#epithets

[batsflyaway]

epithets for aphrodite !

𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏

androphonos - killer of men

this epithet doesn't mean actual men i believe, just means like killer of people since men can be a general term for humans! could be wrong though <3

anadyomene - goddess rising from the sea

aphrogenia - foam born

i feel that the idea of a goddess rising from the sea is something so special, standing up from the foam, feeling the waves lap at her legs. i think these bring me close to her in the idea that it gives her a sort of human nature, and it's comforting that i can imagine and feel these things at the beach, that she felt once too.

areia - of ares; the warlike

aphrodite enoplios / hoplismena - armed

to me, these represent the times when love is not necessarily perfect, when it has its downs. it's kind of hard to explain, but she's a very comforting goddess to me, and these epithets represent when i need defence, she will be here to guard me. personally, these epithets link her to artemis as well as ares, obviously!

epistrophia - she who turns to love

erototrophus - mother of love

these two epithets are very very special to me, especially erototrophus. i call her mother aphrodite, because i feel like we have that relationship where i'm like her daughter (not literally lol, just the dynamic we have) and these loving epithets just hit that spot where she feels perfectly comforting, motherly and loving to me.

kopois - of the garden

this epithet helps me connect her to nature, especially the idea that roses bloom where she walks. i think it's gorgeous that she is surrounded by lush greenery in a pretty garden lol. i think this epithet also can connect her to artemis!

mechanitis - skilled at inventing

i can't really explain why i like this epithet, i just do. maybe it's because i like a smart woman, maybe it's because i worship athena and i feel this epithet is very athena-y, i don't know.

nikêphoros - bringer of victory

occasionally, i pray to aphrodite for stuff outside of her domains, and this epithet i love to use for prayers for school/tests, stuff i really want succession in, etc, plus i just think it's cool!

ourania - heavenly

this epithet is a beautiful epithet, and i love to use it in prayers. it's just such a nice adjective for her i think!

philomides - laughter-lover

to me this epithet really showcases the different forms of love. laughter-loving to me means loving laughter, no matter who it's with. your friends, your family, your partner, even a stranger. laughter is such a special thing that spreads love.

symmakhia - ally in love

ally in love is how she feels when times get tougher for me, especially in relationships. she's there to uplift me, to support me and comfort me when i need it.

kypria - cyprus-born

this epithet is mostly just a location one, obviously, but i do like it!!

i hope these epithets were explained enough, and possibly helped/interested you!!

𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏

[dionysianfreak]

I have been seeing some posts for Dionysos Androgynos popping up lately with lovely prayers and offerings ! this is wonderful, but it makes me want to clarify something. His epithet Androgynos is not related to gender identity as we know it now nor was it used in worship denoting queerness. I have seen people talking about this epithet being worshiped but there isn't much tangible evidence for that (that I know of).

it generally means "man-woman" and it refers to the position a man takes during sex—"both taking and receiving penetration during sex". being a man who was in the woman's role during sex wasn't a flex back then, they were seen as naive and lesser than the older man on top. I've seen suggestions that this epithet (along with "chickpea Dionysos") may have been used more derogatorily.

Dionysos is a wonderfully queer deity in the modern age, but we have to remember Ancient Greece is an entirely different culture and ideas. we can't directly exchange values with a culture 2,000 years removed from us. It's totally fine to reclaim this epithet, but claiming it is historically a trans epithet is incorrect.

[undeadwhilealive]

Aphrodite Epithets

Philommeidês(Φιλομμειδης) - Laughter-Loving

Philommêdês(Φιλομμηδης) - Genital-Loving

Aphrogeneia(Αφρογενεια) - Foam-Born

Khryseê(Χρυσεη) - Golden

Dia(Δια) - Diving, Shining

Dios Thugatêr(Διος θυγατηρ) - Daughter of Zeus

Pothôn Mêtêr(Ποθων Μητηρ) - Mother of Desire

Eustephanos(Ευστεφανος) - Richly Crowned, Well Girdled

Ourania(Ουρανια) - Heavenly, Divine(Love)

Pandêmos(Πανδημος) - Common to All People(Love)

Makhanitis(Μαχανιτις) - Deviser, Contriver

Epistrophia(Επιστροφια) - She who Turns to (Love)

Apostrophia(Αποστροφια) - Averter of (unlawful desires)

Kataskopia(Κατασκοπια) - Spying, Peeping

Psithyristês(Ψιθυριστης) - Whispering

Praxis(Πραξις) - Action(Sexual)

Melainis(Μελαινις) - Black(Of Night)

Symmakhia(Συμμαχια) - Ally(In Love)

Apatouros(Απατουρος) - Deceptive One

Nymphia(Νυμφια) - Bridal

Migôntis(Μιγωντις) - Union(Marital)

Dôritis(Δωριτις) - Bountiful

Hêrê(Ἡρη) - Of Hera(Of Marriage)

Morphô(Μορφω) - Of Shapely Form

Ambologêra(Αμβολογηερα) - Postponer of Old Age

Nikêphoros(Νικηφορος) - Bringer of Victory

Areia(Αρεια) - Of Ares, Warlike

Hôplismenê(Ὡπλισμε��η) - Armed

Euploia(Ευπλοια) - Fair Voyage

Pontia(Ποντια) - Of The Sea

Limenia(Λιμενια) - Of The Harbour

Xenia(Ξενια) - Of The Foreigner

These might not be all of them, I apologize if I missed any.

Big thanks to Theoi.com for helping me out on this post.

[keysatthecrossroad]

Epithets of Hekáte

Epaine - Awe-Inspiring

Hekáte, we praise Your many names,

We sing Your many deeds,

We adore Your many blessings.

Queen of Witches, Epaine,

You are the holder of the keys,

The guardian of the Gate,

The keeper of both the Cosmos and the Liminal.

Hekáte, Mother of All, all will hail You!

[adharaantheia]

🪭Deities with Epithets that can help you financially 🪭

Adhara's post introduction: Hello, lovebugs!! I'm back and with an informative post that can help those who are searching for jobs; trying to be financially wise, and who are in need of some stability! Hope you all love it!

Ares Aphneiós;

Meaning of Aphneiós: Rich, Wealth;

Lord Ares is amazing for those who need urgent money, I say this because he helped on situations that I was having panic attacks in fear of not having money at the end of the month, and he helps everyone, regardless if you work officially with him or not!

Athena Evræsítækhnos/Mítir Tǽkhni;

Meaning: Inventor of Arts; Mother of all kind of Arts;

This is an amazing Epithet for those that have art's business, Lady Athena will support your artistic skills and help you make wise decisions for your artistic business!

Zeus Ktísios;

Meaning: Giver of riches;

This epithet is not only for those that want new jobs, but also for those that want to have your own property! King Zeus will help you with anything related about wanting a new house or your own business!

Zeus Nikaios;

Meaning: Victorious;

For those who are waiting for a new job interview! He will bring victory and success for you <3;

Hermes Æriounios;

Meaning: luck-bringer;

Lord Hermes is a wonderful Deity for those who need luck in finding a new job!

Hermes Kærdǽmboros;

Meaning: Bestower of Wealth;

If you're in need of some money, you can go to Lord Hermes! He's the bestower of wealth!!

A reminder to always give these Deities offerings once you have your wish granted, and to also work hard to make it happen, the Gods won't give it to you without seeing that you're working hard, and that you're going to thank them with offerings!

[the-banks-of-lethe]

Epithets of Hypnos

I'm sure many people have posted about his epithets before, but whats one more? Also, I'm going to be adding some epithets that I have made personally for Lord Hypnos. Feel free to use them! [CE = Cult Epithet. PE = Poetic Epithet]

[transliteration - meaning - greek]

Original:

Epidotes - Bountiful Επιδοτες CE

Paean - Healer Παιάνας CE

Makar - Blessed one PE

Pannikitis - All-vanquishing Παννικίτης PE

Melamkhrotos - Black-skinned Μελαμχρωτος PE

Dios apate - the deception of Zeus Διός απάτη PE

Personal:

Nychtopouli - Nighthawk Νυχτοπούλι

the nighthawk is one of Hypnos’ (sacred?) animals. I also took into consideration how this works as a metaphor for what he does each night [in myth]. Nighthawks are nocturnal birds, only awake and flying at night. And although He is awake throughout the day, every night he rises to the earth with His mother Nyx, and flies across the skies giving sleep to all. Flying at night? Nighthawk? Get it?

Dianomeas - Deliverer (of woes) Διανομέας *

Apeleftherotis kaimo - Liberator (deliverer) of woe Απελευθερωτής καημό *

Eleuthereus - Liberator (tion) Ελευθερευς *

Eirinikos - Peaceful (the peaceful one) Ειρηνικός

Oneiropolos - Dreamy Ονειροπόλος

Evgenesteri - Gentlest Ευγενέστερη

*I believe these three can be used in conjunction with each other, as they have similar meanings, although can also be seperated if the meaning needs to be specifically one or the other :))

If anyone has any epithets that they've made for Lord Hypnos (or any deity!) please feel free to share!! Hope everyone is having a lovely day/night, wherever you are. May Hypnos bless you all!

Sweet dreams 💙

[teawiththegods]

Apollo’s epithet Agyieus always cracks me up bc it means “of the streets” and I can’t think of a god less of the streets than Apollo 🤣

[ithacasintuition]

My Favorite Hekate Epithets

Phôtoplêx ‘Who smites with light’

Eidôlios ‘Fantasmal’, ‘Ghostly’

Drakaina ‘Dragoness’, ‘Serpentess’

Kunolygmatos ‘Doglike Howler’, ‘Who howls doglike'

Pyripnoos ‘Fire-breather'

Pyriphoitos ‘Fire-walker'

Êrigeneia ‘Daughter of morning’

Aimopotis ‘Blood-drinker'

Astrodia ‘Star-walker'

Opheôplokamos ‘Coiled with Snakes’

[justaz]

Just poking around with epithets of the gods and the idea that each epithet represents like a specific aspect of said god and thinking about how children of the gods could be descended from specific epithets? If that makes sense? (Bear with me for these I’m not all that educated on actual Greek mythology or how this stuff works 😭🙏 its just a cool idea I’m playing with)

Like I don’t think Percy would be descended from Poseidon Ænnosíyaios (earth-shaker) but he can still draw power from him, but earthquakes aren’t his go to. He’s descended from Poseidon Íppios (protector of horses/horseman) since he can speak with horses and horse adjacent creatures. And he’s definitely descended from Poseidon Alídoupos/Pontomǽdohn (sea-resounding/lord of the sea) considering…everything else.

Annabeth is descended from Athena Glafkóhpis (owl-eyed/with gleaming eyes). I'd say she's descended from Athena Gorgophónos (slayer of the [gorgon]) as well considering the whole thing with Medusa. She's descended from Athena Omvrimóthymos (strong of spirit) considering everything she went through and still came out the other side ready to build a life for herself. Same with Athena Oplophóros (armed/warrior), Athena Polývoulos (of many wise counselings/exceeding wise). And as Percy is with Poseidon Ænnosíyaios, I don't think Annebeth would be directly descended from Athena Evræsítækhnos (inventor of the arts) cause I'm thinking of the whole weaving thing that Annabeth was never tied to until she was escaping those spiders under Rome...but I guess if you classify architecture as the arts...then she's definitely descended from her. Up to interpretation I guess.

It gets more interesting with gods the encompass more domains like Apollo. Will Solace being descended from Apollo Akǽsios (healing) and Apollo Alæxíkakos (he who diverts calamity and plague). While Lee Fletcher was descended from Apollo Ækivólos (he who attains his aim) and Michael Yew was descended from Apollo Ælæléfs (he who utters a war cry) (I say because when Michael was in Manhattan, the arrow he set loose was that one sound arrow that almost deafened them and i think that's funny) or both Lee and Michael are descended from Apollo Aphítohr (archer). I can't find Roman epithets for Apollo so I'm gonna use the Greek epithet for this one as well - Octavian is descended from Apollo Prómantis (prophet).

Anyway Silena Beauregard being descended from Aphrodite Ἀρεία (warlike) thank you and good night

[potnia-theron]

➶ Animal epithets of Artemis !

➸・elaphiaia - of the deer

➸・lykeie - of the wolves

➸・pheraia - of the beasts

➸・heurippa - horse finder

➸・potnia theron - queen of beasts

➸・elaphebolos - deer shooting

➸・theroskopos - hunter of wild beasts

➸・skylakitis - protectress/guardian of dogs

[klspacecadet]

god I hate epithets so much “the blue paladin” “the raven-haired boy” JUST SAY THEIR NAMES. IT’S OKAY TO SAY THEIR NAMES. I genuinely don’t even know why it makes me so mad, I just HATE them like nothing else

There are a lot of words in english, guys! don’t be afraid to use them! however, if a word works, it’s okay to use it more than once! (please)

when there’s more than two epithets a chapter I notice. like one okay that’s fine I’ll probably glaze over it but when you add more it gets under my skin like PLEASE use their names

oh my god especially when they call Keith “the smaller boy” like HE’S NOT THAT MUCH SMALLER GUYS??? it rewires my brain to make him like the size of a 12 year old!! it’s so bad, I can’t fix it either,,, like there’s barely a difference, but my imagination is gonna take that and run with it!!!!! put me out of my misery...

[prokopetz]

I know that grumping about fanfic epithets is often very subjective, but the one context in which they're objectively inappropriate is in plot synopses on fandom wikis and other informational resources. Do not, under any circumstances, resort to epithets in a synopsis. This is the one context where repeating a character's name every single time they come up is not only acceptable, but actively encouraged if it leads to greater clarity. You're not writing poetry here!

[keysatthecrossroad]

Epithets of Hekáte

Nyktophaneia - Night-shining

Hekáte, Mistress of the Moon,

Queen of Witches, bearer of torches.

Guide us to Your garden, Nyktophaneia!

Set Your Hounds up on the path,

Shine the way, glorious Goddess,

Let us venture forth beyond the crossroads!

[crazycatsiren]

I honestly don't know how radfems can claim Aphrodite hates sex workers when her epithets include hetaira (courtesan) and porne (prostitute).

[johannestevans]

Using Epithets Effectively

For the use of epithets, where you're using something other than a name to refer to the character - the other man, the blond, her elder, the policeman, etc - it's good to think about WHY you want that epithet.

Why would you use an epithet instead of that character's name?

Firstly, does the POV character know that character's name?

If the POV character doesn't know it yet, they're likely to fixate on the most obviously unique or identifiable aspect of that person's character to use as an epithet, and then stick with that epithet.

(I'm going to focus on first- and second-person narration and limited third person, where we're generally either limited to one person's perspective, or we're "head-hopping" between different people's biased and individual perceptions of an outsider. I'll talk about omniscient narration later.)

A uniform or position of authority is often the clearest - the policeman, the nurse, the flight attendant, the postman, the grandmother.

When your epithet focuses on aspects of the physical, for a character that the narrator doesn't know yet, the descriptor chosen might depend on intimacy.

You might start at the most obvious identifiable aspect from afar. Why does that detail stand out to your narrator, and why is that the detail they use to describe them?

The tall woman, the very little boy; the man in red, the woman in the big hat; the guy with the cane; that prick in the hairnet.

When we start to get a little closer - when the camera "zooms in" - our narrator might focus on particular details. Why do those details stand out? Is our narrator attracted to, or enamoured by, or disgusted by, or angry with this person? Do they respect them? Find them strange, off-putting?

We often get "the dark-haired man" or "the blonde" or "the bald bloke" or similar; "the pale man", "the girl with the freckles". Then, we get even closer.

A narrator might notice a character's teeth or fingernails, the details of a tattoo, the dirt or grease on their body or clothes, their scent.

People often focus on a character's eye colour, but how often do you notice a person's eye colour unless you're very up close with them? It's worth considering the setting for this as well - a character's eye colour might really stand out in a very bright environment, but not in a darker one.

They also might notice dark eyes or light eyes, but not the particular colour. They might notice a character's jewellery from afar, but might not notice the particular details of that jewellery until they're much closer. Might see the colour of clothes, but not the fabric or the cut or the value.

The choice of epithet doesn't just tell us about the character being described - normally, we have the character described, and then a detail is picked out of that description that our narrator fixates on. It's that detail they use to earmark them in their head, and thus their narration.

An older man obviously wearing foundation, slim and in expensive clothes, who keeps touching his hair and glancing at himself in the mirror, adjusting his posture, glancing at his nails.

To one narrator he might become "the vain man". To another, "the ageing queen". To another, "the pretty one".

To the first narrator, perhaps there's an element of judgement there. Perhaps they think it's silly or pathetic or embarrassing to see a man wearing make-up and worrying about his appearance. To the second, there could be familiarity - they know gay men like this one, and they see the archetype. To the last, there might be attraction or desire, the narrator noticing the effort that man is going to fuss over his appearance, or there might be an element of envy and desire to emulate that man, wanting to be as pretty as he is, to age as he has.

These are mostly physical aspects - another detail a narrator might focus on, the most identifiable one, might be an extension of the uniform I mentioned before. They might focus on that person's position of authority - the cop, the priest - or personality - the chipper young thing, the miser.

Class or nationality or religion might come into it - the nobleman, the Greek, the Muslim.

We might slide into the realm of insults and slurs - who amongst us hasn't been referred to by a relative stranger as "the Jew" or "the homo"? - or otherwise a tone of disdain or adulation or what ever else.

When we use an epithet to refer to someone we don't know, one thing is ordinarily true - the characteristic we are using is unique enough to distinguish that individual from others nearby or in relation to them, including ourselves. I, a gay guy, won't think of someone as "the gay guy", am I?

What is the epithet for? To distinguish that individual from others.

If the narration is in our own head, we're unlikely to worry about what other people will think of our choice of words, meaning we might be offensive or show our desire obviously in a way we might not to an outside party.

If we're looking at a piece of epistolary, like a diary entry or a letter or a blog post, or a first-person narration where the narrator is considering an audience, their language might be a bit different, more edited. They might use kinder language, or show off with funnier language, etc.

All the above is if the narrator doesn't know the character's name. If we DO know the character's name, why aren't we using it?

The non-diegetic reason might be "I've used her name too many times in a short while but 'she' isn't going to distinguish her from other women in the scene".

And that's a perfectly fine reason to use an epithet from time to time - but we also want a diegetic reason for the epithet. Not just why we're using an epithet at all, but why are we using THAT epithet?

If I'm in bed with my fuckbuddy or lover or whatever, I'm not thinking of him as "the blond".

Presumably, I know that guy. Unless I'm going through a veritable parade of sexual partners of recent, all of whom happen to have every other hair colour imaginable, I'm unlikely to think of him as some fella with blond hair, am I?

In some religions and superstitions one uses an epithet to refer to a deity or demon, or other higher power, in order to avoid somehow drawing its attention by making use of its name. In some cultures or situations, a name might be considered too holy to use, and so you might use a title or epithet.

An epithet, in short, creates distance between the narrator and the so-titled; it might create distance between the described character and their own identity, OR forge connection between the describer and described.

The latter is easy - "the other man", "my fellow doctor", "my sister-in-arms".

In the first and second cases, why might that distance be desirable? "The professor" or "the bitch" or "the submissive" create distance in different ways.

The first might draw attention to authority - "the professor" might represent their university, or their area of study, or the narrator's kink.

"The bitch" is rather different - it might be used for humorous effect, or to indicate disgust or anger with the titled character, showing misogyny, especially if they're the one female character amongst men. "This bitch" or "that bitch" might add to the distaste indicated.

"The submissive" is all about the titled's position in the scene - their identity is in their action, and in their submission to the narrator, or within the narrator's awareness. Again, it might be the narrator's kink - we can add to that kink by using a more targeted piece of language.

In a BDSM scene or a fight between dogs, "the submissive" means different things - or maybe it means the same thing.

In a BDSM scene, you might use an epithet that in-context means "submissive", but carries higher or different connotations. Supplicant. Slave. Subject. Patient. Puppy.

And then, of course, there are epithets that carry elements of possession - "his lover", "his sweetheart", "his nemesis", "his coworker", "his neighbour", "her maid", "her enemy", "her mother", "her darling boy", "the pain in her fucking backside".

These latter can be useful for omniscient narration - depending on if you're head-hopping (as in Pratchett's Discworld) between different characters and a broader, more distanced narrator. In general, it depends on how much personality you like to inject into your omniscient narration.

How much does your omniscient narration / narrator like the characters involved? How much do you want the reader to like them, or distinguish between them? Do you want your narration to feel possessive of your characters, parental toward them, disgusted, superior, inferior? Etc.

A lot of people understandably get irritated when they read a sex scene between two characters and they're suddenly referred to as "the blond/e" and the "brunet/te" instead of by their names, and a lot of that comes from people focusing on what "the camera" would see.

This is the view of these two characters from the outside, the same colour, the same weight, two bodies in a sex scene that might be mistaken for one, or at least, you might not be able to tell at a glance where one body begins and the other ends, but their hair distinguishes them.

But that's NOT all that distinguishes them. Even if they're both white skinny pricks in their 20s with chronic samefame, one has a nicer arse than the other. One has freckles on his chest, or more hair on his body. One is prettier. One is more gangling, less graceful, or stronger, or whatever.

Epithets themselves aren't the enemy, though. People might be amateurish or clumsy about using them, and they're definitely easy to overuse - as with any other narrative or literary device, the best epithets are the ones where you don't even notice them unless you go back and really LOOK.

And honestly, that's just a matter of time, effort, study, and practice, again, as with any other narrative or literary device you might work to use and understand.