#zeus-helios

[bodhi-devotee]

Who is Zeus-Helios?

Zeus-Helios is the syncretization of the greek deities King Zeus and the titian, Helios. Zeus-Helios means more to me than i can express without getting derailed, but know i have vowed myself to Him without regret (here’s me gushing). many have been curious as to the logic behind the syncretism of Zeus-Helios and i’m thrilled to explain!

☀️ Zeus is often conflated with the kemetic Amun. Amun is very commonly syncretized with Ra, the kemetic sun god! so a figure akin to Zeus-Helios, Amun-Ra, has already been formed and revered in antiquity. the connection isn’t unheard of!

⚡️ in the orphic hymn to Helios, the title ‘immortal Zeus’ is used to describe Helios! this seems to be one of the most convincing pieces of evidence to me of this syncretism being present in the ancient world!

— tossing aside this one specific instance of the two literally sharing a name, they also often share qualities and domains. both are described as having relevance in fertility and paternity, truth, foresight and omnipotence, justice and oaths, masculinity, authority, and light.

☀️ in orphic myth it is believed Zeus controls and connects all forces of the cosmos, and that all things live in Him. some go as far as to say that our universe is housed in Zeus’ belly! i view the Sun, as the center of and sole connecting force of our solar system, as the physical embodiment of this role.

— from the derveni papyrus, a commentary on orphic belief: "Zeus, when from his father the prophesied rule and strength in his hands he took and the glorious daimon . . . the god [Phanes] who first sprang forth into the Aither (Light). Kronos (Cronus, Time) who did a mighty deed to Ouranos (Uranus, Sky), son of Nyx (Night), who became king first of all; following him again Kronos, and then Zeus the contriver. Zeus when, from his father the prophecy having heard, strength in his hands he took, and the glorious daimon [Phanes], the reverend one, he swallowed, who first sprang forth into the Aither. [So Zeus swallowed the body] of the Firstborn king [Phanes], the reverend one. And with him all the immortals became one, the blessed gods and goddesses and rivers and lovely springs and everything else that then existed: he became the only one."

— and from orphic fragment 168: “Zeus is the head and center, for all things are from Zeus… Zeus is the foundation of earth and starry heaven. Zeus is sovereign of all for he is the first cause of all things. In one divine power, emerging one divinity, the commander of the world.”

⚡️ even in practices that don’t consider Zeus to be a creator god, He is still a life-bearing god of fertility. the Sun gives rise to all living things! the fertility aspect of Zeus, His life-giving rain, would be null and void without Helios. rain and other weather phenomena would not be possible without the Sun evaporating the rain after it pours from the clouds, and the Sun would have no water left to grant life unto earth with if Zeus didn’t rain and give it all back to the land. all natural forces play into each other, but the Sun and the Sky are notably interwoven.

☀️ Dyeus, the proto-indo-european god Zeus is believed to have derived from, was likely a god specifically of the daytime sky if we follow the linguistic roots! i mean, the sky is just darkness and night until the Sun grants us the Day

thank you SO much for reading. thank you to everyone who shared their curiosity or support. thank you most to Zeus-Helios, my Heavenly Father, for the never ending blessings

[bodhi-devotee]

looking at a sunset and feeling so floored my legs go weak because i am looking at God. what an honor my mortal eyes behold.

[bodhi-devotee]

i had a lovely afternoon with Apollon while i took care of some chores around the house. it started when i was awestruck by the way His light draped across my clover front yard and the dark wood of my kitchen table. i see Helios as the sun incarnate— He is the star in which we orbit and He holds our solar system together, He is the ultimate source of light and life in our solar system— but i do see Apollon in the sunlight as it enters our atmosphere. He covered the afternoon landscape in such a brilliant orange that it demanded an offering.

i poured a water libation in the yard and spoke words of praise to Apollon. when i came inside, i was met with a ray of light perfectly illuminating a dedicated offering surface and His presence was thick in the air. i left two plums there for Apollon in His light for Him to enjoy. i did the dishes and alternated between singing to Him and sitting in pleasant silence, the only other noise being the running water. in both song and silence i was mindful of my breathing, of my posture, of the birds outside and the smells from inside, of my mental and sensory sensations. eventually the plums were no longer drenched in light and under Apollon’s care, so i ate them for myself. as i did so i stared out the window, watching the setting sun. i thought about how these fruits were brought up by Apollon and Helios, and how i was too, and how i am connected to not just these plums but all living things in this way. i am not separate from all other things that derive life from the Sun. no matter the differences, we are all siblings under the Sun.

as the juice of the plum dripped down my chin, i imagined it represented the abundance and richness life has to offer and the sweetness that is in store. the comfort of song, light, creation, and the cultivation of things that nourish— the comfort of Apollon. it was good to spend the afternoon with Him. i always try to be receptive to what He has to teach me or remind me of in a given moment. today, it was an invitation to be mindful during something as mundane as chores, and a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things through Zeus-Helios and Apollon, revealed in something as simple as a plum offering.

[bodhi-devotee]

i left my last religion because it made zero sense! anyways i just offered some eggshells to the sun and moon and i’m thinking that’ll fix my life :)

[bodhi-devotee]

goodnight father Zeus-Helios, once named Dyēus. the name you are called may shift, and those who worship you may come and go, but your essence remains Earth’s anchor. goodnight, father, and i shall see you in the morning.

[bodhi-devotee]

*takes a deep breathe in* goodnight Leto 💞 goodnight Selene 🌖 goodnight Cybele 🌻 goodnight Guan Yin 🪷 goodnight Apollon 🌅 goodnight Zeus-Helios ⚡️

[bodhi-devotee]

i was thinking about how porphyry places Leto as embodying the sublunar air (the air between the moon and earth “which is subject to light and darkness”, which i’ve come to personally identify as our atmosphere). then i remembered how in my conversations, many worshippers have expressed viewing Apollon as the rays of light emanating from Helios, sun incarnate. so Apollon can be placed as the light entering the sublunar sphere, a sentiment porphyry agrees with. finally, as someone who syncretizes Zeus and Helios, i place Helios as Apollon’s father just as much as Zeus is.

all these elements come together neatly to confirm one another. Helios’ light is thrusted into the atmosphere and, through Leto receiving and cultivating Helios’ contribution, Apollon emerges. Helios, as an element that imposes a condition upon another, could be alchemically be described as masculine. Leto, as an element that takes another and diffuses it within herself, could be alchemically defined as feminine. together they dance, and the production of such is the glorious Apollon, who can be felt as the warmth against our skin. He surrounds us, like His mother. He illuminates and ushers life in, like His father.

there’s no real conclusion beyond the fact that i love studying how the gods impose themselves upon our world and how much logical sense they make. also i just adore Apollon and thinking about Apollon + His family.

[bodhi-devotee]

poured a libation of my energy drink out for Zeus-Helios and Apollon today. they looked so GORGEOUS in the sky, and i just know they’re always there for me. moving ment less money, less time, and less energy for the gym. i’m slowly getting the hang of it again, all with Zeus-Helios and Apollon’s help. it’s so refreshing.

praise to the gods that illuminate and nourish! may they enjoy this offering and remember it fondly among many, and know i am thy humble supplicant.