[songbirdspells]

What is CHP?

Whoops, my bad, I meant CHS. Sorry, I’ve been running on low sleep lately. It’s Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies.

Here is the link to the main page: https://chs.harvard.edu/

Here is where I usually hang out on their page: http://www.chs-fellows.org/

This page includes books that they have online: https://chs.harvard.edu/CHS/article/display/1166?menuId=139

I’m also subscribed to their email list which is a blessing and a curse. It means I know when they update but they tend to send out individual emails for every single article which can be a bit…much.

But in addition to the articles they sometimes have videos of conferences they do where researchers get together and discuss papers and digs they’ve done!

(I’m re-blogging this to let everyone know about my mistake earlier but if you would prefer this as a private message please let me know and I will fix it asap)

[celestiaphia]

Not sure if I ever reblogged this previously. Doing it now to tag.

[terrasunshine]

something i wish that was asserted more in general pagan spaces: it’s okay to choose your gods.

what i mean by this is, a lot of people will boast about how ~their gods came knocking, not the other way around~ and how finding The Sign that a god is expecting your worship is tantamount to proper pagan religious practice. and while these things can absolutely be a part of any practice, the flip side is rarely, if ever, discussed at all.

it’s okay to look at a religion and decide you want to be that religion (barring closed religions, of course). it’s okay to say, “these are the gods i want to worship” and then just go about your business worshiping them. while many of us will sort of backtrack and look at things that happened in our lives and say, “yep, i was oblivious, but that was ____”, the decision to worship is ultimately ours.

the Theoi didn’t grab me by the hair and demand my worship. Apollo didn’t kick me in a dream and tell me to worship him. being a hellenic polytheist, and everything that entails, was and IS a conscious choice. it is my choice to abide by hellenic ethics, to indulge in hellenic traditions, and to worship the Theoi.

it’s okay to choose your gods. just because you’re not getting some Ultimate All-Encompassing Sign from the gods you want to worship, it doesn’t mean your worship is in vain or means nothing. it’s okay to choose to be religious. it’s not shameful to choose to be religious.

[emmahyphenjane]

439-442. Mercury Fastening His Heel-Wings by François Rude - Musée du Louvre, Paris

[approvers]

Luciano Ventrone

[carrykerykeion]

Reblog if

You are transgender AND a Hellenic polytheist

[honorthegods]

I recently decided to get into Hellenic Polytheism and have been intimidated by the ampunt of knowledge and simply how to pratice. Do you have any beginner advice on where to start in research and what to know before you begin?

Welcome, Anon! We’ve all been where you are now. The best place to begin is with Walter Burkert’s “Greek Religion” and “Ancient Mystery Cults”. You’ll want to read Hesiod’s “Theogony” and “Works and Days”, too. I also recommend study of the oracle at Delphi and the Delphic Maxims, the Homeric Hymns, and the Orphic Hymns.

I can’t recommend any of the how-to books for modern Hellenic practice, because one size doesn’t fit all. A few people have the time, energy, and physical means each day to bathe, dress in ancient Hellenic attire, have a procession of one, strew barley on their altar, go through the ritual, and clean up afterwards. A lot of us light a candle and/or offer some incense and a quick prayer each day before eating breakfast and rushing off to work or school - or after staggering home from work or school. And some of us are doing their best by remembering to say “Hi, thanks for your blessings!” once a week. 

What you really need to know before you begin is who the Theoi are, and why you, personally, want to build kharis with them. Theoi.com is a great place to learn about the gods, and the cult titles and epithets you’ll find there will help your understanding of what the Theoi meant to their ancient worshipers, and be useful in composing your own prayers. The Homeric and Orphic Hymns are there, too.

Here’s a good article about interpreting Greek mythology:

http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/mythology/instructors_resources/harrispt1ch02.pdf

Here’s a free online course about Greek mythology, and how to interpret it:

https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/862997/modules

Hellenion has an annual interactive calendar of festivals, and suggestions for worship: http://www.hellenion.org/index/

More about ancient Greek festivals:  http://www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/hymns/index.php?page=calendar

Tumblr user @pomegranateandivy has a useful list of  resources 

baringtheaegis has a beginner’s guide, festival information, and a comprehensive reading list.

You can find a lot of primary and secondary texts at the Perseus Digital Library Project 

Remember that it’s not all about research, Anon. Take time to meditate on and with the Theoi. Enjoy the beautiful world They created for us. Watch for Them in literature, art, media, nature, and in other mortals. Do your best each day (arete), be patient and generous with others (xenia), and try to make the world a better place. 

Feel free to talk to me anytime. May your path be blessed!

[desertbug]

Daily reminder

🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿

I love Dionysus he is so great and wonderful

🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿🍇🌿

[shipping-the-gods]

Hellenic Resources Masterpost {Last Updated 11.28.15}

Hey guys! :D I answered a bunch of questions regarding Hellenic deities, so I thought I would make a post linking to them all ^_^ 

Beginner Help

How Do I Know When A Deity is Interested in Me? What if they Aren’t?

Tips on Getting Started

How to Introduce Yourself

What’s hair wrapping/veiling, and why is it something some Hellenic Polytheists do? 

How did you personally begin worshiping your deities? Do you have any tips regarding some of them?

How can I connect to a god/goddess that I am beginning to worship?

How Can I Do Rituals When I Live in a Loud Home?

How can I worship deities if I am a secret polytheist? (includes advice specifically for Athena and Artemis as well) 

I’m having a hard time getting my words out to introduce myself to the deity I want to worship. Have any tips?

Sacred Locations for the Main Twelve Olympians

How Can I Discover My Religion/Deities?

I’m Anxious About Introducing Myself. Any Tips?

Playlists I’ve Made So Far

Offerings/Devotion

Do you know of any offerings that would work for almost any deity?

Can I throw away offerings that aren’t nature-friendly? If so, how can I do that respectfully? 

How can I learn to write poetry that I can give to the gods as offerings?

How can I give offerings without burning them? 

Types of Books to Read to the Gods

Do I have to Read Aloud When Reading to my Deities?

I Told Someone That I am a Hellenic Polytheist and They Aren’t Taking it Seriously.

What Are Some Ways I Can Show my Devotion?

How Can I pay More Attention to my Deity?

How did you know your deity asked you to do Hairbinding/veiling? 

DIY Devotional Prayer Beads

Epithets of the Gods 

General Offerings

How Do You Use Prayer Beads?

DIY Freeverse Devotional Poem

How I Make Offerings At Lunch

Shrines/Altars

I want to maintain an altar, but I don’t have a lot of space. Do you have any ideas?

How do you maintain an altar in secret?

How can I use my body as a shrine?

Autumn Shrine Decor

Receiving Sings/Communication

What Are Some Steps I Should Take to Communicate With a Deity?

How can I communicate with Deities?

How Do You Scry To Communicate With a Deity?

~Specific Deities ~

Aphrodite

I’m depressed. Can I still work with Aphrodite? & How can I know what god/goddess is trying to get my attention if I am bad at picking up on signs?

I have self-harm scars. Will Aphrodite be displeased by me? Can I still use my body as an altar?

How should I make an altar to Aphrodite/make an altar for any deity?

Offering Ideas, Shrine Ideas, and Resources for Athena and Aphrodite

Aphrodite Devotional Day Ideas

Aphrodite Walking Shrine Ideas

Aphrodite Offering Ideas

Connecting During Everyday Tasks 

Apollo

Offerings for Apollo and Selene, altar ideas, and resources

Apollo Masterpost

Apollo Walking Shrine Ideas

Apollo Worship/Tips for New Worshippers

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Ares

Offerings for Ares and Morpheus and resources

Ares and Hermes Walking Shrine Ideas

Artemis

Is there a difference between Selene and Artemis?

Altar ideas and resources for Artemis

To Anyone Interested in Artemis, read this tip from an Anon :)

Artemis Links

Walking Shrine Ideas for Artemis

Morning Worship Ideas for Persephone and Artemis (Separated)

Small Ways to Connect

Athena

Offering Ideas, Shrine Ideas, and Resources for Athena and Aphrodite

Body Altar Ideas for Athena

Devotion Ritual

Small Ways to Connect

Ananke/Morai

Do you Have Any Ideas on How to Honour Ananke or the Moirai?

Tips for Beginning Work With the Moiria

Demeter

How can I approach Demeter?

Demeter Resources

Small Ways to Connect

Dionysus

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

Eos

How should I worship Eos?

Gaia

Gaia Shrine Ideas

Resources

Hades

Secret shrine to Persephone and Hades

Hades Tea Offering Ideas

How can I introduce myself to Hades and Persephone?

How can I use my body as an altar to Hades & Persephone?

Hades/Persephone Masterpost

Do I Have to Introduce Myself to Hades Before Becoming a Devotee?

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

Is Hades the Devil?

Tips for Incoming Worshipers

Shrine Ideas

Tips For New Worshipers II

Worship Dates/Festivals

Small Ways to Connect

Devotion Ritual for Hades and Persephone

Hecate

Hecate Resources

Hecate Shrine ideas and Resources

More Hecate Resources

How Can I Worship Hecate?

Hera

Hera Resources and Shrine Ideas

Small Ways to Connect

Hermes

What are some arcane-ish symbols/things Hermes is related to?

Ares and Hermes Walking Shrine Ideas

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Hestia

Hestia Offerings, Resources, and Shrine Ideas

Hestia Worship

Resources

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Morpheus

Offerings for Ares and Morpheus and resources

Small Ways to Connect

Nyx

Nyx Resources

Shrine Ideas for Nyx

Nyx Worship Ideas

Nyx Walking Shrine Ideas

Offering Ideas

Pan

Pan Offerings and Resources

Persephone

Can you tell me about Persephone? How should I introduce myself to her?

What should I put on my altar to Persephone?

Secret shrine to Persephone and Hades

How can I introduce myself to Hades and Persephone?

How can I use my body as an altar to Hades & Persephone?

Hades/Persephone Masterpost

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

How Can I Worship Persephone in Everyday Life?

Tips for Incoming Worshipers

Morning Worship Ideas for Persephone and Artemis (Separated)

Small Ways to Connect

Devotion Ritual for Hades and Persephone

Poseidon

Poseidon resources, acts of devotion, shrine ideas, etc.

Small Way to Connect

Selene

Is there a difference between Selene and Artemis?

Offerings for Apollo and Selene, altar ideas, and resources

Zeus

I want to begin working with Zeus. How should I get started, and what are some tips or pointers you have?

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Zeus

Devotional Acts for Zeus

I Want to Connect With Zeus. Any Advice or Tips?

Some Zeus Resources and Worship Ideas

Zeus Masterpost

Walking Shrine Ideas for Zeus

Small Ways to Connect

~ Tips for Hellenic Polytheist Who Have No Money ~ By: Me, a Hellenic Polytheist With No Money

Offerings

Shrine Decor

My Take on the Underworld/Afterlife **Opinion and Personal Research**

Elysium/Getting There

Fields of Asphodel

Resources

Recreating Hairstyles { Soloontherocks }

What’s Miasma? { Royalautumnfrost }

How Can Men Veil/How Was it Done in Ancient Greece? { songbirdspells }

Good Websites to Learn About the Gods { shipping-the-gods }

Introduction to the Underworld { Waterspeak }

Hellenic Terminology Page { baringtheaegis }

Honouring the Nymphai { Bayoread }

Sacred Animals of the Gods  { thewhisperingmountain }

What Even is Hellenic Polytheism? What are Some Good Links to Read When First Getting Started? { Royalautumnfrost }

How to Make a Libation { Bayoread }

Do the Gods Always Respond? What Does it Mean When A Bond I have Already Formed Doesn’t Seem to Be Active Suddenly? { Pomegranateandivy }

More About Getting Started { thepaganstudygrouppage }

Hellenic Veiling Ideas/Tutorials/Inspiration {Shipping-the-gods }

Fasting Tips { baringtheaegis }

Masterpost of Pagan E-Shrines { Hellenicappalachia }

Ritual in Hellenismos { @mythologyrules​ }

Pillars of Hellenismos   { @mythologyrules​ }

Pillars of Hellenismos { @soloontherocks }

Finding Your Ritual Calendar { @hearthfirehandworks​ }

How to Make an Offering { Bayoread }

Building Your Worship { @pomegranateandivy​ }

Pomegranateandivy’s Hellenic FAQ { @pomegranateandivy​ }

How to Write a Prayer { @hearthfirehandworks​ }

[hearthglow]

Wreaths, Hats, and Grain Measures

Roman gods wear a lot of stuff on their heads, especially wreaths/crowns. Here’s a quick overview for when sources mention iconography without explaining further.

Laurel Crown - Corona Triumphalis, Laurea Insignis: A triumphal crown of laurel or bay leaves, or a golden version thereof. Associated with Apollo.

Lunate diadem - Worn by Diana and Luna. The diadem in general is also used for goddesses as a mark of divinity, especially for Juno and Ceres.

Modius - Named by modern scholars, this headdress resembles a grain-measure and is presumed to symbolize abundance/fertility. Worn by Serapis.

Mural Crown - Corona Muralis: A crown bearing the city walls, commonly worn by Cybele and tutelary deities such as Tyche. A military version was awarded to the first man who scaled the wall of a besieged city. 

Petasus - A flat hat worn by Mercury, originally a sign of travelers in Greek iconography.

Phrygian cap - Worn by “oriental” gods, either Trojan or simply foreign easterners. Typical of Attis, Mithras, Men, Sabazius, Ganymede, Paris, Orpheus, Aeneas, and Ascanius, among others. Its usage grew considerably in Late Antiquity and was picked up by some Christian iconography as well.

Pileus - A conical felt hat worn by the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), Vulcan, and occasionally Ulysses. Also worn by freedmen and thus symbolic of Libertas.

Spoked Crown - Corona Radiata: Radiant as though with the rays of the sun, this was the one given to the gods and deified heroes, and later assumed by some of the emperors as a token of their divinity. Associated with Sol Invictus.

Vine Crown - Corona Pampinea: The crown of vine leaves worn by Bacchus/Dionysus.

Wheat Crown - Corona Spicea: Made of ears of corn, consecrated to Ceres and among the most ancient of crowns (according to the Romans at least).

Others:

Grass Crown - Corona Graminea/Obsidionalis: Highest military honor, presented by a beleaguered army after its liberation to the general who broke up the siege. It was made of grass, or weeds and wild flowers gathered from the spot on which the beleaguered army had been enclosed.

Civic Crown - Corona Civica: Presented to a soldier who had preserved the life of a Roman soldier in battle. Made of oak leaves. Later assumed by the emperors and common in their iconography.

Stitched Crown - Corona Sutilis: Used by the Salii at their rites. Made of flowers sewn together instead of woven into a wreath. Later roses alone were used.

For more military and ritual crowns/wreaths, check out the LacusCurtius article here: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Corona.html

(Not included are Minerva’s helm, which is fairly recognizable on its own and doesn’t appear to have a specific name, and the many iterations of Isis’s headdresses, which I know too little of to parse. If anyone would like to add on the forms of Isis’s head gear, please feel free!)

[xaesthetic-moodboardx]

[museofapollo-deactivated2017100]

concept: Apollo’s arrows as s u n r a y s

[hestiaswitch-blog]

Actual photo of Apollo’s target practice

[daughter-of-artemis]

[xaesthetic-moodboardx]

[thoodleoo]

ancient roman artist 1: hey can i ask a question ancient roman artist 2: yeah go ahead ancient roman artist 1: so i’m making this figurine of hermes with a giant dick ancient roman artist 2: nice ancient roman artist 1: but i feel like it’s missing something in the phallus department ancient roman artist 2: that’s easy, just give him a hat with some dicks on it ancient roman artist 1: oh. how many dicks should i put on it ancient roman artist 2: there is no limit to the creative process

[flowerwitchboi-blog]

Made a new Hermes aesthetic bc I feel like shit rn and this makes me feel better

[hermes-is-my-homeboy]

It’s beautiful! I hope you feel better soon! ♥️

[phoenyxoftheashes]

If you’re a Hellenic polytheist, reblog this

I want new blogs to follow

[oracleofapollo]

Hermes

[mymanhermes]

I remember when I was younger and obsessed with Greek mythology I used to wish so hard that the gods were actually real. Little did I know that they were there the whole time