Epistrophia

Hellenic Polytheist (of a sort); Hermes Devotee (also of a sort); Lucid Dreamer; Poet; Essayist; Charmingly Rude and Hubristic in the Presence of Gods

[cupboardy]

[art-history-today]

Mercury.

Roman 30-40 AD.

[hellas-inhabitants]

Archaeological site of Eleusis, one of the most important in Greece, is only half an hour from the center of Athens.

O αρχαιολογικός χώρος της Eλευσίνας, ένας από τους σημαντικότερους στη Ελλάδα, απέχει μόλις μισή ώρα από το κέντρο της Aθήνας.

[last-of-the-romans]

A Writer’s Tools

A writer’s tools might include an inkwell and papyrus scrolls or less expensive wax tablets and stylus. The tablets could also be bound and they could be erased with the flat end of the stylus. Papyrus was made of the pith of a water plant; ink was a mixture of soot, resin, wine dregs and cuttlefish.

Roman Terracotta Inkwell (1st or 2nd Century A.D.)

Roman/Egyptian Papyrus Letter (early 3rd Century A.D.)

Byzantine/Egyptian Wooden Tablet (500-700 A.D.)

Roman Bronze Stylus (1st or 2nd Century A.D.)

  (x)(x)(x)(x) The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

[artbeautypaintings]

Daphnis and Chloe - Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bourguereau

[centuriespast]

Scene during the Eruption of Vesuvius

Joseph Franque, French (active Naples), 1774 - 1833

Geography: Made in France, Europe Date: c. 1827 Medium: Oil on canvas

Philadelphia Museum of Art

[thewritersramblings]

i cant even make it past the table of contents im laughing too hard

[bead-bead-deactivated20190901]

WHAT IS THIS BOOK!?!

[leaper182]

It’s called “Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes: A No-Bullshit Guide to World Mythology” By Cory O’Brien, and it looks highly entertaining. :D

[mmemento]

Gilgamesh: THE ULTIMATE BROMANCE

[elfgrove]

Give it here, now.

Sweet Fluffy Gods why is there not an audiobook version?

[asatira]

I need to find this book.

[whitedarryl]

The first time Iv’e wanted to read something since Metro 2033.

[doctorsdemons-deactivated201607]

guy

guys…look what we did :D

[visitheworld]

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Side, Antalya, Turkey (by Saffron Blaze).

[nymphei]

Image: Detail of Morpheus in Morpheus Awakening as Iris Draws Near by René-Antoine Houasse (1690)

In Greek mythology, the Oneiroi (“dreams”) are three gods or daimones of dreams. They are called the Somnia in Roman mythology. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, they are sons of Nyx (no father), and are therefore brothers of Hypnos, Thanatos, the Moirai, the Hesperides, and the other offspring Nyx conceived and birthed by herself. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses (be aware that this is a Roman source, not Greek), the Oneiroi are supposedly some of Hypnos’ thousand sons, and Ovid mentions them by name: Morpheus, Phantasos, and Phobetor (or Ikelos). The latter, Ovid states, mortals call Phobetor while gods call him Ikelos.

Morpheus is thought (by some) to be the leader of the Oneiroi. His name comes from the Greek word morphê (meaning “form” or “shape”). He shapes dreams, and has the ability to take human form and appear in dreams.

The name Phantasos comes from the word phantasioô (“bring images to the mind”). Ikelos translates to “like” or “resembling”, and Phobetor stems from the word phobêtos (meaning “to be feared”).

In Homer’s Odyssey, the gates dreams travel through are described as two in number - one gate is fashioned of ivory, the other of horn. False or meaningless dreams are said to pass through the gate of ivory, while truthful, prophetic dreams wings their way out through the gate of horn.

Excerpt from book 19 of Homer’s Odyssey (trans. Shewring). Penelope to the disguised Odysseus:

"‘Dear guest, Oneiroi (Dreams) are beyond our unravelling - who can be sure what tale they tell? Not all that men look for comes to pass. Two gates there are that give passage to fleeting Oneiroi (Dreams); one is made of horn, one of ivory. The Oneiroi that pass through sawn ivory are deceitful, bearing a message that will not be fulfilled; those that come out through polished horn have truth behind them, to be accomplished for men who see them. But I cannot hope that this Oneiros (Dream) that bewilders me came from there.’"

[user294759639]

You could also play it as a drinking game, if you feel Bacchic enough ;)

[poulaki]

Hermes by TaekwondoNJ

[hadrian6]

[epistrophia-m-blog]

Hermes.  late 18th. century. circle of Pierre Narcisse Guerin. French 1774-1883. pencil and stump on paper.

[beautifuldavinci]

[epistrophia-m-blog]

Auguste Raynaud  (1854 - 1937) Night

In Greek mythology, Nyx (“night”, Nox in Roman translation) was the primordial goddess of the night.  A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation, and was the mother of personified gods such as Hypnos (sleep) and Thánatos (death). Her appearances in mythology are sparse, but reveal her as a figure of exceptional power and beauty.

[epistrophia-m-blog]

Tarot Reading: On Voice

Deck: Tarot of the Absurd Spread: Simple Hermes, plus Query: I have signed up to take a voice class this fall at the local community college. This is an emotionally laden decision as singing was once a major, major part of my life before I suffered heinous abuses for many years. I have great hopes for reconnecting with this part of myself which is why I asked to be given wisdom about taking the class—whether it is a good idea and what the outcome will be. Cards: Two of Cups, Ace of Coins r/x, The Hanged Man, Ten of Blades, Seven of Blades (meant to cover the Ten of Blades, but I dropped it down so you can see what the Ten of Blades looks like)

On this one I am going a bit more with my gut than I am with the standard card meanings. Essentially what I see here is that the situation has the potential to go very well or very badly or all these things through the course of it. It will be hard, very hard, but with Hermes' help, (for me, the Seven of Blades represents Hermes), I could overcome the potential negative outcome. I will need to rely on my god perhaps more than ever to get through it.

One thing working with this deck has taught me that I never learned from the Golden Tarot, (largely because, in some ways, it is too visually complicated for my poor eyesight), is to actually look at the cards and take into account what the visuals are, to take the visuals even more seriously than written definitions. In this light, what I see in the Ten of Blades in this deck is that none of the swords are actually piercing the person. I see a deft avoidance of them—fear and anxiety that they are all around, but nothing striking the death blow, not yet. This makes the Hermes card all the more important as it is the cross to the motion card, it is what will keep that particular motion, on the precipice of which I will stand, at bay. This is what will keep me balanced amidst all the ascending and descending trouble that I may encounter. He has the swords in his coat. He has them all fully under control.

The Hanged Man speaks of trust, especially as it is drawn in this deck. There is potential for damage, but if I trust in the help I will receive, if I trust that help is forthcoming and the only intention is to challenge, not harm, then there will be a positive result. This challenge and trust is the nature of the declaration of love and beneficial partnership represented by the first card.

Planetary Day: Saturn (limits) Planetary Hour: Mars (action, courage) Moon: Last Quarter in Taurus (material concerns, grounding)

-M. 

[lonelyspelltoconjureyou]

[lonelyspelltoconjureyou]

HYGEIA was the goddess of good health. She was a daughter and attendant of the medicine-god Asklepios, and a companion of the goddess Aphrodite. Her sisters included Panakeia (All-Cure) and Iaso (Remedy).

source: www.theoi.com

image:  Hygeia, Goddess of Health - Peter Paul Rubens

[classicsenthusiast]

[epistrophia-m-blog]

If you're having sex with an ancient god and, in the throes of passion, you exclaim, "Jesus!" is that insulting? Is it something like screaming the name of your ex? -M.

[epistrophia-m-blog]

I love the "Witch's Brew" Yankee Candle scent. It smells like cologne on a man after he's had a long day.

I have it in my wax warmer now as an offering. It evokes masculine godhood. 

-M.