Many Pagan deities are associated with various aspects of the human experience, such as love, death, marriage, fertility, healing, war, and so forth. The notion of paganism, as it is generally understood today, was created by the early Christian Church. While Wicca has no dogmatic commandments, you may find some inspiration in Pagan Greek writings. There is usually no central clergy or degree system as found in Wicca. Huitzilopochtli - God of war 4. Xipe-Totec - God of force, patron of war, agriculture, vegetation, diseases, seasons, rebirth, hunting, trades, and spring; lord of the east 3. The Norse culture honored a wide variety of gods, and many are still worshipped today by Asatruar and Heathens. It is crucial to stress right from the start that until the 20th century, people did not call themselves pagans to describe the religion they practised. Another value is known as metriotes, or moderation, and goes hand in hand with sophrosune, which is self-control. 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. As the culture evolved, so did many of the deities and what they represented. On the other hand, if you're referring to the Goddess-worshipping earth-based form of Paganism, the Hellenes wouldn't fit that definition. There tends to be some question about what, exactly, is the right offering to make to the gods or goddesses of one's tradition, and how we should honor them when making those offerings. During the course of a year, celebrations are held to honor most of the ​Olympic gods. So the question arises, then, of what to offer them? Hellenismos is the term used to describe the modern equivalent of the traditional Greek religion. Hades – Greek God of the Underworld and Death Hephaestus – Greek God of the Forge, of technology, craftsmen, sculptors, fire and volcanoes. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Best known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and transgender people. It is simply the concept that one should take the time to do things–including worship and offerings–in a way that is conducive to the demands and needs of the god or goddess in question. 1. Some Hellenes object to being described as "Pagan" at all, simply because many people assume that all Pagans are Wiccans, which Hellenistic Polytheism definitely isn't. Our ancestors prayed to their gods, long ago. your own Pins on Pinterest According to legend, the altar of Zeus stood on a spot struck by a thunderbolt, which had been hurled by the god from his throne high atop Mount Olympus, where the gods assembled. Although the Hellenic groups follow various paths, they typically base their religious views and ritual practices on a few common sources: Most Hellenes honor the gods of Olympus: Zeus and Hera, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter, Ares, Hermes, Hades, and Aphrodite, to name a few. Male lovers of the god included the satyr Ampelos and the famously handsome Adonis. In many Pagan and Wiccan traditions, it's not uncommon to make some sort of offering or sacrifice to the gods. There was also clearly cultural evolution from the Late Helladic Mycenaean religion of the Mycenaean civilization. Harald Sund / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images, Kris Ubach and Quim Roser /Collection Mix / Getty Images. There are literally thousands of different deities out there in the Universe, and which ones you choose to honor will often depend significantly upon what pantheon your spiritual path follows. Poseidon is the god of the sea, known as "earth-shaker.". Trickster God. In addition to public holidays, local groups often held celebrations, and it wasn't uncommon for families to make offerings to household deities. A typical worship ritual includes purification, a prayer, ritual sacrifice, hymns, and feasting in honor of the gods. The phrase "Hellenic polytheism" is actually, much like the word "Pagan," an umbrella term. Hellenic Paganism refers to pagans devoted to the Olympian deities.An ancient tradition, it was originally practiced in classical Greece. Jan 30, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Shiconey ASolitaryWitch. Reblog. The ancient Greeks celebrated all kinds of festivals and holidays in the different city-states. In some cases, we may choose to ask a deity for assistance in a magical working or in problem solving. Does your tradition honor a god or goddess of healing magic?. Most Hellenes honor the gods of Olympus: Zeus and Hera, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter, Ares, Hermes, Hades, and Aphrodite, to name a few. Regardless, at some point, you're going to have to sit and sort them all out. Read more about the different Types of Pagan Deities, so you can figure out which ones you'd like to try working with, depending on your personality and your magical goals. By using Learn Religions, you accept our, 8 Common Belief Systems in the Modern Pagan Community, Recommended Reading for Hellenic (Greek) Paganism, Myths and Misconceptions: The Truth About Wicca and Paganism, The writings of classical authors, such as Homer and his contemporaries, Individual experience and intuition, such as personal gnosis and interaction with the Divine. Leave a comment To Polyhymnia SOURCE: “The goddess within: a guide to the eternal myths that shape women’s lives” by Woolger and Woolger, 1989, page 36. Mixcoatl - God of war 1. Keep in mind that the idea of right or appropriate worship is not about someone telling you what's "right or wrong." Depends on who you ask, and how you define "Pagan." hellenismos hellenic polytheism hellenism mml hellenic paganism greek mythology greek god theoi greek deity aphrodite aphrodite deity aphrodite goddess aphrodite devotee. Both the literary settings of some important myths and many important sanctuaries relate to locations that were … Camaxtli - God of war 2. In modern Pagan religions, people often feel drawn towards many of the ancient gods. Hellenic revivalist groups are found all over the world, not just in Greece, and they use a variety of different names. If you don't have a specific, written tradition, then how do you know which gods to call upon? This entry was posted on September 10, 2018, in Muses, Prayers, Terpsichore and tagged greek gods, greek muses, hellenic paganism, muse of dance, pagan prayers, Terpsichore. People who follow this path are known as Hellenes, Hellenic Reconstructionists, Hellenic Pagans, or by one of many other terms. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. The Olympic Games were originally held in honor of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and a sacrifice of 100 oxen was made to the god on the middle day of the festival. Let's look at some of the best-known Gods and Goddesses of the Norse Pantheon. Although the Celts consisted of societies all over the British Isles and parts of Europe, some of their gods and goddesses have become a part of modern Pagan practice. However, many modern Pagans and Wiccans describe themselves as eclectic, which means they may honor a god of one tradition beside a goddess of another. The virtues also teach that retribution and conflict are normal parts of the human experience. The group Dodekatheon is also in Greece. Their pleas and offerings are documented in the hieroglyphs that adorn the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, in the carvings and inscriptions left for us to read by the philosophers and teachers of ancient Greece and Rome. 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