as you stare into the mirror and saying 'You are wonderful just as you are',

She's the comfort when you're in your darkest times, Her hands cradling you as you cry into Her shoulder,

She's the swelling of your heart when you experience new love or when you pick up a child,

She is justice for every queer person of the world just trying to exist peacefully-- transgender/sexual, intersex, aromantic, asexual, non-straight,

And She is the feeling of your smile slowly fading when you didn't realize you were smiling at all.

[atheniangrace]

　　 ˚ 　　　 . ✧　　 　　˚ 　　　 . ✧　　 　　˚ 　　　 .

January will be filled with joy.

January will be filled with love.

January will be filled with trust.

January will be filled with peace.

January will be filled with clarity.

January will be filled with miracles.

January will be filled with blessings.

[atheniangrace]

🦉Athena Masterpost🦉

This masterpost will cover very basic information with links to further posts or resources (otherwise it’s super long) and may be updated in future with extra sections. Basic bibliography at the end. I welcome you to share your UPG and resources in the comments - I won’t differentiate between mine and others’ UPG.

UPG = Unverified Personal Gnosis, SPG = Shared Personal Gnosis, H = Historically Inspired association

Last updated: Date of Publishing

Overview

Athena is the Hellenic goddess associated most commonly with wisdom, war, weaving, and in modern times, education and knowledge. She was a goddess who occupied both masculine and feminine roles in a highly patriarchal society, standing outside the societal binary. She is a fascinatingly variable and nuanced deity who has adapted and persisted in the mind of western society until this day. This masterpost is in dedication to her.

“Through our investigation of [Athena’s] role within the pantheon, she has emerged as a power of technology and creativity who promotes creativity and order, but with another side to her power, that of the storm bringer and warmonger.” -Susan Deacy

Athena, Goddess of…

Metis (Cunning)

Skill

Crafts

Invention

War

Civilization

Hero Mentorship

Education and Knowledge [SPG]

🐍Find out More!🐍

Symbols, Colors & Tarot Cards

Traditional: Owls (Specifically the Little Owl, Athene noctua), Snakes, Horses, Gulls, Crows (In Messenia and Boeotia, though elsewhere she was not fond of them), Olive trees, the Aegis, the Gorgoneion, Spindle, Spear, Helmet (Particularly with gryphons and/or sphinxes on it).

Other symbols: Spiders [Roman & SPG], Books and Scrolls [SPG], Pens or Quills [UPG]

Colors: Saffron/Yellow/Orange/Gold [H], Murex Purple [H], Hyacinth Blue [H], Red [H?], Bronze [H], Green [UPG]

🐍Find out More!🐍

Tarot Cards (All UPG/SPG of course): The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Chariot, Strength, Justice, The World, Knight of Pentacles, Queen & King of Swords, Queen & King of Wands

Name & Epithets:

Athena has some variations in name. The Attic form was “Athenaia”, which was contracted to “Athena,” the Ionian form was “Athenaie,” the Doric form “Athana,” in Aeolic, “Athanaa,” and in epic she was “Athenaie,” shortened to “Athene.”

A few common epithets:

Areia - Warlike

Ergane - The Worker

Glaukôpis - Bright/owl-eyed.

Pallas - Refers either to the myth of Athena’s childhood friend Pallas, or of the giant named Pallas whom she slayed.

Parthenos - Maiden

Polias - Of the City

Polymetis - Cunning in many ways

🐍Find out More!🐍

Offerings and Devotional Acts

This section was super long! Only including a few here but check out the link!

Gemstones & Metals - Gold, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Iolite

Plants - Olive, Ivy, Thyme, Rosemary, Cypress, Peppermint, Orange

Incense and Fragrances - Frankincense, Thyme, Bay Laurel, Amber, Myrrh, Dragon’s Blood, Orange, Citrus, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Cypress, Bergamot & Sage

Food & Drink - Olives and Olive Oil, Honey, Milk, Cheese, Cereal Grains, Diluted Wine, Bread, Baked Goods, Fish, Meat, Fruit/Fruit Juice, Water

🐍Find out More!🐍

Athenian Festivals

Athena’s main festivals were the Panathenaia, Khalkeia, Kallynteria and Plynteria. It is up to individuals to decide if and how to include these celebrations in their practice. 

Panathenaia: The biggest festival for Athena taking place annually, but with a bigger version every fourth year. Mainly a festival with athletic, poetry and musical competitions.

Kallynteria and Plynteria: Sacred days centered around cleaning.

Arrephoria: A mysterious festival that took place at night and is theorized to have been a fertility rite.

Khalkeia: The festival of artisans, which celebrated Athena and Hephaestus.

🐍Find out More!🐍

Family & Connections

Parents: Athena’s father was Zeus (Except in Libya, where she was known as Poseidon’s daughter) and her mother was the personification of wisdom, Metis. In some sources she was raised by Triton alongside his daughter, Pallas.

Children: Athena had no children as a virgin goddess but she did adopt and raise Erichthonius, who later became king of Athens.

Retinue: Athena was often associated closely with Nike (Victory), an example being the famed statue Athena Parthenos, which held Nike in its hand. The aegis which Athena wore also contained the personifications Phobos (Fear), Eris (Strife), Alke (Strength) and Ikoe (Panic) as noted in the Iliad.

Companions: Pallas is perhaps the most famous of Athene’s companions, as the two girls grew up together until Athena accidentally killed Pallas and afterwards took on her name as an epithet. However, in the Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter it is shown that Athena, Artemis and Persephone spent time together and were playing and collecting flowers before Persephone was abducted. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus claims they were also raised together.

Heroes: Athena was a mentor of Heroes and had a hand in assisting heroes such as Herakles, Odysseus and Diomedes, but also Achilles, Bellerophon, Perseus, Theseus, Kadmos and Tydeus.

🐍More of my Info Posts!🐍

Athena and Childbirth

Athena Hippia / Khalinitis

On The Nature of Metis - Excerpts from “Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and Society”

On the comparison of Athena and Ares

Athena and Herakles: Excerpt from Susan Deacy’s book

Myth of Athena's Birth

🐍Extra Links🐍

Prayers, Hymns and Poems

Homeric Hymn to Athena 11 [Tumblr - Mine]

Homeric Hymn to Athena 28 [Tumblr - Mine]

Poem for Athena [Tumblr - Mine]

Adaptation of the Orphic Hymn [Tumblr - wisdomweaver]

Ode to Athena: A Birth of Wisdom [Tumblr - panjackdaw]

Prayer to Athena [Tumblr - rue-with-the-tarot]

Hymn to Athena [Tumblr - entricacies]

Praise to Athena [Tumblr - piristephes]

Prayer for Clarity and Sound Intuition [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Prayer for Athena [Tumblr - hisfleur]

Prayer for Athena [Tumblr - evilios]

Prayer to Athena [Tumblr - ranger5000]

Chin Up - A Message From Athena [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Assortment of Prayers [Website - greekpagan.com]

Battle Armor Poem [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

A Prayer to the Wise Short Poem [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Learning Short Poem [Tumblr - Mine]

Additional Links

Theoi.com [Website]

Iliad - Athena dons the Aegis [Tumblr - Mine]

Reconstruction of Athena Parthenos statue’s colors [Youtube - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]

Bathing of Athena in Argos [Tumblr - verdantlyviolet]

Subtle Athena Worship [Tumblr - khaire-traveler]

A response to the “Athena is a victim blamer and hates women” crowd [Tumblr - rightwheretheyleftme]

khaire-traveler on their snow leopard UPG [Tumblr]

Parthenon 3D Reconstruction [Youtube - Ancient Athens 3D]

Parthenon in AC: Odyssey [Youtube - Invicta]

Bibliography

Barber, E.J.W. - The peplos of Athena

Burkert, Walter - Greek Religion

Deacy, Susan - Athena

Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra - Athena in the Classical World

Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra - What was the colour of Athena's Aegis?

Detienne, Marcel & Vernant, Jean-Pierre - Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and Society

Drees, Ludwig - Olympia

Larson, Jennifer - Ancient Greek Cults

Mansfield, John Magruder - The Robe Of Athena And The Panathenaic "Peplos"

Maurizio, Lisa - Classical Mythology in Context

Mikalson, Jon D. - Ancient Greek Religion

Ogden, Daniel - A Companion to Greek Religion

Theoi.com

[atheniangrace]

🦉Athena Masterpost: Epithets🦉

🐍 Masterpost Link 🐍

Last updated: Date of Publishing - Note: I use ‘kh’ instead of ‘ch’ for Χ (chi)

Aithuia - “Diver” - May refer to a diving bird, such as a shearwater or gannet, or potentially refers to Athena teaching ship-building or navigation as ‘aithuia’ more figuratively refers to a ship.

Ageleia/Agelêïs - “Leader or protectress of the people”, or perhaps “pillager”, “she who carries off the spoils”, or “war-leader.”

Agoraia - “Protector of the assemblies of the people in the agora/Of the marketplace”

Alalkomeneia - “Powerful Defender/Protectress/She Who Wards Off/Helper in Battle” -Could also be from the Boeotian village of Alalcomenae where she was believed to have been born. 

Alkis - “Strong One” or “The Strong”

Alkidemos - “Defender of the people”

Alea - “Protectress/Shelter/Asylum” -From a syncretism with a local goddess, Alea.

Amboulia - Unknown, may mean “Without Council” or “Delayer of death”

Anassa - “Queen, lady” -Generic epithet

Anemôtis - “The subduer of the winds”

Apatouria - “Of Deception, Deceiver”

Areia - “The warlike/Of war”

Axiopoinos - “Returning Vengeance/ The Avenger”

Boulaia - “Of the Council”

Despoina - “Lady/Mistress”

Epekoos - “Listening to prayer”

Ergane - “The Worker” -Refers to Athena’s domain and instruction of the arts

Eriopis - “Strong-eyed”

Eryma - “Defender”

Gigantoleteira/Gigantoletis - “Destroyer of Giants”

Glaukôpis - “Bright-eyed/Gleaming-eyed/Darting-eyed/Blue-eyed/Grey-eyed/Owl-eyed” -Glaukos denotes a quality of gleaming or shining brightness. It can also refer to the little owl (glaux).

Gorgolaphas/Gorgolopha - “Gorgon-Crested”

Gorgopis - “Gorgon-eyed”

Hephaisteia - “Of Hephaistos”

Hippia - “Of Horses”

Hygeia - “Of good health”

Hyperdexia - “Protector of the people”

Keleuthia - “Of the Road”

Khalinitis - “Tamer of Horses by means of the bridle”

Khalkioikos - “Of the Bronze House”

Khrysolonkhos - “Golden-speared”

Kissaia - “Of the Growing Ivy”

Koryphasia - “Of the Head”

Koryphagenês - “Born of the Head”

Koriê/Koria - “Maiden/Of girls”

Kranaiês - “Of Cornel-Wood”

Kyparissia - “Of the Cypress Grove”

Leitis - “Distributor of War Booty”

Mêtêr/Mater - “Mother”

Mekhanitis - “Inventor/Contriver (of Plans and Devices)/Skilled in inventing”

Mousikê - “Musician” -From a fragmentary late Attic inscription

Moria - Could mean “The Fateful” but was used in relation to Athena’s protection of the sacred olive trees, the moriai.

Narkaia - Could mean ‘goddess who petrifies’ but it comes from Elis where there was the hero Narkaios who built a temple to Athena Narkaia and the epithet may come from that.

Nikê - “Victory”

Nikephoros - “Bringer of victory”

Ophthalmitis - “Of the Eyes”

Optiletis - “Sightful”

Oxyderkês - “Sharp-Sighted”

Paionia - “Healer”

Pallas - Uncertain meaning. May refer to the myth of Athena’s childhood friend Pallas, or of the giant named Pallas whom she slayed, or may come from the verb pallein, “to brandish,” or from the word parallax, for “maiden.”

Pammakhos - Either “Victor in combat sports” or “Warrior par excellence”

Parthenos - “Maiden”

Phobesistratē - “Router of armies”

Polemêdokos/Polemadoke - “War-sustaining”

Polias - “Of the City”

Polioukhos - “Protectress Of the City”

Polymetis - “Cunning in many ways/Crafty”

Potnia - “Queen”

Promakhorma - “Protector of the Bay”

Pronoia - “Of foresight”

Pylaimakhos - “Fighter at the gates”

Salpnix - “Of the war trumpet”

Soteira - “Savior”

Sthenias - “Of Strength/Strong/Mighty”

Tritogeneia - May refer to her birth by the lake Tritonis in Libya or the river Triton in Boeotia, or a reference to her birth from Zeus’ head (“tritô” signifying the head)

Xenia - “Of Hospitality, Of the Foreigner” -Refers to her presiding over the laws of hospitality, and protecting strangers.

Zosteria - “Of the girdle/Girder in Armour”

Main Sources:

Theoi.com

Athena in the Classical World - Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra

Symbolic Elements in the Cult of Athena - Luyster, Robert

Athena’s Epithets: Their Structural Significance in Plays of Aristophanes - Anderson, Carl

Ancient Greek Cults - Larson, Jennifer

Athena - Deacy, Susan