The forgotten ones: on honouring obscure gods
I adore obscure gods. The only issue with loving obscure gods is that they are obscure; not much information is available. Some gods have entire cultus that span across the ancient world with an abundance of information. Others, however, are sometimes only mentioned in an epic a few times or are only found in rare archaeological records. Honouring an obscure god can mean a lot of devotional work to honour them fully.
Experience will be the guiding factor. After worshipping obscure gods for a while, it’s become easier for me to honour them properly. Trust that moving time will teach you what you need — you can do it. Now, here are my tips for honouring obscure deities.
Obtain every scrap of information
Every detail matters. There is bound to be something to help you understand this obscure deity. Whether that’s directly seeing the artifacts that are recorded, reading academic interpretations, seeing them in texts, etc. Analysing their depictions in art will be especially useful, as that is how that deity was envisioned and worshipped.
When it comes to very contradictory interpretations by scholars, it may be helpful to make your own or apply UPG to come to your conclusion.
Study the world that worshipped them
The ancient world was very different and similar to our own. All events need to be put in context. The ways a god is worshipped may change, evolve, or be removed entirely. Or perhaps they just appeared in a particular period, never to be worshiped until the modern day. I recommend this book series, the Routledge Worlds series, which covers the world — ancient or modern — across the expanses.
However, always remember to keep the evidence in the context of the times. Callimachus’ hymns will not be the same as Homeros, for example. They are removed by hundreds of years and long-lost contexts. The date, location, historical events — all of it must be kept in mind when analysing data.
Use general/typical offerings when beginning
A big hurdle in worship is knowing what to offer. An easy way to avoid this is to give “general” offerings. In helpol, this can be wine, for example. Water is a very versatile choice too. Each religion will have its particular codes and rules, so knowing these rules and applying them to the obscure deity you are trying to worship will help. However, most of all, you will eventually gain the UPG you need to know what to offer.
If possible, see what the worshippers offered historically. A great way to find out what to offer is to find what they were offered in the past. You will likely find this information in the papers about the deity. Zoological and archaeological records may contain trace details of food and other devotional gifts.
Take note of all UPG
Every scrap of UPG will be helpful. Others may present upg around a similar figure, or you may develop a strong SPG. These personal tidbits of gnosis will make up a large majority of your worship. Keep the knowledge somewhere where you will keep track of it — a blog, a notebook, etc. It would be a poor choice to let the UPG be forgotten (though if you forget, that is alright — forgetting is natural and not your fault. Do not blame yourself). This tip also applies to SPG, especially if it comes from outside groups or people.
Study Syncretisms
The process of syncretism can reveal a lot about a deity’s character. Particularly in regards to who they are syncretised with. Historical syncretisms made sense to those worshipping the god, so what did they know what we do not? Knowledge can be gathered via historical syncretism and why it occurred.
Historical syncretism could also lead to you reconstructing that very syncretism. It all depends upon you and your lovely path.
Identify who they were worshipped with and why
Another clue is who a deity is worshipped with. Was the god worshipped with a spouse, their child, a sibling, or because of a shared domain/association? It all depends upon context and sometimes interpretation. When reconstructing worship, continuing that shared worship may be an excellent option to honour this obscure deity.
Try to identify associations
Deity information lists often include their associations. They show what the deity likes, wear, etc. Associations are helpful to know when seeking to honour a god. Finding these associations can help you develop worship and altars. Common associations are weapons and accessories - they can be seen in art and sometimes cultus. You will most likely find a deity’s associations in art, epithets if they have them, and offerings.
Ask the deity themself
Who is better to ask how to worship the deity than the deity in question? Communication is key. You could even pray for more information to come your way about them. Devotional work is ultimately about the god in question, so definitely make sure to ask them and see if they reply.
I hope my tips from my experience can help you build your worship. As you learn and grow, you will honour the obscure deity or deities you are researching. From personal experience, I can tell you it is well worth it.
TLDR; worshipping obscure gods is beautiful but can be difficult. My tips to help you develop a praxis are: obtain every scrap of information, study the world that worshipped them, use general/typical offerings when beginning, take note of all upg, try to identify associations, and ask the deity themself.
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