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.
What I’ve been noticing a lot in pagan spaces but especially online is that people seem to only acknowledge duality of the Theoi when its explicit - take Persephone for example, everyone acknowledges her duality as both the Queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring. But for gods that people don’t wish to hold in such a positive light, suddenly the nuance and complexity of all the Theoi becomes 2D.
Zeus is both Labrandeus (the furious, the raging) and Meilikhios (the merciful, the entreatable). He is both Zeus Pater (Father) and Zeus Areios (of war). He is both Zeus Katharsios (the purifyer) and Zeus Konios (the one who excites/makes dust)
Hera is both Hera Autorote (the maiden) and Hera Zugia/Gamelia (of marriage). She is both Hera Pais (the girl) and Hera Khera (the widow).
The gods are always more than what you think they are. Do not reduce the all-encompassing complexity of a god down to just their myths, or just what you think of them. Understand that as duality and conflict can exist in humans, so too can it exist in the gods.
At the request of a lovely anon, this post is going to be about a very unique and very interesting epithet of Zeus - Meilikhios.
I’ve talked in passing about Zeus Meilikhios in two other posts of mine: Zeus KatharsiosandMisconceptions of Zeus, but I’ve never done a post focusing solely on this epithet, mostly because it can be a bit to talk about. So, let’s get into it today!
Some translations of Meilikhios that I’ve seen include “the merciful”, “the mild”, “the kindly”, “open to propitiation”, etc.
MEILI′CHIUS (Meilichios), i. e. the god that can be propitiated, or the gracious, is used as a surname of several divinities. 1. Of Zeus, as the protector of those who honoured him with propitiatory sacrifices. At Athens cakes were offered to him every year at the festival of the Diasia. (Thuc. i. 126; Xenoph. Anab. vii. 7. § 4.) Altars were erected to Zeus Meilichius on the Cephissus (Paus. i. 37. § 3),at Sicyon (ii.9. § 6), and at Argos (ii. 20. § 1; Plut. De cohib.
Zeus Meilikhios was often depicted as a giant snake - a creature of the earth.
Even if in one perspective Zeus Meilichios was simply one aspect of Zeus, in another he had to be treated as an independent figure. He was often portrayed differently too, as a gigantic snake. (p.91 of On Greek Religion by Robert Parker)
It is a Chthonic epithet of Zeus, one that has to do with the placating of the dead. He is, like Zeus Kathersios, a god of purification; Votive offerings at Argos were dedicated to him in order to be cleansed of the miasma inccured through bloodshed:
Bryas of Argos was put in command [of the Argive Thousand]. He committed a number of violent outrages against common people, and on one occasion he dishonoured a bridal procession by snatching a virgin girl they were leading to the bridegroom. When night fell the young girl watched Bryas going to sleep and then blinded him. But the coming of day betrayed her; she fled to the people as a ritual suppliant. They refused to give her up to the vengeance of the regiment, there was a fight, the people won it, and in their fury they left not one man of the thousand alive. Afterwards, among the ceremonies of their purification from the blood of kindred, they dedicated a statue of Zeus Meilichios. - Pausanias (2.20.1-2)
There was also a festival in his honor at Athens, called the Diasia, which was celebrated on the 23rd of Anthesterion. For those that could afford them, pigs were sacrificed and burnt whole, as no part of the animal was meant to be eaten in a sacrifice to a god of the underworld. For those who couldn’t afford them, cakes baked in animal shapes were sacrificed.
The festival was described in antiquity as ‘performed with a certain loathsomeness’ and accompanied by grim expressions. This was the public side. Domestically, it was a day of family meals, hospitality and of giving children presents. (pg. 66 of Zeus)
So, not only is he a god of purification, but he also has familial connections and even protective ones:
Thucydides tells the story of the sixth-century athlete Cylon, famous as an Olympian, and married to the daughter of the tyrant of Megara, who attempted in 632 BC to seize political power in Athens. The Delphic oracle advised him to attack during the greatest festival of Zeus. Not surprisingly, he construed this to be the Olympic Games, but his attack went disastrously wrong. Had he attacked during the Diasia, Thucydides points out, he would have found the city largely empty as all the citizens left it for the sanctuary of Zeus Meilichios. Whether designedly or inadvertently, the god protects his worshippers from threats to the city, and ensures their safety. (pg. 3 of the role of Zeus Meilikhios in Argos)
So, this chthonic epithet of Zeus is quite complex in and of itself – on one hand, he is a god tasked with purifiying those who have incurred miasma through bloodshed, but also has strong familial and gentle connotations with the Diasia.
Feel free to send in requests for certain epithets!
Sources:Zeus by Ken Dowden, The role of Zeus Meilikhios in Argos by Diana Burton, and On Greek Religion by Robert Parker
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.
Question: would anyone here be interested in my reverse baptism ritual?
It’s basically just breaking a Christian baptism and cleansing the body/spirit. I wrote it for a couple online friends who were interested in doing it and I’ve been meaning to do one for myself.
It has been quite some time since I’ve posted here.
School has kept me very busy and it’s even kept me from having the energy to really do anything related to my religion. I feel bad about it, but I know the Gods are forgiving about it.
But, I did take a huge step forward in my shadow work and healing. I’ve had a ring on my left ring finger for six years and it has some traumatic memories and feelings attached to it. I tried to cleanse it and mentally separate it from the association. I tried for many years but I couldn’t.
Thursday, I was encouraged by friends to finally let go of it. I’ve been wanting to replace it for a few months and finally, finally had the courage to get rid of it. I was at the beach, a place that used to be my healing and comfort place until after what happened, and I stepped into the water on the opposite coast of where I came into possession of the ring.
I took a deep breath, said my goodbye, and threw it as far as I could into the ocean. Immediately, a weight lifted from my chest and shoulders and I could’ve cried. My friends said that I looked lighter. Carefree.
I have a replacement coming. A little Raven with a garnet. A friend to replace the one I lost. I’ll miss my turtle ring, but it was only holding me down and keeping me stuck in the past. It was time to let it go.
In other news, I got a beautiful Lovers tapestry for my apartment and hung up some of my art around my altar that used to sit on it. A cypress and moss candle for Hades that he adores. I have a new necklace as well from a friend for my birthday back in January and it’s of Cerberus. I wear it often. And Kai, my Raven companion, has finally stopped audibly harassing me in class. He was testing my possible Clairaudience and I told him to knock it off. The little trickster.
I got ENGAGED today!! Thank the Gods I found this amazing person. I’m incredibly lucky and have never wanted anything else. They’re not religious but are excited to do some stuff with me to honor the Gods with our wedding stuff and marriage.
I pray that Zeus helps me be a good husband, I pray Hera blesses our marriage, and I pray to all the Gods to keep us humble, happy, and always in love.
LampetiaandPhaethusa were the two nymph-daughters of the sun-god Helios, who pastured the sacred herds of their father on the mythical island of Thrinakie. Lampetia shepherded seven flocks of fifty sheep with a silver crock, while Phaethousa tended seven herds of fifty cattle with a copper staff.
Odysseus and his crew arrived at Thrinakie after passing Scylla and Charybdis. When his crew begged to be allowed to land to prepare supper, Odysseus grudgingly agrees on condition that the they swear that if they come upon a herd of cattle or a great flock of sheep, no one will kill any of them. Eurylochus though convinces the crew to drive off the best of the cattle of Helios and sacrifice them to the gods. Lampetia tells Helios that Odysseus’ men have slain his cattle. In turn, Helios orders the gods to take vengeance on Odysseus’ men. After they set sail again, Zeus kept his word and the ship is destroyed by lightning during a storm and all of his men die. Odysseus escapes by swimming to Calypso’s island.
Eros was the mischievous god of love, a minion and constant companion of the goddess Aphrodite. He was the one who lit the flame of love in the hearts of the gods and men, armed with either a bow and arrows or a flaming torch.
The poet Hesiod first represents him as a primordial deity who emerges self-born at the beginning of time to spur procreation. The same poet later describes two love-gods, Eros and Himeros (Desire), accompanying Aphrodite at the time of her birth from the sea-foam. In later accounts he is described as one of the children of Aphrodite and Ares and, with some of his siblings, was one of the Erotes, a group of winged love gods.
He married Psyche, goddess of the soul, and she becomes immortal to live alongside her husband. Together they had a daughter, Hedone, goddess of pleasure.
LampetiaandPhaethusa were the two nymph-daughters of the sun-god Helios, who pastured the sacred herds of their father on the mythical island of Thrinakie. Lampetia shepherded seven flocks of fifty sheep with a silver crock, while Phaethousa tended seven herds of fifty cattle with a copper staff.
Odysseus and his crew arrived at Thrinakie after passing Scylla and Charybdis. When his crew begged to be allowed to land to prepare supper, Odysseus grudgingly agrees on condition that the they swear that if they come upon a herd of cattle or a great flock of sheep, no one will kill any of them. Eurylochus though convinces the crew to drive off the best of the cattle of Helios and sacrifice them to the gods. Lampetia tells Helios that Odysseus’ men have slain his cattle. In turn, Helios orders the gods to take vengeance on Odysseus’ men. After they set sail again, Zeus kept his word and the ship is destroyed by lightning during a storm and all of his men die. Odysseus escapes by swimming to Calypso’s island.
Helioswas the Titan god of the sun, a guardian of oaths, and the god of sight. He dwelt in a golden palace in the River Okeanos at the far ends of the earth from which he emerged each dawn, crowned with the aureole of the sun, driving a chariot drawn by four winged horses. When he reached the the land of the Hesperides in the far West he descended into a golden cup which bore him through the northern streams of Okeanos back to his rising place in the East.
Helios was depicted as a handsome, usually beardless, man clothed in purple robes and crowned with the shining aureole of the sun.
His parents were the Titans Hyperion and Theia, who also bore his siblings Selene (Moon) and Eos (Dawn).
The Cattle of Helios, also called the Oxen of the Sun, were immortal cattle pastured on the island of Thrinacia, who were guarded by Helios’ daughters, Phaethusa and Lampetia.
Kyrenewas a Thessalian princess, the daughter of King Hypseus of the Lapiths. She was a famed huntress who guarded her father’s herds on Mount Pelion, slaying wild beasts with javelin and sword. One day, when she was wrestling a lion, the god Apollon spied her and was inflamed with love. He carried her off to the Hill of Myrtles in Libya where she bore him a son named Aristaios. The boy was placed in the care of the wise Kentauros Chiron and became a demi-god of beekeeping and other rustic pursuits. After she gave birth to their son, Apollo transformed her into a nymph, so that she could have a long life and keep hunting as much as she desired.
Pontos was the primordial god of the sea. He was the sea itself, not merely its resident deity, who was born from earth at the dawn of creation. Pontos and Gaia were parents of the ancient sea gods Nereus, Keto, Phorkys, Thaumas and Eurybia. By Thalassa, his watery female counterpart, he was the father of fish and other sea creatures. Poseidon, king of the sea, wed Pontos’ eldest granddaughter Amphitrite.
Kymopoleiawas a sea-nymph daughter of the god Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite and the wife of the hundred-handed, storm-giant Briareos. She was the goddess of the violent storm waves generated by her husband.
Achlyswas the personified spirit of the death-mist – the clouding of the eyes preceding death. She may also have been the goddess of deadly poisons. Akhlys was sometimes numbered amongst the Keres. She is one of the figures depicted on Heracles’ shield, perhaps also representing the personification of sorrow and grief.
(Image Description: First line: Me: Hello, Im a Hellenic polytheist, Second line: Them: Haha, Zeus fucks. Underneath that it shows a picture of a fox looking equal parts tired, irritated and not surprised with the header ‘Me’ above it.)
