Felix | He/Him | 17 | Hellenic Polytheist | Apollo devotee
1935 posts
Nothoughtsgayboy - Crows, Bows, And Arrows - Tumblr Blog
I really want to start using my tarot deck to talk to the gods, but it feels like im getting nowhere, these answers dont make sense at all and it feels like im doing everything wrong. If you have any tips please help me
Hot take, apparently, but genuinely harassing or insulting anyone's religion is not ok.
Criticizing religious institutions, proselytizing, extremism, or horrible behaviors/beliefs done in the name of a religion? YES! Totally. That should be criticized.
Unpromptedly popping up on random posts by religious folks to say anything along the lines of "god isn't real", "the pagan gods are fake", "there is only one true religion", "[any religious group] are stupid/dangerous/barbaric" -- NO.
It's rude. It's unnecessary. And sometimes, especially in the case of minorities or oppressed groups, it's outright hateful. Theres nothing helpful, funny, or cool about randomly insulting one of the most personal aspects of a persons life. Unless it's invited or warranted, stfu.
Polytheist & Pagan Asks
🙏 - Which pantheon(s) do you actively worship?
🌞 - Which deity(ies) are you closest to/do you worship the most often?
✨ - Do you believe in patron deities? If so, do you have any that you know of?
🌍 - Which pantheons do you believe exist?
📜 - Have you ever made an oath, vow, or contract with a deity? If yes, how did it go (you don't have to share)?
📿 - What are three things you're grateful to your deity(ies) for?
🖋️ - If you could say anything to your deity(ies) right now, what would you most want to say?
💌 - What is your favorite form of deity communication?
🎭 - What is an emotionally impactful or a silly worship-related experience you've had?
❤️ - What's one memory of your practice that you reflect the most fondly on?
🥂 - What is your favorite devotional act or offering to give?
🎉 - Do you celebrate any festivals? If so, which ones?
🫂 - Do you syncretize any pantheons with one another? If so, which ones?
🔮 - Do you delve into topics like the occult or the mysteries? Do you do anything esoteric?
⭐ - What is something you wish people outside your practice knew more about?
📖 - Do you like the way your pantheon is most often portrayed in media? Why or why not?
🏛️ - Do you have a favorite statue or temple to your deity(ies)? If yes, what is it?
🔥 - Do you have a favorite myth or tale from your pantheon or others?
🧭 - What led you to your practice?
🧿 - Did you have any other spiritual beliefs before discovering your current practice?
🪽 - Do you believe in angels and/or demons? If yes, do you worship or work with any?
🪄 - Do you practice witchcraft? If yes, do you keep it separate from your deity worship?
🪦 - Do ancestors or human spirits play a big role in your practice?
🐾 - Do animal spirits play a big role in your practice?
🌱 - Does nature - plants, nature spirits, etc. - play a big role in your practice?
💀 - Do you believe in ghosts? If yes, have you ever had an experience with one?
☄️ - Do you believe in astral travel/the astral realm? If so, have you been there before?
Aphrodite by Briton Rivière (1902)
Please reblog if YES so your followers will know!
Father Zeus, one of your epithets translates to The Refuge. Please please please if we've ever pleased you, become the refuge and protect all those souls that are currently in danger because of the Huricanes. You're all-mighty and hold an immesurable power, please from the bottom of my heart, help them.
Zeus loves queer people
Poseidon loves queer people
Hera loves queer people
Demeter loves queer people
Aphrodite loves queer people
Athena loves queer people
Artemis loves queer people
Apollo loves queer people
Ares loves queer people
Hephaestus loves queer people
Hermes loves queer people
Hestia loves queer people
Dionysus loves queer people
I was reading through my Homeric hymn book and I saw this line:
All of us rn:
Is anyone doing anything for Proerosia? It's gonna be the first time I celebrate with someone else irl so i'm super excited!!
Hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources
Updated 23 February 2022
The Homeric Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html
The Homeric Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis are also available to read online for free:
https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00home
https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00atha
https://archive.org/details/homerichymns0000unse
The Orphic Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html
The Orphic Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196
The Delphic Maxims: https://www.scribd.com/document/186693295/Delphic-Maxims
Many other primary sources from ancient Greece can be found in English translations at theoi.com, which is a fantastic resource for information about the Theoi.
Modern prayers to the Theoi:
Hearthstone: https://greekpagan.com & https://greekpagan.tumblr.com/ Note: downloads of Hearthstone’s two books of Hellenic prayers can be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/shop/HearthfireHandworks
winebrightruby: https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/devotional
Some of the best and most essential sources to start with - and for continuous reference, in my opinion:
Adam, John. The Religious Teachers of Greece. Clifton, New Jersey: Reference Book Publishers, Inc, 1965. https://www.giffordlectures.org/lectures/religious-teachers-greece
Adkins, Lesley and Adkins, Roy A. Handbook To Life In Ancient Greece https://archive.org/details/handbooktolifein00adki
Betegh, Gabor. Greek Philosophy and Religion. https://www.academia.edu/4990433/Greek_Philosophy_and_Religion
Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion https://archive.org/details/greekreligionarchaicandclassical
Angelos Chaniotis, “The Life of Statues of Gods in the Greek World’” Kernos [Online], 30 | 2017, posted on October 01, 2019. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/kernos/2492 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/kernos.2492
Dignas, Beate, and Kai Trampedach, eds. 2008. Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Figures from Homer to Heliodorus.Hellenic Studies Series 30. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_DignasB_and_TrampedachK_eds.Practitioners_of_the_Divine.2008
Dillon Matthew. “Household, Families and Women” in Kindt, J. Eidinow, E. (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Religion in the Ancient World, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015. https://www.academia.edu/7974646/HOME_AND_HEARTH._THE_CLASSICAL_GREEK_EXPERIENCE_OF_DOMESTIC_RELIGION_in_Kindt_J._Eidinow_E._eds_The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Religion_in_the_Ancient_World_Oxford_University_Press_Oxford_2015
Furley, WIlliam D. and Jan Maarten Bremer. Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Part One: The texts in translation.Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001. https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/uploads/tx_sgpublisher/produkte/leseproben/9783161586552.pdf
Garrett, Jan. Did Socrates ‘Teach New Deities’? Or: Homer’s Gods, Plato’s Gods http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/pgods.htm
Hesiod. Theogany https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html
Hesoid. Works and Days https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodWorksDays.html
Kearns, Emily. The Nature of Heroines in The Sacred and the Feminine in Ancient Greece edited by Sue Bundell and Margaret Williamson, Routledge, 1998. pp. 96-110. http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1500680.files/kerns%20nature%20of%20heroines.pdf
Kindt, Julia. “Personal Religion: A Productive Category for the Study of Ancient Greek Religion?” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 135, 2015, pp. 35–50., www.jstor.org/stable/44157346
Kitts, Margo. What’s Religious about the Iliad? Religion Compass 7/7 (2013): 225–233, 10.1111/rec3.12050 Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2013. https://www.academia.edu/5744383/_Whats_religious_about_the_Iliad_Religion_Compass_7_7_2013_225_233_draft_version_
Koutoupas, A. “The Meaning of Reciprocity in Ancient Greek Religion.” https://www.academia.edu/12126893/The_Meaning_of_Reciprocity_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion
Meyer, Marvin.The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World https://archive.org/details/ancientmysteries0000unse_p7i2
Morford, Mark, P.O., Lenardon, Robert J. and Sham, Michael. “The student companion to Classical Mythology, Tenth Edition”: https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199997329/
Otto, Walter.The Homeric Gods https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.4448/page/n5/mode/2up
Petrovic, Andrej, and Petrovic, Ivana. “Introduction” in Inner Purity and Pollution in Ancient Greek Religion Vol I. https://www.academia.edu/30262742/Introduction_in_Inner_Purity_and_Pollution_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion_Vol_I
Pirenne-Delforg, Vinciane and and Francesca Prescendi. Feeding the gods? Sacrifice and representation of the divine. https://books.openedition.org/pulg/1604
Rask, K.A. “Devotionalism, Material Culture, and the Personal in Greek Religion.” https://journals.openedition.org/kernos/23
Seznac, Jean.The Survival of the Pagan Gods: The Mythological Tradition and Its Place in Renaissance Humanism and Art, Princeton University Press, 1953. Chapter One, pp. 11-36. http://people.bu.edu/bobl/paganchristian.pdf
Smith, William. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities John Murray, London, 1875. Articles on Greek and Roman religion, including divination, festivals, funerals, magic, priestly officers, and rituals: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA/Religion/home.html
Von den Hogg, Ralf. “Images and Prestige of Cult Personnel in Athens between the Sixth and First Centuries BC” in Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Officials from Homer to Heliodorus, edited by Kai Trampedach, and Beate Dignas. Kolloquium. pp 107-141 http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/2166/1/vdH_Images_Prestige_2008.pdf
Webster, Michael. Reading Hesiod’s Theogany. 2005. https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/Hesiod2.htm
Webster, Michael.
Ways of Interpreting Myths
. 2005.
https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/ways.htm
Weddell, Poly. Touching the Gods: physical interaction with cult statues in the Roman world. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/555/1/Touching_the_Gods.pdf?DDD3+
Whitmore, Emily. Personal Religion in ancient Greece. https://www.academia.edu/8729313/Personal_religion_in_ancient_Greece
Woodward, Roger D. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology https://archive.org/details/TheCambridgeCompanionToGreekMythology/page/n1/mode/2up
____________
Additional information is available at my Resources for Hellenic & Roman Polytheism: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/resources
NOTE: I’m sorry to report that a number of books in this list which were formerly available to read online free at internet.org are now currently listed as “Borrow Unavailable” as a result of the 2023 judgement in Hachette v. Internet Archive: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachette_v._Internet_Archive. The decision is to be appealed in 2024 - you can keep up with the case at https://blog.archive.org/
In the meantime, the books listed above may be available from your local public library.
When you feel out of control, take deep breaths. The Gods will take care of you. Scary moments won't last forever, you're safe in this present moment.
⚔️ Perseus Worship Guide 🪽
~ Art by DocZenith on ArtStation ~
The great ancient Greek hero, Perseus - a hero so renowned that an entire children's book series was written inspired by him. He accomplished fantastical feats with the very gods themselves rooting for his victory. Many people admire him, but few seem to be aware that worship is not only an option for gods. Heroes, such as Perseus, can be worshipped as well, and have been throughout history. Explore the various ways Perseus can be worshipped in the modern day in the enlightening post that follows.
***I am not an educator or historian. This is solely being made for religious purposes, and I will be touching on UPG.**
°· Who is Perseus? ·°
As stated above, Perseus is an ancient Greek hero starring in his own myths. As a biological son of Zeus (NOT Poseidon) and a mortal woman, trials and troubles were a guarantee in his life. His mother, Danaë, was trapped in a tower before his birth, due to her father, Akrisios', fear of a prophecy that claimed her son would kill him. Despite her predicament, Zeus was able to enter her locked tower, taking the form of a golden rain shower, and Danaë became pregnant with his son (don't ask me, man; I don't know). Her father immediately cast her out upon discovering the child, placing both her and her son, Perseus, into a chest floating on the sea. However, the pair made it safely to the island of Seriphos, being sheltered by the fisherman Diktys, brother to the king of the island, Polydectes. Diktys would also raise Perseus as a father figure.
Perseus would grow to become the eventual slayer of the gorgon Medusa, arguably his most famous accomplishment, as well as the savior of Andromeda, an Ethiopian princess who had been chained to a rock to be fed to a sea monster. He also freed his mother from King Polydectes by turning him to stone with Medusa's head. Perseus' grandfather fled from him in fear, allowing Perseus to assume the throne of his kingdom. Although Perseus didn't purposely kill his grandfather, he was the cause of his grandfather's demise via an accidental discus throw (prophecy fulfilled 🔴).
He later fathered many children. With his lovely wife Andromeda, he had the sons Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, Sthenelus, Electryon, and Cynurus, and two daughters, Gorgophone and Autochthe. He's also said to be an ancestor of the famous Herakles, who is also a demigod son of Zeus. Unlike Herakles, however, there don't seem to be recorded myths of Perseus ascending to godhood, although he was still worshipped as a Greek hero and Founder of Mycanaea.
✿*Well-known myths *✿
His most widespread myth is that of slaying Medusa, which he did in an effort to protect his mother from the cruel King Polydectes, who had fallen in love with her. Perseus believed Polydectes wasn't worthy of his mother's hand in marriage (and he was absolutely right, in my opinion; Polydectes wished to enslave his mother), so as a plot to send Perseus away, Polydectes plotted to send Perseus on the impossible quest of slaying the gorgon Medusa. Before setting out on his journey, Perseus prayed to Zeus, terrified of the challenges that lay ahead, and his father answered by sending Hermes and Athena to deliver five gifts that would aid Perseus' quest. Hermes lent his brother the god's winged sandals and sword, providing him with Haides' helm of invisibility also (though some ancient people seemed to think this wasn't this case and were very opinionated about it lol). Athena lent Perseus her polished shield, able to reflect the gorgon's appearance without petrifying him, and a bag that he could safely store the head in, warning Perseus that Medusa's gaze would still turn others into stone, even in death. The pair then instructed Perseus to seek out the infamous Graia, sisters of the gorgons, to discover Medusa's location.
With cunning and quick-wit, Perseus was able to take the shared eye and tooth between the sisters, and hold them hostage until they revealed Medusa's location. Upon his arrival, he used the reflective shield gifted to him by Athena to avoid looking directly at Medusa, and sword guided by Athena's might, he beheaded the ghastly Gorgon in one swift maneuver of his blade. Her sisters attempted to avenge her, but donning Haides' helm of invisibility, Perseus was able to easily evade capture. After a few other misadventures along the way, he returned to discover that his mother had to flee from Polydectes while he was away, so out of vengeance for the bullshit Polydectes put them both through, Perseus slew him using the severed head of Medusa. A fitting death - that guy was an asshole. As a show of gratitude for sheltering him and his mother, Perseus also made Diktys the new king of Seriphos.
Another of his myths that he's well-known for is that of rescuing Andromeda from her fate. He came across Andromeda after slaying Medusa, on his way home from the adventure. The princess' father, King Cepheus, chained her naked to a rock surrounded by raging oceans and a ravenous sea monster, Cetus. Her father wished to appease Poseidon after his wife angered the God by claiming Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids (Sea Nymphs). An Oracle claimed that sacrificing Andromeda to Cetus was the only way to soothe Poseidon's anger. Luckily, using the winged sandals that Hermes gifted him, Perseus flew over the stormy waters to Andromeda and freed her, immediately earning her hand in marriage. Andromeda's original suitor, Phineus, was upset at the marriage, but Perseus turned him to stone with Medusa's head and carried on.
Although these are his most well-known myths, there are still other myths about Perseus that I didn't cover here. Overall, he is a widely recognized Greek hero, known for his quick wit, the love he had for his mother, and the founding of Mycanaea, considered by many ancient Greeks to be the father of all Mycanaea (after making Diktys king of Seriphos, Perseus went on to find the land known as Mycanaea). If you're interested in learning more of his myths (which I highly suggest), my resources will be listed at the end of the post.
·•✷ Sacred Symbols ✷•·
The sacred symbols featured below are pulled from his myths and historical depictions I found of him.
The severed head of Medusa
Swords (particularly sickle-shaped) and shields
Winged sandals/boots and a winged helm
The Helm of Invisibility
Snakes and sea serpents
Treasure chests/chests in general
Raging oceans (due to the Andromeda myth)
Rain made of gold; storm clouds (from his birth)
Discus (basically an ancient Greek frisbee-like thing)
Fishnets and fishing gear (due to his upbringing)
Fountains
A pegasus or horse
Wings (from the sandals and Medusa herself)
An eye and a tooth (from the three hags)
Broken chains/restraints (from Andromeda's rescue)
It's rather disappointing how difficult it is to find information about his worship in ancient times that isn't hidden behind a paywall. That said, I gathered some UPG from worshippers of his who were willing to share! A reminder that the below is based on UPG.
Overcoming challenges/obstacles
Feathers
Spears
Knives/other blade weapons outside of swords
Handcrafted arts and items
Boats/sailing
Mirrors/reflective surfaces
Wind, especially near or on the water
Rainfall on sunny days
The colors blue, lilac, dark gray, and gold
Eels, sea-snakes, and seabirds, especially sea-eagles
Clumps of snakes (resembles Medusa's head)
Freshly bloomed flowers; purple and blue flowers
Plants: lilac, sword lillies (dangerous to cats), peony, red hot poker (especially purples ones), foxgloves, lavender, gingko trees, and cedar trees
Herbs: Lavender, parsley, basil, lemongrass, and bay leaf
Myrrh, frankincense, sandalwood, jasmine, and ocean scents
‹-« Epithets »-›
The following is a list of titles I found for Perseus. Supposedly, they are historically attested, but if I'm going to be honest, I would take it with a grain of salt, as the sources on this were few and far between. I'll also include a short list of purely UPG/modern titles. First, however, is the historically attested list:
Godlike
Gold-begotten (referencing his birth)
Valiant
The Harvester (referencing his role in the births of Pegasus and Chrysaor, who came out of Medusa's neck after her head was cut off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
The Horseman
The Warrior Chief (referencing his prowess in battle)
Deliverer of Andromeda (referencing rescue of Andromeda)
Slayer of Medusa/the Gorgo
The Eagle Son of the Golden Sire (referencing his divine lineage and birth, "The Eagle" being Zeus)
Father/Founder/King of Mycanaea (referencing the belief that he founded Mycanaea)
Perseus of Argos (referencing where he resided)
Son of Danaë
Son of Zeus
Now the UPG/modern epithets list:
Chain Breaker/Breaking (referencing rescue of Andromeda and his mother)
Starry-eyed (referencing his constellation)
Starry-footed (referencing his constellation and winged sandals)
Stone-shielded (referencing Medusa's head on the shield)
Wind-swift (referencing his winged sandals)
Courageous/Daring
The Cunning
The Resilient
The Shield-bearer (referencing the shield he uses)
The Unconquerable
The Wayfarer (referencing his many travels)
Brother of the Owl-eyed Warrior (referencing Athena)
Brother of the Silver-tongued Messenger (referencing Hermes)
Son of the Kingly Zeus
Son of the Rich-haired Danaë (based on an epithet of Danaë)
(Image depicts Perseus, Medusa, and Athena)
·✩· Perseus Worship in the Modern Day ·✩·
Within the modern day, worship may seem intimidating if you don't know how to go about it, but thankfully, it's much easier than it may seem. Before I continue, please be aware that there is no one way to worship any Greek entity, be it hero or deity. Worship varies from person to person, even when they worship the same entity, and that's both normal and historically supported. In ancient Greece, worship was different all across the land with some city-states not worshipping entire deities that others did. It's ok if your practice doesn't look exactly the same as someone else's; in fact, it probably shouldn't!
A common way of worshipping any Greek entity in the modern day is creating a custom altar. Some worshippers keep their altars outdoors, preferring for their space to be out in nature, while others keep their altars indoors, preferring their altar to be within the home. Where you keep your altar is entirely up to you, although indoor altars are typically more common due to their accessibility for most people. Being that Perseus is a hero who's traveled far and wide, going on daring adventures for the benefit of others rather than himself, a place to put his altar in the home could be near the door or window - a nod to the various journeys he's embarked on. An outdoor altar for Perseus could be located near a body of water - a nod to both the rescue of Andromeda and his escape to Seriphos with his mother as a young boy. If it's near water, be careful to keep it far enough away that it won't be swept away (make sure to keep flash floods in mind, too). I also don't suggest having anything that could be bad for the earth on an outdoor altar; it could harm the environment, should any of those items be lost.
It's important to note that you don't need an altar to worship an entity. That might be a hot take to some, but I've known many worshippers who either can't have an altar, due to living circumstances, or simply don't want to, due to personal beliefs. Worship however feels correct to you (though I highly suggest still being respectful). Religion and spirituality are very personal, and I encourage you to explore that personal connection. Don't be afraid to do things a little differently!
Many modern altars have a candle, meant to be lit in honor of the entity. If you don't want a candle on your altar, that's ok! Candle scents are typically based on things associated with the entity or things that simply remind the worshipper of them. For Perseus, some potential candle scents could be ocean, storm, rain (UPG after this), lily, lavender, lilac, or sandalwood. Feel free to choose a scent that calls to you, even if it wasn't mentioned!
Most altars have various objects dedicated to the entity they were made for - things that remind you of the entity, depict images of the entity directly, or sacred symbols of the entity. These are called "offerings". Some stay on the altar permanently while others may not - it's entirely up to you what you choose to do with your offerings! When it comes to food offerings, I advise you not to keep them on the altar for too long, since they're often susceptible to perishing. Throw food offerings away or, if they're good for the environment, you can bury them outside. Some people also choose to burn perishable offerings, but I don't personally suggest it if you're not sure what can and can't be safely burned. In the next section below, I'll include a list of modern offerings you can give to Perseus. The list has suggestions; you aren't required to give any of the items mentioned if you don't want to!
Outside of altar worship, you can also do "devotional acts" - actions you do in honor of Perseus and with him in mind. In order to make an entity aware that I'm about to do a devotional act, I usually pray to them beforehand or declare aloud that I'm about to do something for them. Daily activities, that you would've done anyway, are also ok to dedicate to an entity; devotional acts don't have to be something you go super out of your way to do if you don't have time or energy for that. Involving entities in your daily activities is actually a great way of welcoming their presence directly into your life and can help with bonding. Two sections down is a list of devotional acts you're welcome to try. Just as the offerings I mention aren't required, neither are the devotional acts.
When in need of communicating with Perseus, I suggest utilizing divination, prayers, meditations, or journaling. There are other ways of communicating with entities, but these are the most common that I see. Regarding divination, there are near endless methods of divination you can try, from tarot cards to pendulums to a normal deck of playing cards. Although prayer is likely one of the most direct ways to communicate, divination typically allows you to have a back and forth conversation, to some extent, which is partially why so many people engage with it. If you're unfamiliar with any divination, I'd recommend trying whichever method calls you the most and practicing often to develop a skill with it. Divination can take a lot of practice, but that's not a bad thing; everyone starts somewhere! If you're unsure how to pray, the following link leads to some suggestions. If you can't meditate, no sweat; it's not required! Meditation can be useful for some when trying to connect with an entity's energy, but for others, it's not helpful at all, and that's ok. For journaling, you can simply write to Perseus as if you're writing in a diary or write him stylized letters. Maybe keep your journal on his altar as well!
At first, it may be difficult to determine when Perseus has responded to something you've prayed for or communicated about. A few ways an entity might make their answer known are through dreams, conversations/words you overhear, frequently spotting their sacred symbols (animals included), having a flash of a relevant image in your mind, strong gut feelings to do/say something specific, sensing another presence with you, and, of course, communicating through divination. There are many, many other ways an entity might express their answer to you, but these are a few I see fairly commonly within the Hellenic Polytheist and Pagan communities. If you struggle telling when you've received a sign versus when you're just overthinking it, this link can lend a helpful hand in being able to tell. I also personally use the rule of three: once is noticeable 🤔, twice is a coincidence 🤨, and thrice is a certainty 🧐.
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·✩· What is Perseus Like in Worship (UPG)? ·✩·
This is SOLELY based on UPG and SPG that I've gathered through various means. Out of respect, I will not be @ing the individuals who provided this information, unless they ask me to do so. Be aware that no one can definitively speak for the gods, heroes, or any other entity; everyone's experience with them will vary, even in seemingly small ways. Do not expect your experience to mimic the following experiences exactly.
I decided to gather people's experiences with Perseus in worship to hopefully provide a better feel for what Perseus may be like. I'll be numbering the experiences I was told of because each situation was expressly unique enough that separating them will be useful. Each experience will begin with two adjectives outlining the main point of the experience, as some of these individuals intentionally worship specific aspects of Perseus. Although your experience may vary, here are some things you may encounter with him:
⚔️ Young and Rebellious. 💥 This person told me that they explicitly worship a younger aspect of Perseus, before he became a king. They described him as spirited, determined, and bold. He encouraged standing up for oneself and others, and dislikes figures of authority. The way he was described reminds me of a typical "rebellious teen" stereotype (this is not an insult, just something I found interesting, as my experience strongly differed). He seemed to have more of a hands-on approach to lessons and problems, but that wasn't discussed further.
🐎 Humble and Kind. 🧡 This person only interacted with Perseus through their partner, but every time they did, they described him as being very modest and respectful. Despite his later status as a king, he seemed to regard everyone as an equal and tended to be very patient as well. This person stated that their partner said Perseus still knew how and when to put his foot down and often tried to pass that lesson along, since assertiveness was a struggle for their partner. Perseus was described as being a gentle guide as well, preferring for their partner to come to their own conclusions but still assisting them along the journey.
🪽 Swift and Smart. 🛡️ This person described Perseus as being kind and respectful, but being blunt when it was needed. He fully embraced both cunning and wit, and encouraged this person to solve problems by thinking outside of the box. Rather than giving away solutions immediately, he would prefer to let this person think through a situation. He aided a lot with thinking on their feet as well as asserting themselves in subtle yet effective ways. Something that remained consistent with the last experience was his hands-off approach to solving problems, preferring the person to listen to themselves first and foremost.
✨ My Experience. ✨ I do not worship Perseus, but a few times throughout the creation of this post, I felt his energy nearby. In my experience, he was very quiet, patient, and respectful. He respected my boundaries and seemingly regarded me as an equal. His modesty was striking, but despite this, he was still well aware of his talents. He was extremely clever and intelligent, and in some ways, he reminded me of an owl who observes his surroundings fully before he acts. He still made a point to assert himself when needed, however, and would jump in the moment he felt it necessary. Interestingly, he had a very hands-off approach to this post. When he did help, it was much appreciated, though. He was very different from other heroes I've interacted with, and overall, I enjoyed his company. c:
✧ ⟨Offerings ⟩✧
The following is a list of offerings you can give to Perseus as a show of worship. They're simply suggestions; you don't have to use them if you don't want to!
Decorated chests/boxes (maybe even keep his altar in a chest)
A candle that reminds you of him
Frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, or any other incense that reminds you of him
Sword and shield imagery
Imagery of a pegasus or horse
Imagery of Medusa's head; imagery of the Aegis (Athena's shield that she affixes Medusa's head to)
Feathers (for his winged sandals)
Snake and sea serpent imagery; a stuffed animal snake or sea serpent
Ethically sourced snake skulls, especially sea snakes; ethically sourced snake shed
Imagery of a raging ocean; imagery of rain made of gold
Seashells
Fishnets/fishing gear
Ethically sourced fish bones/shark teeth
Breaking/broken chains imagery; broken handcuffs
Gifts from your mom or a mother figure in your life to you (it's ok if you don't have anything)
Jewelry that reminds you of him
Water-based gems/crystals
Art/depictions of him and his ventures
Imagery of spears (as an acknowledgement of Athena and her aid)
Imagery of winged sandals (as an acknowledgement of Hermes and his aid)
Encouraging affirmations about pushing through, defying expectations, and overcoming obstacles
Fountain imagery
A mask of Medusa's face
Eye and tooth imagery; ethically sourced animal teeth (you can use human teeth, but I personally wouldn't)
Family heirlooms passed down from maternal (or parental) figures
Lost trinkets found at the beach/lakeshore
Imagery of an ancient Greek helm/the helm of invisibility
Toys/items from your childhood that mean a lot to you
Mirrors/reflective surfaces
Replica sail boats/toy boats
Flowers, leaves, or herbs that remind you of him
White wine with a bit of honey
Warm herbal tea with honey
A glass of water (or salt/sea water)
Energizing drinks - coffee, certain teas, energy shakes, protein shakes, etc.
Energizing foods - nuts, trail mix, vegetables, oatmeal, eggs, bananas, etc.
Breads, pastries, grains with honey, natural honey, tasty candies, fresh fruits, fish, or something you made by hand for Perseus specifically
｡◉* Devotional Acts *◉ ｡
The following is a list of devotional activities you can do in honor of Perseus. These are just suggestions; you don't have to do them if you don't want to!
Learn how to swim; go swimming
Go sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding; engage in water-related activities
Play frisbee with friends or pets
Go fishing (legally, please)
Be kind to/encourage yourself when going through a difficult time
Make a list of things you've overcome; acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small they seem
Learn how to ride a horse; go horse-back riding
Stay hydrated; drink water
Try eating a healthy diet or meal if possible
Try exercising; do some movement throughout your day
Spend time with a maternal figure in your life or with a mother you know (for example, a friend or sibling who became a mom)
Be kind to children; spend time with the kids in your life
Watch a comforting movie/show from your childhood
Learn about self-defense; carry self-defense items (knives, pepper spray, etc.)
If you have a personal mirror, decorate it with things you love or positive self-affirmations
Create a playlist of songs that remind you of him; listen to the playlist whenever you want c:
Create a Pinterest board for him; save pins that remind you of him
Play strategy games, competitive or not
Learn how to wield a sword; swords are objectively cool
Visit any local fountains (not a drinking fountain, but the kind that people throw coins in)
Offer someone a helping hand; engage in random acts of kindness
Send your loved ones a kind message; maybe tell them you love them, wish them a good day, or encourage them
Stand up for others, especially if you witness a wrong done against them
Attend protests that stand against corrupt governments/politicians
Support children-focused, anti-domestic abuse, young/single mothers, or international relief organizations
Support ocean conservation efforts
Donate children's and hygiene supplies to homeless shelters; hygiene kits, toys, child socks/shoes, child clothes, baby food, diapers, etc.
Pick up trash around bodies of water
Sing/dance to songs the empower you, lift you up, or encourage you to keep moving forward
Make a list of things you're proud of; even getting out of bed can be a point of pride
Light a candle in his honor; burn incense in his honor
Plant/care for flowers or other plants that remind you of him
Create something for him - a painting, drawing, piece of digital art, wood carving, crochet project, song, short story, collage, etc.
Take a salt bath (with bath salts specifically!!!!)
Engage in a mental challenging/stimulating activities
•★ Conclusion ★•
To cover every piece of information about Perseus that exists would be a difficult task, and one that would likely take years of hard work. I hope this can at least be a starting point for any prospective worshippers and can offer a more condensed view of who exactly Perseus is. It can be challenging finding a place to start, but once you take your first step, you're already well on your way. I wish you, the reader, luck in your future ventures. May Perseus walk beside you, if you wish him to. Take care.
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Sources:
Theoi.com's entry on Perseus
Tufts University sources on the Medusa myth
History Cooperative's informed article on Perseus
Cults and Rites in Ancient Greece by Michael H. Jameson
Gods and Heroes - Perseus by Daniel Ogden
UPG was gathered from unnamed individuals, as well as my own very brief experiences with Perseus
FIVE YEARS WITH THE GODS: what I've learned
Don't fixate on the notion of being "called" by a particular deity or "claimed" by them. It'll only lead to confusion, misinterpretation, or disappointment. Instead, pay attention to your gut. What feels right? What names, symbols, or spheres of influence resonate with you or intrigue you?
Sometimes, we are presented with or drawn to gods we may not expect. In this case, we often need to look past the superficial aspects of a deity to understand why we feel drawn to them.
You will develop an insatiable appetite for knowledge, but let yourself digest information and experiences before proceeding to something new. Set aside time to reflect on your learning. Journaling is the perfect complement to research.
Make sense of your own perceptions and ideas before digging too deeply into the perceptions of others.
Our paths will inevitably wander into unfamiliar fields. Enjoy the journey. Make room for new modes of belief.
You will feel like a beginner for a long time. This is a good sign; it means you're growing something profound...and staying humble.
You are almost always overthinking things.
Feeling stressed out over your spirituality is not a good sign. Adjust accordingly and convey your thoughts to the gods as you go.
It's okay to release a deity from your practice. This does not make you a failure or a terrible person. Relationships change, and so do you.
You will need breaks from your practice. Spirituality is not a side hustle; let go of your guilt and rest.
Doubt and skepticism will be steadfast companions on your journey. Question everything.
In the end, your path belongs to you alone. No one else has power over what you practice.
Introduction
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Hii,
You can call me Felix or Andrew, I'm a 17 year old (read: MINOR) pagan. I use he/him/his pronouns. I use tone tags sometimes - if you want me to clarify what I mean by any tone tags, or you want me to use them when I haven't already, don't be afraid to let me know :3 /gen
I'm a hellenic polytheist, meaning I worship the greek pantheon (the theoi). I primarily worship Father Zeus, Father Ares, and Hermes. I am devoted to Apollo. I have been a pagan for about 5 years. Obviously my worship is more complex than this but it's probably worth its own post :3 If you have any questions, feel free to ask /gen
I also do hero worship with Odysseus (idk if this is phrased right but it's fine lol)!!
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This is a my main blog. My sideblogs are:
@simplytiredtransboy - general blog
@hopelesswitchyboy - witchcraft blog
@fluffywolfboyy - therian blog
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DNI:
• Anti-theists (why are you even on this blog T-T)
• Anti-therian/otherkin/alterhuman etc.
• Anti-self dx
• Transphobes/homophobes/racists
• Sh/ed blogs
• Vent blogs
• Nsfw/mdni blogs (I am a minor)
• Radqueers
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'Can and will bite' userbox by @/oxceen
Apollo userbox by @/messywitch
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halloween costume ideas from the iliad!
hector's dust-covered corpse being dragged around the walls of troy (can bring a friend to be achilles)
the river scamander bloated with the corpses of soldiers killed by achilles
couples costume! achilles mourning over patroclus's body
achilles' horse as it prophesies his own death to him (may be too scary??)
a trojan warrior killed by achilles
a trojan warrior killed by odysseus
a trojan warrior killed by agamemnon
a trojan warrior killed by diomedes
a trojan warrior killed by patroclus
a trojan warrior killed by ajax
a trojan warrior killed by menelaus
that one dude odysseus stabbed in the dick
Hello! Do you (and other Greeks) find "Hellenic polytheism" an acceptable term for the religion worshipping the ancient Greek gods? If not, what would you want people to call it instead? I feel strongly that I would not be able to change my belief itself, but I definitely want to be respectful in what I call it and my other actions
Hellenic Polytheism should be fine. You can introduce yourself as a Hellenic Polytheist.
People have a bit of a hard time with this hell of terms (get it? he he), so I am gonna create a mini-lexicon. It's not targeted to you in specific to use all these, it's just for whoever is interested to clear this up in their minds.
A very hellenic lexicon
Hellás = 1) the official term for Greece and the only one ever used by Greeks themselves (there is no equivalent of "Greece" in Greek), 2) a historical ancient region in central mainland Greece where southeast Epirus and southwestern Thessaly meet and where a lot of Achilles' soldiers supposedly originated from, 3) the administrative region of central mainland Greece during the Byzantine Empire
Hellenic = anything Greek (like you may say "this is an american movie", that's why you can use hellenic polytheism, because it means "greek religion of many gods"). And by anything Greek, we mean ANYTHING. Care to know what the "Greek Orthodox Church" is called in Greek?
You guessed it! Hellenic Orthodox Church...! So you see, how when foreigners say some things like "i'm hellenic, hellene, hellenist" like "what hellenic are you? coffee? bank? Christian?" You know?
Hellen = the mythological progenitor of the Greeks according to Hesiod. Not to be confused with Helen.
Héllene = a Greek by descent, nationality and / or ethnicity. And if we are being totally accurate, it's a Greek male. I don't actually know how it is pronounced in English but ideally keep the last e silent. (By the way we do not pronounce that h in the beginning in all these words for the last 1500 years or so.... just saying.)
Héllenes = the Greeks, just men or mixed. The last e is NOT silent.
English does not have gendered nouns but Greek does so technically there is a seperate word for Greek women but I don't know if this is transferable to English. If we could do it in theory and by following the trasliteration style of the Hellene, it should be something like:
*Hellenís / Hellenidae or Hellenides = Greek woman / women*
Hopefully this explains why random foreigners identifying as "Hellenes" is exremely problematic.
Helladic = pertaining to the geography and territory of Hellas and whatever happens strictly within its borders
Hellenisation = spread of Greek influence and culture, it is also used for cases of Greek assimilation in ancient times
Hellenistic = 1) something being characterized by particular Greek influence, 2) referring to the era after the Classical period and before the Roman period
Hellenicá = 1) the Greek language, 2) (infrequent) Greek matters, documented topics about the Greeks
Hellenism = The complete Greek culture, civilization and nationhood, the essence of being Greek.
Hellenist = 1) a specialist in the study of Greek language, literature, culture, or history, or an admirer of the Greek culture and civilization, 2) a person who adopted the Greek customs, language and culture during the Hellenistic period, 3) now, the English Wiktionary also adds the "a follower and practitioner of Hellenic religion" <- which one of the two??? XD, clearly following the trend of western classicist circles. In the Greek Wiktionary for the same exact term (Ελληνιστής) that last interpretation does not exist and I can guarantee you it is officially rejected. Here's why: the suffixes -ist and -ism (as well as all suffixes here) are suffixes of Greek origin and they signify that someone is something or is passionate and dedicated to something on the superlative or very very earnestly, essentially. So when someone says they are a hellenist, they are supposed to be dedicated or charmed by anything that makes something hellenic, not to be professional cherry pickers. Of course, everyone is allowed their preferences, however you can't be interested in a super specific / niche thing like a religion mostly practiced 2000-3500 years ago and simultaneously show complete disregard and ignorance on literally everything else about this civilization, history and its living people and call yourself a hellenist. It tears the word apart. By the way this is not targeted at you. You are here asking about it, wanting to do the right thing. I am referring to this thing happening in this forum that @alatismeni-theitsa 's Anon was complaining about; they obsess over the ancient religion and they hate everything Greek post the AD mark. That's not being a Hellenist. That's not a Hellenism forum. That's the exact opposite in fact. Very few people can correctly claim the term "hellenist".
BONUS: Philhellene is kind of synonym to "hellenist" and it means "friend / lover of the Hellenes and all things hellenic". But again it can surely be misused. Not all self-proclaimed Philhellenes were ones indeed. Some, like Lord Byron, were Philhellenes through and through, on the other hand.
Of course, one definitely does not have to go through what Lord Byron and other great Philhellenes of the 19th century went through to prove they are a Hellenist or a Philhellene! My point is that very very few people can correctly claim the identity of a Philhellene or a Hellenist.
Therefore, "Hellenic polytheist" is just fine.
I kinda wanna totally revamp my altars but I'm kind of stuck for space - also I might have (not really an altar but a space) for Odysseus. I have monster energy drinks and I know some people do stuff with their empty monsters but I'm not sure what lol
I kinda wanna totally revamp my altars but I'm kind of stuck for space - also I might have (not really an altar but a space) for Odysseus. I have monster energy drinks and I know some people do stuff with their empty monsters but I'm not sure what lol
Head of Dionysus
Rome - 2nd century CE
Currently at Capitoline Museums
I just love them so much 🥰
My most controversial take is that I think if youre going to be any kind of culturally based polytheist, you should a) learn the language and b) learn to do scholarly research.
I wont use the word "must", and call me a gatekeeper all you like, but there is so much misinformation out there that if you care about your practice being authentic/culturally sensitive AT ALL you need to learn how to sift through the centuries of romanticism and neopagan-speculation-sold-as-fact (looking at you, Wiccans).
Not saying your practice must be reconstructionist in nature, but if you can't tell what is supported by the data, what is conjecture, and what is outright fabrication, you are doing the material, your practice, and yourself a disservice.
not to be that person but dear non greek hellenic polytheists, please don't claim to know how to pronounce greek words and make guides about how to pronounce greek phrases and prayers when you in fact, don't know how to.
i don't want to sound aggressive or condescending but some things i read in this app are SO clearly wrong i don't even know if they did some basic research on how to pronounce the phrases correctly
hot take but apollos darker side is so underated like i dunno why but its so cool seeing apollo described as terrifying in the illiad and seeing a candle being made to represent how he can bring about plague and destruction
>looking for a new retelling of ancient myth
>ask the reviewers if the book is classical reception or modern tropification
>they don't understand
>i pull out a diagram explaining the difference between what engages with ancient sources and depictions of the story and what relies on reduction of the story to its most marketable aspects
>they laugh and say "it's a good retelling"
>read the book
>its tropification