Aphrodisia
~ 4-7 Hekatombaion ~
In celebration of Aphrodite Pandemos (Aphrodite common to all people) not much is known about Aphrodisia. The festival itself was celebrated largely in Delos, Cythera, Thebes, Elis, Sparta, Corinth, Athens and most towns in Cyprus. It is important with the coming of this day that the modern Hellenic Polytheist examine which festivals they reside with most. Celebrate the gods in the way that suits you best, even if the festival is absent of the calendar you most closely draw from.
The festival was said to be instituted by Theseus, as a way to represent the unified people of Athens under her epithet. Many modern Polytheist prefer the idea of celebration of every person drawn to the Goddess. Aphrodite carefully crafted each and every body, therefore we are all inherently beautiful. Common to all people, our Lady is. Many rather celebrate her as a divine mother, caretaker, friend and most importantly Goddess, on this day.
Aphrodisia begun with a sacrifice of a dove to her altar. The blood from the dove cleansed the temple. No other blood sacrifices were to be made the rest of the festival, as it would dirty the blood of the dove. Afterwards, people would carry imagery of Aphrodite and Peitho to be washed in the sea, a common epithet and image of Aphrodite. The festival itself celebrated both goddess.
Many people would offer an array of different symbols, the most popular being that of a live white he-goat.
Aphrodisia is a wildly popular festival today. Many other worshippers have their own posts! Go check them out and give love! Worshipper to worshipper <3
Traditional Offerings:
Fire
Flowers
Incense
Baked Goods/Bread
Sea Water
Aphrodisiacs
Traditional Acts:
Cleansing Statues
Cleansing your body
Offerings to Aphrodite
Offerings to Peitho
Khaire Aphrodite! Khaire Peitho! 🐚🩷🌊🕊️