#oikothen

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Trying something a little different …

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Let your nuptial hymns, your nuptial songs, greet him and his wife! ‘Twas in the midst of such wedding festivities that the Moirai formerly united Olympian Hera to the King Zeus who governs the gods from the summit of his inaccessible throne. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios! Rosy Eros with the golden wings held the reins and guided the chariot; 'twas he, who presided over the union of Zeus and the fortunate Hera. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaios!

Celebrating Theogamia (southern hemisphere) with some Aristophanes. Joyous Theogamia to you all!

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My home feels warm and whole with your nearness, virtuous ephestioi. Like the scent of this incense filling this home, may you fill it with your healthful and abundant blessings.

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May have fallen off the calendar wagon lately but was aware the Kanathia has been approaching. Today I went for a river walk and found a willow tree. Guess what date it is?

Turned a few willow vines into a wreath.

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Current altar. Dust and dead flower offerings and all. Dried pomegranates covering the holes of the vases because spiders.

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Agathos Daimon. I’ve had this art piece for some time now and it’s my favourite piece in the house. Having it right here in the open area, so clearly seen in the main room of my home, brings me such joy.

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Adeia: Modern Festival to Demeter

On a global scale, we’re dealing with a climate crisis that is putting food sources at risk. On a more local level, conflicts and abnormal weather are creating risks of bad harvests, resources shortages and/or inflations. We are aware that not everyone is impacted directly by the current ongoing issues, but we hope that this festival (or at least the idea) can be useful beyond these and be seen through a wider scope of praying for food security at large.  We named the festival Adeia, from the ancient Greek ἄδεια, which conveniently can signify both “abundance”/”plenty” and “freedom from fear”/”security”. All things the festival aims for. - @thegrapeandthefig’s original post

The gods I am propitiating for my Adeia are Demeter Soteira (saviour), Herakles Alexikakos (averter of evil), Zeus Hyetios (moist/fertilising rain), Hermes Nomios (protector of pastures and shepherds), Olea (nymph of my garden), and Djarlgarra (local river god).

My menu includes:

Dolmas on a bed of oats

Honey and oranges with dried figs

Pork loin and roast veg

Blueberry crumble

Milo and oat milk

We call upon you in our time of need Benevolent gods, givers of good.

Crises threaten world-over and hardships befall many, and now again we raise our voices in plea.

If these smoky offerings please you, and these sweet drinks warm you, look well upon us. Kindly gods, bless our coffers and larders again, and see abundance flow to our house. And should strife visit our doors, grant us the fortitude to endure.

May Zeus meter his life-giving rains, so dry or soggy fields remain moist year-through

May Hermes keep a watchful eye on the flocks and farm-hands, that flystrike and heatstroke never hinder them

With outstretched arms I sing praises to you, bold Djarlgarra, he who holds moisture for our sun-stricken land

And to sweet Olea I gift equally sweet fruits, that you may keep my rain barrels at bursting and my garden fertile

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Kanathia Festival

Every year there was a procession from Argos to Nauplia. Priestesses of Hera and attendants would escort the statue of Hera to the spring Kanathos where they would bathe her image according to the sacred purification rites. It is said when the statue emerged from the water Hera Teleia became a maiden once more, Hera Parthenos, pure and virginal.

Come now, graceful Horai, goddesses of the heavenly chorus  come to Hera’s grove with your pitchers and oils  Let us cleanse the great queen of the seasons past  and cover her in the softest silks  until, shining anew, she emerges in all her glory

It is assumed this purification ritual is to prepare Hera for her marriage to Zeus. In modern day it is believed the spring is the one that runs through a nunnery, Agia Moni.

Please note: a name for this ritual is not currently known. I chose Kanathia among other suggestions for this ritual as a nod to its namesake, the Kanathos spring. This is a festival specific to the Argolid. Pausanias 2.38.2-3