#hellenic polytheism

[jello-mello]

yes, exactly

idk how to explain this but the left image feels like apollo and the right image helios

[countrydionysia]

2024 Rural Dionysia Announcement

Io! The time of the year has come again for the Rural Dionysia!

How to participate

The Rural Dionysia is meant to be a smaller competition than its urban counterpart, as such, we have selected only 3 categories:

Freestyle poetry

Modern hymns

“Complete the fragment”

Freestyle poetry

Your poem can be about any chosen topic (myth, personal experience etc.) in any written format. It doesn't have to be religious in nature.

Modern hymn

An hymn must sing the praises of a deity of your choice. Unlike the "freestyle poetry", your work must be of religious nature to fit in this category.

Complete the Fragment

Each year, we choose a fragment from an Ancient Greek poet to work with. The challenge is that the initial fragment must be included somewhere in your piece in its original order. This means you can fill the gaps however you want, but you can’t switch the order of the words in your piece or remove words from the original fragment.

Here is the fragment selected for this 2024 edition:

Fragment 113 by Alcaeus (trans. David A. Campbell; Loeb 142)

…kiss…(they) began…knowledge…sits…are…mortal

Here is the Greek text for reference. Note that because the word "they" is implied, it will be acceptable to keep or modify this word.

If in doubt for any of these categories, remember that you can check submissions from the previous years to get an idea of how others have done before.

Submitting your piece

Please submit your piece through submissions on this blog. All entries must be tagged for the category they are being submitted to. but you can only choose 1 category per piece and each person may only submit 1 entry per category each year.

Entries must also be tagged for potentially triggering content and squicks. If your entry needs a trigger warning, kindly add them at the end of your submission and we will take care of adding them in. Check the rules below for further information about submissions.

Calendar of the event

Nov. 16: Official announcement and opening of submissions. Dec. 17: Final submission day. Dec. 18: Vote opening. Dec. 25: Vote closing. Dec. 25-26: Announcement of the winners!

No worries though! We will be posting reminders about each step when the time comes.

General rules

Roleplay and fanfic are not acceptable submissions. This is a religious festival, please respect our faith and do not submit an entry if you are roleplaying or writing fanfiction.

Unlike with the City Dionysia, entries do not necessarily have to be about specific deities or Hellenic polytheism except for the “Modern Hymn” category, which has to be dedicated to one or many gods of your choice.

There are no meter restrictions. This is up to the writer.

All stories, myths, and poems must be entered using the submissions button.

All entries must be tagged for the category they are being submitted to. Entries must also be tagged for potentially triggering content and squicks.

An entry may only be submitted to a single category.

Each person may only submit one entry per category each year.

Winners for each category will be decided by popular vote.

Admins of this blog cannot participate, for obvious reasons. As for now, this includes @thegrapeandthefig @verdantlyviolet

Questions about the rules? Check the blog for past answers, your answer might be in there. And if it's not, simply submit an ask. We'll answer in the best delays possible.

[beautyofaphrodite]

Happy Friday!

Friday is Aphrodite’s day every week and I like to honor Her by writing a little prayer. Today’s topic is self-care when it’s hard. I chose this because as someone with depression who is also a major people pleaser, it’s very hard for me to put myself first or care about myself at all, and I know I’m mot the only one who struggles with that.

Note: I do not write prayers often but am practicing, so this may not be good. Sorry!

Loving Goddess Aphrodite

Of the sea (Pontia)

Of the sky (Ourania)

Of the dark (Melainis)

I ask you to please help me with this request.

She who rules over love of all forms,

Assist me in caring for myself.

Help me to see me the way you do

Beautiful, Loving, and Human

And help me to treat myself like I deserve

with patience, kindness, and care.

For when the waves of my emotions

crash against my heart,

and when the skies are filled with sorrow

When all I can see is darkness,

You are the light.

I thank you for all that you have already done

for I now know how you see me.

I ask you to help me to take care of my mind and body

For I know that I am full of beauty.

[dionysianivy]

Doing this since I was 9 Hermes must be very proud of me🐓🍂🕯

Committing piracy as a devotional act to Hermes

[delacrvix]

My best devotional act for all the deities I work with is to stay alive and well. I promised that I would heal and move onwards. This is just how simple and joyful devotional acts are.

I am still alive in a good state and healing after depression.

This is the best devotional act I could've done.

[hellenicdreaming]

I read somewhere that when I give things to the Gods, it doesn't have to be a big thing. Before, i put way too much pressure on myself for it and would only really give things when I would make prayers or talk to the Gods.

Today, I went to the shop for some stuff and saw some orange chocolate and thought of Apollo, so I brought some and offered it to him.

[fabledfoxglove]

Tonight, as i do every night, i gaze upon hestia’s altar when I finally settle into bed, and every time it nearly brings me to tears bc that’s when i feel her presence most and it makes me tear up

I LOVE YOU LADY HESTIA PRAISE BE TO YOU 🔥💕😭

[psychedelic-charm]

Why am I craving Olive Garden right now?

Shoutout to that era in the 90s when Dionysus temporality possessed home renovators and grape themed kitchens were a thing.

My future kitchen tbh I had one like this as a kid living on a vineyard.

[atheneum-of-you]

I made banners for my devotional notebook! ♡

[olivebranchhellenic]

Important Terms in Hellenism

I think learning even a few words or phrases in ancient Greek is important to connecting with the Gods! So, let's learn the most important ones

Hellenism, Hellenismos, and Hellenistic- Hellenism and Hellenismos are titles given to the religion of worshiping the ancient Greek Gods. Hellenistic is to describe the time period after the death of Alexander the Great to Mark Antony in 31 BC

Kharis- This is one of the most fundamental things in Hellenism. This word can mean many things so to really simplify, it means to give to the Gods so they may give to us. It's the act of building relationship and reciprocity with the divine

Eusebeia- Piety and loyalty

Khernips- Pure water that is used to purify the self, materials, or altars before ritual, sacrifice, and sometimes prayers

Miasma- Mortal pollution or impurity. Things like literal filth (dirt, sweat, ect.) bad or stale energies, or guilt

Ouranic- A God who is not of the earth. These types of Gods are said to live in Olympus

Khthonic- A God who is of the earth. They are typically chalked up to just being the death deities but that's not completely true. Any God who lives and/or has domain over earth are also Khthonic

Sponde- A libation for Ouranic Gods that is poured then sipped by the worshiper

Khoe- A libation for Khthonic Gods that is poured out completely

Dæmon- A spirit or ghost. Specifically NOT a demon

Khaire/Khairete [singular/plural]- Greetings, hello

Elthe deuro- Come here/come to me (this is not impolite to say to Gods, it was traditionally done)

Klue/Kluete [singular/plural]- Hear me

Eukhomai- I pray

Ei boulei- Please, if you wish

Kharin ekho- Thank you

If I missed anything or if you have questions, let me know!

[khaire-traveler]

Along with this, please be wary of cults! They are extremely easy to fall into, and anyone can be vulnerable to it - you are not immune! Here's an article that touches on warning signs, and here's one that talks about getting out of a cult (personally, I like this article more than the first).

Let me make this very clear:

When it comes to Hellenic Polytheism, there is no human religious authority, especially not one that stands before or speaks for the gods.

It does not matter what someone tells you. It does not matter if they claim to be a priestess/priest of X deity or a messenger for Y deity. It does not matter what their supposed past life was like. It does not matter if they claim to be the literal fucking Oracle of Apollo.

No one has the right to tell you how to worship the gods. No one has the right to assert their authority over your religion.

And most of all, remember that people can and do lie.

[starsthewitch]

Aphrodite, Birth of Venus 🐚💕

[hyakinthou-naos]

(Be advised that this is UPG/opinion/interpretation)

This comic, for me, beautifully illustrates the relation between Olympian* Gods and Titans/Primordial Deities.

Helios is immensely powerful in a way that dwarfs even Apollo, because Helios is the Sun. He is the cosmic celestial body around which all planets in our solar system orbit. Whereas Apollo is sunlight - he is the Sun on Earth, the warmth and visibility provided to its inhabitants.

Similar to how Selene is the Moon, but Diana is the Moon’s effects and interpretation through the eyes of humanity.

Gaia and Demeter.

Ouranos and Zeus.

Oceanus and Poseidon.

I just think it’s so beautiful - the depth and complexity to be found within our pantheon 🕯️

- Aön

*I know the title of “Olympian” is not always accurate and that a lot of practitioners have opinions about the label. I am open to other labels if anyone has suggestions - Olympian was just the best one I could think of at this time.

Okay, okay, so many of you wanted more stuff with Helios

Take him 🧑‍🍳✨

[applefoam]

may nemesis throw everyone who wronged you off a cliff

[travelingthief]

Artemis Resource List

Informational 

Artemis’ Personality, Character Traits, Strengths and Weaknesses

Britannica

Greek Mythology

Homeric Hymn to Artemis

Mythopedia

Orphic Hymn to Artemis

Theoi

Wikipedia

World History Encyclopedia

Playlists

Artemis Devotional Playlist

Artemis Devotional Paylist (2)

Artemis: A Devotional Playlist

For Lady Artemis

Greek Goddess Artemis

Greek Gods: Artemis

Hunters of Artemis

The Huntress // Diana-Artemisa Devotional

Podcasts

The Ancients

Ancient History Fangirl

Garner’s Greek Mythology

The Goddess Podcast

Intuitive Awakening

Our Numinous Nature

Spirits

Tumblr Posts

Cool Altar

Epithets

Goth Playlist

Offerings/Devotional Acts

Subtle Worship

Youtube

Exploring the Wild Goddess of Ancient Greece

Greek Mythology Explained

How to Work with Artemis

Messed Up Origins

My Deities - Artemis

My Experience with Artemis and Apollo

Other

Discord

Subreddit for Artemis