#hellenic history

[wordsmithic]

❁ 6 Romantic Greek Words for Nature and Affection ❁

Please note that the full and/or root words mentioned here, like most Greek words, are still in use since antiquity. As a Greek speaker, I love sharing my interesting language with people like you! ❁

1. σύζυγος (sízighos, n)

Spouse. Lit.: Someone who is "yoked" with you, in the sense of a shared life or union.

From συν- (prefix “with”) + ζε��γνυμι (to yoke).

2. ανθορροώ (anthoroō, v)

To bloom. Lit. Τo flow with flowers.

From άνθος (flower) + ρέω (flow").

3. αξιολάτρευτος (axiolátreftos, adj)

Adorable. Lit. "Worship-worthy"

From ἄξιος (worthy) + λατρεύω (to worship).

4. θρόισμα (thróisma, n)

The root θρόισ- (throís-) is related to a sound, often associated with soft, continuous noises, like the soft rustling of leaves.

From θροΐζω (to rustle, to murmur)

5. κελάρυσμα (kelárisma, n)

It’s used for the sound of flowing or murmuring water, typically a quiet or soothing sound. It can also describe a quiet, melodic sound, like that of a distant song or melody.

From κελάρω ("to murmur" or "to hum" (often used for sounds like the murmur of water or soft singing).

6. προκυμαία (prokiméa, n)

Lit. "She-which-is-before-the-waves". Refers to the structure extending into the water before the waves. Used for: Dock, quay.

From πρό (before) + κύμα (wave)

▣ ━ My masterpost with similar posts on Greek Language ━ ▣

[chthonic-sorcery]

i can't stop making these

[thetelesterion]

Demeter, goddess of fertility and the harvest, an image likely based off of a Roman original. (Updated description due to deeper research!!) After doing digging this image is not in fact from the temple of Eleusis but is rather a modern version of a (possibly) Roman relief of a similar kind!

The image which likely served as the basis for the modern one, photograph taken in 1864. Image source Right now it's really unknown where this original relief came from as there's little to no information from the museum listing I found this on, but I will continue to update this as time goes on if I find more info. For anyone else, feel free to update and reblog if you find more info before I do! UPDATE: original image source has been found for the Roman relief, it is located at the Lourve! Source

[k-oree]

Erato, Muse of Love Poetry

Albertina • Vienna, Austria

[hecatesdelights]

The Oracle at Delphi

[bookofezra]

I worship the Greek Pantheon.

I know that lightning happens when there are more electrons in the clouds then there are protons on the ground and that it strikes randomly. I can still believe that Zeus guides it down on its way from the sky.

I know that earthquakes happen due to the shifting teutonic plates grinding against each other. I can still that Poseidon shapes where and how they strike.

I know that the moon and sun rise and set because of the earth's rotation. I can still believe that Helios and Selene are the Moon and Sun and that Apollo and Artemis guide them.

I can know the science and reasons behind how the world and humans work, but I can still believe that the gods and goddesses hold sway over the earth just like the modern religions can. Just because my religion is older and worships more gods and goddesses does not mean that it is less valid.

[ivettaflowerblooom]

Aphrodite embracing Eros by Antonio Canova, 1798–99

[hunters-moonlight-serenade]

I know my last Vatican post was over a month ago, but I saw many people liked it! So I thought I’d share some ✨Lady Athena✨ I also found!

[theantonian]

Hellenistic period sardonyx cameo portrait of Mark Antony as Alexander the Great. H. 3.7cm. W. 3.5cm.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Monnaies, médaille et antiques, Paris.

Photograph: Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

[666candies]

The blood moon is framed by the statues of Hera and Apollo in Athens

[wordsmithic]

▣ ━ 10 Visceral Greek Words ━ ▣

Please note that the full and/or root words mentioned here, like most Greek words, are still in use since antiquity. As a Greek speaker, I love sharing my interesting language with people like you!

1. σπαράζω (sparázo, v)

To tear apart with nails and teeth, to tear to pieces, to rend, to lacerate. Metaphorically: to grieve deeply, to convulse, to break (to be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief)

2. ανατριχιαστικός (anatrihiastikós, adj)

Hair-rising. Metaph: Creepy, spine-chilling. Implies hair standing up due to fear or thrill. (only used metaphorically)

From ἀνά (up) + τρίχα (hair)

3. αποστήθιση (apostíthisi, n)

Taking something from the chest. Metaph. Memorization by heart. Committing something "from the chest," symbolizing internalization. (only used metaphorically)

From από (from) + στήθος (chest)

4. μαίνομαι (ménome, v, intransitive/self-contained form)

To be mad, angry, to rage, raving, out of one's mind. Comes from μάω (to have intense desire)

μνάω- μαν- roots are connected to actions of the mind (learning, μανθάνω, remember – μνέω, μνημονεύω, foresight, guessing – μαντεύω, mania/losing control - μανία). You probably know Dionysus’ maenads (μαινάδες). Their name loosely translates to “they who are overwhelmed by intense desire”. Even μούσα (muse) is speculated to come from this linguistic root.

Greek phrase example: Η καταιγίδα μαίνεται = The storm is raging

5. αδηφάγος (adifágos, adj, - “d” as “th” in “the”)

Voracious

From ἅδην (a lot, quite, to the point of satiation) + φαγεῖν (eating)

6. ξεκαρδιστικός (ksekardistikos, adj, “d” as “th” in “the”)

Heartwrencher. Metaphorically: Hilarious (only used metaphorically) It comes from the sensation of laughing so hard it feels like your heart is coming out.

From ξε- (prefix meaning "out") + καρδία (heart).

7. αχώνευτος (ahóneftos, adj)

Indigestible. Metaphorically: Unacceptable or unbearable (mainly used metaphorically). Refers to difficulty in mentally or emotionally processing something.

From α- (not) + χωνεύω (to digest, assimilate)

8. κοψοχολιάζω (kopsoholjázo, v)

I sever someone’s bile. Often used metaphorically to represent intense fear or emotional distress, and fright that causes a visceral reaction.

From κόβω (to cut, to sever) + χολή (bile)

9. μελαγχολία (melanholía, n)

(Condition of) Black bile. In ancient medical theory, it described a condition caused by an excess of black bile, thought to result in a gloomy or depressive mood. Today is used to describe a contemplative or poetic state of emotional reflection tinged with sadness.

From μέλας (black, dark) + χολή (bile, gall)

10. καθηλωτικός (kathilotikós, adj)

Nailing down, pinning. Metaph.: Gripping, captivating. Also used in the context of nailing Christ to the cross (καθήλωσις).

From κατά- (against) + ἧλος (nail)

▣ ━ My masterpost with similar posts on Greek Language ━ ▣

[chthonic-sorcery]

🚩🚩"Witch/Pagan" community PSA 🚩🚩

Goêteia is not evil, you dipshits.

I'm so sick of these neo-pagans getting all their information from Tumblr, Pinterest and TikTok.

Goêteia is literally just the Greek term for magic, for sorcery, which were one and the same.

Ancient Greece didn't have the word "witchcraft" it had Goêteia, and then later mageia, where we get our modern term magic from, although mageia was a misappropriated term from Zoroastrian priests or Magi.

It's so funny seeing baby witches claim Goêteia to be evil on one hand, then on the other worshipping Hekate, literally the goddess of Goêteia. The goddess of sorcerers and necromancy.

It screams puritanical morality policing. It's such a christian-centered way of looking at ancient religion.

Y'all need to open a damn book.

Goêteia was described as a "lesser" form of magic (mainly in the later Medieval period, roughly starting around the 8th century,) not meaning any less powerful, just simply the easiest or "closest" thus "lower" magic to achieve. This ability to more easily achieve success in magic was later taken and used by christian theologians to paint goêteia and Goêtes as "lesser practitioners."

There does seem to be little difference between Theurgy and goêteia as well,

Surprise!

Both Goêteia and Theurgy sharing the same goddamn workings through evocations of gods, the animation of statues, mediumship or what could be considered "divine possession" having a god or spirit speak through you, the use of iynx wheels / iynges, and mystery rites.

The only 'real' difference Theurgists claim, is that they "don't practice secularly/for selfish reasons" but supposedly rather to become closer to the divine. It's a nice sentiment, but total bullshit, because even in the Theurgic doctrine the Chaldean Oracles they bind the goddess Hekate to do their will.

Additionally, Theurgists had a more Neoplatonic belief, they essentially viewed a singular Oneness as supreme, the emanation from which all things return, a concept which was picked up by early christian theologians and is likely why while Goêtes were demonized in the later centuries mainly by early christians and christian philosophers, Theurgists on the other hand were seen as "pure" and "holier" despite Theurgical and Goêteic practices being pretty much exactly the same down to the tools and incantations.

(Agustine of Hippo for an example of these theologians, who wrote in "De civitate Dei contra Paganos", or "On the City of God Against the Pagans" how all "pagan" (non christian) gods and beliefs were secretly agents of Satan and evil, here to trick humanity into sin and that paganism, essentially any non christian faith, must be stopped–

He also wrote about how sorcerers/magicians (Goêtes) were charlatans, tricksters, that magic and sorcery were merely tricks of an invisible opposition to the divine and how only god could hold such supreme power. These ideas still seem to be deeply embedded into christian faith, particularly Orthodox and Evangelical, today.)

Practitioners of goêteia, the Goēs, was also understood to have the ability to initiate souls into mystery religions, or, in other words, to ensure through his superior knowledge of the Underworld and its workings that the souls under his care would receive preferential treatment after death, an easier way to paradise, such as the Orphic Hymns.

This likely also helped "other" the Goēs, as most practitioners of magic, of goêteia, of these mystery cults were made up of societies "unwanted" or marginalized people, such as women, foreigners, immigrants, the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Early goêtes were described as being Thessalian (primarily women, particularly described as "old or decrepid") or. ethnically, not considered "fully Greek" to many of the era. Many critiques and fears of goêteia come from this "otherness," the fear the ruling classes of Greece had of groups they continued to harm, they feared the power they held within these mystery rites and practices.

With reliable accuracy from these critics, goêtes were (perceived to be) moral transgressors, who operated from the fringe of society in a private mago-mystical setting, offering their service for coin.

Or, in simpler terms, the Greeks were just really fucking racist

which is nothing new.

In fact, because goêteia itself is a synchronization of mainly Egyptian and Jewish magic, the Greeks and later christians went extra-hard into villifying it because they saw these people as lesser, as barbaric.

We have to understand where the fears and judgements of these critics were coming from, and continue to remain impartial. The ruling elite feared these practices because they feared losing their power, especially rich Greek men, and those early christian philosophers who saw everything outside their own faith as lies, manipulations, or tricks from "the Opposition" as well as the extremely racist and ethnocentric beliefs they held.

[thetelesterion]

Hades and Persephone, enthroned together as rulers of the underworld, dated to 500-450 BC

[k-oree]

Apollo

Albertina • Vienna, Austria

[elkanach]

apollo driving his chariot

honestly i made this one month ago but onpy posted it on my old tiktok. gave up on drawing the other horses sorry

[eyeofpsyche]

‘Winged Victory of Samothrace,’ (c. 200–190 BC)

Sculpture from the Hellenistic era depicting Goddess of victory, Nike,  

Constructed of Parian marble, h: 328 cm,

Discovered in 1863 on the Greek island of Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea, by Charles Champoiseau, 

Musée du Louvre, Paris, France (1886 – present).