#sophrosune

[jeannereames]

Was Alexander in love with Roxane? As far as I understand, Plutarch, Diodorus, Justin and Arrian mention that Alexander was in love with Roxane, she is the only wife he is said to have been in love with. Is there any truth to that? I have seen people question it, but they are the same people who say that Alexander loved Hephaestion (romantically) when no such thing is said in any source.

So, here’s another “ask” that I’m not sure isn’t meant as trolling. That said, as before, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. The first part at least seems genuine enough. It’s only the second part that strikes as a bit dismissive.

That said, the question suggests both limited knowledge of who is arguing what (see the suggested reading near the end), as well as a disconnect between pop history online versus actual scholarship.

For historians, this is not about “We want to make Alexander gay!” versus “We want to make Alexander straight!” This is about understanding the HISTORIOGRAPHY of the ancient sources: what to believe and what not to believe, which in turn means understanding the agenda of ancient authors. That makes this question fundamentally problematic for two reasons:

It assumes one of these things cancels out the other. It doesn’t.

It assumes the ancient sources can be trusted, and all of them say the same things about Roxane, with the same motives. They don’t.

A colleague of mine is currently working on a paper about the role of “love” in stories of Macedonian kings (not just Alexander) and specific wives (who bear the heir). I’m not going to say more about that, as I don’t want to steal Borja’s thunder, but he let me read a draft of the paper and I found it very interesting. Yet we shouldn’t take these “love stories” at face value.

The asker must remember that our surviving sources are separated from Alexander by at least 300 years, or more. They have other (now lost) sources between them and Alexander—sometimes more than one source. I’ve talked about the problems with the sources and Alexander in these two TikTok videos:

ATG and the Sources, Part 1

ATG and the Sources, Part 2

I’d suggest watching those first, then returning here to finish reading this post.

So, assuming the asker (and other readers) have now seen those two videos, we must consider the “story” that lies behind reports of Alexander marrying Roxane for love … or not.

Plutarch is one of the main surviving sources for the “He fell in love with her story,” as well as the “He never laid eyes on Statiera,” as well as the “He turned up his nose at prostitutes (both male AND female).” It’s not about the “purity” of a love match, but CONTROL of his sexual impulses. E.g., sophronsunē. Please don’t conflate Plutarch’s point with later Christian moral lessons. Plutarch was not a Christian and would have emphatically disagreed with many aspects of Christian theology.

Plutarch is telling a story in his Life of Alexander about how Alexander rose above his semi-barbaric Macedonian origins (of which Olympias and Philip are symbols) due to his GOOD GREEK PAIDEIA (education). He was properly “Greekified.” He was therefore controlled and reserved and properly virtuous when he invaded Persia. After Gaugamela, however, he began to succumb to the alure of Evil Oriental Debauchery. Sadly, the Roxane story is part of that—she’s a barbarian girl—although marrying her for love kinda redeems it. This view of Alexander is part of the Second Sophistic more broadly, so we also find it in Arrian. Curtius and Justin are both Roman imperial authors, but with a similar message. Not the Greek education part, but the “corrupted by the Oriental East” part. Diodoros (writing earliest of all) also has it, but not as emphatic.

Marrying Roxane, especially for Curtius, is not a good thing. She’s a hillbilly barbarian tart! He marries (gasp!) her because he gives in to his impulses instead of controlling them with Roman discipline. It’s almost the opposite of Plutarch. Marriage makes it worse, not better, opening the way for half-barbarian heirs (shudder).

What really spurred Alexander’s marriage to her was a political alliance with important Baktrian and Sogdian families, so he could get the hell out of there after a 2+ year war against regional insurgency (which he actually caused). You can read about the whole thing in Frank Holt’s brilliant Alexander the Great and Bactria, from Mnemosyne (1993). And last time I checked, Frank wasn’t making any arguments at all about Hephaistion.

Sulochana Asirvatham has written several articles about Plutarch and Alexander, but “Plutarch’s Alexander” might be of the most use from Brill’s Companion to the Reception of Alexander the Great. Sulo isn’t making any arguments about Hephaistion either. I don’t think he even comes up in that paper.

Sabine Müller has also written about Alexander and women, including Roxane (“Stories of the Persian Bride, Alexander and Roxane,” in The Greek Alexander Romance in Persia and the East). She, too, not only doesn’t argue that Hephaistion was his lover, but (elsewhere) argues they weren’t. We agree on a lot about Hephaistion’s career and importance, but not on that particular point.

Finally, you might especially want to read a forthcoming book chapter “Alexander’s Polygamy: Remarks on Alexander the Great’s Relationship(s) with Women,” by Monica D’Agostini in Macedon and Its Influences, coming out either late this year or early next, from Colloquia Antiqua (#44). It deals with Barsine, Roxane, and his other women/wives.

There is also here the matter of what love and marriage meant in ancient Greece and Macedonia, versus now, but that’s a whole ‘nother discussion. As noted above, for the Greeks, loving a woman did not in any way, shape, or form preclude loving a boy/man. Even at the same time!

Ergo, the idea that people who argue he didn’t love Roxane are doing so because they (wrongly) want to believe he was in love with Hephaistion is, frankly, ridiculous, not to mention downright offensive to real scholarship. As if our opinions are driven by romantic wishful thinking instead of a careful evaluation of the sources and their reliability, in terms of both what is said, and what isn’t.

(Apologies for being a tad testy if this was not a troll, but I've fielded a few too many of these sorts of queries that are a backhanded attempt to "prove" that any claim Hephaistion and Alexander were lovers is just romantic claptrap by silly women who aren't "real" scholars. Ergo, my skepticism.)

[thearchaicsmile]

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

σωφροσύνη | sophrosune (σῶς, 'safety' + φρήν, 'mind, emotions') — soundness of mind, self-control, to exercise moderation; in some cases also referring to sanity or mental wellbeing

[witchbitchheadedtoaditch]

Pillars of Hellenismos

The Greeks largely did not name their religion or write much about it down in regards to their worship. People learned about their religion and the morals and values that were important in Greek society through family, friends, and participation in worship. Quite literally, they were simply immersed in it. These beliefs and values were modeled through religious and ethical behavior, there was no need to really write it down or spread it in that sort of way.

However, in modern Hellenism, there are a variety of differennt values that are prized/held highly in the practice. These values are drawn from the works of Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. While these values are reconstructed from philosophy and do not come in the form of specific religious texts, the general consensus is that these particular values represent the core of values in Hellenism.

According to Timothy Jay Alexander, one of the most visible Hellenists in modern times, there are seven pillars of Hellenism:

Ethike Arete: the practice of habitual excellence; ethics

Eusebia: reverence, loyalty, and a sense of duty towards the Gods

Hagneia: the maintenance of ritual purity by avoiding miasma

Nomos Arkhaios: the observence of tradition, religious law, and customs

Sophia: the pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and truth

Sophrosune: the control of self through deep contemplation

Xenia: the adherence to hospitality and the guest-host relationship

Of course, Alexander is not the only Hellenic scholar, simply the most well-known and visible. Other scholars have added onto his list or created their own lists, which include:

Akoe: learning the traditions, stories, and ideas that are the background of religion; the act of learning about the faith and the Gods so as not to blindly follow; literally "things heard"

Theurgy: the worship of the Gods

Philosophy: literally "the love of wisdom," the process of challenging your preconceptions in an endeavor to discover a more genuine truth and wisdom.

Arete: literally "virtue" or "excellence"; the harmony of soul, the consent between one's emotions and one's reason. There are four manifestations of arete: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, which all come together to form compassion, the principle virtue; the achievement of arete is the development of perspective in relationship to one's place in the cosmos; striving to live to one's fullest potential

Kharis: giving without the expectation of something in return, gratitude for that which you are given

Katharmos: the act of being ritually clean; being ritually clean so that one can petition the Gods with a clear mind, clear conscience, and a clean body.

Epikeia: fairness, reasonableness

Episteme: scientific knowledge

Andraea: courage, bravery

Dicaeosyne: righteousness, justice

Eudaimonia: happiness, flourishing

Mesotes: nothing to excess; finding the middle ground

Ositois: reverence to the Gods, piety, a deference to divine law

Philotes: friendship

[argentumcor]

A Cliche Came Out of Its Cage

1.

You said 'The world is going back to Paganism'. Oh bright Vision! I saw our dynasty in the bar of the House Spill from their tumblers a libation to the Erinyes, And Leavis with Lord Russell wreathed in flowers, heralded with flutes, Leading white bulls to the cathedral of the solemn Muses To pay where due the glory of their latest theorem. Hestia's fire in every flat, rekindled, burned before The Lardergods. Unmarried daughters with obedient hands Tended it By the hearth the white-arm'd venerable mother Domum servabat, lanam faciebat. at the hour Of sacrifice their brothers came, silent, corrected, grave Before their elders; on their downy cheeks easily the blush Arose (it is the mark of freemen's children) as they trooped, Gleaming with oil, demurely home from the palaestra or the dance. Walk carefully, do not wake the envy of the happy gods, Shun Hubris. The middle of the road, the middle sort of men, Are best. Aidos surpasses gold. Reverence for the aged Is wholesome as seasonable rain, and for a man to die Defending the city in battle is a harmonious thing. Thus with magistral hand the Puritan Sophrosune Cooled and schooled and tempered our uneasy motions; Heathendom came again, the circumspection and the holy fears… You said it. Did you mean it? Oh inordinate liar, stop.

2.

Or did you mean another kind of heathenry? Think, then, that under heaven-roof the little disc of the earth, Fortified Midgard, lies encircled by the ravening Worm. Over its icy bastions faces of giant and troll Look in, ready to invade it. The Wolf, admittedly, is bound; But the bond will break, the Beast run free. The weary gods, Scarred with old wounds the one-eyed Odin, Tyr who has lost a hand, Will limp to their stations for the Last defence. Make it your hope To be counted worthy on that day to stand beside them; For the end of man is to partake of their defeat and die His second, final death in good company. The stupid, strong Unteachable monsters are certain to be victorious at last, And every man of decent blood is on the losing side. Take as your model the tall women with yellow hair in plaits Who walked back into burning houses to die with men, Or him who as the death spear entered into his vitals Made critical comments on its workmanship and aim. Are these the Pagans you spoke of? Know your betters and crouch, dogs; You that have Vichy water in your veins and worship the event Your goddess History (whom your fathers called the strumpet Fortune).

-C.S. Lewis

[quidam-sirenae]

Taking a deep breath and reminding myself about sophrosune. A good Greek does not throw temper tantrums. A good Greek can control his emotions. This should not be what’s keeping me from throwing my phone across the room.

[demeterspriestess]

The Pillars of Hellenic Worship

Timothy Jay Alexander says there are seven pillars of Hellenismos: Ethike Arete (ethics), Eusebia (reverence of the Gods), Hagneia (ritual purity by avoiding miasma), Nomos Arkhaios (observance of tradition), Sophia (pursuit of wisdom and truth), Sophrosune (control of self through deep contemplation), and Xenia (hospitality). I’ve seen people say there are nine pillars, some say four, some say “what pillars?” Personally, I think it can be simplified into two categories: ethics and reverence.

Ethike Arete means virtue of character. Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics lists several virtues by which to live. I think that Sophia, Sophrosune, and Xenia are perfectly encompassed within these virtues. Sophia (pursuit of wisdom and truth) by practical and theoretical wisdom, truthfulness, and science. Sophrosune (control of self through deep contemplation) by intuitive understanding, courage, temperance, and patience. Xenia (hospitality) by friendliness, liberality, and magnanimity. 

Eusebia means piety, duty, and respect. Observance of tradition (Nomos Arkhaios) is part of that duty to the Gods. One of those traditions happens to be ritual purity (Hagneia). I think a lot of people are concerned that the Gods will be angry with them for not cleansing miasma properly, or for having miasma in general (chronic illness, for example). I believe that Hagneia is a rule put in place to protect us, to let us get better; in sympathy for us, not in contempt for what we might bring before the Gods. What causes us to be unclean? Dirt and germs, illness and injury, childbirth and death, bodily fluids, negative emotions, etc. All of these instances can upset your entire life and can easily take your attention away from the Gods. But it is NOT sinful and you should NEVER be ashamed of it.

Physical miasma is just basic hygiene. Don’t come to group worship if you have the flu, wash your hands, the usual. Feeling depressed, been sick, etc. and haven’t made offerings in a while? Its okay! Take your time to heal and cleanse your miasma, the Gods will understand. There is no way that I, personally, can believe in the Gods of agriculture, medicine, justice, knowledge, and love, without believing that this time of purification isn’t self-care and so very much needed for our mental and physical health.

I know the ancient Greeks, themselves, have made us scared of miasma. But we must remember that much of what they considered miasma was political and changed with new leadership-- that the Gods themselves did not set miasma in stone like Yahweh did the Ten Commandments. If you need the set in stone guidelines there are only three. They were inscribed on the Temple of Apollo in Delphi and read thus:

Know thyself.

Nothing in excess.

Surety, then ruin.

[ryderedword]

Windex.

drawn and quarteréd

opaque JoHari window

pain cleans each pane clear

(IMG: Sasha Freemind / reSplash)

[screeching-0wl]

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

[medeatheewitch]

Values of Hellenic Polytheism/Pagan

I want to take a moment today to talk about a concept best described as the values/principles/”pillars” of Hellenic polytheism. I thought I would write up a comprehensive post detailing and explaining what I am referring to

This concept is a modern, recreationist concept. The Ancient Greeks did not have a list of values (I loathe to use the word virtues, though it is applicable in this instance) that they abided by like Christians do virtues to obey and sins to stay away from. These values were built into the culture, society, and laws that they lived by.

Despite the recent inception of the concept of Hellenic polytheist values, it remains a useful tool for modern practitioners, of reconstructionist, revivalist, and other varieties, to guide our practices, actions, and behaviors.

Why do we need these values? These values are useful as any values are. They guide us, inform our behaviors, and inform how we treat each other and how we worship the gods. I certainly am not suggesting codifying them in any way, or insisting everyone must follow all of them, some of them, or any of them. These values are based directly on named cultural and social norms the Ancient Greeks held, and many Modern Greeks hold today, and these norms tied heavily and inextricably to their religion, which thus makes them relevant to Hellenic Polytheists.

I’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of Hellenic polytheist values below, along with a brief description/definition of them. This list was compiled in collaboration with two, anti-racist, anti-fascist Greek Hellenic polytheists.

A non-exhaustive list of Hellenic polytheist values:

Eusebeia - piety, reverence, awe/respect/fear of the gods

Arete - excellence, the total utilization of one’s abilities, the fulfillment of one’s potential

Hagneia - ritual purity, avoiding miasma

Nomos Arkhaios - observance of ancient tradition, religion, laws, and customs

Sophia - pursuit of truth and wisdom

Sophrosune - self control through contemplation

Xenia - hospitality and guest host relationship

Kharis - building a relationship with the gods

Eudaimonia - to achieve personal happiness

Phronesis - intelligence of practical action, practical wisdom, moral or ethical strength

Gnothi safton - know thyself. Know your place in this world and in your society. Don’t undersell yourself, don’t be prideful and hubristic.

This is a really great guide for how to live your life in a way that honors the gods, respects others, and increases your moral, intellectual, and ethical strength. 

Please do not feel that you have to follow these if you’re not a Hellenic polytheist! Even if you are, follow as many or as few as you’d like.I also personally feel that adding your own personal values to the ones listed above (and those not listed) is the best way to practice and live an observant life.

For example, you may personally feel that modesty or veiling is a value you want to observe. I include service and justice in my personal “pillars” of Hellenic polytheism. I believe the gods want me to live my life in service to others and to right the wrongs of the world and seek justice for those who require it.

Some examples, not mandates, on how to interpret the named values above in your life today:

Eusebeia - having appropriate reverence for the gods, communicating with them and venerating them regularly, giving offerings to the gods that they enjoy, worshipping Ouranic gods as Ouranic and Chthonic gods as Chthonic

Arete - pursuing excellence in whatever field or area you wish. Whether that’s excellence in school, excellence in physical and mental health, excellence in healthy boundaries, recovery, and relationships. Pursuing your dreams, fulfilling your purpose.

Hagneia - following regular hygiene habits, purifying yourself with khernips and barley groats and any other method you wish before formal rituals

Xenia - being genuinely friendly, cordial, and hospitable to everyone (within reason, excepting racists, sexists, fascists, etc.). Being selfless in your relationships with others.

Gnothi safton - radical acceptance of your life, your circumstances, your past. Not giving in to or letting self-doubt, insecurities, negative insults from others change your behavior. Not falling prey to traps of hubris, excessive pride and vanity, lack of humility. Being humble yet confident.

I hope this guide will be useful to you all and help us as a community live by values that both do service to the ancient religion we reconstruct today and respect and enforce our modern-day moral and ethical code.

[witchyintention]

The ancient Greeks honored a wide variety of gods, and many are still worshiped today by Hellenic Pagans. For the Greeks, much like many other ancient cultures, the deities were a part of daily life, not merely something to be chatted with in times of need.

While most Wiccans are guided by the Wiccan Rede, Hellenes are typically governed by a set of ethics. The first of these values is eusebeia, which is piety or humility. This includes a dedication to the gods and a willingness to live by Hellenic principles. Another value is known as metriotes, or moderation, and goes hand in hand with sophrosune, which is self-control. The use of these principles as part of a community is the governing force behind most Hellenic Polytheistic groups. The virtues also teach that retribution and conflict are normal parts of the human experience.

Although the Hellenic groups follow various paths, they typically base their religious views and ritual practices on a few common sources:

Scholarly work about ancient religions

The writings of classical authors, such as Homer and his contemporaries

Individual experience and intuition, such as personal gnosis and interaction with the Divine.

A typical worship ritual includes purification, a prayer, ritual sacrifice, hymns, and feasting in honor of the gods.

Wigington, Patti. "Greek Paganism: Hellenic Polytheism." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/about-hellenic-polytheism-2562548.

[jeannereames]

Was Alexander an emotional person? Did he cry easily? It seems that way. He definitely got angry easily, which reflects his emotional nature. It's interesting because we usually expect leaders & rulers to be stoic & not to be emotionally expressive, at least in public, in front of the people they lead, or rule.

I'm unsure what the asker's ethnic-cultural background is, but the Greeks then, like Greeks now, were emotionally expressive. They did prize sophrosune, or self-control, but what they meant by that is different from, say, the classic British stiff upper lip. ;-) Greek men were not only allowed, but expected to cry at loss, or even in joy. Some emotions were more permissible than others, however, and distinctions were made between the genders. So women wailing at a funeral was one thing, but men weren't to do the same. That said, they could certainly cry and gesture in stylized ways (see below). At uncontrollable crying, however, they were expected to cover their heads with their cloak, for concealment.

Romans, later, were a bit more into the "don't be emotionally expressive" in their leaders, partly as a result of the influence of Stoicism--but again--to a point.

So, cultural expectations have a lot to do with it. Within the expected norms of Greek and Macedonian culture, Alexander seems to have been more expressive than average, although not of pain. But of joy and excitement, as well as (especially) anger, and even sorrow. He was noted for his hot temper and considered "choleric," but he also seems to have been moved to joy more easily, too. There's a cute little story of him at a concert, where he got so worked up by a martial melody, he hopped up to brandish his sword (or spear, I don't remember).

I don't see him (and didn't portray him in Dancing with the Lion) as emotionally reticent: he laughs easily, he cries easily, and he gets angry easily. (My Hephaistion is the emotionally reticent one.) the historical Alexander does seem to have gone overboard in terms of not expressing fear or pain, but also controlling any desire for food (and sex), and sleepiness, for that matter. That's more along the lines of sophrosune. Self-control over one's passions/desires. His weak spots were anger, and a love for obnoxious boasting when he got drunk--which appears to have been more frequent across time.

[hellenismosonline]

Pillars of Hellenismos

The Greeks did not have a specific set of rules for their religion, largely because they didn't really name their religion or write much about it down in regards to their worship. People learned about their religion and the morals and values that were important in Greek society through family, friends, and participation in worship. Quite literally, they were simply immersed in it. These beliefs and values were modeled through religious and ethical behavior, there was no need to really write it down or spread it in that sort of way.

However, in modern Hellenism, there are a variety of differennt values that are prized/held highly in the practice. These values are drawn from the works of Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. While these values are reconstructed from philosophy and do not come in the form of specific religious texts, the general consensus is that these particular values represent the core of values in Hellenism.

According to Timothy Jay Alexander, one of the most visible Hellenists in modern times, there are seven pillars of Hellenism:

Ethike Arete: the practice of habitual excellence; ethics

Eusebia: reverence, loyalty, and a sense of duty towards the Gods

Hagneia: the maintenance of ritual purity by avoiding miasma

Nomos Arkhaios: the observence of tradition, religious law, and customs

Sophia: the pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and truth

Sophrosune: the control of self through deep contemplation

Xenia: the adherence to hospitality and the guest-host relationship

Of course, Alexander is not the only Hellenic scholar, simply the most well-known and visible. Other scholars have added onto his list or created their own lists, which include:

Akoe: learning the traditions, stories, and ideas that are the background of religion; the act of learning about the faith and the Gods so as not to blindly follow; literally "things heard"

Theurgy: the worship of the Gods

Philosophy: literally "the love of wisdom," the process of challenging your preconceptions in an endeavor to discover a more genuine truth and wisdom.

Arete: literally "virtue" or "excellence"; the harmony of soul, the consent between one's emotions and one's reason. There are four manifestations of arete: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, which all come together to form compassion, the principle virtue; the achievement of arete is the development of perspective in relationship to one's place in the cosmos; striving to live to one's fullest potential

Kharis: giving without the expectation of something in return, gratitude for that which you are given

Katharmos: the act of being ritually clean; being ritually clean so that one can petition the Gods with a clear mind, clear conscience, and a clean body.

Epikeia: fairness, reasonableness

Episteme: scientific knowledge

Andraea: courage, bravery

Dicaeosyne: righteousness, justice

Eudaimonia: happiness, flourishing

Mesotes: nothing to excess; finding the middle ground

Ositois: reverence to the Gods, piety, a deference to divine law

Philotes: friendship

[eternal-echoes]

“That each part of the soul shall perform its specific function. The exercise of each specific function is a particular virtue. So the bodily appetites are to accept the restraint imposed by reason; the virtue thus exhibited is sophrosune. That high-spirited virtue which responds to the challenge of danger, when it responds as reason bids it, exhibits itself as courage, andreia. Reason itself, when it has been disciplined by mathematical and dialectical enquiry, so that it is able to discern what justice itself is, what beauty itself is and above all the other forms what the Form of the Good is, exhibits its own specific virtue of sophia, wisdom. These three virtues can only be exhibited when a fourth, the virtue of dikaiosune, is also exhibited; for dikaiosune - which, on Plato’s account, is very different from any of our modern conceptions of justice, although ‘justice’ is the translation used by almost all of Plato’s translators - is precisely the virtue of allocating each part of the soul its particular function and no other.”

- Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue

[goddessdoeswitchery]

Below is a transcript of the first episode, which serves as an introduction, of my podcast, Hellenic Polytheism 101. Its a bit of a long post, and I would put it under a read more, but I'm mobile, at work, at the moment. As soon as I have time at home, I'll get to it. The link is on the post below this.

What is Hellenic Polytheism?

In very simple terms, Hellenic Polytheism (aka dodekathiesm, aka hellenismos,) is the worship of the Greek Gods. But it goes even further than that, into following in the foot steps of those who came before us. Some of us seek to revive or recreate the ancient practices. Some of us seek to merge ancient practices and rites to fit more into the modern world. Many of us blend the two together into a practice that is all our own. There are as many ways to practice Hellenic polytheism as there are people. As such, this podcast will be simply be a window into how I practice. It’s meant to guide and to inform, but it is also meant to help people like me.

Like many people in the US, I was raised in a very Christian household. I was taken to church every Sunday that I couldn’t get out of it, until I was 18. I spent every Sunday listening to sermons and being shuffled into Bible study. When I was 12, I discovered Hellenic Polytheism as an actual religion through one of the many books I devoured. For many years, reading was my only form of practicing. My mother and stepfather wouldn’t even let me have candles because their fear of me being anything under than Christian was so intense. So I read and learned and hid an altar in the back of my closet. At 31, I find myself missing that sense of community. I live in a rural town in North TX, where our population of 1,400 is served by no less than 10 churches in our city limits. This podcast will be a way for me to reach out to others, because who knows? Maybe someone like who I used to be will find it and it will help them. I fully intend for this to be released on a biweekly basis.

So, now that we have a basic definition of what Hellenic Polytheism is, and an understanding of what this podcast intends to accomplish, we can move on to the next step, which is “What am I going to be talking about this whole time?” I’ve got a set of, for lack of a better word, lesson plans and today is going to be all about sharing those for you. First, we’re going to start with the Pillars of Hellenic Polytheism, which are: Xenia, Kharis, Arete, Sophia, Sophrosune, Eusebia, and Hagniea. Next up will be the Delphic Maxims, of which there are 144. Don’t worry, each one won’t have it’s own lesson plan. We’ll just be covering the basics and discussing what it means to live by them, as well as what they are. Then we will have a simple “Meet the gods” where I introduce some of the more common Theoi and discuss why there are more than the 12 Olympians that most start out with. After that, we will discuss altars and offerings, followed by Hymns, epithets, and prayers. We will discuss ancestors and heroes. We will go over some basic household worship things anyone can do (including some closeted actions), and well as more complicated rituals such as weddings, funerals, and holidays. I will also introduce the calendar that I use to help me with my own sense of religious fulfillment. In today’s world where Christian holidays have infiltrated everywhere to the point where they have become almost secular in their practice, I find it is important to me to have my own holidays I can fall back on. Next, I will talk about how to engage in your own research and how to vet sources. In today’s world of TERFs, invasive white supremacists, and casual appropriation, its very important that you get a good sense of discernment. Finally, we will take a more in depth look at the various deities, titans, nymphs, heroes, and delve into the myths and stories that help us learn more about them.

Now for a disclaimer: I am not a student of history. I am not a student of classical literature. I am not, in fact, a student anymore at all. I am a single parent of 2 kids with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice who works as a manager at a payday loan company. My only claim as someone you should listen to is the fact that I have been reading and practicing for almost 20 years now. I will always cite my sources and if you want to do further reading, I invite you to look at my blog on tumblr “Goddess Does Witchery”. The blog will also hold transcripts of the podcast should anyone want them. Now that you have the syllabus, I believe it’s time to start class.

[izvletchenie]

“He who knows most about sophrosune [reasonableness] would know most about madness as well, and the philosopher [Plato] who would ban the imitative poets from his fictional republic would have to be an expert on poetry.”

Silke-Maria Weineck, Abyss Above : Philosophy and Poetic Madness in Plato, Hölderlin, and Nietzsche

[hellenic-devotional]

52 Deep Ass Witchcraft Questions >.<

What draws me to witchcraft? What draws me to witchcraft? Maybe the sense of belonging I feel, maybe it is the comfort I gain when I practice. I have always been drawn to the occult ever since I was a child. I cannot explain why I love it so much. It just feels right. I was lost when I was young. In the sense that I had lost my sense of family friendship and love (especially self-love).

How do I see the divine? I see them as wonderful companions and beings that I can learn and find guidance from. Lots of times they appear to me like shadows or shimmers like glittery blobs in front of me. Other times they chime into my head like ringing a doorbell or whispering in cryptic images, words, and sounds. 

What in witchcraft makes me happy? I love how I feel about all of it. I love the craft and the darker sides of magic. I especially love the ways I have connected more to others and especially myself through it all.

Do I want to follow a path that has to do with a little nature or a lot of nature? I would rather stay away from any kind of nature besides dirt, sea water, moon water etc since I have this insane ability to kill any plants in my care or near me. 

What areas of witchcraft would I like to learn more about? I would like to learn more about energy healing, soul work, conjuring, sea magic, and spirit work. I already work with most of these but I always want to collect more and more information. 

Where do my witchy talents lie? I’d say I am confident in my dream interpretations, scrying, and sea magic.

What kind of deities, if any, do I want to honour? I honour Hades, Poseidon, Selene mainly, but any other deity who asks for help or an offering is welcome in my space. I also have a small altar planned for my spirit companions and such.

How do I believe magic works? I believe it is a combined mix of supernatural forces, your own intentions, practice, faith, and energy.

Simple or elaborate spells/rituals? Why? I really love elaborate spells and rituals, however, I am not in a position to perform them with money, time, and having to keep my craft a secret being a constant issue. So I perform simple spells regularly XD I love them just as much as elaborate spells. 

What are my views on cursing/hexing? I am the biggest Pro Curse witch. I practice cursing, hexing, and jinxing on a regular basis. I love it! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I honestly couldn’t care less if someone hates me or my craft because I approve of curses. It is none of their business what I do.

Do I want to practice something similar to my ancestors? I have not considered anything with my ancestors, my family is a mess and I’d rather not dig into their history.

What are the basic morals and ethics I feel I should live by? To strive to live to your fullest (arete), keeping duty, promise, and reverence toward the gods (eusebia), having moral purity; doing what is right always and keeping a strong moral compass (hagneia), live to gain wisdom and knowledge from everywhere and everyone (sophia), having self-control; denying temptations etc (sophrosune), practising hospitality, generosity, and courtesy always (xenia)

What in nature am I drawn to; the ocean, animals, the trees, etc? I am drawn to the deep earth, it’s minerals and gems, the ocean, sea, any body of water really, the moon, flowers, and old trees.

Which (witchy) holidays, if any, would I like to celebrate and how? Currently I do not celebrate any witchy holidays. But I plan to incorporate some into my practice soon (mainly Hellenic and Buddhist holidays).

How do I believe divination works? I believe divination comes through deep within yourself, the universe conversing with your spirit, entities, spirits, and deities communicating through the tools, and the energy through the devices themselves guiding the reader. When reading the signs, symbols, and images seen through divination there are so many secrets being told and unveiled at the hands of the reader.

Would I like to work with a group some of the time, all of the time or not at all? I would love to have a permanent and stable coven who is really casual with the craft and rituals. Although I do like performing spells alone, three people would be the strongest. 

Which aspects of witchcraft appeal to me most, which the least? The aspects that most appeals to me are the ability to express oneself, the openness for all possibilities, and a validation of my personal character. What I like least is the discourse it creates in some places and the prejudices against those who practice, and even the prejudice between groups of people who practice different crafts. I very much dislike the negative stigma that has been highlighted by social media, society, and most Hollywood productions.

What do I believe happens to us when we die? I believe that in death our souls will be able to travel to the afterlife that we deserve. We will be judged on our actions in life and placed in one of the hells, heavens, sanctuaries, or be reborn to learn the lessons we missed during our time on earth.

How do I see mythological creatures? I see mythological creatures as those who once had physical forms and some who still exist in the physical but are hidden from our naked eyes. Those who have become spirits still interact with the world but in a much different way than what they would have when they had physical forms.

When do I feel most magical? I feel the most magical when I am divining, speaking to my gods, and performing spells/curses...

How much is witchcraft woven into my daily life; is this too much, too little or just enough? I would like more of my craft to be a daily thing. So far I just discuss it and share information between blogs and friends. And the occasional ritual every so often.

What kind of witch do I feel I am? I am rather eclectic, I mainly focus on divination, sea and watercraft, and hedge magic.

Which texts/quotes best describe my current path? 

Do I like to research and gathering info, or do I like things handed to me? I love researching and finding out new things about witchcraft. Though it is also nice when people give me information as well.

Which things about witchcraft worry or scare me? What worries me the most in the craft is mainly messing up a ritual or reading and upsetting someone I am doing a spell for or a client who asks for a reading. I’m afraid of failing people,,, especially since this is something I say I am good at.

What is my favourite element? My favourite element would have to be water. 

How do I see gender (roles) in witchcraft? I don’t even know why this is asked. Like any other place in life a person’s gender shouldn’t affect anyone’s opinion of them.

Am I interested more in magic or spirituality? I think I have a more focused interest on the occult,,, however my practice is closely tied to my religions and culture so who is to say which I prefer more.

Do I like to be told how to do things, or would I rather figure it out on my own? It really depends on the situation. If I were to find myself capable enough to figure it out then sure, I would do that. However, if it was a situation in where I have no expertise or capability than I would much prefer to have someone instruct me.

What rules, if any, do I live by when it comes to witchcraft and magic? (1) never disrespect anyone else in the community, (2) always return what you are given, (3) deities, entities, spirits, and other beings are just as entitled to rightful treatment as you are so treat them with respect, (4) do not be closed minded; gather what you can from around you and use it to the fullest, (5) never use magic for ill intended personal gain, (6) curse all that you want, but never ever try to harm anyone’s life …

What do I gain from witchcraft and magic? I believe that I can gain a peace of mind when I practice my craft. It also becomes a whole new place for me to express myself, and to find my identity.

Formal or informal rituals/spells? Why? I believe both can be utilized in places where they are needed. Structure of my craft follows as its name intended,,, ride with the currents and adapt to the shape of the situation

What subject do I love to study? I like learning about ghosts, spirits, deities, entities, demons, dark spirits, curses, hexes, jinxes, sea/water magic, astrology, divination, interpretations, and potion making.

What is my favourite type of magic; candle, sympathetic, sigils, etc? I don’t think I really have a favourite?? However I do enjoy some nice summoning, conjuring and so forth.

What would my perfect witchy day be like? Sleeping in, brewing some home made magic tea, writing some curses, conversing with my guides and deities, taking some time in the day to make some successful future spells, going on a witch supply run with a fellow witch.

Would I want to be dedicated/initiated? I don’t really follow those rules? I’m a pretty secular witch as it is,,, I wouldn’t want to be initiated into a group where I do not completely trust those people. 

Who do I honour (ex: deities, ancestors, myself, etc), and how do I, or would I like to, honour them? I honour my patrons (Hades and Poseidon) and matron (Selene) with libations, burning foods as offerings, practicing magic with them, studying where they tell me I need to work on,,,

How do I create a sacred/witchy space? I begin with cleaning the area, clearer space a clearer mind, then I bless it with rosemary and celery seed incense, I set up my tools and altar, then I meditate and ask for the powers of my guides and patheon to aid me in blessing the space. I am trying to keep an aesthetic for my altars and still have to plan them,,, 

What do I believe is needed for a successful spell/ritual? I believe that the right amount of energy and focus is needed to complete a ritual perfectly. However I have not done many official rituals so I’d have to do that and come back to add more to this.

Which cultures do I draw from in my witchcraft? I draw from the Hellenic culture to my craft, I draw great inspiration from the Hellenic deities and stories.

What is my learning style; books, websites, videos, more hands-on? I like learning from all sources of information, though I’m not very fond of videos since I like to absorb the material at my own pace.

What, if anything, in my mundane life influences my witchcraft? I believe my emotions and lifestyle really influence my craft,,, because I am not allowed to practice such craft in my home I have to keep it secret from my family members and am forced to take other means of crafting and establishing a place to craft.

What are my hobbies, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft? I love to sleep?? So I do a lot of dream interpretations?? I really don’t know what kind of hobbies would mesh with witchcraft? I do like aesthetics so I strive to do everything to the aesthetic appeal.

Where do my non-witchy talents lie, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft? I am fairly good at planning large events and managing people, I believe I could do a great deal in organizing rituals, craft affairs or other occult like events.

What would my dream witchy life look like? What steps can I take to work towards it? My dream witch life would be me working amazingly at being a wedding and event planner, while owning my own supernatural and metaphysical store. Steps I could take to work towards it? Hmmm. Well I would have to finish school as one, secondly find and establish a place for myself in the wedding and events industry, then plan further to open my own cafe/supernatural/metaphysical store. (which I have made great plans for,,, however I have no idea which plan I would choose first).

What would my dream sacred space/witchy home look like? What steps can I take to work towards it? I would love to live in a multi floored old semi detached town house. Where there is a fine kitchen, a grand bedroom, a study and an office space where I could work on  both my passions, witchcraft and wedding planning. I would like there to be a terrace as well, mainly for whatever artistic urges find me and I need a safe place to art it out. There would also be a reading area within the study where I place my alters and magic working area, in the study there would be a small stove as well so I can brew potions. I would like a bit of closet space in this house for all of my herbs, gems, and divination tools to be stored and protected. And of course a nice comfortable living space for my cat Nico to roam and make his domain. I would need a hella lot of money and good credit

What symbols correspond with me; runes, animals, flowers, gemstones, etc? Large serpents, Storms, Dreams, Blood, psionic abilities, Peaches, Moon and Sun, Twin flames

Am I an open and proud witch, or do I (need to) hide my craft? I need to hide my craft from my family, though everywhere else I am a big prideful witch who doesn’t shy from sharing about the craft.

What are my favourite witchy items/tools; divination tool, ritual tool, décor, clothing, etc? My favourite tools are my mirrors, pendulum, and tarot cards.

What is holding me back in my craft? I really think it is my own living situation, familial situation, and my financial situation that holds me back from truly exploring my craft. Alongside my growing mental and health issues.

What is my pre-spell/ritual routine? It really depends on what kind of spell I am working on. It can take up to a whole day to a few moments.

What are my ultimate witchy goals and how can I work towards them? My ultimate goal right now is to find my own place in the world before I really work hard on the plans I have for my craft. I needed to strengthen myself before I can do much more than what I am already doing as of now. My goal is to have enough funds to actually make a good enough alter for my deities and spirits, to someday own my own shop/cafe, and to finally find myself through my practice.