Hellinic Pantheon Anyone?

[SylverStar]

I was just wondering if anyone uses the Helenic Pantheon and figured we could use this thread to discuss Greek Gods/Goddess'

I tend to work alot with Artemis and Apollo

[CalliopeHellice]

Women in Greek Myths:
http://www.paleothea.com/#Stheneboea

I practice under the Greek pantheon, my Matron being Hekate, and my Patron being Pan. I'm always looking for information on Greek faiths.

Although I study the Greek pantheon, I'm not a Hellenic Pagan, I'm still Wiccans--so I'm trying to merge the Greek beliefs into Wiccan systems. :)

[Theres]

my interests lie more with the classical, pre-Hellenic Greek stories. but the problem is that they're VERY scarce!

[SylverStar]

I actually tend to mix alot of different paths and religions together. My Pantheon comes from Ancient Greece though.

Hey Greenman do you have any to share. I would love to get my hands on those stories, but alas I have no idea where to even start looking. I love the history and culture of ancient Greece.

[SylverStar]

CalliopeHellice that is a great site thank you for sharing.

[TYRRHENUS]

Hey SylverStar!
Are you a classical Greek polytheist? Or do you view Artemis and Apollo in the way Greek-Wiccans do? How do you pray to Artemis and Apollo? In the Roman tradition we have these elaborate ceremonies and tools for these Gods.
I guess it would be impossible to have a forum for every tradition, but I would like to see a Graeco-Roman type forum.

[SylverStar]

I'm guess a little untraditional on my view of Gods/Goddess. I use them as focusing points representing ideas that I am familar with. Since I relate more with Greek mythology and History I use this Pantheon. I'm have more of a Transcendant view of the divine. I really like the dualism of Artemis and Apollo and them seem to be the most important in my work, though I use all the Pantheon that I am familar with.

[Theres]

Hey Greenman do you have any to share. I would love to get my hands on those stories, but alas I have no idea where to even start looking. I love the history and culture of ancient Greece.

the most notable writings from pre-Hellenic (before the 4th century BCE) Greece are Hesiod's 'Theogony', the 'Homeric Hymns' and the 'Orphic Hymns'...

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hesiod/theogony.htm

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/homer/hymns.htm

http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/lib_writing/lib_oh_index.htm

if you get very deeply into these stories, you'll find that the descriptions and attributes of the Gods and Goddesses vary quite a bit compared to their later versions.
confusinger and confusinger!

[Rain Gnosis]

I guess it would be impossible to have a forum for every tradition, but I would like to see a Graeco-Roman type forum.

As a general rule mol doesn't make tradition specific forums, feeling that would divide us up. The only one that exists here is the Druids forum - I think mostly because it was put here in the beginnings of the forum before mol decided that.

You are more then welcome to start some Graeco-Roman threads though! Welcome to our forum.

[SylverStar]

thanks Greenman. I love being confused. And I very much like reading Homer

[Mnemosyne]

thanks Greenman. I love being confused. And I very much like reading Homer

Me too! I have learned so much from Homer. Every time that I read bits from the "Iliad" or "Odyssey" it's as though it is my first, since I never tire of hearing the stories.
I like the Homeric Hymns also. Note: They weren't written by Homer. I have a nice book of them, and it's translated by Charles Boer.

If you are interested in Roman myths, I would suggest Ovid's Metamorphoses. It's packed full of entertaining stories.

[AradiaSupernova]

? i read somewhere that it was called Hellanistic paganism when you follow the greek pantheon?

[Mnemosyne]

? i read somewhere that it was called Hellanistic paganism when you follow the greek pantheon?

Yeah, you're right. The word "hellas" just means Greek in Greek, so if you see a word that begins with it, it relates to Greece somehow.

[CalliopeHellice]

I believe (if I'm not mistaken, as I usually am...LOL) that Hellenistic Pagans are basically reconstructionists (ie. try to reconstruct the religions/rituals of the ancients as accurately as possible). Myself, on the other hand--I am Wiccan, and follow the Greek myths and philosophies.

[TYRRHENUS]

Hey CalliopeHellice!
There are a large number of Greek Reconstructionists outside of Greece. Though I think it should be noted that the Greek tradition is still alive and well in Greece itself. People still walk the Sacred Way from Athens to Eleusis, some locals still make sacrafices to the Lady in the Seed. As recently as 1933, Athenian women used to dance in honor of the Gods before firelight every Full Moon... until the police put an end to it. We today are only a few generations from these women, so the practises are probably still going on. And these are the most urban of Greeks. Who knows what still goes on in the country side.
You Greeks! Do you use your native tongue in your ceremonies, do you mix in some Greek, or Greek itself? I studied Latin for four years, and just opened my first Greek grammar a few weeks ago.
Here's an old, though thorough, Greek Reconstructionist site:
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/OM/

[Theres]

the 'Hellenistic' period of Greek history is generally considered to be from about 350 BCE on. prior to that the 'Classical' period (which is also known as the 'Period of Finest Art') dates back to about 500. and before that was the 'Archaic' period.
i'm sure that Greek reconstructionists could be of any (or a combination of all), but the name 'Hellenistic' itself doesn't necessarily denote a recon.

btw, Greek history after about 100 BCE is referred to as the 'Roman Colonial' period.
i guess all those years of collecting and studying coins paid off! :)

[Sylv]

SylverStar, you might be interested in some of Jean Houston's writings. She uses Greeky mythology a lot (her matron is Athena, though) and has a view of deities that seems similar to yours. :D

[AradiaSupernova]

alrighty. I stand corrected.lol. New wrinkle for my brain :)

[SylverStar]

Me too! I have learned so much from Homer. Every time that I read bits from the "Iliad" or "Odyssey" it's as though it is my first, since I never tire of hearing the stories.
I like the Homeric Hymns also. Note: They weren't written by Homer. I have a nice book of them, and it's translated by Charles Boer.

If you are interested in Roman myths, I would suggest Ovid's Metamorphoses. It's packed full of entertaining stories.

:lol: I feel a little dumb. I figured that out when I went to the bookstore. I like all the Classic though. I haven't read Ovid. But always pass it and think I should buy it. I enjoyed Plutarch and I did my senior paper on Ceasar. I like the Illiad more than the Odyssey (I'm weird I know). I've read alot of Greek plays being a theatre major. The stories a mythology always seem to speak to me.

I really don't know what Hellenic specifically is. I know it's concerned with ancient Greece although I don't know if I'd consider reconstructionist. I thought it had more to do with the Olympian Gods than most of the others.

And thanks Sylv I'll have to check that out

[Athena-Nadine]

the 'Hellenistic' period of Greek history is generally considered to be from about 350 BCE on. prior to that the 'Classical' period (which is also known as the 'Period of Finest Art') dates back to about 500. and before that was the 'Archaic' period.
i'm sure that Greek reconstructionists could be of any (or a combination of all), but the name 'Hellenistic' itself doesn't necessarily denote a recon.

btw, Greek history after about 100 BCE is referred to as the 'Roman Colonial' period.
i guess all those years of collecting and studying coins paid off! :)
*...smiles...* Thank you, Greenman.

Actually, the name reconstructionists use for our religion is Hellenismos. This is a pretty decent introduction to it if anyone's interested: What is Hellenismos? (http://paganwiccan.about.com/library/weekly/uc031303hellenismos.htm)

You know, I've rarely seen the term Hellenistic. All of my classes, professors, and books just referred to that period as the Hellenic period. Also, Reconstructionsists themselves don't use that word (at least none that I know of :)). We usually call ourselves Hellenists, Hellenic Polytheists, or Hellenic Reconstructionists.

[Ahautenites]

... except for Nallia, who is just a "slacker recon"..... **grins and runs**

[Athena-Nadine]

... except for Nallia, who is just a "slacker recon"..... **grins and runs**
Oh, that's nice, you little monster. *...laughs...*

You've been waiting for me to reply to this thread for days, just so you could throw that in here, haven't you? :p

[Theres]

you're right Nallia, 'Hellenistic' is a modern bastardisation. Hellenic is the proper term.

[Rain Gnosis]

... except for Nallia, who is just a "slacker recon"..... **grins and runs**

Ses - curious, do you consider yourself a recon? And if so, are you a "slacker" or pretty dedicated to it?

P.S. I finally got to send in the answers to the last lesson from PA yesterday! yee haw!

[Ben Gruagach]

Here's an old, though thorough, Greek Reconstructionist site:
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/OM/

My favourite part of this guy's site is the "Biblioteca Arcana" section, http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/ (which is one level up from the URL Tyrrhenus gave.)

[Ahautenites]

Nallia ~ **laughs** Yup.

Rain ~ **shakes head** Nah. If I called myself a recon, the real recons would kick my butt. :) Besides, I'd feel obligated to be part of the House of Netjer if I did have reconstructionist leanings.

As to my being a slacker.... yes and no. I'm a slacker in the sense that I haven't set up my altar at my new house yet. But I'm quite devout. I'm constantly talking with and thinking about and praying to various netjeru. And I do learn as much as I can about the various holidays that come up, and I'm always in the middle of some history book or other. I just think that in or to not be a slacker, I'd have to do the official daily rite, well, daily.

Dude, it took them long enough to get back to you. Sheesh.

To further hijack the thread for a second: I think some day I want to attend some classes at the Oriental Institute of Chicago.

[Aelfwen]

I tend to work with Artemis and Athena.

[SylverStar]

which reminds me with school about to start I need to pay my respects to Athena.

[Mnemosyne]

which reminds me with school about to start I need to pay my respects to Athena.

Yes, Athena is a good one to pay respects to when you are in school. Also, don't forget the Muses. :)

[SylverStar]

I'm usually the muse :). I inspire others but never myself.

[Ανδριάνα]

Hello,everyone,I've never posted here before.Actually I was searching for some archailogical links and I fell in here.It's a surprise for me to see such a chat about our history,traditions,religion!I would like to help you a little bit.The name Hellas is our country's name,as you allready know,since 900ΒC{Before that we were named Pelasgoi-Πελασγοι].We took our name from a man living in Thessalia,he was called Hellin and he had a very big family.He did nothing so important but his sons were the first who started trading and they became the most known of the time.His name,ours too,is relevant to the word "sun" in our language.Also,"Hellinistic times"is the period after Alexander the Macedonian,because it was the era when our coulture became well known to the other tribes.In addition, a very good synopsis of our mythology(with a lot of humour while being a respectfull book)is the book "Hellinic Mythology" of "Nikos Tsiforos".And about rituals you should visit "Delfous" and ask politely to go underground.You will see sculptures of the rituals done for Apollo,the so called "witches dance" and you better have someone Hellinic with you to translate you the writings!For those of you who are really Pagans,you would like to know that Pelasgoi were much more Pagans than Hellincs.They tended to adore nature and woman and they were mainly living in Cyclades(that's where I come from :hehehehe: ) and Crete.There are many links about them in the Hellinic language,but I found one which has a section for foreigners as a touristic guide(www.cycladesbest.org/gaia/gaia.htm).If you want to meet other people who believe in nature and in Hellinic gods/godnesses you can visit on the end of August the island Samothraki.There is a camping there,it's a very green island with beautiful waterfalls!But the goverment is doing a psychedellic Festival at this period there,because they want to break that international meeting,in the fear of :smoke: .The only you have to do is to buy a ticket for the music festival.I hope I helped you and if you need anything more don't be shy to ask for it,my e-mail is amartinou@hotmail.com

[SylverStar]

Hey Welcome and thanks. I would love to visit Greece and thanks for the info I will definatly look into it. :)

[Hoot]

Welcome Ανδριάνα, and thanks for the information! Like SylverStar, I'd love to visit Greece someday, too.