How would/should a recon Hellenic polytheist purify things? Their space and objects they want to use for sacred things. As well as themselves?
I just finished setting up and consecrating my new altar, so this is a particularly appropriate topic to write about now.
Before going in-depth, I’ll start with a reminder: there are different types, or “levels” if you will, of purification in Hellenic polytheism. The most basic is what I would call everyday purification, or purification from lyma; then there is expiation, to get rid of severe pollution or miasma; lastly, there is consecration, the process of making something sacred. I won’t discuss expiation much here, as it is necessary only in specific situations which I assume don’t apply to most people. (If you’re interested in it, I’d recommend reading the Greek tragedies, especially Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Euripides’ Iphigenia in Tauris, which deal in part with expiatory rites after murder.)
Let’s start with everyday purification. I’ve found Labrys’ book Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship to be particularly accurate in explaining what it is (distinguishing it from more severe pollution) and how it’s done:
For living humans to approach the world of the Gods demands physical, mental and spiritual purity. This may be attained through the simple ritual cleansing that is a prerequisite to any ceremony.There are, however, particular states of “contamination” or Miasma that prohibit any attempt to approach the Gods whatsoever. To be purified from Miasma requires special ritualistic actions. (Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, p. 73-74)
Cleansing (Khernips): this should be a bowl or basin, wide enough to be filled with water, which may be used for the ceremonial washing of the hands or face before each ritual. (idem, p. 40)
The book also mentions hand-washing as the third step in a ritual: “all participants wash their hands in the cleansing basin” (p. 92).
This is accurate to ancient sources, which describe people washing their hands and sometimes face before ritual. See, for example, how Achilles prepares for prayer in the Iliad (16.225-232):
Ἔνθα δέ οἱ δέπας ἔσκε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςοὔτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν πίνεσκεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ αἴθοπα οἶνον,οὔτέ τεῳ σπένδεσκε θεῶν, ὅτε μὴ Διὶ πατρί˙τό ῥα τότ᾽ ἐκ χηλοῖο λαβὼν ἐκάθηρε θεείῳπρῶτον, ἔπειτα δ᾽ ἔνιψ᾽ ὕδατος καλῇσι ῥοῇσι,νίψατο δ᾽ αὐτὸς χεῖρας, ἀφύσσατο δ᾽ αἴθοπα οἶνον˙εὔχετ᾽ ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνονοὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών˙ Δία δ᾽ οὐ λάθε τερπικέραυνον.
His beautifully crafted cup was there; no other mandrank from it the fire-coloured wine,and neither did he libate from it to any God other than Father Zeus;taking it from the chest, he purified it with sulphurfirst, then washed it with beautiful flowing water,washed his own hands, and drew the fire-coloured wine;then, standing in the middle of the courtyard, he prayed and spilled the winewith his eyes to the sky; and he did not go unnoticed by Zeus who rejoices in thunder. (transl. my own)
That’s really all it takes: a little washing with pure water. Water from a flowing spring is best, or if you live by the sea, seawater. I’m lucky to live in a country with very fresh and clean tap water, so I’m comfortable using it for purification, but if that’s not your case and you don’t have access to natural water sources either, you might want to consider buying bottled water for this purpose.
Now let’s move on to consecration. This is, to give a slightly tongue-in-cheek explanation, a purification level-up: its purpose isn’t just to cleanse something/someone, but to bring it/them into a sacred state. Anything that is to be used in ritual, including ritual space, should be consecrated. (This is why the requirements for cleanliness when entering an Ancient Greek temple were particularly stringent - these weren’t requirements for everyday ritual purity, but for entering a highly sacred, consecrated space.) Naturally, since consecration is a kind of level-up from purification, it requires more elaborate rites.
There are many different methods for this. Purification by fire, particularly by flaming torch, was common; so was sulphur, as evidenced by the Iliad quote above; bathing objects/people in seawater was another option. I personally use the tried and true method of what is commonly called khernips, that is, a flame extinguished in pure water. I begin by washing the space I want to use (for example, a shelf or cabinet surface) then anoint every ritual object, including statues. I also anoint myself. If I feel it to be necessary, I might recite a small prayer as I do so, something like: “Khairete Theoi, I consecrate this (object’s name) to your service. May it be sacred to you, and only come into contact with that which is pure.”
Lastly, since consecration requires a high level of purity, I often shower and dress in fresh clothes before beginning, and I always veil my hair. By contrast, for a regular, simple ritual, I consider it enough to bind my hair (which I do anyway) and wash my hands and face.
I hope this helps, and may the Gods keep you always <3
jacobvanloon
izzy806
turnnoffyourmind
andulkaphoto
prguitarman
titsay
stormborns
