Question for Hellenic Pagans: Hero cults

[David19]

I've been interested in the Hellenic religion for awhile (and i've also ordered Greek Religion by Walter Burkert, which should arrive soon), but something that i'd like to learn more about is the Hero cults, and also how they apply to modern practices.

Do you know what a hero was in Hellenic belief, and also how were they worshipped (in the same manner as the gods or different ways).

Also, were they gods, or demi-gods (and did they dwell on Olympus with the Hellenic gods or in some other realm/plane)?.

And, do you do any rituals or honour any of the ancient heroes in your current practice, or honour any modern heroes? (for example, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, etc).

And, could i ask, if i did become an Hellenic recon, do you think it'd be possible for me to honour modern heroes that i respect (e.g. Martin Luther King, and others (like in uni, i learned about Jews in the Warsaw ghetto who managed to fight the Nazi's and keep them at bay for a few weeks)) or do they have to be from ancient Greece?.

And, i've got another question about ancestors, i've read that honouring the ancestors was very important in the Hellenic religion (although i can't find much about it on modern recon sites, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 lines about it), but how were they honoured or worshipped, was their altar kept in the home, along with Hestia's or elsewhere, and if you adopt this part of the religion for modern use, do you have symbols of your ancestors faith on it too.

These 2 parts of the Hellenic religion really do interest me and i'd appreciate any help you can give me on this (whether it's your advice, any sites on them or books to recommend).

While i haven't decided if the Hellenic religion is for me (i'm still very drawn to the Sumerian one, and a few Sumerian gods, in particular), i'd like to learn a lot more about this part of it (and others too).

Thanks for any help at all you can give me :).

[Fiamma]

I've been interested in the Hellenic religion for awhile (and i've also ordered Greek Religion by Walter Burkert, which should arrive soon), but something that i'd like to learn more about is the Hero cults, and also how they apply to modern practices.

Do you know what a hero was in Hellenic belief, and also how were they worshipped (in the same manner as the gods or different ways).

Also, were they gods, or demi-gods (and did they dwell on Olympus with the Hellenic gods or in some other realm/plane)?.

And, do you do any rituals or honour any of the ancient heroes in your current practice, or honour any modern heroes? (for example, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, etc).

And, could i ask, if i did become an Hellenic recon, do you think it'd be possible for me to honour modern heroes that i respect (e.g. Martin Luther King, and others (like in uni, i learned about Jews in the Warsaw ghetto who managed to fight the Nazi's and keep them at bay for a few weeks)) or do they have to be from ancient Greece?.

And, i've got another question about ancestors, i've read that honouring the ancestors was very important in the Hellenic religion (although i can't find much about it on modern recon sites, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 lines about it), but how were they honoured or worshipped, was their altar kept in the home, along with Hestia's or elsewhere, and if you adopt this part of the religion for modern use, do you have symbols of your ancestors faith on it too.

These 2 parts of the Hellenic religion really do interest me and i'd appreciate any help you can give me on this (whether it's your advice, any sites on them or books to recommend).

While i haven't decided if the Hellenic religion is for me (i'm still very drawn to the Sumerian one, and a few Sumerian gods, in particular), i'd like to learn a lot more about this part of it (and others too).

Thanks for any help at all you can give me :).


another book to check out is Religion In The ancient Greek City (Can't remember the title)

As far as hero/ancestor worship/veneration, it's not really a part of my religion- but that's me. It's not for lack of trying, but...well, long story.

I've heard it argued that if one is truly reconstructionist, as far as things like heroes are concerned, one would honor those that are considered contemporary heroes, as the Greeks may have honored those that were considered heroes in their day. So there's one point of view.

Keep in mind also, that if one is a recon, there are differing degrees of reconstructionist. Some folks are very strict, othrs are much more flexible. As I see it, it's like the old question of following the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. I follow the spirit of the law.

There isn't really a lot that is known about personal/in-home ritual and worship because people didn't write about it. It would be like someone writing a biography today and giving the details of waking up, brushing your teeth, washing your face...you just don't write down things like that.

I have heard of no specific "appropriate" places for one's ancestors or heroes altar.

[David19]

Thanks for that, 'Greek Religion' by Walter Burkert arrived yesterday, and so far, i really like what i've read, maybe soon, i'll get that book 'Religion in the ancient Greek city' (when i get some money, lol!), but if i could ask, what is it about? (like was the way the gods and other spirits and supernatural beings were worshipped different in the city, etc?).

I've heard that there are different degrees of recons, and i think i'm not completly strict (although i'm not quite on any path yet), as i have some beliefs about certain things, which aren't really in other religions (for example, i do believe that all the gods, regardless of pantheon, have to bow to Fate, etc).

Personally, i think it makes sense about honouring heroes of the current day (if i do become an Hellenic recon, i think i would honour certain heroes i respect e.g. Martin Luther King, the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto, and certain others).

BTW, sorry if these questions are too long or getting annoying, but do you know of any good books that might go into how the Greeks honoured their ancestors (like the Romans, i think, honoured their ancestors by creating Lararium's, is there anything similar for the Greeks?).

Thanks again for the information :).

[Theres]

oh, a multi-confusing question. ;)

i don't know if i can answer your questions any better than Fiamma, but i'll give you a few facts to think about.

this again is one of those things that changed drastically over the period of time of Greek influence. i think that most of the Hero cults were a product of later times. however very early (Homer's time and earlier) ancestor veneration was vital. burial sites were considered sacred and offerings were left there.
in fact i think that most (all?) religions are based in some form of necromancy.

but when the Greeks started to colonize (ie; Anatolia or Sicily) they couldn't take the sacred tombs with them, and their traditions were forced to change, and the remnants of this probably continued in the Hero cults. but in general the worship of ancestors became more transcendant and less physical.

as far as the Heros ascending to Olympus, that would depend on the Hero. it is said that Herakles did. i also believe that Asclepius was a mortal who became a god.
but many of the Heros died in shame, or at least controversy.
Bellerophon was thrown from Pegasus while flying to heaven and was hated by the gods. Jason went mad and killed himself (or was ironically crushed by a falling beam from the Argo). Theseus was pushed off a cliff and lived for eternity in the underworld. etc, etc...

just my thoughts.

[Arion]

Honouring heroes doesn't really play a part in my practice... maybe I'm a bad Hellene, but I just don't see the point. I acknowledge them and recognize them as an important part of the Hellenic culture, but it's not something I personally feel the need to focus on. My attention is mainly directed at the nature-oriented gods, concerned with beauty, ecstasy and that type of thing. I don't find heroic labours that impressive :lol:

[Theres]

I don't find heroic labours that impressive
oh i find them impressive as hell, but...

Honouring heroes doesn't really play a part in my practice
i have to ditto this.

[Fiamma]

Personally, i think it makes sense about honouring heroes of the current day (if i do become an Hellenic recon, i think i would honour certain heroes i respect e.g. Martin Luther King, the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto, and certain others).

BTW, sorry if these questions are too long or getting annoying, but do you know of any good books that might go into how the Greeks honoured their ancestors (like the Romans, i think, honoured their ancestors by creating Lararium's, is there anything similar for the Greeks?).

Thanks again for the information :).


Don't apologize! I'm happy to see more people genuinely interested in Hellenic religion!!

I think that if one is going to honor heroes, then it makes perfect sense to honor heroes of our time that may have more tangible meaning to us, and not just stick with ancient mythological heroes who certainly have their worth, but are not connected in the same way.

[Fiamma]

Honouring heroes doesn't really play a part in my practice... maybe I'm a bad Hellene, but I just don't see the point. I acknowledge them and recognize them as an important part of the Hellenic culture, but it's not something I personally feel the need to focus on. My attention is mainly directed at the nature-oriented gods, concerned with beauty, ecstasy and that type of thing. I don't find heroic labours that impressive :lol:


I don't honor heroes as religious practice either. I understand where it comes from, and why someone may do that but I don't myself.

[David19]

Don't apologize! I'm happy to see more people genuinely interested in Hellenic religion!!

I think that if one is going to honor heroes, then it makes perfect sense to honor heroes of our time that may have more tangible meaning to us, and not just stick with ancient mythological heroes who certainly have their worth, but are not connected in the same way.

Thanks for that, and to everyone else who replied, i've got another question, though, if you did want to honour heroes, how was it done, like would shrines or altars be set up to them in the home, or would it just be maybe a liberation on the ground for them or something?.

I've tried searching around but can't find much, so i'd appreciate anything you could say.

As for the ancestors, do you think it would be inappropiate to use an ancestor altar design that's used in another religion, or does it have to be one of Hellenic design (for example, googling around, i've found a lot of cool ideas about how to set up a Santerian ancestor altar, but would that be allowed if i became an Hellenic Pagan).

Thanks again for any help :).

[Theres]

dude, you really need to read Burkert's 'Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual'.

it's not an easy read, but almost everything you have asked about in this thread is in there.

[Twinkle]

You know, at this point in my education of Hellenismos I just haven't had the time to focus on the Heroes.

Right now I'm lucky if I truly have a grasp of the gods and how to worship correctly.

It seems like such a daunting task sometimes...there is so much to learn and understand about the Ancient Greek culture and practices.

At this point I'm focusing on the Divine...I'll get to the mortals as soon as I'm comfortable.

[David19]

dude, you really need to read Burkert's 'Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual'.

it's not an easy read, but almost everything you have asked about in this thread is in there.

Thanks, i'll try and get that book.

[Arion]

You know, at this point in my education of Hellenismos I just haven't had the time to focus on the Heroes.

Right now I'm lucky if I truly have a grasp of the gods and how to worship correctly.

It seems like such a daunting task sometimes...there is so much to learn and understand about the Ancient Greek culture and practices.

At this point I'm focusing on the Divine...I'll get to the mortals as soon as I'm comfortable.

I'm right there with ya, I'm in the same situation.