localize-the-gods

[localize-the-gods]

prev. known as greco-roman-polytheism

follows from @adam-magical

about me :: 🌿

Hi! My name is Adam, and my pronouns are he/hymn. I've been wanting to localize the Theoi in my reconstruction of Hellenic Polytheism, so here I am.

I am a dual faith practitioner, but you'll really only see the Hellenic Polytheist part of my practice here. For the folk christian/practitioner parts, go to my other blog; @stay-for-coffee.

about my practice :: 🌿

I primarily consider myself a 'devotee' of Zeus, but I also worship and/or have shrines for; Apollon, Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, Eos, Epione, and Hestia.

I aim to localize my practice to where i live, which is somewhere in Alberta, Canada. Doing this, I may mention epithets or associations that may have similarities to historical Hellenic Polytheism but have no mention. Fret not, I will specify when doing so.

some posts i've made + various masterposts :: 🌿

Problematic and Bigoted Pagan Authors

tagging system :: 🌿

I no longer really have a tagging system for this blog, however some common tags used are/will be:

#hellenic polytheism / #helpol

#(name of god here) helpol

#localizing the gods

#localizing (name of god here)

Have a good day/night!

[localize-the-gods]

gonna be sticking to Hellenic Polytheism for this blog (at least for now) (note: still dual faith w/ Christianity + HelPol, just removing the RomPol portion)

thus, renaming it once more!

also, since im going to be focusing on localizing the Theoi, going to have the name reflect that !!

[localize-the-gods]

The "pillars of Hellenic polytheism" shit needs to stop, lol. There are no pillars. They were made up by some guy for his book in 2018, and he translated the words wrong.

[localize-the-gods]

I wonder if Helpols who hate Zeus legitimately think they will have prosperous households

[localize-the-gods]

Megapost: Resources for Hellenic & Roman Polytheism

3 May 2025 Update: I used to keep this post at my tumblr home page because it's long and heavy with links, but tumblr recently eliminated home pages (perhaps in the change to WordPress servers?) so it's now just a regular post. Tumblr currently limits blog posts to 10 links, so none of the links here are going to be "hot", you'll have to copy and paste the URLs.

Unfortunately, a number of books in this list, which were formerly available to read online free at internet.org, are now currently listed as “Borrow Unavailable” as a result of the 2023 judgement in Hachette v. Internet Archive: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachette_v._Internet_Archive

The titles may be available from your local public library or a used books store.

Let me know if you find links that don't work!

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The Basics for Hellenic and Roman Polytheists

Caveat: These resources and opinions (even mine) are offered as a starting point for study and developing your own well-researched opinion and practice. There’s no “one right way” to worship: we’re all at different points of the journey, each of us trying to do our best, helping each other along the way, and loving our deities.

Theoi Greek Mythology (https://www.theoi.com/) is a very good resource for classical mythology, historic cult information, the Homeric Hymns, the Orphic Hymns, the Delphic Maxims and other primary texts, including:

The Orphic Hymns:  http://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html

The Homeric Hymns:  http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html)

The Perseus Digital Library offers a wide range of complete primary and secondary sources for the study of ancient Greece and Rome:  http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/collections

Hercules: Greece’s Greatest Hero http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/index.html

Athanassakis, Apostolos N. The Homeric Hymns. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. https://archive.org/details/homerichymns0000unse_i3p1

Atnanassakis, Apostolos N. The Orphic Hymns. Missoula, Mont. : Published by Scholars Press for the Society of Biblical Literature, 1977. https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196

Books and articles

Apollodorus. The Library of Greek Mythology. Translated by Robin Hard. Oxford: New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.    

Apollodorus. The Library of Greek Mythology. Translated by Robin Hard. Oxford: New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.                          I recommend this particular summary of Greek mythology, compiled in the 1st or 2nd century CE from numerous sources over similar collections by Thomas Bullfinch, Edith Hamilton, and Robert Graves because it’s free of Christian/secular biases and personal ideologies which all too often make understanding the meaning of a myth more difficult.) https://archive.org/details/libraryofgreekmy00apol

Burkert, Walter. Ancient Mystery Cults. Harvard University Press, 1987. (Burkert is one of the foremost authorities on Ancient Greek Religion.) https://archive.org/details/AncientMysteryCultsWalterBurkert1987/page/n2/mode/2up

McDaniel, Spencer. “No, the Romans Did Not Just “Steal” All the Greek Deities.�� Tales of Times Forgotten, 29 September 2019. https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/09/29/no-the-romans-did-not-just-steal-all-the-greek-deities/

Meyer, Marvin.The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 2013.  https://archive.org/details/ancientmysteries0000unse_p7i2

Ritari, K., Stenger, J. and Van Andringa, W. (eds) (2023) Being Pagan, Being Christian in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.33134/AHEAD-4

AND

https://hup.fi/books/35/files/d8fc5e86-927a-40fe-bf89-9fc5f68e7509.pdf (I found this one loaded faster - ymmv).

William Smith. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. John Murray, London, 1875. (Articles on Greek and Roman religion, including divination, festivals, funerals, magic, priestly officers, and rituals.) https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA/Religion/home.html

The Monster Compilation of Free Online Resources for Classical Studies: a compilation of links to free academic sources about archaeology, language, literature, culture, history, magic, philosophy, religion, and more in the ancient Mediterranean world:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/186537661706/the-monster-compilation-of-free-online-resources

Adult Home Study for Hellenic and Roman Polytheists: ideas for self-study to enrich understanding and aid in interpretation of mythology:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/162142268516/adult-home-study-for-hellenic-and-roman

Altars - the basics

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/620197080304123904/hi-do-you-have-any-bookpdf-recommendations-on

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/152645127251/what-is-a-good-place-to-buy-idols-any-great

Worship - the basics:

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/190346773596/ive-got-a-question-i-hope-you-can-answer-how-do

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/185082213331/how-to-make-a-libation-super-simple-picture

Bloodless sacrifice reading list:

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/169120886091/hearthglow-honorthegods-an-offering-of

Divination and Magic Resources:

Popular divination methods in ancient Greece: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/163293305101/popular-divination-methods-in-ancient-greece

Astragalomancy (dice):  https://spiritusarcanum.tumblr.com/post/29278618720/astragalomancy-divination-with-dice

Homeric Oracle: https://aur-ochs.tumblr.com/post/185994910629/the-homeric-oracle-comprehensive-edition

Academic article about the Homeric Oracle: http://www.chs-fellows.org/2014/03/28/using-homer-for-divination-homeromanteia-in-context/

Homeromanteion - the Online Homeric Oracle. Roll 3 dice and ask the oracle, which will provide a passage from Homer in answer to your query: http://www.homeromanteion.com/

Divination and magic reading list: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/170457576371/so-i-know-that-minerva-was-the-roman-equivalent-to

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Hellenic Polytheism Resources

Hellenic polytheism is the modern worship of the deities of the ancient Greek pantheon. Hellenic polytheists may also honor the nymphs and other nature spirits, and personified virtues, and practice some form of ancestor cult, sometimes combined with hero cult.

Hellenic polytheism is also known as Hellenic paganism/neo-paganism, Hellenic Polytheistic Reconstructionism, Hellenismos, Hellenic paganism, Olympianism, and Dodecatheism or Dodekatheism.

It’s occasionally called Hellenistic Polytheism, though it should be noted that the term “Hellenistic” refers specifically to the time period from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BCE.

The term “Hellenism” was used to describe traditional Greco-Roman religion by the Emperor Julian and is still being used by some modern reconstructionist and revivalist groups, especially those in Greece. There has been controversy over this usage of “Hellenism” over the past few years, because the present meaning of the word is "the appreciation of Greek culture".

“Hellene” is a word used to describe Greeks and people of Greek heritage; it is therefor incorrect to use it as a synonym for practitioners of Hellenic polytheism.

The main tag to search for information of interest to beginners at my blog is #Hellenic Polytheism 101.

🏺 Prayer and Worship

Modern prayers to the Theoi:

Hearthstone:  https://greekpagan.com Note: downloads of Hearthstone’s four books of Hellenic prayers may be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ Hearthfire Handworks for $5 US each 

https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/devotional

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/176587866746/ive-never-prayed-before-and-not-entirely-sure-how

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/180306585886/hey-ive-been-trying-to-incorporate-prayer-more

https://www.tumblr.com/honorthegods/684185033509126144/is-there-a-word-in-hellenismos-or-roman-recon-to

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/174545555546/as-someone-whos-just-thinking-about-starting

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/163612768156/what-kinds-of-things-can-i-sacrifice-to-the-gods

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/190346773596/ive-got-a-question-i-hope-you-can-answer-how-do

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/185082213331/how-to-make-a-libation-super-simple-picture

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/160481841661/what-am-i-to-do-with-left-over-food-offerings-that

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/157714542371/the-gods-do-not-need-sacrifices-so-what-should

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/177522616751/any-advice-for-someone-who-is-piled-with-constant

🏺 Festival Calendars and When to Worship

HMEPA Hellenic Month Established Per Athens Version 1.0.: the Athenian calendar, updated to be a calendar for the modern world and a Compiled List of Festivals and Sacrifices in Athens: http://www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa/

http://www.hellenion.org/calendar/ (I don't endorse the organization - I don't endorse any religious groups - but their calendar is useful, though it does have some idiosyncrasies.)

http://www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/hymns/index.php?page=calendar

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/619995966979833856/id-like-to-know-the-routine-of-a-hellenic-pagan

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/189974963276/hello-do-you-have-a-schedule-for-your-worship-or

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/185820921256/what-holidays-do-hellenic-polytheist-people

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/143171897776/how-do-you-know-the-dates-of-festivals

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/174665458836/so-i-understand-that-you-arent-hellenic

🏺 Building A Knowledge Base: Books, Articles and Websites

Hellenic Polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources Updated 23 February 2022:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/612595707697840128/hellenic-polytheism-free-and-reliable

🏺Evaluating the reliability of sources:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/185112455671/hellenic-polytheism-how-to-sources

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/184538461866/how-can-i-know-if-a-book-on-hellenic-polytheism-is

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/184254209886/how-to-determine-if-a-book-on-mythology-is-legit

🏺Resources for epithets of the Theoi: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/184436720456/resources-for-cult-epithets-of-the-greek-gods

🏺About the Eleusinian Mysteries:   https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/150632102731/hey-im-new-to-all-this-what-are-we-supposed-to

🏺About the “Pillars of Hellenisimos”:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/173258771786/pillars-of-hellenismos

🏺 Delphic Maxims: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims

🏺Beliefs about the afterlife:   https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188387856416/did-ancient-greeks-believe-in-reincarnation

🏺Funerary customs:

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/624550327095607296/also-does-anyone-have-any-book-or-article

https://www.tumblr.com/honorthegods/182874725521/theancientgeekoroman-im-sad-reblog-or-comment

🏺Hades and Persephone reading list: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/174794576611/honorthegods-hades-and-persephone-side-a

🏺Chthonic deities reading list:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/179703232746/are-there-any-reasonably-priced-books-or-scholarly

🏺Dionysus reading list: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/183521520461/monsterbychoice-does-anyone-have-good-sources

🏺 Heroes and hero-cult reading list: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/106530516261/heroes-and-hero-cult-in-classical-antiquity-a

🏺Weddings

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/183749333001/how-can-the-gods-be-honored-in-a-wedding-ive

https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/post/151719592260/binding-goddess-of-love-and-happiness-i-call

https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/post/151262049285/hymeneal-i

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Roman Polytheism Resources

Roman polytheism is the modern worship of the ancient Roman pantheon. Roman polytheists may also honor the nymphs and other nature spirits, genii locorum, Lares, Penates, and practice some form of ancestor cult, sometimes combined with hero cult and Imperial cult.

Roman polytheism is also known as Roman Polytheistic Reconstructionism, Roman paganism, Religio Romana, Cultus Deorum, and Cultus Deorum Romanorum.

The main tag to search for information of interest to beginners is #Roman Polytheism 101

📜 Worship and Prayer

Religio Romana Handbook: A Guide for the Modern Practitioner by L. Vitellius Triarius:  https://archive.org/details/ReligioRomanaHandbook   (I don’t like or usually recommend Polytheist 101 handbooks, but this one is pretty good for those anxious to dive into worship.)

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188126659106/i-know-that-it-may-be-a-very-general-question-but

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/160383390436/i-know-this-isnt-greek-but-im-only-just-getting

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/180463260661/lararium-replicas-first-row-wood-lararium-kit-20

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/190932464563/lararia-of-pompeii-by-italian-painter

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188068225581/so-i-have-been-wanting-to-do-more-research-on-the

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/152392762011/modern-lararium-on-the-kalends-ides-and-nones

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/154484437866/book-review-sofroniew-alexandra-household-gods

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/168573120761/book-review-household-and-family-religion-in

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/178978387851/roman-fresco-from-the-lararium-of-the-house-of

📜 Festival Calendars:

Ovid. Fasti, translated by A.S. Kline, 2004. Roman festivals January - June, written in the 1st century CE, https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/Fastihome.php?textLinkTarget=ZmFzdGk=

http://www.epistemeacademy.org/calendars/ Convert today or any date to Roman (kingdom and Republic) or Julian calendar date.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_festivals

http://www.musesrealm.net/rome/festivals.html

http://people.ucls.uchicago.edu/~fspaltr/Roman%20Festivals.pdf

http://www.novaroma.org/calendar/index.html

http://romanpagan.blogspot.com/2014/01/roman-calendar.html

Festival Calendar of Antinous: https://naosantinoou.org/all-festivals-and-observances/

📜 Building A Knowledge Base: Books, Articles and Websites

Roman Polythesim: free (and reliable!) resources! Updated 14 July 2022. https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/612756976981671936/roman-polytheism-free-and-reliable-resources                       t

📜 Resources about augury and divination:

Cicero. De Divinatione. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cicero/de_Divinatione/1*.html

Driediger-Murphy, Lindsay G.  Roman Republican Augury: Freedom and Control. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  https://theeye.unblockit.id/public/Books/Bibliotik/R/Roman%20Republican%20Augury_%20Freedo%20-%20LINDSAY%20G.%20DRIEDIGER-MURPHY.pdf

Linderski, Jerzy. “The Augural Law: ANRW II 16.3. 1986. https://www.academia.edu/18884007/J.Linderski_Watching_the_Birds_Cicero_the_Augur_and_the_Augural_Templa_CP_81_1986_330-40_RQ_1995_485-95_Addenda_668_Addenda_altera_RQ_II_2007_633

Linderski, Jerzy. “Watching the Birds: Cicero the Augur and the Augural Templa.“ https://www.academia.edu/18884007/J.Linderski_Watching_the_Birds_Cicero_the_Augur_and_the_Augural_Templa_CP_81_1986_330-40_RQ_1995_485-95_Addenda_668_Addenda_altera_RQ_II_2007_633

📜 Ancient Roman Virtues:

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/173298432346/the-virtues-of-ancient-rome

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/170662119466/charities-and-philanthropies-in-the-roman-empire

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188260977191/revere-the-gods-watch-over-human-beings-our

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/168825525321/the-honour-that-is-paid-to-the-gods-lies-not-in

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/173304213321/how-can-anyone-who-while-worshiping-zeus-the-god

📜 Beliefs about the Afterlife:

The Ancient Roman Afterlife: Di Manes, Belief, and the Cult of the Dead by Charles W. King https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477320204/the-ancient-roman-afterlife/

I enthusiastically recommend this book! If you'd like to buy it, you should definitely sign up for the University of Texas Press mailing list because they have really good sales throughout the year, like, 30% to 50% off.

https://www.tumblr.com/honorthegods/188109841316/salve-amice-i-was-wondering-if-you-had-any

📜 Resources about the worship of Antinous: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188654586206/the-cult-of-antinous-free-online-resources

📜 Resources about the Mithraic Mysteries:  https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/619125563802746880/free-and-reliable-sources-for-the-mysteries-of

📜 Imperial Cult:

Death and the Emperor: Roman Imperial Funerary Monuments from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius by Penelope J. E. Davies https://utpress.utexas.edu/9780292789562/

This book is amazing! It totally changed my mind about Imperial Cult! If you'd like to buy it, you should definitely sign up for the University of Texas Press mailing list because they have really good sales throughout the year, like, 30% to 50% off.

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/188765426281/this-is-probably-a-dumb-question-but-do-people

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/612228400138092545/hi-i-love-your-blog-and-the-research-you-put-into

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/162349342106/do-you-pray-to-caligula

📜 Weddings

https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/190182930321/hello-ive-always-been-interested-in-classical

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Featured image info: Woman with phiale (libation bowl) at altar.��Terracotta kylix, circa 460 BCE, attributed to the Painter of London. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terracotta_kylix_(drinking_cup)_MET_DP114837.jpg

Image License:  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

[localize-the-gods]

Seriously!! How can they claim to worship the gods while utterly disrespecting their king -- brother, husband, father (depending on the god). I'll never understand it 😔 where is the decency

I wonder if Helpols who hate Zeus legitimately think they will have prosperous households

[localize-the-gods]

Thank you so much!!!

Not to be an embarrassing loser, but how would you accurately pronounce Agathos Daimon? I feel like I'm always saying it wrong.

It's pronounced exactly how it's spelled, but daimon is said like "DIE-mon"

[localize-the-gods]

Not anon but to ask for clarification, it's Ah-gah-those I'm assuming? Thanks

Not to be an embarrassing loser, but how would you accurately pronounce Agathos Daimon? I feel like I'm always saying it wrong.

It's pronounced exactly how it's spelled, but daimon is said like "DIE-mon"

[localize-the-gods]

If you could explain votive offerings that would be cool 👁️ because I can't wrap my head around what they are and what I've tried reading isn't making any sense in my head on what they actually are lol (probably a me issue but ykyk)

It's back to our regularly scheduled programming, y'all. I promise.

I have a post on libations in the works (How do they work? Why did the ancient Greeks libate the gods with water? So on and so forth).

I'm also considering making a post about devotional acts? Mainly because I'm not sure that everyone understands that just because you do something with the gods in mind doesn't make it an offering inherently.

If anyone has certain kinds of offerings they'd like to see be elaborated on, lmk!

[localize-the-gods]

Omg I've been pronouncing it like "thee-oy" this entire time 😩 oh well good to know thank you

In case anyone isn't aware, the word "Theoi" essentially translates to "Gods". It was an ancient Greek term used to refer to, you guessed it, the Greek gods. This means that, in HelPol, we worship the Theoi. c:

Pronounced: Th-ay-ee (ay like the letter "a")

The way that I pronounce it is based on modern Greek, since that's the only Greek I know with any semblance of confidence lol. If you want to pronounce it another way, please feel free to do so! 🧡

[localize-the-gods]

This could certainly be my bias as a reconstructionist Hellenic polytheist showing,—and tell me if it is—but I don't think reconstructionists are uniquely more mean or strict than other polytheists. At least, that is my experience as a "reconstructionist Helpol influencer" of several years.

This isn't to say that some of us don't have an issue with acting holier than thou, but you shouldn't be giving space to those people, anyway. You should be preserving your peace and blocking them. I certainly don't keep the company of anyone silly enough to believe that ancient Greek religion can be practiced today with 100% accuracy, yet people talk about recons as if that is our perogative.

More often than not, recons simply post about reconstructionism and people to whom the information doesn't apply get mad about it.

I will say that just because ancient Greek religion can't be reconstructed with 100% accuracy doesn't mean that Hellenic polytheism can't be practiced wrong. It is entirely possible to misappropriate and misrepresent Hellenic polytheism—take Hekate as the Maiden/Mother/Crone, for example.

Reconstructionists are not uniquely mean for saying that, though.

[localize-the-gods]

Ancient Greek Religion & Hellenic Polytheism: A Reading Guide

I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long while, and talking to my friend @olympianbutch today gave me the push I needed to do so. When I was starting out as a Hellenic Polytheist years ago, this is the kind of resource I needed. So I hope you all enjoy and find this helpful!

Introductory Reading:

Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Athenian Popular Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Greek Religion by Jan N. Bremmer

On Greek Religion by Robert Parker

Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS

Comprehensive Guides:

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

Companion to Greek Religion edited by Daniel Ogden

Understanding Greek Religion by Jennifer Larson

Rethinking Greek Religion by Julia Klindt

The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow and Julia Klindt

Polytheism and Society by Robert Parker

The Gods and Theology:

Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson

Theologies of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow, Julia Klindt, and Robin Osborne

Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion by Ellie Mackin Roberts

Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World (Routledge Series)

Offerings and Sacrifice:

Personal Experience and Materiality in Greek Religion by K.A. Rask

Singing for the Gods by Barbara Kowalzig

Smoke Signals for the Gods by F.S. Maiden

Sharing with the Gods by Theodora Suk Fong Jim

Primary Sources:

Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod

The Homeric Hymns

The Orphic Hymns

Sources for the Study of Greek Religion by David Rice and John Stambaugh

Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. Warrior

Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Emily Kearns

[localize-the-gods]

🏺 : INTRODUCTION

Hello! My name is Adam and my pronouns are he/hymn. I am an adult Re-constructionist Greco-Roman Polytheist, though I am also a dual-faith practitioner; I practice Christianity and magic as well. However, this side blog is strictly for the Greco-Roman Polytheist part of my practice.

I consider myself to be primarily a devotee of Zeus-Jupiter (heavy on the Zeus part as I'm still becoming acquainted with Roman Polytheism). I also worship Apollon, Athena, Hestia, Hermes-Mercury, among others.

How I Got Here.

I started being a Hellenic Polytheist around the summer of 2022 after a short phase of being Wiccan. I remember being interested in worshipping a god/goddess one night, but unsure which, I picked up a book on Greek (or maybe it was general) mythology and I read on Apollo being a protector of young boys. Being 15, I thought, I'm a young boy. Hence I immediately set up a mini shrine. It wasn't much, just a picture I drew and maybe a tealight, but that night changed the trajectory of my life for the best I think.

Fast forward to about February 2024, where I get a sense of wanting to worship Mercury. While confused at first, I realize maybe the reason I haven't felt the same joy when worshipping Hermes than with other gods is likely because, oh, I'm supposed to be a Greco-Roman Polytheist. Not just a Hellenic Polytheist. Or something along those lines. It's been a year from then, and I am finally dipping my toes into the Roman aspect.

And here I am now. I will admit I have not caught up on my reading when it comes to the gods, so I'm sort of 'restarting' in a way.

Tags I Use (For Organization)

#📜: Information

#🏺: Roman Polytheism #🏛️: Hellenic Polytheism #🍇: Greco-Roman Polytheism

#🦅: Zeus #🦚: Hera #🕯️: Hestia #🫒: Athena #🎻: Apollon #🪽: Hermes #💋: Aphrodite #🌅: Eos #🐝: Aristaios #🐍: Agathos daimon

#⚡: Jupiter #💍: Juno #🪙: Mercury #🌹: Venus #🚪: Janus

Extra Notes

I follow from @adam-magical I am a transmasc butch intersex lesbian.

Also, transphobes, racists, etc. have zero place in the Helpol/Rompol community - if you consider yourself one, please stay away from my blog. Thanks <3.

Also, you have to decolonize your practice. ESPECIALLY if you are practising one with a heavy colonial history (like Roman Polytheism)

That's all from me, bye!

TEXT: THIS USER IS A GRECO-ROMAN POLYTHEIST

[localize-the-gods]

We are so back (once again) (im kind of redoing this blog bear with me)

we are so back (actually starting to research?!) (Greco-Roman Polytheism and syncretism???)

[localize-the-gods]

We are so back (again)

we are so back (actually starting to research?!) (Greco-Roman Polytheism and syncretism???)

[localize-the-gods]

Me omw to make some userboxes for my practice

[localize-the-gods]

I may or may not have missed every day oh well, starting at day 14!!

I do! I love to work with clay (despite not having access to it anymore due to a lack of a ceramics class 😭) which is under Athena's domain.

Sometimes I play the guitar or lyre, which is Apollon's.

I garden, which is typically under Demeter but I don't closely worship her enough for me to confidently say yes to that, however Aristaeus I've heard is also a god of herb gardening specifically when it comes to medicinal herbs. If only it wasn't winter and I could do that, oh well.

I love to cook, which is of Hestia's, too.

I think that's about it? But, yeah!

31 Days of Hellenic Polytheism

Anyone can participate regardless of how long you’ve been a Hellenic polytheist! My hope is to use these questions to reflect on the year, and repeat next year to see what has changed, and hopefully to continue doing that every year!

Answer in as much or as little detail as you see fit. You are allowed to skip any questions that you are uncomfortable answering. These questions can also apply to heroes, not just deities. You can pick specific deities to answer each one, or answer the questions with all the deities you worship. This might apply to other Pantheons and I’m happy for it to be used as such. Feel free to tweak some of the questions to fit those pantheons if you’d like!

Please link this list on your posts with your answers so that it is easy for others to find if they want to participate too after seeing your answers.

THIS IS TO BE DONE DURING DECEMBER, I’M JUST POSTING THE LIST NOW SO PEOPLE CAN FIND IT!

Have fun!

DAY ONE: Who was the first deity you began worshipping? Do you still worship them now? If this has been answered before: how has your worship changed since last year?

DAY TWO: Which deity did you most recently start worshipping? Were you called to them or did you reach out first? Do you think there were specific reasons behind why you were drawn to them?

DAY THREE: How long ago did you start Hellenic Polytheism?

DAY FOUR: Are there any deities you don’t currently worship but want to learn about?

DAY FIVE: How much have you bonded with your deities?

DAY SIX: What’s one way you incorporate Hellenic Polytheism into your routine (daily, weekly, monthly, etc?)

DAY SEVEN: Are you openly a Hellenic Polytheist offline? How does being open/not being open effect your worship?

DAY EIGHT: Do you have altar(s)? If you do, how do you use it? If you don’t have one, do you want one? Why/why not?

DAY NINE: Is there a practice that’s common among other Hellenic Polytheists that you’re skeptical about?

DAY TEN: What’s something you’ve learned about Hellenic Polytheism that you wish you knew sooner?

DAY ELEVEN: What is the clearest sign you’ve received from a deity?

DAY TWELVE: Do you do food offerings or libations? What do you do with the food/drink after you’ve offered it?

DAY THIRTEEN: Do you write your own prayers?

DAY FOURTEEN: Do you have any hobbies that fit any of your deities’ domains?

DAY FIFTEEN: How has your worship changed you?

DAY SIXTEEN: If you could give one piece of advice to someone who’s just starting in Helpol, what would it be?

DAY SEVENTEEN: Send out some love! Are there any Helpol blogs here on tumblr that you follow and really like?

DAY EIGHTEEN: How can you best describe your relationship with each of your deities?

DAY NINETEEN: If you had to assign one song to each of the deities you worship, what songs would you choose?

DAY TWENTY: Do you have a favourite aspect of Hellenic Polytheism?

DAY TWENTY-ONE: Are there any retellings/adaptations of greek mythology that you LIKE? Why/why not?

DAY TWENTY-TWO: Is there an aspect of Hellenic polytheism you haven’t yet gotten to try but hope to in the future? Do you have any other Helpol-related goals for next year?

DAY TWENTY-THREE: What’s a bit of UPG you have with your deities?

DAY TWENTY-FOUR: What’s an offering you’ve made that you’re really proud of?

DAY TWENTY-FIVE: What was the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about Hellenic Polytheism or your deities?

DAY TWENTY-SIX: Do you celebrate any festivals? Which ones or why not?

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN: Share a fun fact about one or more of your deities which you think is underrated or not well-known

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT: What is your favourite myth?

DAY TWENTY-NINE: What is an aspect of your deities you really appreciate?

DAY THIRTY: Do you have a visual interpretation of your deities? Is this different from usual depictions you see of them?

DAY THIRTY-ONE: Share a positive experience you’ve had this month/year with one or more of your deities