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— but how can you worship your god? zeus cheated on his wife repeatedly? hades kidnapped persephone? and many others?
well, this is where the argument of
myth vs mythos comes in. Welcome to my ted talk.
(a thread!)
well, this is where the argument of
myth vs mythos comes in. Welcome to my ted talk.(a thread!)
myths are the stories- atlas carrying the world, aphrodite's red rose- these are all stories written by humans for other humans with the purpose of entertainment , and as all humans do when we tell stories, we over-exaggerate, we add to them, we take from them,
entertainment , and as all humans do when we tell stories, we over-exaggerate, we add to them, we take from them,
so not necessarily should they be taken quite literally as christians would the Bible. Hellenic polytheists see myths as stories that hold deeper meaning- something we, mortals, could learn about.
what's important when you worship, especially in hellenic polytheism,
what's important when you worship, especially in hellenic polytheism,
is mythos. which is how the gods were honored. what they stood for. why people worshipped them.
In myth, Poseidon is power-hungry, temperamental, and countless other not gucci things- but the thing is, we don't have proof that he's like that.
In myth, Poseidon is power-hungry, temperamental, and countless other not gucci things- but the thing is, we don't have proof that he's like that.
what we do have proof on, however, is how he was worshipped through thousands of years of history:
on land, he was the earth shaker- god of earthquakes, but he was also known as Poseidon Asphaleios - meaning “Of safety/security”; worshipped as the Protector/Averter
on land, he was the earth shaker- god of earthquakes, but he was also known as Poseidon Asphaleios - meaning “Of safety/security”; worshipped as the Protector/Averter
of the earthquakes.
Poseidon Hedraios “with a Firm Base” and Poseidon Themelioukhos - “Holder of Foundations” ; Protection from earthquakes.
He was the god you'd pray to when your horses got sick- Poseidon Hippokourios - “Horse-tender”.
Poseidon Hedraios “with a Firm Base” and Poseidon Themelioukhos - “Holder of Foundations” ; Protection from earthquakes.
He was the god you'd pray to when your horses got sick- Poseidon Hippokourios - “Horse-tender”.
For those at sea, he was worshipped as Poseidon Soter. Savior. Savior of sailors. Poseidon Asphaleius, he who kept the harbors safe.
Aphrodite, for the love of all the gods, is not just jealous or shallow- she is a goddess who is known to turn the tides of war.
Aphrodite, for the love of all the gods, is not just jealous or shallow- she is a goddess who is known to turn the tides of war.
Aphrodite Areia - of Ares- where she is depicted in full body armor like Ares.
Aphrodite the protectress of births, Aphrodite Pandemos - “Of All People”, she who unites citizens in harmony.
Aphrodite the protectress of births, Aphrodite Pandemos - “Of All People”, she who unites citizens in harmony.
Aphroditus, a representation of Aphrodite with a female face but with her skirt lifted up to show the male genital- taken by many as a symbol of aphrodite being the protector of transgender people.
The gods are multifaceted. They are not just one thing.
The gods are multifaceted. They are not just one thing.
It is not enough to read the myths or just watch all the deity tiktoks you can find- it's about research. Genuine research that is not all personal experiences between worshipper and the deity. Journals. Research papers done by scholars.
Not just that new age witch book a tiktoker recommended to you.
There is so much more. There are different cultures based on location. So many different ways they are represented and worshipped. Do not forget that this religion has thousands of years of history.
There is so much more. There are different cultures based on location. So many different ways they are represented and worshipped. Do not forget that this religion has thousands of years of history.
I hope this thread brought you some new knowledge and that if you feel called to worship, you'll find that there is so much more than the myths. This is, by no means, an attack directed to any tiktoker- I just wanted to stress that there is so much that goes on behind the
scenes and it is so much better to have more references and specifically from people who have actual degrees on the matter. People who devoted their whole lives to understanding the different cultus (mythos).
I'm also not telling you what to believe, but rather sharing
I'm also not telling you what to believe, but rather sharing
what I believe in and what i've researched, in hopes that you could build your own worship based on concrete facts and to let you know that there is something so much deeper.
With love,
your not-so-local hellenic polytheist :)
With love,
your not-so-local hellenic polytheist :)
References:Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide by Jennifer Larson
Greek Gods Abroad - Names, Natures, and Transformations by Robert Parker Oakland, CA
The Gods of Ancient Greece - Identities and Transformations by Jan N Bremmer and Andrew Erskine
