#dodokatheism

[thehistoricalgods]

The Forgotten Gods

A series of Greco-Roman Gods who seem to have very little information out about them. Every God deserves to be worshipped, so I thought I'd help get more names out there. This a list of Gods I will be covering, as they will each get their own individual post.

Philotes, primordial Goddess of friendship.

Eileithyia, Goddess of childbirth.

Aglaea, Goddess of beauty and adornment.

Akeso, Goddess of curing illnesses

Bia, Goddess of force.

Klymene, goddess of fame and renown.

Deimos, God of fear

Dike, goddess of justice.

Eirine, Goddess of peace

Eunomia, goddess of good order

Himeros, God of sexual desire

Hymenaios, God of weddings and marriage hymns

Iaso, Goddess of cures and remedies

Litai, goddess of prayers

Peitho, goddess of persuasion and seductive speech

Pothos, God of sexual yearning

Zelos, God of rivalry and competition

*i will do other gods in the future and might even look into non-Greek gods, depending on my interests. Anyways.

[thehistoricalgods]

Eileithyia, Goddess of Childbirth and Contractions

Parents: Zeus and Hera

Siblings: Hebe, Ares

Offspring: Sosipolis, Eros

Eileithyia, sometimes identified as many, called the Eileithiae, once started and protected childbirth and labour. She was named for "relieve" or "she who comes to aid." Her Roman counterpart, Lucina, was "light bringer"; or possibly, Nato, "birth."

Her most common depiction is a woman wielding a torch, to represent the burning pains of childbirth, or her arms raised in the air to bring the child to the light. She's closely identified to Hera and Artemis, both of which have epithets in her name.

She was generally seen as a kindly, compassionate goddess. Her name being derived from eleuthin implies her to be a helping goddess. However, when she was angry, she'd protract the birth and delay the labour. These two functions may also be identified as two separate Eileithiae.

According to the Iliad, the Eileithiae are the daughters of Hera, loyal only to her. According to Hesoid, Zeus was the one who fathered Eileithyia, along with Hebe and Ares.

Eileithyia is also a considered a maiden divinity, and furthermore, is closely identified to Artemis. However, she was also said to have punished a want for chastity with increased pains in childbirth, and was feared by maidens of Ancient Greece.

But frequent births were also displeasing to her, perhaps because she was a protectress of children, and thought too many children allotted to one household would create opportunities for children to be ignored or neglected or malnourished.

She was worshipped mainly among the Dorians in Crete, but had come to Delos from the Hyperboreans, for the purpose of assisting Leto in the birth of Artemis and Apollo.

She was also said to have delayed the burg of Herakles on the behalf of Hera. She would also arrange for Sthenelus' son, Eurystheus, to be born in seven months.

Eileithyia was also believed to be a handmaiden to the Moirai.

Genetyllis was the goddess of procreation, and associated with Eileithyia as either being an alternative aspect of her, or as a handmaiden to Eileithyia. As Genetyllis, Eileithyia was associated with Hera and Aphrodite, rather than Artemis and Hebe.

Her sacred animal is a polecat; it was kept as a pet to hunt snakes and mice within the home, and was believed to give birth through its mouth, due to holding it's offspring in its mouth.

She held the cult title of Inato, which possibly meant sister-in-law. She was also called Lusizônê, or "the goddess who loosened the girdle,” in Athens.

Offerings and Devotional Ideas for Eileithyia*

Barley cakes

It was not customary to offer her wine in Olympia; however, all manner of incense is acceptable

Volunteering in women's shelters, especially in family's shelters**

Learning more about child development, even taking a class in childhood development

Assisting friends/family with their newborns/young children***

Her general cult was said to keep a "fragrant shrine" and would offer her toys for children

Donating feminine hygiene products/condoms/birth control/plan B/etc to homeless shelters

Offering her food commonly associated with healthy pregnancies

Protesting family separation policies

Volunteering in orphanages (if that's not possible in your area, donating is also fine, but be sure to do your research)

Honey was also considered an acceptable offering

Donating/volunteering with organizations/centres for abused/neglected children

Images of polecats

*most of these have no historical basis, unless something like "according to Hesoid" or "in ancient Crete" is stated.

**volunteering in Planned Parenthood/reputable abortion clinics in general would also be acceptable, I think, based on Eileithyia's feelings for too many births, however I would leave that up to your own discretion with Eileithyia.

***This is, of course, also left to your own discretion. I just assume most people who want to worship Eileithyia specifically would also be fans of children in general.

[thehistoricalgods]

PHILOTES, GODDESS OF FRIENDSHIP, AFFECTION AND SEXUAL DESIRE

Parents: Nyx & Erebos

Siblings: Apate and Nemesis

She was described by Empedocles as one of the driving forces behind creation, being paired with Neikea, as a force for good things, in opposition to Neikea. She is offended by life-ending sacrifices, and encourages her worshippers to abstain from sacrificing animals in her name.

It's believed by some scholars that Philotes may be similar to the Roman Goddess Gratia. She has also been identified as being similar to Aphrodite.

During the Renaissance, Philotes came to be identified as more of a figure of lust than platonic love, as a contrast to God's purity.

No depiction of Philotes survived into modern times, but it's speculated that she is similar to her sisters, and bears wings.

Offerings/Devotional Activities for Philotes:

Volunteer work for the community, especially at animal shelters

Spending time with friends

Incense/wine

Music that makes you feel good

Your favorite foods

Honey

Cakes

Images of your friends

Images of animals

Honestly, I would just go and ask Her. Due to the lack of information on Her, I feel like a lot of offerings would mostly be UPG, and that's totally cool.

Vegetarianism would also be good, if you really wanted to go the extra mile, but that's only for devotees *if they want to do that* honestly.

[thehistoricalgods]

Would anyone be interested if I made a discord server for Hellenic Polytheists? Like, just so we can hang out and vibe, and maybe organize some activities for different festivals/holidays/etc? I know there's already a couple out there, but most of the ones I've seen aren't super active.

I also think it would be cool to have resources for new worshippers, and for them to have a place to go to to ask questions and get quick answers.

I don't know, its something that's been on my mind.

[thehistoricalgods]

Just A Rant, I Guess

So I've been looking through some scholarly articles on Persephone's abduction myth and, well, it's bad. It's really bad.

Sure, I'm an HP. I don't see them as "archetypal figures," but as real living Beings whom I Worship ™. But still. I study a lot. I read a lot about ancient Greece and about the Theoi. I'd like to say that I know a decent amount about Them by now, especially considering Hades and Persephone are my Main Gods ™.

But, for the newbies out there, or people who are just unaware. Stuff I've been reading and why it's wrong:

Rape. That's the word often used in the case of Persephone's abduction but just in case any of y'all were confused. In this context, 'rape' comes from the Latin verb, rapare, which means 'to take.' So, translated more literally, it's the Taking of Persephone. Persephone was not actually raped, or deflowered, as many have put it. This was a marriage between two very revered Gods, who, in Ancient Greece, were not seen as very friendly and not too forgiving, and, in case you were wondering, very loyal and devoted to each other. No one was going around saying that wise and saviour-to-souls Hades had forced sex on the all-revered and wise Iron Queen who they refused to say the name of, in effort to not incur Her wrath. This was just a marriage, perfectly acceptable, in their opinions.

Demeter liked Hades. They were both worshipped as agricultural gods and wealth gods. Hades was seen as basically on the same level as Zeus, just in the Underworld. He had rights to Olympos. Hades didn't have a habit of having affairs in the myths. Hades was a good husband, even to her. But no god could travel between the Underworld, aside from Hermes and Hades himself. It was like Persephone had died. That's why she was upset.

Persephone was worshipped as a death goddess. Always. Sure, festivals in spring were dedicated to her homecoming, but that doesn't change the fact that she was the Unyielding, Terrifying, Dread Queen of the Underworld, Goddess of Ghosts and Necromancy and Curses, Hades' wife and Queen, and particularly wrathful. All the myths that include her, include her in the Underworld. Even in Homer's Hymn to Demeter, the only reason she was upset was because she missed her mother. Fun fact: Persephone really enjoyed being Queen. Still does. And that's not UPG. That's confirmed in the myths...countless times.

Though I do reccomed scholarly articles on some things in Ancient Greece. Take it with a grain of salt. Because really. Really.

[thehistoricalgods]

"Ship that hast carried away from me my only light, the sweet light of my life, I entreat thee by Zeus Limenoskopos (Watcher of Havens)." – Callimachus, Fragment 114

“Palamnaios (Violent man) : Murderer, or one polluted by blood-guiltiness. For those who commit homicide with their bare hands are called palamnaioi from palame (palm of the hand). And Zeus Palamnaios, the one who punishes such men; and Prostropaios, he who turns this pollution upon them.” – Suidas s.v. Palamnaios

“The chamber [of the house contains] . . . sacrificial baskets and lustral basins and barley-grains and firewood and missing bowl, the utensils of Zeus Herkeios.” – Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 23

“Xenios (Hospitable): One who guards hospitality. Zeus is also called protector of the rights of hospitality (Xenios).” – Suidas s.v. Xenios

“Here stands Zeus, called Zeus Eleutherios (of Freedom).” – Pausanias, Description of Greece

“Then do you mind if we step aside here from the street into the portico of Zeus Eleutherios (the Liberator)?” – Plato, Theages

[thehistoricalgods]

Demeter: More Than Just An Overbearing Mother

So, I don't know what's up with this new trend of Demeter being portrayed as an overbearing, overprotective helicopter mom, and nothing else. I suppose in a way I see how it happened—the rape of Persephone is one of the more pervasive myths that essentially everybody knows, and with more modern retellings, they like to cast Demeter as the bad guy, rather than acknowledging ancient Greece was a different culture, that myths aren't meant to be taken entirely seriously—that though they tell us a lot, they're primary purpose was worship and entertainment—and that there's no real "bad guy" to this story. And because it's a more popular myth, not much else is attributed to Demeter.

So this is going to be a really long post, debunking the popular beliefs about Demeter, and sort of bringing more of her actual character to light, with a special focus on the abduction of Persephone, as the modern world is really, ah, let's say ignorant, to the actual connotations of that story.

Demeter was an agricultural goddess, associated with grain and bread, which was a staple food for the ancient Greeks. She was also, by contrast, the goddess of starvation and hunger. So she could bless your drops to flourish, or your crops would fail and hunger would quickly follow. Because of this alone, she was majorly important to the Greeks, but it also wasn't her only role. Like many gods, Demeter was very multifaceted and held many different roles throughout Greek society.

Perhaps less importantly, due to the nature of wheat in ancient societies, Demeter also presided over fruits and vegetables, with only some exceptions. Olives, as those were Athena's; grapes, as Dionysos already presided over those; pomegranates, as those were sort of her daughter's thing; and beans, which for whatever reason, was seen as impure by the Greeks. She also had some association with flowers, especially with the fruit-bearing variety, but not enough for me to say that it's her "domain."

Porridge, another staple food, was also something she had dominion over, and it was used ritually in her Mysteries and cults across Greece.

Thoughout Greece, Demeter had been worshipped as "Law-Giver," or Thesmophoros, was regarded as the goddess who instructed mankind in law.

She also came to be associated with the Afterlife, as she apparently had taught the Mysteries how to get a good deal on the Afterlife through worship and rites. It's unknown what those rites were, but in case you're curious, I'll give you some advice—don't disrespect Persephone, ever.

Either way, Demeter was majorly important to the Greeks, who saw her as a stern, doughty woman, mature, but still quite beautiful, of course.

So, that's all well and good, but you probably already knew Demeter was an agricultural goddess, often associated and appropriated to Isis, and you haven't really learned anything to contradict your opinion of her, except that she was actually one of the most important goddesses there were.

So let's talk about her mythos and her personality for a bit. Who was Demeter, exactly?

She was among the six children of Kronos and Rhea, and is the second oldest child. After being released from Kronos, she was mostly fostered in by Okeanos and Tethys, along with Hera.

During the war of the giants, she most likely either bore a golden sword and a shield, which was an epithet of hers—the Lady of the Golden Sword—or a torch and spear. Either way, she was an active participant in the war against the giants.

So...the abduction of Persephone, her daughter. First, you need some background. And not just some, but a lot, because setting the stage is sort of important here.

So, before Persephone was born, or even conceived, according to most myth, Demeter was being pursued by Zeus. She transformed into a snake to hide, but that didn't work so well. So, that was Persephone's conception story. Not so fun.

Because of this, Demeter sort of wanted to protect her daughter, because the gods were very ravenous, to say the least. And she was right—in some myths, both Apollo and Hermes asked for Persephone's hand, which Demeter outright refused. However, there's not a ton of information on Persephone as a young goddess, so there's not a ton to go off of. We know Demeter trusted her around her sisters, Athena and Artemis, otherwise known as two-thirds of the maiden goddesses, and nymphs.

But, again, we don't know a lot of Persephone's childhood, or how Demeter mothered her. We just knew, that when Persephone was kidnapped, she was gathering flowers with Athena and Artemis. Only some myths say she was hidden away from other gods. It appears the really wasn't though, just that Demeter wasn't too keen on her getting married.

So Persephone's taken to the Underworld. Now what?

Well, firstly, Demeter had no idea what had happened to Persephone. The only people to witness her kidnapping, was Helios and Hekate. So when Demeter came to find her gone, she tore off her cloak and her head-covering, as was pretty customary for grieving in the ancient times, and immediately went looking for her. No one told her the truth of what happened, I imagine because they were afraid of her wrath, as Demeter was known to be a wrathful goddess in general. So for around ten days, she went searching for Persephone, and on the tenth, Hekate pointed her to Helios, who saw everything. We also learn here that seasons already existed and that Demeter was responsible for changing them.

Anyway, Helios told her what happened and that's when Demeter exiled herself, feeling incredibly betrayed and angry with Zeus, and completely grief-stricken.

Not because she thought Hades was unfitting or because she wasn't ready to let Persephone go—because no one, god or otherwise, except Hermes, could travel between realms, at the time, and Zeus had given Hades permission, which meant the marriage was valid, but Greek standards at the time, so there was no reason to get her. Essentially, Persephone died and Demeter would never see her beloved daughter again.

She became an old woman, and sat next to a well in Eleusis, and greived. When asked, she told people she came from Crete and had been kidnapped by pirates. Eventually, she became a nanny of sorts, caring for the King of Eleusis's son, as if he were her own, and fed him ambrosia and necter, in order to make him immortal. Long story short, it didn't work out because the mother ruined her process, and so, enraged, she left, but not before revealing her true form and cursing the woman.

The obvious message here is, she was trying to replace Persephone with a new child, to fill that void in her heart.

She continued to hide away in her temple in Eleusis for one year, causing a huge famine and many mortals would strange to death in this time, before Zeus sent Iris to go talk to Demeter. She told Iris she wouldn't do anything until she could see Persephone with her own two eyes.

So Hermes goes to get her, and she returns, though only after Hades promised she could return to the Underworld and be his queen, mind you.

It was decided she'd stay for one half of the year in the Underworld, fall and winter, and then in summer and spring with her mother.

(Also during her search for Persephone, she was pursued by Poseidon. That's not super important, but just so you know.)

In case it wasn't obvious, the whole myth is an allegory for a grieving mother after losing her child—not even just to death, though that's the more relevant take away in modern times, but in marriage, because a daughter essentially left her family when she got a husband, unless she was divorced. It's got three sides sides, that myth—a mother-daughter story, for Persephone, a coming-of-age and for Hades, a love story.

Obviously, there's a whole lot more about Demeter that I implore you to read, because she's honestly a really interesting goddess, but yeah. Here's my short summary of why she's more than an overbearing mom and why that interpretation really isn't all that accurate and why she deserves better.

[thehistoricalgods]

A Prayer for Hong Kong

O, blessed and mighty Zeus Agathos Deos, most holy and divine,

Mighty Lord of the Sky and Heavens, who looks over Olympos and Earth with His watchful, loving gaze,

Hear me!

Zeus Agêtôr, the Ruler of Men and Gods alike, He who sees and knows Earth to Her very core, beloved son of wise Kronos—

Hear me!

Zeus Agoraios, the Protector of Assembly and Man,

Hear me!

Oh, mighty Zeus, hear how Your children in Hong Kong suffer, how they weep and toil, up to Your mighty throne on high;

Oh, Zeus Alastôr, the Avenger of Evil Deeds; oh, Zeus Alexikakos, the Averter of Evil; see the evils being committed against the people of Hong Kong, how their blood spills on the streets and gasses choke out their lungs; see these unmatched evils!

Zeus Koruphaia, He who rules Most Supreme over All Things; Zeus Eleuthereus, the Deliverer; Zeus Hetaireios, Protector of Friends; Zeus Homagurios, who Watches over Assemblies; please protect these brave protestors, as the assemble in peace, to fight against tyranny; to fight for love and life.

Zeus Moiragetês, all-knowing in fate, please give favour to these protestors, against their barbaric foes.

Zeus Nomos, who sees over Law and Order; upon these injustices are smears of blood, caused by those who swore to serve and protect; crimes against the innocent and the peacemakers run abundant on fiery streets; humbly, I call for justice in Your name to prevail.

As these Innocents are now fugitive to a state that sees them as sub-human, a hubris, I call upon Zeus Phuzios to protect these Innocents; to deliver them from harm and give them strength.

Zeus Polieus, the Protector of the City; see how the streets of Hong Kong run red; protect them! Zeus Sôtêr, the Saviour, I call upon You to protect, to give Your strength to those who toil for deliverence against corruption!

Zeus Phyxius, Blessed Protector, give refuge to these poor and dishevelled humans against the monsters who snap at their heels; Zeus Melichius, the Gracious and Merciful; Zeus Laoitês, of the People; bless these sufferers with Your everlasting wisdom and infinite strength!

O Zeus Sosipôlis, the Savior of the City, see this city that needs Your gentle hand in its fate, and give Your blessings, if it is Your will.

O Zeus Eleutherios, the Freer of the Gods from the chains of your mighty father, strike upon these chains of Hong Kong with your mighty bolts, and give blessing to these sufferers of hate and violence.

Let justice prevail, o blessed King; let justice prevail!

O great Zeus, I praise You and thank You for Your divine ear, whatever is Your will. I thank You for hearing my prayers.

[Tip me!]

[thehistoricalgods]

I cannot thank Apollo enough for the gift of a sunrise.

[thehistoricalgods]

My ever-updating resources on hellinismos, in case anyone's interested

Here.

All of these are public domain.

[thehistoricalgods]

Hephaestus Epithets

Ærgastír - workman, esp. in husbandry; of a smith

Aióhnios - lasting for an age, eternal; holding an office or title for life, perpetual; eternally

Aithalóeis Thæós - the sooty god; smoky sooty, blazing, burning

Amphiyiíeis - He with crooked legs

Ímæros - gentle, quiet, kind

Kartærókeir - strong-handed

Khalkéfs - the god of forms

Klytómitis - famous for skill

Krataiós - mighty

Kyllopodíohn - footed, halting

Mægasthænés - possessing great strength

Mákar - blessed, happy

Omvrimóthymos doughty, indomitable

Pamphágos - all-devouring, voracious

Pandamátohr - all subduer, all tamer

Pantodíaitos - all consuming

Panypǽrtatos - the highest of all

Phaæsímvrotos Daimohn - bringing light to mortals

Phohsphóros - light bringing or torch bearer

Polýolvos - rich in blessings

Pyr - fire

Pyrohtís - He who works with fire

Tæknodíaitos - living in art

[thehistoricalgods]

Perhaps this needs to be said. Again.

This blog isn't a roleplay blog, isn't just a weird aesthetics blog, nothing like that.

This is my religious altar, and if you think this is fake or a creative project in any sense, please kindly unfollow me. Although your own interests in no way offends or upsets me, I'd prefer to be left alone, at least on this blog. I have an actual aesthetics blog, writing blog, etc, and this is not it.

[thehistoricalgods]

“[A table told in jest:] Persephone and the mighty god Plouton [Haides] were just now threatening terrible things against all the doctors, since they keep the sick from dying.”

— Aesop, Fables 133 (Chambry 133 & Babrius, Fabulae Aesopeae 75) (trans. Gibbs) (Greek Fable C6th B.C.)

[thehistoricalgods]

Epithets for Hera

Aærómorphos - having the form of air, due to Her marrying Zeus

Æxakæstírios - one who averts or cures evils

Daughter of lovely-haired Ráea

Heré - Hera

Íppios - of a horse or horses

Kallistáeaphanos - beautifully crowned

Khíra - a lady of authority

Khyrsóthronos - having a throne of gold

Kydrí - glorious, illustrious, noble

Mákaira - happy, blessed

Pamvasíleia - queen of all

Pandoyàenæthlos - Zeus generates everything in conjunction with Hera and She is His equal

Pangratís - all-powerful

Polyóhnymos - having many names

Pótnia - queen

Zöógonos Thæá - generating goddess

[thehistoricalgods]

Theoi Devotional Playlist

(all instrumentals on this one)

Everything - City of the Sun

Askja - Dreyma

Northern Lights - Chasing Noise

Father's Land - Jordan Critz

Hello! - Explosions In The Sky

Schloss - Elmau Dunkel

The Walk Of Life - Eucalyptic

Light the Night - Lacey Chattaway

2 Nights, a Whisper - Arylith

Valley Tales - Jonci

Guided by the Glowing Sea - The American Dollar

Fireflies - Random Forest

Streams - Johannes Bornlöf

The Porcelain Store - Mario

The Delicate Place (Scaled Down Version) - Silver Maple

Landed On La Luna - August John Enrique

Deep In Thought - Sam Eber

Seasons Changing - Charles Bolt

Dreaming Of You - Hultana

Take Me Back - Shiroshi

Squares of life - Piotr Miteska

Partly Cloudy - Silver Maple

Some Say - Be One

Nothing's Gonna Hurt U - SwuM

Your Tale - Hiroshi Yamazaki

Lost and Found - Oscar Sundberg

Stairs and Steps - Charlie Key

Weightless Thoughts - Orbit Release

Panorama - Astron

Faded - Omer Bresler

Homebound - Oscar Sundberg

Dancing In The Moonlight - Paula Davis

Reminiscence - Johannes Bornlöf

Magnetic - Strange Imagining

Hearts Made of Gold - Lisa Rex

The Winding Paths - Regina Mira

July Nights - Eagle Lake

Trust - Martin Herzberg, Rubin Henkel

Abisko - Andy Kohl

Carry On - Novo Talos

Red Gold Yesterday - LUCHS

Far Away - Dorothy Laddland

Ella's Lullaby - Enno Aare

Mirror Lake - Angus MacRae

Tranquility - Conrad Sieverts

Deco - Charles Bolt

Sustain - Lars Meyer

Fade Out - Layla Frost

Mont Blanc - Henrik Janson

A Rising Sun - Alan Ellis

At Night - Oscar Sundberg

Let Her Go - Amaranth Cove

Sugarcane - Ana Olgica

Sway - Józef Gatysik

Episode - Charlotte Funke

Le Mistral - Francine Gaétane

Nostos - Jean-Michel Blais, BUFFLO

[thehistoricalgods]

NDC Day 8

Unfortunately, I don't have an altar for Sky Dad yet, but I do have a fuck-ton of ideas for His altar, once Him able to make Him one.

Cake as an offering!! Apparently, there was this one cult that refused to offer Him wine or sacrifices, so they offered Him cake, and seeing as I don't drink and normally don't have wine on me and obviously won't be making any sacrifices, that sounds like a shit ton of fun!!! (Disclaimer: I know sacrifices aren't on common practice anymore anyway).

Olive branches, obviously, if I can.

An offering bowl. A fancy one, hopefully, but any will do.

A dark purple cloth to cover the altar, as purple is the historical colour for royalty and prestige. It just feels right.

Sandalwood incense

White and blue candles

Bundles of pine needles

A statue of Him

Or a statue of an eagle, if that's not possible

A goblet to offer drink to Him

Some printed artwork of Him