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@wingedalexander-wolf
I LOVE ZEUS! HAIL ZEUS PANTOKRATOR!
"Even the unloved is loved by you."
— Cleanthes' Hymn to Zeus
— to you, o king of power & might, to you, o lord father zeus, do i sing. i give worship to the strength of you, the power that rings and echoes within my very bones. o lord of the heavens, lord of the earth, lord of all that dwells within, to you i sing. illuminate the dark where my feet tread, your strike of lightning to chase away the foes before me. out of chaos, o mighty king, lead me forward. guide me in righteous ways, bring holiness to my words, & lend me your strength. o blessed king! ruler of all the gods!— king of glory & brightness! it is to you that i sing —
"Hermes Psychopompos"; the guide of souls to the Underworld.
Process, speedpaint, hi-res vers., etc. on my Patreon.
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I also make pins! This month's pin (Feb) has 1 week left to get, so don't miss out.
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THIS IS STUNNING WOAH😍
Inktober challenge 2018
Day 19 : Psyche
Day 20 : Medea
Day 21 : Hebe
Hebe
1806
Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844)
Plaster
Thorvaldsens Museum
** Visit my Links page for my other blogs & Facebook Pages
Hercules and Hebe
1829–1840
Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844)
Possibly executed by Johann Scholl after Thorvaldsen’s relief
Marble
Thorvaldsens Museum
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☽☾ Ganymeda - Gladdening Princess ☽☾
Heyy everyone !! Here's a little drawing I made in honor of Lady Hebe <3 I'm sorry that it's on the more simple side ( I couldn't really figure out what to do for the background and kind of panicked a bit ) , but I still hope you enjoy it anyway!!
Here are some things I'd like to mention about the way I depict her :
I believe her to resemble her father more in appearance, but having her mother's " cow-like " eyes , so I tried to make them look big with thick lashes. The little horns are something every child of King Zeus & Queen Hera ( excluding Lord Ares & probably Lord Hephaistos too ? ) shares . I gave her a belt with a Herakles's Knot on it , a symbol of love & marriage which would be ceremonially untied by the groom . Her pitcher features an excerpt from an ancient vase depicting gods of Olympos attending a wedding ( though I found out my colorful rendering really clashes with ancient vases so you can't really see it anymore :') ) . I gave her attire the drooped shoulder since a lot of classical paintings of Lady Hebe ( or her Roman equivalent Lady Juventas) feature it as well , and I think it's fitting for a goddess of youth. The bluish , transparent fabric under the sleeves is kind of supposed to look like water. The chains around her arms may look a little strange at first, but freed prisoners would dedicate their broken chains to her in one of her sanctuaries, and I think it nicely undermines her role as a goddess of forgiveness and mercy as well <33
( divider made by @ / firefly-graphics ) <3
greek mythology: goddesses & personifications
Tiny Ares holding an even tinier Hebe
Sketch commission of Apollo playing the lyre for little Hebe. ✨
As it happens that today I feel overwhelmed with love and appreciation for Hermes, I would love to tell you a wonderful story (warnings: mentions of flying on a plane, panic attacks)
See, up until last summer, I loved traveling by planes: it exited me, no matter how long it took to get to the destination.
However, last July, while the plane was landing I got an extreme pain all over my neck and head, something akin to a lightning bolt being struck directly through my head (aka feeling pain in every single blood vessel surrounding my brain) due to the change in the air-pressure. Thankfully it was not anything serious.
But, needless to say, from that moment I was EXTREMELY afraid of flying again, borderline panic attack at a mere thought. But, February this year I had to board a plane again for an 8-hour flight.
Everything was fine until I found myself buckled up and the plane taking off. The panic started: I was sitting there chocking on my tears with my eyes closed.
And thats when I had an image of Hermes pop in my head: a clear sight amidst cloudy and storming thoughts.
Sitting across me, holding my hands in his, he looked as serious as ever and calmly asked me just one question: “Do you trust me”?
And I did.
The flight was a bumpy one - lots of turbulent fields, crew calling for a doctor on the board, all the shenanigans. Yet, I kept repeating “I trust Hermes to keep me safe” like a mantra. And he did.
We have landed smoothly and I have conquered my fear. And the trip ended up being one of the best trips I have ever experienced, too.
The moral of the story? Sometimes even if you feel suffocated and cannot trust yourself, trust in your Deities. They love you. Unconditionally.
Favorite/Lesser known or lesser focused on Hermes epithets, both historical and upg. There are a lot of epithets that are easily applicable to Hermes and his roles/associations/domains for his endless reach. If it's one that I've given him as there is nothing there for that part of him it will have an asterisk (*) by it. Also, if you're expecting anything alphabetical you will be sorely disappointed.
Hermes Psithyristes - Whispering or The Whisperer. It highlights Hermes as the god who whispers his advice to the ear of those who ask him. It doesn't take much to look at this epithet and connect it to his oracle connected to Hermes Agoraios. Those that look to learn the knowledge of the future will tell him personally and hear his answer through the people that resonates with the one asking.
*Hermes Xenios - Of the Stranger/Guest or Of Hospitality. It goes without saying considering he is a god of the home, one that protects it (and any in the home) by every entrance as well as the god of travelers and friend of man.
Hermes Agroter - Of the Field.
Hermes Epikthonios - Dwelling on Earth/Earthly.
*Hermes Nyktelios - Of the Night, Nocturnal. I personally heavily connect him to the night and he has many historical domains in connection to it. Zeus and Maia met in the night and Hermes has lovers meet in the night, delights in it, and travels through it.
Hermes Pyledokos - The Door Watcher. Important to the divine pairing of Hestia and Hermes especially prominent as two gods of the home. Hestia dwelled inside, found at the very heart and in every room while Hermes was the one protecting every entrance to keep out what isn't wanted.
Atlantiades - In relation to his mother as a daughter of Atlas, signifying his status as the Titan's grandson.
Hermes Epiklopios/Klepsiphronos - The Stealthy-minded.
*Hermes Troglodýtis - One who crawls in holes or caves, such as a snake or fox, Cave Dweller/Dwelling, plus it also relates to wrens under the genus name. Contextually this is highly specific to his domain over mountains and caves and animals like snakes and those in the Canidae family, as well as my upg connection to Hermes and wrens (and birds in general).
Hermes Pantokrátōr - Ruler of the World/Ruler of All or All-powerful. It might have only been used once or twice as far as documentation goes but it's definitely earned a spot here. It's more on a personal basis for the worshipper and holds importance to me.
Hermes Koryphaîos - Leader of the Chorus. In relation to his position with the many Nymphai (Nymphs), he was the deity most associated with them and stood between man and the Nymphai for their worship.
*Hermes Aîtos - Something given: allotment, share. Easily applicable to his position in regard to life and death as well as luck. I also connect it to his relation to the Moirai as someone that works with them in a similar manner to Tykhe. Could be ambiguous as to whether it is positive or negative (or somewhere in between).
*Hermes Oîtos - Fate, Doom. In a similar vein to Hermes Aîtos but no longer ambiguous as it has a more negative meaning to it. More specifically in relation to Hermes Psykhopompos and Hermes Khthonios who works with the Moirai, Thanatos, and Kharon. The epithet in relation to death and the afterlife, one part of the cog that keeps the world in order that waits for us all at the end of our thread of life weaved by the Fates.
Hermes Areiās - Warlike, Curser, or Defender/Protector, possibly He who succors Ares. Outside of Mycenaean times could easily apply in relation to Hermes Kriophoros and Hermes Keryx (a mix of the two), as well as his domain over diplomacy and heralds that all play a part in war.
Hermes Dendrites - Of the Trees.
Hermes Kedrites - Of the Cedar Trees. The source of this epithet comes from Syme (Crete) where he is a god of vegetation and initiation into adulthood with Aphrodite.
Hermes Dromios - Of the Stadium.
*Hermes Klazo - To make a sharp piercing sound.
Hermes Syskopos - Sharp Sighted.
*Hermes Kosmâs (Hermes Kósmos also works) - Derived from kosméô (κοσμέω) kósmos (κόσμος), meaning order, lawful, government, ornament, decoration, honor, credit, world, universe, earth. It's an epithet that I hold close to me and hold with great importance for my special interest and adoration of space and everything in it. As Hermes is a god of astronomy, astrology, and constellations (making them in conjunction with Hera as well as teaching others about them), as well as his relation with his blue supergiant star immediate family and another epithet of mine Star-Born. The god that is both really ancient (as far as historical records and appearance(middle-aged)) and super young with so much life and energy with many eras to live through. A god of galaxies, their death, and birth in a cycle that is wide-reaching and covers the infinite and sometimes just a figurative coverage of how much he does. From the universe(s) back is his reach and everything he has hands in, as well as everything yet to connect to him for the past and future.
Hermes Deilakrion - Poor fellow. God of the greedy, lions, the devourer, the starving, the hungry, one that can't be contained or restrained. The one god I personally associate with driving those looking to learn no matter what to feel insatiable in the hunt for it. Also akin to a bringer of knowledge for the forbidden, what might drive one mad but make one enlightened.
Hermes Oneiropompos - Bringer of Dreams. For all the people that struggle to sleep and to remember dreams (like me), he ensures it. I have never slept so soundly and dreamed so vividly as I have with him.
*Hermes Episteme - Knowledge, Understanding (Science basically). He is the drive that spurns others on for the sake of creation, to find out the intricacies of life and what's good and bad. The god that fucks around and finds out regardless of the outcome with good intentions to know what to continue and stay away from.
Potnios Theron - Master of Animals.
*Hermes Tríbō - To Rub, Friction. A double meaning both as the creator of fire without reliance on nature that can be done by anyone with the right tools/knowledge. It also relates to Hermes' domain and part to play with marriage, the consummation, and unity during the first night. In the company of Aphrodite, Hermes makes this pass and for the modern day can easily represent a passionate night between two people that love each other.
*Hermes Astronómos - Pertaining to his domain over astrology and astronomy (especially as the one that teaches it), but especially with space and the stars as a whole. If it exists out there beyond the blue sky we are familiar with it's deeply connected to him.
*Mercurius Arieto/Arietare - To strike violently like a ram, batter, or to disturb, harass, or disquiet. A hundred percent a UPG/SPG epithet but one that stands out, especially with the person he becomes under the name of Mercurius/Mercury. A god more tightly wound with an intensity barely restrained behind an air of calm and indifference. It appropriately covers the change to fit the new culture and people that worshipped him under this name, a wolf-like god with sharp teeth and horns to show his wild nature.
Hermes Katokhos - To bind or restrain.
Hermes Kranaios - Of the Fountain? Of Springs.
*Hermes Keleasma - A shout implying authority and urgency. The idea is of a loud, authoritative cry, often uttered in the thick of great excitement. He is the deity whose voice is louder than anyone else's by a wide berth. Stentor(ians) will quiver before him as he has no match.
Hermes Kandaules - The Dog-Throttler or Throttler of the Beast. A Lydian god, an epithet denoting religious syncretism. Akin to an extension of Potnios Theron especially as one that tames animals especially predators and monsters like the Khimaira.
*Hermes Bromos/Bromios - For any sudden, loud noise, the crackling fire, and the roaring of the storm (the tearing or whistling wind).
*Hermes Anemos - To breathe, blow, wind, a violent agitation and stream of air.
*Hermes Philósophos - Loving wisdom, lover of knowledge/wisdom, educated, learned person, professor, philosopher, scientific, philosophic.
Hermes Kataibatês - Descending, in relation to Hermes being a conductor of souls and in his function as an underworld deity.
Sources:
Hermes a-re-ja: a new interpretation by José Marcos Macedo
Theoi.com
Hermes Epithets
"Candaules, whom the Greeks name Myrsilus … " by J. A. S. Evans
Miller, John F., and Jenny Strauss Clay (eds), Tracking Hermes, Pursuing Mercury (Oxford, 2019; online edn, Oxford Academic, 21 Mar. 2019), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198777342.001.0001
Bolling, George Melville. “Kandaules.” Language, vol. 3, no. 1, 1927, pp. 15–18. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/409642.
Lebessi, Angeliki. “Hermes as Master of Lions at the Syme Sanctuary, Crete.” British School at Athens Studies, vol. 18, 2010, pp. 195–202. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23276776
Chittenden, Jacqueline. “The Master of Animals.” Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, vol. 16, no. 2, 1947, pp. 89–114. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/146954
Keleasma Definition
Hermes is near/Hermes se achega
Hermes of the roads, best company You walk amongst mortals in laughter Jesting in ways thine beyond our mind Guiding us forth with inspiring words of silver
Sly-tongued, friend of all, I praise thee! For it is by blessing thine one can find Smart ways to bypass oppression or tyranny And survive in clever bliss along thy majesty
For in every path I take Hermes comes along Be it in a stranger or in luck bright found among The unusual sights of coincidence that Bring me closer to Hermes of golden brilliance.
portuguese:
Hermes dos caminhos, das companhias a melhor Tu andas entre os mortais com riso à mostra Zombando em maneiras além da nossa mente Guiando-nos em inspiração com palavras de prata Astuta língua, amigo de todos, louvo-te! Pois por benção tua é que alguém encontra A esperteza de driblar opressão ou tirania E sobreviver espertamente ladeado a ti no dia a dia Pois em todo caminho que tomo, Hermes se mostra Seja em um estranho ou na reluzente sorte achada Nas incomuns veredas da coincidência que Me trazem para perto de Hermes e sua graça dourada.
Hermes is the exhausted traveler who spent almost a full twenty four hours traveling from one place to the next. He drags his feet along the floor as he lugs his overstuffed suitcase of souvenirs behind him then immediately perks up when he sees the time and rushes to make his next flight.
Hermes is the excited tourist who struggled to save thousands of dollars for the chance to visit another country that they've admired for so long. He zips around from place to place, stopping to take photos of the gorgeous sights he may never see again, and he dives in head first at any opportunity to participate in or witness cultural traditions.
Hermes is the newly-wed groom who enthusiastically jumped on his flight with his spouse for his first honeymoon. He tenderly holds hands with his lover, resting their heads on one another, as they both stare, wide-eyed, at a strikingly clear sky populated with glistening stars and makes a wish as he mistakes a satellite for a comet.
Hermes is the single father who desperately needed a vacation but couldn't find a babysitter in time. He smiles contently as he lounges on a beach chair, soaking up the sun, and watches his two girls pretending to be sea monsters in the ocean's waters a few feet away.
Hermes is the college frat boy who travelled to the beach a couple cities away for his spring break vacation. He chugs down another glass of beer and belts out karaoke with his best friend to the song I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston at 3am, likely annoying their neighbors in the hotel room next door.
Hermes is the fragile old man who finally got the chance to return to his home country after years of having no choice but to live abroad. He smiles nostalgically at the small town he grew up in, sipping at a cup of coffee as he sits in an old café he used to visit often, admiring the scenery and feeling torn about how much things have changed in his absence.
Hermes is the anxious student who managed to get an opportunity studying abroad with their school. He nervously examines the map of the metro lines and stations, attempting to catch a metro back to his temporary housing after a full day of wandering the city and being too afraid to ask a stranger for directions.
Hermes is the young boy who took his first plane ride alone to visit his dad after the separation. He shyly converses with the nice lady seated next to him on the plane, sharing very little information but enjoying the company regardless.
Hermes takes the form of all travellers. His spirit journeys with us as we travel by plane, car, bus, or train. He waits in line for the metro ticket by our sides, he rocks out to our favorite songs with us in our cars, he squeezes our hands during the turbulence on the plane, he stares out the bus window with us as we listen to headphones.
Hermes is the spirit of The Traveller, and on every trip we take, every journey we embark on, every first step on the road of life, he wishes us safe travels.
Hi I realise that this probably isn’t the kind of ask that you usually get but I’ve been wanting to get into Hellenic polytheism for a little while now but have no idea where to start. Are there certain books or texts I should read? Are there values or rules I should know to follow? do I need to be of a specific nationality or worship specific gods within the religion? How do I pray and make altars? Are there specific clothing garments that should be worn?
again I’m sorry for the bombardment of questions but I have been scouring the internet looking for how best to go about this and have found nothing so I thought it would just be best to ask someone.
thank you in advance if you do end up answering this but if you don’t that’s understandable and thank you anyway :)
Hi there! It's alright. I'm open to all sorts of asks and happy to help!
Before we get into it, I'll be talking about some things that might be quite traditional, things I use as someone who relies on historical accuracy in my practice to a certain degree. You don't need to strictly do everything like the ancients did. If you'd like to reconstruct in your practice that's awesome. I know from my own experience that it can be difficult at first, so don't be too hard on yourself if you can't do something. It takes time, patience and a lot of learning.
Texts
IMO the basics are The Iliad, The Odyssey, Theogony, Homeric Hymns and such.
Theoi.com is a fantastic resource for myths, cults, and historical information on the gods. The website has a library where you can find plenty of classical texts.
Here's my post on how mythology applies to religion. I'd like to edit it soon and add a couple things but maybe you'll find it helpful.
These also might be helpful:
Perseus Digital Library
Sacred Texts - classics
What to avoid:
Hellenic Online Groups/Forums to Avoid
Authors to Watch Out For in Hellenismos
Rules
You don't need to be of a specific nationality, ethnicity or come from a specific background. It's an open religion, meaning everyone's welcome regardless of where they come from!
There is no one specific strict set of rules one needs to follow in order to be a Hellenic Polytheist. There are certain customs, for example when it comes to worship and of course, remember to learn and respect the culture and the tradition.
If we observe the history, there are things that might seem like some form of rules but it didn't just regard the religion. It was also about functioning in the ancient society and religion played an important role in said society. Not all of these rules may be applicable nowadays, though and they could vary in different regions.
Some of them include:
Don't violate Xenia
Stay true to your oaths
Don't allow Agos
Don't abuse supplicants
Stand against murder
Bury the dead
Try to approach the gods while washed
Obey sacred laws (they varied depending on the sanctuary)
Respect Pythia
Do not steal from temples
Now, in the modern-day reconstruction of the Ancient Greek religion, these are the so-called Pillars of Hellenismos:
Ethike Arête - the practice of habitual excellence
Eusebia - reverence, loyalty, and sense of duty toward the Gods
Hagneia - the maintaining of ritual purity by avoiding miasma
Nomos Arkhaios - observance of ancient tradition, (religious) law, and customs
Sophia - the pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and truth
Sophrosune - the control of self through deep contemplation
Xenia - adherence to hospitality and the guest-host relationship
It's more of a modern thing created for the purpose of reconstruction and has its origins in philosophy. They're pretty much the ideals the ancients admired and strived for, which can be mirrored in one's practice. I think they can be quite helpful. Not everyone follows the same pillars, however. They may vary depending on the practitioner.
Prayer & altar space
Your altar can be as extra or as simple as you want. Essentially, it's a space you dedicate to the gods. The altar doesn't need to be super big or too fancy. It's up to you. You can have one altar for multiple gods or a general home altar. It's quite practical. You can also have separate altars to the deities of your choice but that's not a requirement. For example, I have a general altar for Theoi where I normally pray and make offerings and separate altars for my patrons.
Some "basic" elements an altar could include are:
Candles
Something to burn the incense
A place for the offerings, e.g. a plate/bowl
A depiction of the deity, e.g. a statue, drawing, image
Something that reminds you of the, e.g. their symbols
You don't need to spend a fortune. Handmade things are always a good way to honour the gods.
If you need to practice in secret you could make a "hidden" altar. I mentioned it here: LINK
When it comes to prayer, traditionally there are some customs depending on the deity:
When praying to Ouranic [heavenly] Gods, one should stand with hands outstretched in the air and palms facing upward
When praying to Chthonic [underworld] Gods, hands mustn’t be raised, and the prayer should be murmured
When praying to Einalic [sea] Gods, Nymphs and spirits of the earth, arms must be spread wide towards the sea; the hands are also be facing the cult image
You can pray out loud or silently, though. I often do it "in my head" whenever I can't do it out loud.
One more important thing. I won't ramble about it here but here's a great post about purification and miasma: LINK
Getting dressed
It's not required to wear a certain type of clothing however, if you're down for something like that veiling could be an option. Its purpose was to exhibit modesty. It was a common practice among women but it was not exclusive to them, men did veil as well.
It's a good way to honour Hestia, for example as she's known to wear a veil herself.
Here's an amazing post about it listing different styles: LINK
The most well know form of veiling involved using Himation, a rectangular cloak or shawl wrapped around the body and thrown over the left shoulder, like on the picture above but a more simple way to veil could even be wearing a beanie.
Or... you could always do it Achilles' way lmao! ↑ Whatever floats your boat!
Additional links
Here are some posts that might be useful:
Hellenic Polytheism Masterpost
Hellenic Polytheism 101
Cheat sheets for Hellenic deities
Offerings (traditionally)
Misinfo about Hellenismos
Hubris