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Venus with the Apple

This sculpture captures the moment Venus received the golden apple from the mortal King Paris, which crowned her “the fairest goddess” of them all. Eris, the god of strife, created this golden apple and inscribed it with the pronouncement “the fairest goddess.” During a party on Mount Olympus, Eris asked the gods to vote on who should receive the apple. None of them could decide, so the gods asked King Paris to choose between Juno, Minerva and Venus herself. Paris was head over heels for Venus and immediately gave her the golden apple. In this scene, we can see Venus taking the apple, her hands raising the fruit towards her face to get a closer look. Her opposite arm reaches back to grab her clothes to cover her naked form.

Her expression is a curious one. You would imagine that being named the fairest god would bring someone joy, but her appearance is reasonably demure. There is just the slightest hint of a grin beginning to form on the corners of her mouth. This expressive choice is a crucial characteristic of Thorvaldsen’s work. He can perfectly capture in marble even the briefest moment or fleeting glance. Venus wants to appear polite in front of the other women who have been scorned by Paris but allows herself this minature little celebration.

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THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS

this part in ovid's heroides intrigues me ngl

Ovid, Heroides 16 (trans. Harold Isbell)

the. the inescapability of it. oof.

society6 | ko-fi | twitter (pillowfort, cohost) | deviantart

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This is so so so beautiful oh my gods

☽☾ The Huntress ☽☾

This is a devotional piece I drew for my beloved goddess Lady Artemis ! I'm really happy with the outcome even though I wish I could've done more with the background :/ but also this is the first fully colored piece I've done in a while and I'm glad I could do a more complicated one for my lady ! I hope she likes it , and you do too I hope <3

ALSO please cut me some slack on the rendering of the dog , I never draw animals and fully color them even less so , but I tried my best .

The little "print" on her clothing is supposed to be cypress branches & the white spots on her shoulders & cheeks are referencing the white spots of fawns ! The fur around her shoulders is from a bear and the bandages are stained with Ichor , the golden blood of the gods ( hunting isn't an easy job after all )

This piece was heavily inspired by one of my favorite paintings called " Diana the Huntress " by Gaston Casimir Saint-Pierre which I used as a reference :3

( the divider was made by me ♡ )

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people on my covid post are calling me a freak for saying it’s disgusting to cough into open air/your hands then touch shit. well if that’s being a freak i don’t want to be normal!

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spare thought for the enslaved shepherds in greek mythology/tragedy who rescue the exposed doom babies... sometimes they know why the baby was left to die, sometimes they don't. they just — it's a baby. no one else wants it. you can't leave it here. what harm could it do. it's a baby. you want it to live. it's a baby

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two big interests of mine colliding.. omg

Temple of Apollo, Portara, Naxos, Greece

Credit: Athan Andreas

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Crow and Spider by Ohara Koson (Early 20th Century)

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Zeus in Cult, Small Info Collection

Knowing to separate myth from cult vs actually researching and understanding cult, are two different things.

You can think “Yes, I know Zeus isn’t his myths” but without knowing his cult, without knowing WHY he was beloved the next part of the sentence might be “but still….”. If you know him more and more outside his mythology the more you will see him as a God worthy of honor and respect rather than seeing him as an uncomfortable story character (this goes for all of the Gods).

I had absolutely no inclination to worship Zeus until I discovered his domestic role. I found him that way in the book Household Worship by Labrys. He became so approachable and it felt like I was missing out by not worshiping him. I then learned about Zeus of Freedom and Father Zeus.

Here are some posts and quotes to give a taste of Zeus diversity and cultic roles.

Part 1 of @thegrapeandthefig Zeus' series focuses on him as King and supreme https://www.tumblr.com/thegrapeandthefig/190055950457/worshipping-zeus-part-i

Part 2 focuses on him in his role as Justice, Defender, and Protector https://thegrapeandthefig.tumblr.com/post/190586200547/worshipping-zeus-part-ii

Part 3 focuses on him as the ultimate father figure, God of lineage / family, and his importance in the domestic part of life https://thegrapeandthefig.tumblr.com/post/190590632737/worshipping-zeus-part-iii

@luminarycanary's reblog here sheds some light on why Zeus has so many wives/lovers, in a way that frames it from the cult perspective: https://www.tumblr.com/luminarycanary/757992927150702592

From Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson:

“In Greek literature and popular belief, Zeus is a righteous god who punishes the arrogant and the wicked. His companion or daughter is Dike (Justice), and he is closely associated with the Moirai (Fates) in myth and cult. Many cults of Zeus had a moral dimension, and focused on enforcing behavior that was expected by society. Among the most revered of traditional beliefs was the idea that one was prohibited from harming strangers, guests, beggars, and suppliants, all of whom fell under the protection of Zeus. Instead, one ought to respect guests and strangers, and give aid to beggars and suppliants.”

Full Book: https://www.academia.edu/30593875/Ancient_Greek_Cults.pdf

From “Karpophoroi deities and the Attic cult of Ge Notes on IG II2 4758” by Jennifer Wallensten:

In general, Earth was however most often associated with Zeus. This connection between Zeus-Ge (or should we say, Sky-Earth?) is clearly visible in Athens: the above-mentioned statue that Pausanias saw is a possible example of this connection, but this link can also be perceived in the sacred space accorded to Ge at the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios, as well as an area vowed to Zeus Meilichios, Ge and Athena.' In the above-mentioned oaths, Ge is normally positioned between Zeus and Helios (and thus, interestingly, between Sky and Sun). The couple, Ge and Zeus, might moreover have received a pre-marriage sacrifice, proteleia, and it is possible that an object sacred to Ge has been identified in the sanctuary of Zeus on Hymettos, where the main aspect of the king of the gods was as a rain god. From this latter inscription, in combination with the statue seen by Pausanias, it has been suggested that Attic prayers to Zeus for rain were channelled through Earth, so to speak.

Article: https://ecsi.bokorder.se/Download.aspx?id=11015&name=karpophoroi-deities-and-the-atti.pdf

From a Companion to Greek Religion Chapter 2 by Ken Dowden:

“But the system was far from uniform and the Zeus imagined in one place might be rather different from the Zeus imagined in another. Indeed, in a single place you might worship a variety of Zeuses, distinguished by their epithets – so Zeus ‘‘Meilichios,’’ Zeus the dangerous but hopefully ‘‘gentle,’’ is a different business from Zeus ‘‘Olympios,’’ the Zeus who is king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Each Olympian god is particularized by epithets, which are a bit of a compromise: they maintain a single identity (of Zeus), but diffract it into a rich spectrum of locations, functions, and traditions.”

Full book: https://spiritual-minds.com/religion/Ancient%20Greek/Daniel%20Ogden%20(ed)%20-%20A%20Companion%20to%20Greek%20Religion%20(Blackwell,%202007).pdf

There really is no singular way to look at Zeus, let alone understand him solely from the perspective of myth.

{this is a repost from multiple years ago, it was an ask but I deleted the really long question since it's irrelevant}

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Hello my friends, 🇵🇸

My name is Sami, a father of two daughters. Before the war, we had a happy life in Gaza, with a home and a small business. But the war has torn everything apart 💔. Our home was destroyed, and we have been displaced multiple times, moving from Gaza City to Rafah and now to Deir Al-Balah 🇵🇸, where we live in a small tent with no basic necessities.

Our car was destroyed 🚗💥, leaving us without transportation, and we have no financial resources to sustain us. We are waiting for the Rafah crossing to open so we can escape this deadly war 🕊️, but until then, we need your help.

Please, if you can, donate to help my family survive and rebuild our lives .

Link to our campaign on Gofoundme :

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i also, am losing my mind.

descriptions of dionysos in the bakkhai (tr. anne carson) that make me lose my mind a little

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Guys

Have you seen Apollo with his cool swan-lyre??

Well now you have 🦢

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Aphrodite loves trans and queer folk.

thats it. all i had to say

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What if you start viewing Zeus and Hera as a complex couple instead of looking for ways to demean Zeus as both a religious figure and mythical persona or trying to make up stories about Hera wanting to actively and constantly leave him. What if Hera has full agency (it's actually crazy to ascribe her a passive role, of all people) and chooses him. What if he has clear understanding of her (sometimes) hurt feelings but begetting kings and heroes is what a God of his caliber does.

What if they have their silly moments, what if he makes it up to her when she's upset that he has to beget another hero, or God(dess), or king. What if he understands that she's going to test his newly-made offspring to the last drop of blood because that's what she does. What if they both understand that this intense liaison is the only way to ensure only the worthy heroes walk the mortal world. What if you stop looking at them as living breathing humans made of bone and flesh.

What if love is there, but so is duty and divine nature and must, should, have on top of a possible want. What if love is there but you're dismissing it because it's not your flavor of love. What if her feelings are more complex than hating a cheating husband and what if his feelings are more nuanced than wanting to dump one into a random woman.

What then.

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Creating silly little epithets for Aphrodite I will likely never use as devotional activity ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡

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Hey Aster! Could we get a guide on Ares please?

Ares, Greek God of Everything Kind and Sweet: A Guide

Just kidding, of course.

Hi! I'm Astin/Aster and this is my guide to Ares. A disclaimer before we begin, this is going to be bare-bones basic. I will not be going over any specific myths in the post. Hope this is helpful!

Ares is the god of war and thus peace, as appeasing him would thus prevent war, bloodshed and bloodlust, violence, anger/rage, manliness, rebellion. Something to note is that Ares is less of the strategy involved in war, and more of the actuality of it. He is not only a god of war but the personification of it.

His parents are Zeus and Hera, and his lover was Aphrodite. With Aphrodite, according to Hesiod's theogony, he has three children, Phobos (Terror), Deimos (Fear), and Harmonia (Harmony).

Sacred Symbols, Animals, and Epithets

His symbols are the spear, as well as armor, particularly the helm and shield.

His sacred animals were:

Serpents- he is frequently depicted with one and has myths regarding serpents.

Barn owl, eagle owl, and woodpecker, as shown:

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 21 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

"Zeus loathed them [the giants Agrios and Oreios] and sent Hermes to punish them . . . But Ares, since the family of Polyphonte [mother of the giants] descended from him, snatched her sons from this fate. With the help of Hermes he changed them into birds. Polyphonte became a small owl whose voice is heard at night. She does not eat or drink and keeps her head turned down and the tips of her feet turned up. She is a portent of war and sedition for mankind. Oreios became an eagle owl, a bird that presages little good to anyone when it appears. Argios was changed into a vulture, the bird most detested by gods and men. These gods gave him an utter craving for human flesh and blood. Their female servant was changed into a woodpecker. As she was changing her shape she prayed to the gods not to become a bird evil for mankind. Hermes and Ares heard her prayer because she had by necessity done what her masters had ordered. This a bird of good omen for someone going hunting or to feasts."

He is also associated with horses, as his chariot is pulled by them.

Another notable animal are the bronze bulls, depicted as so:

Ovid, Heroides 12.39 ff : "The condition is imposed [by King Aeetes] that you [Jason] press the hard necks of the fierce bulls at the unaccustomed plow. To Mars [Ares] the bulls belonged, raging with more than mere horns, for their breathing was of terrible fire; of solid bronze were their feet, wrought round with bronze their nostrils, made black, too, by the blasts of their own breath."

Notable Epithets:

Thêritas - Beastly, brutish

Gynaikothoinas - Feasted by women

Enyalios - Warlike

Khrysopêlêx - Of the golden helm

Obrimos - Strong, mighty

Worship

His This section is going to be mainly UPG, so if you think of something else you'd like to do or give, please do so, as long as it is respectful.

Sacred Day:

Tuesday

Offerings:

Snake symbolism

Symbolism of His sacred birds

Spicy food 

Feathers from His sacred birds (sourced ethically)

Self defense weapons

Imagery of Him

Devotional Activities:

Workout or do physical activity

Go to a protest

Stand up for yourself and what you believe in 

Work on anger management 

Honor Aphrodite and their children together

Do something you're really passionate about

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Oh Dionysos, horned God of the Grapevine, Great Liberator! Please always guide me in this life and help me feel free with every step I take! Help me feel proud to live my life as I am, to always be true to myself no matter how I get beaten down. Great Dionysos help me feel you with me every time a drop of wine or skin of grape grazes my lips, help me feel you with me everytime I bring someone up, and help me feel you with me every time I fight for what I believe in. You fuel my passions, running me mad with emotion to ensure what must be done is done. Thank you for all you do for me, Lord Dionysos! 💜

Art by me!!! :)

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Hello!!

😭😭😭😭 I'm ex Muslim too!! I left islam in April and immediately joined hellenism lmao.

I never thought I would find another ex Muslim on tumblr hello!!

Helpol blog: @divine-thievery

omigosh!!!! i love bonding with ex muslims!!! there's surprisingly more than you think