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Your offering is good enough.

Your prayer is perfect the way it is

Your altar does not have to be extravagant or expensive. Simple ones are just as powerful.

You are good enough. The gods love you and want the best for you. They are here to lift us up, so don’t beat yourself down.

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Offering to Dionysus, depicting His domain as nature God, the wild parts of it, but mainly one of His sacred animals; big cats!

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Deity Aesthetic: Dionysus

Greek God of wine, winemaking, grape-harvest, ritual madness, frenzy, religious ecstasy, virility and theatre.

Hellenic Epithets:

Bakkhos (Of Bacchic Frenzy)

Nyktelios (Of The Night)

Staphylitês (Of The Grape)

Akratophoros (Bringer of Mixed Wine)

Kistophoros (Basket-Bearer)

Eleuthereus (Of Liberation, Freedom)

Sôtêrios (Saviour, Recovery (from Madness))

Melpomenos (Singer, Minstrel, Of the Tragedy Play)

Phleôn (Luxuriant)

Symbolism of Dionysus:

Thyrsus

Grapevine

Ivy/ ivy crown

Theatrical masks

Phallus

Bull

Panther

Leopard

Goat

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🍇A Hymn to Dionysus🍇

Unknown author

The Greek Anthology (ca. 100 BCE), translation by W. R. Paton

A Hymn to Dionysus

Let us chant the king who loves the call of Euhoe,

The King Eiraphiotes,

Tender-haired, rustic, much besung, fair of form, Boeotian, Bromius, reveller, with vine-leaves in his hair, Merry, productive, slayer of giants, the laugher, Son of Zeus, twice-born, son of the Dithyramb,

Dionysus, Euius, with lovely locks, rich in vines, awaker of revels.

Jealous, very wrathful, envious, bestower of envy, Gentle, sweet drinker, sweet-voiced, cozener, Thracian, thyrsus-bearing, boon-companion, lion-hearted,

Slayer of Indians, desirable, twiner of violets, hierophant,

Reveller, horned, ivy-crowned, noisy,

Lydian, lord of the wine-press, dispeller of care,

Healer of sorrow, mystic, frenzied, giver of wine, thousand-shaped,

God of the night, shepherd-god, fawn-like, clothed in fawn-skin,

Spear-thrower, common to all, giver of guests, yellow-haired,

Prone to anger, stout of heart, lover of the mountain shade, wanderer on the mountains,

Deep drinker, wanderer, wearer of many garlands, constant reveller,

Mind-breaker, slender, wrinkled, clad in sheep-skin,

Leaper, satyr, son of Semele,

Jovial, bull-faced, slayer of Tyrrhenians, swift to wrath,

Chaser of sleep, liquid, hymeneal, dweller in the woods,

Mad for wild beasts, terrible, laughter-loving, wanderer,

Golden-horned, graceful, relaxer of the mind, golden-filleted,

Disturber of the soul, liar, bent on noise, tearer of the soul,

Seasonable, eater of raw flesh, nurtured on the mountains, making clamour on the mountains.

Let us chant the King who loves the call of Euhoe, the King Eiraphiotes.

Eiraphiôtês [Ειραφιωτης] - an epithet of Dionysus which could be translated as "Insewn" (from the fact that he was sewn up [erraphthai] in the thigh of Zeus)

Boeotian - an epithet which could be related to the strong cult of Dionysus within the region of Boeotia or the origins of his mother.

Bromius [Βρόμιον] - an epithet of Dionysus meaning "noisy", "roaring", or "boisterous" [from βρέμειν, to roar]. It could also derived from the noise of the Bacchantic processions, whence the verb bromeazesthai [βρομεάζεσθαι], to rage like a Bacchant.

Lydian - from the region of Lydia; Dionysus was rescued and brought by Hermes to the Lydian mountains where he spent some time there during his infancy.

"Slayer of Indians" - reference to a mythical war Dionysus and the maenads were said to have fought against various regions of India.

"Euhoe!" [from εὐοῖ] - an ecstatic cry associated with the worship of Dionysus; the shout of joy which could be heard at the festivals of Bacchus. (The epithet Euius [Έιύϊον] could also be related to this)

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Hyacinth or Hyacinthus is a divine hero and a lover of Apollo from Greek mythology. His cult at Amyclae southwest of Sparta dates from the Mycenaean era (c. 1600–1450 BC).

O Hyacinthus!” Moaned Apollo. “I can see in your sad wound my own guilt, and you are my cause of grief and self-reproach. My own hand gave you death unmerited—I only can be charged with your destruction.—What have I done wrong? Can it be called a fault to play with you? Should loving you be called a fault? And oh, that I might now give up my life for you! Or die with you! But since our destinies prevent us you shall always be with me, and you shall dwell upon my care-filled lips. The lyre struck by my hand, and my true songs will always celebrate you. A new flower you shall arise, with markings on your petals, close imitation of my constant moans: and there shall come another to be linked with this new flower, a valiant hero shall be known by the same marks upon its petals.”

Metamorphoses. Ovid. Book 10, Translated By Brookes More

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Not related to anything I usually post on here but check out my grad cap ayy

Also I'm college grad now so now that that's all over I can finally start studying hellenism more deeply

So I graduated and this was my grad cap - it sums up how my final year of college felt

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Hellenic Methods of Veiling

This will be an on-going post where I’ll add more information as I come across it, but the point of this post is to try and define as many styles (and their names) of Hellenic veiling as possible. It’s as much for my own reference as for others. Because I’ll be adding, updating, and changing it over time.

The format will be:

Name of the veiling style

Description of the veiling style

Pictures

Himation

The himation is a large, rectangular piece of cloth that is worn as an outer garment and can be used to cover the head and hair. Men and women both would wear himations.

Kekryphalos

The kekryphalos is a type of caul worn by women. It’s secured around the front of the head, and then has a looser “pouch” type area near the back where the majority of hair is tucked inside the cap. It could be made of a wide-woven material giving it a net like appearance, or more tightly woven material. The material was most likely slightly elastic in nature, having some stretch to it.

Kredemnos

The kredemnos is a wide band of fabric, leather, or metal worn across the forehead. It may also have been called stlengis.

Krobylos and Korymbos

Krobylos and korymbos were popular Athenian methods of hair binding used by men and women, respectively. Hair was rolled into a knot atop the crown of the head and fastened with clasps. Some scholars believe the style may have been closer to a chignon which was secured with clasps.

(I can’t find a good image, either historical examples or modern recreations, the closest example I have is a chignon)

Mitra

The mitra is a broad band, often colored and patterned, which can be wrapped around the hair in many ways. It could be wrapped to completely cover the hair, or left open at the crown of the head with hair hanging out.

Sakkos

The sakkos is a tightly woven material worn over the head, covering the majority of hair. It’s constructed similarly to a bag or sack, and secured around the hairline. It can be decorated with a tassel at the back. The sakkos most likely had some stretch to the material.

Examples of Men

Bust of Pythagoras wearing what appears to be a mitra

Headband style of binding hair for men

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apollo & zephyrus | the victoria and albert museum, london

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Same moon. Same stars. Same gods.

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Hellenic Pagan magic tip #1

Put the gorgoneion (gorgon’s head) on your grimoires, books, desks, altars, shrines, doorways, etc. You may sculpt one or simply draw one to seek protection. The Gorgon’s gaze will keep away negative spirits and dangers that seek to harm you. 

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Deipnon, Noumenia and Agathos Daimon Prayers

This is a collection of prayers (written mostly by others) I use to celebrate the Deipnon, Noumenia and Agathos Daimon each month.

Hekate’s Deipnon (also Hekataia or Hekatesia) was held on the 29/30th day of the lunar month, the new moon. This date is known as the hene kai nea (“old and new”). [1] The main purpose of this Deipnon, this supper, is to placate Hekate and the apotroaioi (the vengeful dead) [2]. Typical food offerings for the supper included eggs, fish (red mullet [3]), cakes [4], leeks/onions, garlic, and this offering was left at the crossroads which were sacred to Hekate Trioditis. It was also a time to purify the household.

To Hekate, for Protection from Evil

To Hekate at Deipnon

To Hekate, while offering at the crossroads

Noumenia (“new moon day”) is the first day of the lunar month, the first visible slither of the new moon. Plutarch declares it “the holiest day” [5] and there are no festivals conducted on the Noumenia according to the Attic calendar, nor did legislators meet on this day. It is traditional to burn frankincense [6] and hang garlands at the household and city shrines, and to offer cakes and honey [7], as there is a focus on feasting and relaxation on this day. The Noumenia was sacred to many personal gods of the household, most often Hestia, Hermes, Hekate, Apollo and Zeus.

O Hestia

To Hestia at Noumenia

To Hestia

To Zeus

To Zeus Ktesios

To Hermes, for Protection of the Home

O Golden Apollon

To Household Gods

The second day of the lunar month is sacred to the Agathos Daimon, the Good Spirit [8], a guardian of the house and family represented by a snake or something a young man with a cornucopia. Traditional offering to the Agathos Daimon was a libation of unmixed wine.

To Agathos Daimon

[1] Plutarch’s Lives Vol 1 “Solon”

[2] Plutarch Moralia 709A

[3] Athenaeus Deipnosophistae Book 7

[4] Aristophanes Plutus 596

[5] Plutarch Moralia 828A

[6] Aristophanes Vespae 94-96

[7] The Noumenia and Epimenia in Athens by Mikalson

[8] Sacred and Civil Calendar of the Athenian Year by Mikalson pg 15

Deipnon further reading

Noumenia further reading

* Updated version of this old post 2015

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Apollo Epithets

Feel free to correct me if im wrong!

Aegletes/Αἰγλήτης —> Light of the sun

Phoebus/Φοῖβος —> Bright (literally)

Klêdônes/Κληδωνες —> Omen in Words and Sounds

Hekatos/Ἑκατος —> Shooter from Afar

Mousêgetês/Μουσηγετης —> Leader of the Muses

Paian/Παιαν —> Healer

Alexikakos/Αλεξικακος —> Averter of Evil, Harm

Βοηδρομιος/Boêdromios —> Rescuer

Lykios/Λυκιος —> Of the Wolves (this is my favorite epithet btw xd) 

Smintheus/Σμινθειος —> Of the Mice

Theoxenios/Θεοξενιος —> God of Foreigners

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Historically Accurate Offerings for Apollo(n)

Bay leaves/bay laurel

Wine, water, milk

Laurel

Larkspur

Cypress

Frankincense (manna) incense

Palm tree

Music

Lyres, bows

Omphalos images (see below)

Burnt fat from meat

Raven images

Dolphin images (from the Cretan myth)

Tripods

Images from Wikimedia

Sources: theoi.com and LABRYS’ Household Worship

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Here is the beginning of the resources page. A LOT of it is work in progress now but I wanted to put it all up since anons will be off for the foreseeable future, I officially have no set date to turn them back on. I don’t know how long. I will try and work on the religion page and maybe masterposts but I don’t know. Anyways, here

https://michi-izkur-ereshkigal.tumblr.com/reading