#rusticgods

[hellenismosonline]

Olympian Deities: Dionysus

Realm: God of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness, wild frenzy, viticulture, hallucination, fruit, the mysteries of birth, life, death, and resurrection, untamed wilderness, and intoxication

Parents: Zeus and Semele (Mortal)

Offspring:

By Aphrodite: Priapos, Iakkhos

By Nikaia: Telete

By Hera: the Charities

By Unknown: Methe, Thysa, Pasithea, Hymenaios, Sabazios

Symbols: Thyrsos (Pinecone-tipped staff), drinking cup, a crown of ivy, satyrs, mainades, fruiting grapevines, panthers

Colors: purple, green, gold

Offerings: Honey, milk, wine, water, live plants, small trees, ivy

Sacred Animals: Panther/leopard, tiger, bull, serpent, griffons, mules, donkeys, goats, lions

Element: All, in different aspects

Metal/Stones: Gold, amethyst

Number: 7

Planet: None?

Time: Dionysia, Lenea, Anthesteria, Great Dionysia, Theodosia

Tarot Cards: The Fool, Judgement, Knight of Cups

Altar Ideas: Purple, depictions of him, wine, fake fur, grapes, apple seeds, wildflowers, cat toys, anything associated with cats, any art that you create, masks, amethysts, wreaths of ivy, theater tickets, bindweed, snake skin, curved daggers, percussion instruments

Epithets

Acrato'phorus: giver of unmixed wine

Acroeites: a surname that Dionysus was worshipped under in Sicyon

Adoneus: the ruler

Aego'bolus: the goat-killer

Aesymne'tes: the lord, the ruler

Agri'onius: a surname that Dionysus was worshipped under in Orchomenus

Antheus/Antheus: the blooming

Bacchus: the Latin translation of his name

Ba'ssareus: a long robe; precursor of vintage

Brisaeus: derived from the nymph Brisa, who raised the God

Bro'mius: he who was born during a storm of thunder and lightning

Calydo'nius: a surname of Dionysus in Calydon and Patrae

Cre'sius: a surname of Dionysus at Argos, whose temple was said to house the remains of Ariadne

Dendri'tes: the God of the tree, the giver of foliage

Eleuthereus: deliverer from care and sorrow; of liberation, of freedom

Enorches: the dancer

Enya'lius: the warlike

Eubu'leus: God of good counsel

Hyes: the moist or fertilizing God

Intonsus: unshorn, eternally youthful

Isodaetes: the God who distributes his gifts equally to all

Lampter: the shining, the torch bearer

Lenaeus: the wine-press, the vintage

Limne'genes/Limnaea/Limne'tes: inhabiting or born in a lake or marsh

Lyaeus: God who frees men from carre and anxiety

Ly'sius: the deliverer; of release; releasing

Meili'chius: the God that can be propitiated, the gracious

Melanaegis: armed or clad with a black aegis

Melpo'menus: the singer, the minstrel, of the tragedy play

Methymnaeus: derived from Methymna, rich in vines; derived from methe, sweet wine

Nysaeus/Ny'sius/Nysi'gena: derived from Nysa, the mountain which he was said to have been brought up by nymphs; derived from Nisus, who is said to be his father or his educator in some myths

Oma'dius: the flesh-eater, derived from the tradition of human sacrifice in his honor at Chios and Tenedos

Phleon: the giver of plenty, luxurient foliage

Psilas: the giver of wings; the unbearded; uplifted on wings

Soter: the savior

Tauroce'phalus: he who has a fertilizing effect upon countries

Taurus: the bull

Thyo'neus: the inspiring

Zagreus: shape-shifting God

Nyctelius: of the night

Hestius: of the feast

Colotes: spotted gecko

Auxites: giver of increase

Androgynus: Androgynous sexually

Staphylites: of the grape

Omphacites: of the unripe grape

Theoenus: the God of wine

Agathus Daemon: the good spirit

Protrygaeus: first of the vintage

Oenops: wine-dark

Acratophorus: giver of mixed wine

Cisseus: of the ivy

Cittophorus: ivy-bearer

Anthion: of the flowers

Cistophorus: basket-bearer

Erebinthinus: of the chickpea

Dimetor: twice-born

Iraphiotes: goat-kid, insewn

Melanaegis: of the black goat-skin, dark aegis

Patroeus: paternal, ancestral God

Aesymnetes: dictator

Polites: citizen

Agyieus: protector of the streets

Mystes: of the mysteries

Chthonius: of the earth, cthonic

[hellenismosonline]

Olympian Deities: Hephaestus

This is a brief overview of Hephaestus

Realm: God of fire, smiths, craftsmen, metalworking, stonemasonry, and sculpture

Parents: Hera (no father)

Offspring:

By Kabeiro: The Kabeiroi, The Kabeirides, Kadmilos

By Aglaia: Eukleia, Euthenia, Eupheme, Philophrosyne

By Aitna: The Palikoi

By Uknown: Thaleia

Symbols: Hammer, tongs, crescent-moon axe, cane

Colors: Red, black, bronze, grey

Offerings: Greek and Italian wine, pure water, coffee, olive oil, metals, frankincense, learn new things, support local artists, things you've built, do self-care in his honor, dedicate calming activities to him

Sacred Animals: Crabs, snakes, donkeys, guard dogs, cranes

Sacred Plants: Fennel

Element: Fire

Metal/Stones: Bronze, steel, clay,

Number: 9

Planet: The Sun in antiquity? In modern astrology, Hephaistos 2212 (a minor planet)

Time: Chalceia

Tarot Cards: The Devil, Strength

Altar Ideas: Smith's tools, snake imagery, mermaid imagery, seashells, imagery of donkeys, woodwork, pottery, nails, screws, jewelry, anything associated with Achilles, things you've built, fruits of self-care, fire, anything fire-related

Epithets:

Clytus: Renowned, famed, glorious

Periclytus: Very famous, glorious

Agaclytus: Very famous, glorious

Clytometis: Famed for skill, crafts

Clytotechnes: Famed worker, for crafts

Polytechnes: Of many crafts

Polyphron: Ingenious, inventive

Polymetis: Resourceful, of many crafts

Aethalois Theus: Sooty God

Chalceus: Bronze-, Copper-smith

Cyllopodium: Crooked-foot, dragging feet

Amphigyeis: Lame one, halting in both feet

[hellenismosonline]

Olympian Deities: The Muses

Also known as the Mousai, or Musae

They are the nine goddesses of music, songs and dance, inspiration to poets, and knowledge. They were later assigned specific artistic spheres:

Calliope: Muse of epic poetry, music, song, dance, and eloquence. She is the eldest of the nine muses, able to gift statesmen and royalty with eloquence, and is symbolized with a wax tablet or a scroll.

Clio: Muse of history. She is the one who writes history, and her name comes from the Greek verb Kleo, "to make famous". She is symbolized with a scroll or a chest of books.

Euterpe: Muse of lyric song. She is the one responsible for lyrical song. Her name means "giver of many delights" or "rejoicing well". She is symbolized with a double flute.

Melpomene: Muse of tragedy. Originally, she was the muse of chorus, but she becomes the muse of tragedy. Her name means to celebrate with song and dance. It is uncertain as to why her significance changed. She is symbolized with a tragic mask or an ivy wreath.

Terpsichore: Muse of dancing. Her name means "delight in dancing" but she is often depicted sitting down, playing a lyre, which is heavily associated with Apollo. She is symbolized with a lyre.

Erato: Muse of erotic poetry and mimery. Her name means "lovely" or "desireable". She is symbolized with a small lyre.

Polyhymnia: Muse of sacred song. Beause she is the muse of songs which are sacred, she is depicted veiled and pensive. She was the mother of Triptolemus by Cheimarrhus. Triptolemus was a priest of Demeter, often described as the inventor of farming.

Urania: Muse of astronomy. Almost all of her depictions involve her looking up towards the sky wearing a cloak covered in stars. She is symbolized with a celestial globe and compass.

Thalia: Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry. Her name means "flourishing" or "joyous" and she is often depicted seated in humorous poses. She is symbolized by a comic mask, ivy wreath, and shepherd's staff.