Lately, I’ve got a few questions related to this topic, so I thought we could look at this from a broader perspective!
Let’s get started!
Even as a kid, when I scarcely knew anything about the topic, I caught myself thinking “Damn, that’s a cool name!” with my nose buried in another book about Greek Mythology, purely because of the sound or the way the word rolled off my tongue. There are plenty of amazing ancient names with beautiful meanings and interesting history, not just in mythology!
We can learn about them from archaeological finds and ancient texts.
Personal names reflect the concerns and values of a society. The Greeks could get quite creative with their names and their rich language certainly served them as an excellent tool to contain such things even in something as seemingly inconspicuous as a name. Taking a closer look at them may thus shine some light on certain aspects of the life of the Ancient Greeks as well as help us understand it better.
In this post, we’ll look at different customs, practices, accounts, meanings and purposes of Ancient Greek names and later discuss their significance in terms of Hellenic Polytheism today!
The practice of naming
In short, the name was supposed to serve as a way to identify the individual. I think this is no surprise. However, there were different ways to go about it:
Especially in earlier periods, having just one name was the norm but some might’ve acquired sort of a ’nickname’, often based on a distinguishable feature of the person (e.g. Antigonos Monophthalmos, the ‘One Eyed’).
Patronymic names were also common and played an important role in better identifying and legitimising the person (e.g. Hektor Priamides, ‘son of Priam’).
Origins of the individual could also be significant, although only in certain contexts, since if you were home, there was no need to indicate your origin. This was only used when abroad (e.g. Alcibiades son of Kleinias, Athenian)
Meanings of names
Meanings of Ancient Greek names could vary a lot. Here are some examples of the categories of words used:
Animals
Plants
Body parts & physical characteristics
Political institutions
MIlitary prowess
Naming after a god
Some individuals were named after one of the deities of the Greek Pantheon. Usually, the name of the god was not literally used to name the person, however, there were instances of such practice (e.g. the name Artemis), though it was still quite uncommon.
Theophoric names were much more popular. They could be derived from a theonym, the proper name of the god or an epithet and could take different forms:
simple adjectival forms - Apollonius, Demetrios, Artemisia
the term 'genes’ (birth) - Diogenes ('Dio’ = Zeus)
the terms 'dotos’ and 'doros’ (giving/gift) - Diodotos, Apollodoros
the term 'kles’ (renown) - Diokles
the term 'phanes’ (epiphany) - Apollophanes
the term 'philos’ (loving) - Diophilos
the ‘neutral’ type based on the word for god, ‘theos’ rather than any particular deity (e.g. Theokles, Theodoros, etc.)
The deities also varied and 'trends’ for such names also changed over time but overall names could be derived from all types of gods:
The Olympian gods-common (some more, some less)
Lesser deities and personifications (especially river gods)
Heroes & deified mortals
The Underworld gods-avoided (with some exceptions for Hekate)
Customs & Traditions
Naming the first-born son after the paternal grandfather, and the second after the maternal grandfather
Naming of children after a parent (especially in Hellenistic & Roman times)
Amphidromia - an Athenian family festival, a feast celebrated on the fifth or seventh day after the birth of a child during which the newly born child was introduced into the family, and children of poorer families received their names (wealthier families held a naming ceremony for their children on the tenth day)
Modern Hellenic Polytheism
These are the things I’ve seen most commonly debated within the Hellenic Polytheist community when it comes to names:
Could I name my child/myself after a god?
Could I name an animal after a god?
I’ll try to answer these questions as best as I can, based on my knowledge about antiquity and include some of my own opinions (+ give a quick summary of the questions at the end).
1. Could I name my child/myself after a god?
The short answer is yes, it’s possible. From what I’ve seen, most people asking this question wonder whether it would still be respectful and in good taste. As I explained above, the practice was already seen in antiquity.
Atheophoric name would be fine. It was fairly common to be named after a certain deity (the name or an epithet) in antiquity.
It’s only natural to wonder if such a name would have any religious significance or perhaps indicate a relationship the person bearing the name might hold with the deity they’re named after. The answer is, it was possible but this was not always the case. There is no evidence that for example, the men named after Dionysus were more devoted to the god than any other men, so one must keep in mind that bearing a theophoric name could have no perceptible influence on the religious behaviour of the adult Greek who bore it.
So when did the name have some form of religious connotations for the individual?
When visiting oracles, a decent amount of people asked about the birth of children. If the oracle answered something like “yes, you will have a child” the promised child would most likely be named after the oracular deity. We can see a very interesting example of this in one of the inscriptions at Delphi.
According to one of the verses of the inscription Apollo ‘heard the prayer’ of an anonymous couple and ‘granted them offspring in his response’ requiring a hair offering in return. In the eleventh month, after a trouble-free pregnancy, the wife gave birth with ease, helped by Lochia [Artemis], the Fates and Phoibos [Apollon], to a thriving daughter (with hair already reaching her eyes, and destined to reach her chest in the first year). The parents named the girl Delphis, ‘because of the prophecy and in commemoration of Delphi’.
R. Parker, Theophoric Names and History of Greek Religion
The girl was named after the site of the oracle of Apollo, rather than his epithet Delphinius [Delphic], but nonetheless, it was arguably the most important cult place of the god and his most famous oracle.
Another interesting observation: when a certain deity (most often Asklepios) was believed to have aided with the child being born, the child would presumably receive a theophoric name as well (e.g. some Asklepi- variant).
Overall, if you consider using a theophoric name it could totally have religious significance to you, (e.g. naming yourself after your patron etc.) but it wasn’t a must in antiquity.
Using a theonym - the literal name of a god
Naming someone with the literal name of a deity was not common in Ancient Greece, however, it was not nonexistent. The name 'Artemis’ was especially popular in this case.
There’s a surprising amount of people who name their children after the deity (using the theonym), whether or not they realise these gods are still worshipped nowadays. The same goes for names of heroes, etc.
To be frank, it does not bother me too much, personally. However, there’s an ancient belief that by uttering the name of the god one could be invoking them. Basically, the god could be aware of when someone said their name. So, for example, since the Gods of The Underworld or as Isocrates calls them, gods of “less pleasant names”, were often feared, people would even refrain from saying their names out loud and rather addressed them by some forms of epithets. So naming a person “Hades” or “Persephone” would most likely not pass in antiquity (hell, in Euripides’ HelenPersephone was even referred to as “árrētos kórē” [the maid whom none may name]).
Could you use a theonym? I suppose so, although I think the theophoric variant might be a safer option. Still, keep in mind that’s a name of a god who’s still important to people who worship them and that saying their name could possibly attract their attention, I guess?
If you’re considering choosing a name like that, it’d be even better if you ask the deity for their permission in some way, especially if you actively worship the deity. I’ve met a few Hellenic polytheists who chose to name themselves after the deity they worship as another way to show their devotion to them and further honour the deity in their life, as well as other people who chose to name themselves after a hero because they admire the figure in some way or the myth about them has had some particularly important meaning to them.
My stance overall: You do you, just keep in mind the things I mentioned above, be respectful of the deities and the religion they come from etc.
2. Could I name an animal after a god?
This did not really exist much in Ancient Greece, although I was able to find a couple of instances when an animal was named after a hero or possibly after a personification.
The Ancient Greeks often formed close bonds with their animals, especially dogs. They did not usually give 'human’ names to their dogs.
Here are some dog names which might serve as an example:
Chara (joy)
Lailaps (whirlwind)
Psyche (soul)
Bremon (roarer)
Augo (daybeam)
Lampouros (firetail)
Other animals were also given names, cows, e.g. Lepargos (of white coat), horses, e.g. Podargos (swiftfoot) or Bucephalus (ox-head). A notable mention goes to the elephants of King Antiochus III called Ajax and Patroclus.
More often than not, the names of animals were rather simple and did not have much to do with the gods.
However, IMO naming an animal after a god is fine in some cases. I came across people who decided to name their animals after a deity they worship, namely an animal that’s also associated with/a symbol of the deity.
For example, if I had a dog I’d think of naming it “Ares” or some variation/epithet of this deity since the animal has been particularly associated with him, so perhaps it could be another way to show my devotion to him by caring for the dog, etc. although I’d still consider the things I mentioned above in the section about naming humans after gods and likely ask for his consent.
To sum those two questions up:
IMO as long as you’re not using the name of the deity to somehow mock them, ridicule them or insult them and you acknowledge and respect who they are, it’s fine.
I am a student at Stockholm University conducting a small study to gather information for my bachelor thesis. The form is directed at worshpiiers of Persephone and Hades and mostly focuses on how you experience the deities and their relationship to one another. Concerning the study it mostly focuses on how neo-pagans here on tumblr approach their deities and what sources they consider valueble for their spirituality/religion. Filling the form could take anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour depending on how many of the qustions choose to answer and how much you write in the free form questions, it can also be completed anonomously.
If you are interested, please take the form! I would also appreciate it if you could reblog this post and spread it. Also, if you think this subject sounds interesting feel free to shoot me an ask/dm as I’m always down to talk about it :)
I have been intensely occupied with college but everytime I manage to gain 10 or 15 minutes between my classes, I quickly go outside to start humming a lullaby and slightly dance under the sun for Apollo, it brings me so much joy I can not put it into words. I am always grateful for this life.
My experience related to Lord Apollo and the waves of inspiration for art. He is really kind.
Good morning everyone, I’m again with a new discovering : ) !! (aaagain english is not my first language so I hope you understand hehe)
Yesterday I decided to sat under the sun and draw anything inspired in a playlist that I was listening. It is essential to know that I’ve never -and when I say never it is really never- learnt how to draw anything and much less how to draw anatomy !! I can barely draw a simple’s kid butterfly or those stick man drawings lol but as I sat down under the sun I felt like I knew what I had to do, I felt a wave of inspiration and I started drawing a human body helping myself with geometric figures, mainly circles, ovals and triangles and it’s kinda crazy ????? because I have never payed attention to any sketch like that and I still managed to make it !! so guess what ! I ended up drawing a girl figure shape kneeling and recieving like some sunlights with her hands forming a cup while her face is looking kinda up. The drawing feels so ethereal even when it’s just a sketch but I am surprised of myself, I really mean it.
I am honestly and deeply grateful with Lord Apollo.I can’t even find the words to describe how wonderful, warm and kind he is or how grateful I am to him.
Sadly It is a real shame I don’t have my phone right now because my charger died but as soon as I get a new one I’ll for sure upload the drawing, I promise.
Is there any new experiences you guys had these days related to Apollo or any other deity? I’d love to know.
Well, I hope you have a wonderful day today, thank you for your time.
Lots of love,
Miel <3
Here’s what I promised !! I know it probably has mistakes but I am really surprised for what I have created !! <3
My experience related to Lord Apollo and the waves of inspiration for art. He is really kind.
Good morning everyone, I’m again with a new discovering : ) !! (aaagain english is not my first language so I hope you understand hehe)
Yesterday I decided to sat under the sun and draw anything inspired in a playlist that I was listening. It is essential to know that I’ve never -and when I say never it is really never- learnt how to draw anything and much less how to draw anatomy !! I can barely draw a simple’s kid butterfly or those stick man drawings lol but as I sat down under the sun I felt like I knew what I had to do, I felt a wave of inspiration and I started drawing a human body helping myself with geometric figures, mainly circles, ovals and triangles and it’s kinda crazy ????? because I have never payed attention to any sketch like that and I still managed to make it !! so guess what ! I ended up drawing a girl figure shape kneeling and recieving like some sunlights with her hands forming a cup while her face is looking kinda up. The drawing feels so ethereal even when it’s just a sketch but I am surprised of myself, I really mean it.
I am honestly and deeply grateful with Lord Apollo.I can’t even find the words to describe how wonderful, warm and kind he is or how grateful I am to him.
Sadly It is a real shame I don’t have my phone right now because my charger died but as soon as I get a new one I’ll for sure upload the drawing, I promise.
Is there any new experiences you guys had these days related to Apollo or any other deity? I’d love to know.
Well, I hope you have a wonderful day today, thank you for your time.
Good morning everyone, today I’m with another story as an Apollo devotee which makes me really happy ! (please consider that english is not my first language, I am self-taught)
To begin with the story, some days ago I started to feel a really a strong conection with art, which I have not practiced for years !! Therefore, with this new event happening, I’ve been offering a lot of handmade things to Apollo, such as letters, poems, drawings, lemon cookies and more. I made them to honor him with full love and happiness but never expected something in return. Although the only thing I’d have loved was to feel him or communicate with him but it wasn’t any petition so I was okay with it BUT !! and this is where the healing part begins I have had neck and back problems due to my unhealed bone spine for several years now and yesterday, for some reason, it was very painful to bear so I went to take a nap positioning myself upside down. I don’t remember how I asked or what I did but at that moment I thought about Apollo and healing… as extraordinary as it sounds, some minutes later after that thought, I started to feel my neck really really warm as if someone were placing their hand on it producing heat to heal it. I was really really surprised and I felt -undoubtely- that it was Apollo !! so with great shyness and shame I asked him to please do the same with my back if it wasn’t too much to ask because I was in real pain and, again, some seconds later after my question, I started to feel that exact same heat on my lower back too, exactly where it hurt the most !! I knew for sure it was him, it was undeniable. I couldn’t feel him in my room exactly but I felt his warmth near me.
I am flooded with great gratitude, I still smile when I remember about his warmth.
Now I cannot do anything with my body without thinking “I am not in pain anymore, he released it”. I am deeply grateful Lord Apollo.
This is something that happened to me yesterday as an Apollo devotee and I wanted to share it :- ) (English is not my first language, hope you understand )
Everyday I light Apollo’s big yellow candle and I leave him lots of handmade offerings made with lots love, I spend a lot of time talking to him, listening to music and reading poems to him as well. Yesterday, before going to bed, I lighted off his candle and the wick turned into a clearly lungs form and in my mind I said “lungs?… umm well nevermind” the thing is that some time after I went to the toilet and started coughing like when you catch a cold. At that time I remembered that I’m very likely to catch a cold in autumn and we’re already entering autumn with a really strong cold weather. My lungs are kinda weak for so many colds I have caught in my life hehe so I instantly remembered the “lungs” wick form from Apollo’s candle so I didn’t know if take it as sign like “hey, take care, specially your lungs !” or what but then I dreamt about healing my body inside Apollo’s temple and woahh, it was so lovely, I felt full of love and light ✨ so now I’m taking care of myself with lots of love and patience :- ) <3
If you have had any experiences with Apollo or any other deity please share it with me, I love to hear stories like that !!
honestly even if you are a “stereotypical” worshipper of a god, you’re still doing great. You’re a Dionysian that likes to get drunk? Good, just be safe! You’re a chaotic bisexual Apollonian? That’s okay! You’re an Ace or lesbian Artemisian who wants to chill in the woods? That’s okay! You’re doing great! You’re an Aphrodite worshipper who’s really into pink, self love, and sea aesthetics? You’re doing lovely!
Your worship isn’t lesser even if it’s what people expect. Your relationship can still be deep and interpersonal. You’re doing amazing — don’t doubt yourself.
Well, here goes nothing. I’m going to start the 15 days of deity devotion post series for Zeus. I don’t think I’ll post every single day for this series, but I’ll try to make it at least regular.
Day 1 - Basic Introduction
Name:Zeus.
Domain: Weather, justice, family, household, cities, law and order, the heavens, fatherhood, leadership, purification, fate, xenia, protection, etc.
Symbols: Eagle, bull, swan, thunderbolt, oak tree, crown, throne, stormcloud, mountains, etc.
Epithets: I’m not going to list all of them, but here are a few of my favorites! - Zeus Apemios (Averter of Ills) - Zeus Hykesios (of Suppliants) - Zeus Hypatos (Nost High) - Zeus Kataibates (Who Comes Down) - Zeus Kathersios (of Ritual Purification) - Zeus Ktesios (of the Household and Property) - Zeus Meilikhios (the Merciful) - Zeus Palamnios (Punisher of Murderers) - Zeus Phyxios (of Refuge) - Zeus Polieus (of the City) - Zeus Soter (of Safety, Preservation, and Deliverance from Harm) - Zeus Teleios (of Marriage Rites) - Zeus Xenios (of Hospitality)
If you’re curious about any of these epithets and want to learn more, I have posts for a few of them on my page!
Devotional Acts: I actually made a previous post on devotional acts for him, which I’ll put here.
Offerings: Representations of any of his sacred animals, trees, or symbols, water, tea, coffee (in my experience he prefers coffee with milk but no sugar /upg), frankincense, myrrh, rain-scented, or storax incense, (if old enough to buy alcohol) whiskey, gin, vodka (any hard liquor will do), cakes, breads (if offering to Zeus Hypatos, only cake, and if offering to Zeus Meilikhios, cakes baked in the shapes of animals like pigs or goats), meat, etc.
So, a lot of you on this platform as well as others have been interested to know my deities, and how I met them and how I worked with them etc. Which my deities are fine with and I asked for permission before hand ofc.
So my take on deity work is that, it’s not dangerous IF you know what you’re doing. If you just became a witch i do not recommend working with deities off the bat, you can worship but don’t work unless you are well versed in a pantheon, even then be careful. I don’t like to control anyone’s path, as long as you aren’t doing close practices when you shouldn’t I really have no problem, everyone’s path is their own. Aphrodite came to me 4 months into my journey.
Now, I’m not going to disclose ALL of my deities, but will disclose the first 4 that came into my life, and how they did so and my experiences with them. Also, you’ll see that I’ll be correcting some past posts, mainly the ones regarding wicca since there’s honestly a lot of debate but after conversing with some wiccans those changes will be made shortly and i’ll try to post as regularly as i can, i am a student so it’ll be irregular but it is what it is. This’ll probably be a multi part post but I will start with my first deity and I love her so much~
Aphrodite
Intro:
Aphrodite, my first deity and goddess, was one of the first to pop up in my spiritual path and she is still with me today and I could not be more grateful for her. She is the goddess of love and beauty and she is married to Ares, God of War.
Description (To Me):
She appeared to me with long strawberry blonde (more red honestly) hair with these huge curls on the bottom, with light eyes, very tall, this gorgeous stola that was white but also kinda blush pink, and she wore a rose flower crown. She is very kind and patient and always understood the circumstances of which I was succumbed to by my family with their Christian views and I do devotional acts for her such as washing my face, self-care + self-love, and anything that promotes love and even dressing up, just make yourself feel good.
How She Came To Me:
Lots of signs, bees, a shit ton of cinnamon in my food when i didnt ask for it to be added, seeing venus above the moon, receiving a silver heart ring from a friend. Random roses. Clear skin without a care routine. Loads of roses and anything romantic related in my life.
Final Thoughts:
She taught me how to self love and how much of a bad bitch I am, she helped me reclaim my beauty and I think its a luxury her devotees have, I love her, always have always will❤️
Other Names: Bacchus, Zagreus, Liber Epithets: Bakkhos (frenzied), Bromios (the roaring), Eleutheros (the liberator), Meilichios (the mild/gracious), Maenoles (the mad), Nyctelius (of the night), Nyctipolos (night-stalker), Staphylites (of the grape), Theoineos (god of wine), Agathos Daimon (good spirit), Oenops (wine-faced), Antheos (the blooming), Kisseus (of the ivy), Kittophoros (ivy-bearer), Dimetor (twice-born/of two mothers), Dimorphos (two-formed), Dithyrambos (of the dithyramb), Areios (warlike), Kryphios (hidden), Karpios (of the harvest), Hyes (of moisture/the dripping), Ekstatophoros (bringer of ecstasy), Boukeros (bull-horned), Aigobolus (goat-slayer), Melanaegis (of the black goat-skin), Lysios (loosener/deliverer), Lenaeus (of the wine-press), Limnaios (of the marsh/liminal), Psilas (giver of wings), Psilax (uplifted on wings), Soter (savior), Khthoinios (of the Underworld), Dendrites (of trees), Eubouleos (of good counsel), Polymorphos (many-formed), Khryphion (hidden), Khoreutes (the dancer), Melpomenus (singer/of the tragedy play), Phleon (the luxuriant), Omadios/Omaphagos/Omestes (flesh-eater), Bassareus (the fox), Androgynos (androgynous), Agronios (wild, savage), Oinops (wine-dark/wine-faced). Domains:Wine, ritual ecstasy and trance, festivals and revelry, pleasure, madness, hallucinations, intoxication, liberation, fruit, androgyny, GNC and LGBTQ+ people, viticulture, theater and choral songs, life-force, reincarnation. Appearance: He appears to me as an androgynous and beautiful young man with long, curly hair that flows over his shoulders (it’s usually dark brown but seems to change color, being occasionally blond, black, strawberry, etc.). He has wild eyes that are vine-green or the pinkish-purple of grapes, and they’re usually either bright and laughing or disturbingly mad-looking. He typically has ruddy cheeks and a bright smile. He’s usually not wearing much beyond a cloth draped over his body (in white or purple) and/or a leopard pelt, but sometimes appears in in casual modern clothing with a leopard-print jacket. He often wears a grape headdress, and he sometimes has horns resembling a bull’s, ram’s, or goat’s. His laughter is both musical and utterly insane. His aura is the reddish-purple of grapes. Sacred Days and Festivals: Greater/City Dionysia (10-17 Elaphebolion). Lesser/Rural Dionysia (10 Poseideon). Lenaia (12-15 Gamelion). Anthesteria (11-13 Anthesterion). Oskophoria (8 Pynapsion). Haloa (26 Poseideon). Agrionia (nocturnal women’s festival). Symbols/Attributes:Grapes, thyrsus, masks, drinking cups, ivy leaves, tambourine, winnowing basket, honey, phallus, animal skins, leopard-print fabric. Sacred Animals: Leopard/panther, bull, serpent, goat, fox, bee, frog, bat Sacred Plants: Grapevine, ivy, fig, pine, fennel, orchis, thistle. Elemental Affinity: Earth, water, darkness. Planet:Neptune (modern) Colors:Purple, green, gold, burgundy, black. Crystals: Amethyst, grape agate, black diamond Incense:Grape, fig, fennel, musk, cinnamon, frankincense, storax, vanilla, cannabis. Tarot Cards: Temperance, The Hanged Man, The Fool, The Devil, The Hierophant, The King of Pentacles. Retinue: (called the thiasus) Maenads/Bacchantes, satyrs, seilenoi, Ariadne, Silenus, Pan, Thyone (Semele), Kotys, Korymbos, Aristaios, Phales, Methe, Telete Associated People: Actors, social outcasts, women, androgynous/LGBT+ people. Offerings: Wine, honey, grapes, figs, other fruit, ivy, pinecones, milk with honey, mead, sparkling juice, masks, stories/poetry/plays, dance, donations to community theaters or big cat conservation. Syncretized With: Liber Pater, Sabazius, Osiris (though personally I think Shezmu fits better), Serapis, Tammuz, Shiva, Flufluns
Hymns to Dionysus
Homeric Hymn 26 to Dionysus
I begin to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud-crying god, Splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphs received him in their bosoms from the lord his father And fostered and nurtured him carefully in the dells of Nysa, Where by the will of his father He grew up in a sweet-smelling cave, Being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, Then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, Thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train with him for their leader; And the boundless forest was filled with their outcry. And so hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant clusters! Grant that we may come again rejoicing to this season, And from that season onwards for many a year.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysus
Dionysos I call, loud-roaring and divine, Primeval God, a two-fold shape is thine: Thy various names and attributes I sing, O, twice-born, thrice begotten, Bacchic king: Wild, ineffable, two-form’d, obscure, two-horn’d, With ivy crown’d, howling, pure. Bull-fac’d, and warlike, bearer of the vine, Endowed with counsel prudent [Eubouleos] and divine: Triennial, whom the leaves of vines adorn, Of Zeus and Persephone, occultly born. Immortal daimon, hear my suppliant voice, Give me in blameless plenty to rejoice; And listen gracious to my mystic pray'r, Surrounded with thy choir of nurses fair.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysus Khthonios
Dionysos Khthonios, hear my pray’r, Awakened rise with nymphs of lovely hair: Great Amphietos Bakkhos, annual god, Who laid asleep in Persephone’s abode, Did’st lull to drowsy and oblivious rest, The rites triennial, and the sacred feast; Which rous’d again by thee, in graceful ring, Thy nurses round thee mystic anthems sing; When briskly dancing with rejoicing pow’rs, Thou move’st in concert with the circling hours. Come, blessed, fruitful, horned, and divine, And on these rites with joyful aspect shine. Accept the general incense and pray’r, And make prolific holy fruits thy care.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysos Lenaios
Hear me, Zeus’s son, blest Bacchus, god of wine, Born of two mothers, honor’d and divine, Lysian, Euion Bacchus, various-nam’d, Secret child of gods, holy, fam’d Fertile and nourishing, in whose liberal care Earth’s fruits increases, flourishing and fair; Sounding, magnanimous, Lenaean pow’r O various-form’d, medicinal, holy flow’r: Mortals in thee, repose from labour find, Delightful charm, desir’d by all mankind: Fair-hair’d Euion, Bromios, joyful God, Lysian, invested in the leafy rod. To these our rites, benignant pow’r incline, When fav’ring men, or when on Gods you shine; Be present to thy mystic’s suppliant pray’r, Rejoicing come, and fruits abundant bear.
Orphic Hymn to Triennial Dionysus
Bacchus frantic, many-nam’d, blest, divine, Bull-faced Lenaean, bearer of the vine, From fire descended, raging, Nysian king, From whom initial ceremonies spring: Liknitan Dionysos, pure and firey bright, Eubouleos, crown-bearer, wandering in the night: Pupil of Persephone, mysterious pow’r, Triple, ineffable, Zeus’ secret flow’r, Ericapaeus, first-begotten nam’d, Of Gods the father, and the child fam’d, Bearing a scepter, leader of the choir, Whose dancing feat, frantic Furies fire, When the triennial band thou dost inspire. Loud-sounding, Tages, of a firey light, Born of two mothers, Amphitios bright: Wand’ring on mountains, cloth’d with skins of deer, Apollo, golden-ray’d, whom all revere. God of the grape with leaves of ivy crown’d, Bassarian, lovely, virgin-like, renown’d, Come blessed pow’r, regard thy mystic’s voice, Propitious come, and in these rites rejoice.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysus Bassarius:
Come, blessed Dionysus, various nam’d, bull-faced, Begot from Thunder, Bacchus fam’d Bassarian God, of universal might, Whom swords and blood and sacred rage delight: In heav’n rejoicing, mad, loud-sounding God Furious inspirer, bearer of the Rod By Gods rever’d, who dwells’t with humankind, Propitious come, with much-rejoicing mind.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysus Liknitos:
Liknitan Dionysos, bearer of the vine, Thee I invoke to bless these rites divine: Florid and gay, of nymphs the blossom bright, And of fair Venus, goddess of delight, Tis thine mad footsteps with mad nymphs to beat Dancing thro’ groves with lightly leaping feet: From Zeus’ high counsels nursed by Proserpine And born the dread of all pow’rs divine: Come, blessed daimon, regard thy suppliant’s voice, Propitious come, and in these rites rejoice.
Orphic Hymn to Dionysus Perikionios:
Dionysos Perikionios, hear my pray’r, Who mad’st the house of Cadmus once thy care, With matchless force, his pillars twining round When burning thunders shook the solid ground In flaming, founding torrents borne along, Propt by thy grasp indissolubly strong. Come mighty Bacchus to these rites inclin’d, And bless thy suppliant with rejoicing mind.
Verses from the first Hymn to Dionysus in Euripedes’ Bacchae
O blessed is he who, happy in his heart, Knows the initiation rites of the gods, Purifies his life and Joins his soul to the cult, Dancing on the mountains, with holy purifications Celebrating the Bacchic rituals. O blessed the man who dutifully observes The mysteries of the Great Mother, Kybele. Swinging high the thyrsus And crowned with ivy He serves Dionysus. Onward you Bacchae, onward Bacchae, Escort the roaring Bromios home, A god an the son of a god! Escort him Down from the Phrygian mountains into Greece’s wide-wayed streets, Streets wide for dancing, Bromios the Roaring God! […] Sweet is the pleasure the god brings us in the mountains. when from the running revelers he falls to the ground clad in his sacred fawnskin. Hunting the blood of slaughtered goats for the joy of devouring raw flesh he rushes through the mountains of Lydia, of Phrygia. Hail to the Roaring God, Bromios our leader! Euoi! The ground flows with milk, Flows with wine, Flows with the nectar of bees. The Bacchic One, lifting high the bright-burning flame of the pine-torch, like the smoke of Syrian frankincense, springs up and rushes along with his thyrsus. Running and dancing he incites any wanderers, shakes them with shouts of joy tossing his luxuriant locks to the wind.
(Translation by Stephen Esposito)
Horace’s Hymn to Bacchus
Bacchus on the far-off rocky hills, teaching his chants – you who are still to come, believe me – I saw him and his student Nymphs and goat-footed Satyrs and their pointed ears.
Euhoë! – my soul trembles with that moment’s fear, Bacchus possesses my breast and I madly rejoice. Euhoë!, spare me, god of freedom [Liber], spare me, god of the fearful thyrsus of power.
I must celebrate your inexhaustible revelers, and the fountains of wine and full rivers of milk, and mirror in song honey dripping from the hollows of trees;
I must celebrate your bride and her constellated crown, and Pentheus’ palace shaken to bits in a mighty downfall, and the destruction of Lycurgus of Thrace.
You control the streams, the savage sea, you are hot with wine as on distant hilltops you bind Bistonian [Thracian] women’s hair with a knot of vipers that do not harm them.
And when the rebellious army of giants tried to climb the heights to the Father’s kingdom, you were the one who threw back Rhoetus and his terrible lion’s claws and teeth;
Although you were said to be more suitable for dances and fun and games and were labeled unfit for a battle, yet you took your part in war as well as in peacetime.
You were graced with golden horn when Cerberus saw you: he was harmless, and softly wagged his tail, and as you were leaving, he licked your legs and feet with all three of his tongues.
(Translation by Joseph P. Clancy, University of Chicago Press, 1960)
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Disclaimers:Descriptions of the gods’ appearances are purely a record of how I personally see them. Gods are shapeshifters that can appear however they wish, and will be perceived differently by different people. My own perceptions of them may or may not match ancient artwork. Correspondences listed are mostly modern. Festival dates are based on the Attic calendar. Offerings listed are all specific to the deity in addition to standard ones. Translations of hymns are from Theoi unless otherwise specified. Sources: THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, neosalexandria, HellenicGods.org, κοράκι/crow’s grimoire
Kids these days need to understand that Greek mythology has existed for thousands of years before Madeline Miller, Rick Riordan, and Rachel Smythe’s great grandparents were alive.
I got a bunch of people lovingly chastising me for not including Hestia in my original line up, and upon reflection I realized I had left out a very important goddess. Perhaps not important within the heroic dramas and tragedies we are accustomed to, but Hestia was incredibly important for the average Greek citizen. Hestia was the virgin goddess of the home and hearth fire, where the families ate and congregated. She oversaw cooking of meals, and sacrificial food for feasts. In my image she sits aside a giant hearth fire. In her right arm she holds a chaste-tree, (signifying chastity and virginity) while in her left hand she holds the sacred hearth flame. Under her golden wreath sits a veil upon the top of her head. to the left we can see the cooking pot and roasting meat, as well as mortals below offering and sacrificing food and wine in her honor. below her chair is a greek family. And as always, if you want to share this image I would appreciate it!
Dionysus, the god of wine, vegetation, festivity, and on a darker note, madness and frenzy. Here we see our jovial deity riding a leopard and wearing a leopard skin, holding aloft his sacred wine chalice in one hand, and his pine cone tipped staff “Thyrsus”. Below him dance his attendants in the cult of Dionysus, the sileni,satyr, centaur, woman dancer, and bull and woman, with a centaur playing the two head flute pip (AULOS) further back. In the upper right hand background we can see hanging grapes for the wine, and below; a darker representation of Dionysus; the mad frenzy. Here we see the MAENADs;(“raving ones" ), women followers who drink and dance into violent frenzies. In Euripedes play, "the Bacchae”, the Maenads, in a state of delusion, tear apart their own king Pentheus, limb from limb, thinking him a lion. Even poor Orpheus, the greatest lyre player of all, was torn apart when he refused to play for them in a state of mourning after returning from the underworld without his wife, Eurydice).
If you've been following along for the last 6 weeks, then you get a free cup of ambrosia! cheers! I’m currently deciding what to do next, but it will either be “heroes and monsters" or "the Tragedies.” So please stay tuned for lots more artwork in the coming weeks and months. which i’m hoping to compile into a book later in the year! ;)
And as always, if you want to share this image I would appreciate it!
Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, war, strategy, defense, city state building and crafts like pottery, and patron goddess of Athens. In my Illustration she towers above Athens, as the city’s patron and eternal defender.
She was born from Zues' head fully armed, and upon her chest plate armor she wears her AEGIS, with medusa’s head, which is used as a protective amulet and was said to let out a terrible roar in battle. Upon her shield is a horse and rider wearing a bridle, which Athena invented for mortals to ride and control horses (along with chariots and wagons).
Upon her arm is her sacred animal, the owl, with it’s night vision, having the ability to see things that others cannot, hence it being a symbol of wisdom. The snake at her feet represents the early Athenian ruler, “Erichthonius”. (*wikipedia; The snake is his symbol, and he is represented in the statue of Athena in the Parthenon as the snake hidden behind her shield. The most sacred building on the Acropolis of Athens, the Erechtheum, is dedicated to Erichthonius.)
Apollo, god of prophecy, oracles, music, art, protector of and disease of boys and men, and archery.
Apollo holds his bow and arrows behind, while he strums the lyre given to him by hermes. Near the sun flies apollos white crow/raven. The column on the right is capped with a cow, representing his sacred animal as a god of herds. The serpent Python sits dead at his feet, killed by apollos arrow so that the god could takeover the delphi temple location. The temple complex sits underneath the god, while o. The far right, the PYTHIA ( apollos priestess) sitting upon a tripod, breathes the hallucinatory gasses seeping up from the earth to get her prophecies which she bestows upon visitors.
Artemis, twin sister of Apollon, virgin goddess of hunting, wild animals, childbirth, and protector of young girls, and decimator of young girls. A fascinating Goddess, with variation myths in arcadia and Ephesus. I’ll keep this short and sweet. Lots of symbolism in here, anyone want to try the quiz?
Hermes is one of my favorite gods, as I’m a world traveler, and he’s the patron god of Travelers. I think he embodies the joyful, serendipitous nature of wandering and discovery in a new land.
Hermes, God of diplomacy, commerce, travelers and trade. He was the only one with the power to enter the underworld. Initially he was portrayed as middle aged with dark beard and long locks, but later he was portrayed as a beardless youth, which is what i went for. He created the first musical instruments, the LYRE and FLUTE, and, interestingly, was the father of Goat legged PAN. He also invented the alphabet and numbers. He was also the god of sleep, and could put mortals to sleep or wake them up with his wand.
The son of a celestial goddess Pleiad, he has connections to astronomy, (as can be seen in the constellations above), and astrology, (as can be seen in the zodiac signs surrounding his herald’s wand). As a psychopomp, he is tasked with leading dead spirits to the underworld, making him a true ally to humankind. His golden wing-tipped helmet and sandals, fashioned by Hephaestus the weaponsmith god, allow speedy travel on his errands. On the earth below are stone landscape markers, called Herma.
in my olympians series) Hephaestus, god of metal and weapon smithing, craftsmanship, and fire. I love this god because he doesn't have the overwhelming majesty, and the arrogance that comes along with it. He feels more human to me. Born with a lame leg, and described as ugly, he presents a much more humble appearance. But he shines in the ingenuity department, crafting marvelous weapons, tools, and traps with his sacred objects; his golden hammer and tongs.
I made his hair and beard orange for his connection with fire, but his skin is a pale blue from being stuck in his palace forge cave on Olympus. ALL of the crafted items in the image are from specific myths. Care to take a guess?
1.) armor and shield (bonus points for the visitors watching) 2.) throne 3.) woman figure 4.) winged boots and hat 5.) chariot 6.) golden net
Thanks for reading! And if you see an opportunity to share this art I would appreciate it! Xoxo
After Ares, I thought it only appropriate to go in the opposite direction and design Aphrodite; goddess of love, pleasure, and fertility. We’ve all seen her depictions coming out of the sea spray on a scallop shell, born from the ocean (and from ouranus’ severed male penis which was cast down into the sea by cronus.)
But I chose to put her lounging at the base of a serene waterfall. It still references her water roots, but it isn’t depicting her birth, per se. She reclines on a swan (early depictions in ancient Greek art show her riding a swan, a symbol of grace and divinity) and underneath is the scallop shell. Aphrodite holds her sacred golden apple in her hand. (the one she won by Paris choosing her in the beauty contest between her, Athena, and Hera.) Upon her head is a golden crown, but more importantly, is her real sacred object; her golden chastity belt, which was said to invoke lust in gods and mortals alike.
Aphrodite’s entourage: Resting upon her arm, is EROS, the winged godling and her companion, (later becoming cupid in roman culture) who whispers sweet sensualities, while a couple EROTES (more winged godlings associated with sex and love) flitter above tossing flower petals. Frolicking at the lower left are three goddesses, the CHARITES (or Graces) who symbolize beauty, dancing and banquets. Swimming atop a dolphin is a NEREID, a reference to Aphrodite’s oceanic roots. and finally, Above right, near the waterfall, are three more goddesses, the HORAI, who represent the seasonal shifts and constellations.
This one was a challenge but super fun to do! Now… on to the next one! :D if you lo like the work I’m posting, please share it if possible, as it helps me get exposure.
If you’re interested in prints, please check my LINKTREE in my bio to my etsy shop, Instagram, as well as my patreon. Thanks!
I was super excited to do this one, as I knew it would be full of dark drama. Ares; god of war, courage, and …civil order? (huh, who knew?) Here we have our raging, wrathful deity unleashing his fury in the bloodlust of battle. His sacred weapons glittering; the golden helmet, spear and shield.
Let’s dive into the symbolic imagery. I put a boar head icon on the shield to symbolize Ares turning into a boar and gorging the youth Adonis to death, after being jealous of the youth’s affair with Aphrodite. The serpents are creatures associated with Ares: the Colchian dragon (which guards the golden fleece in the sacred grove of Ares- from the Jason and the Argonauts myth) and the Ismenian dragon (which guards the sacred spring of Ares near Thebes)
Flying above Ares shoulder is his daughter, the goddess of Victory, Nike. In the upper right are vultures, animals associated with Ares, and his sister Eris; goddess of discord. (the goddess who, unable to enter the banquet of the gods, threw in the golden apple inscribed “for the farest” causing strife for the women and ultimately bringing Paris into judge, as a precursor to Helen and the Trojan war).
Galloping into battle below are three Scythian Amazon warrior women, the leader being Ares daughter; Queen Penthesilea, (who Achilles killed in battle at Troy and fell in love with her as she lay dying.)
Hope you all are enjoying this series. Please share this post, it would really help me get exposure. :) and dont forget my etsy store has all the prints available to purchase.
