Hellenic polytheism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hellenic polytheism is any polytheistic religion honoring the gods of the ancient Greek pantheon. The term is used to refer both to the polytheistic religion of the ancient Greeks and to modern religious movements that either aim to revive the religious traditions of the ancient Greeks or take their inspiration from them.
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[edit] Ancient Hellenic polytheism
- Main article: Ancient Greek religion.
The cult practices of the ancient Hellenes extended beyond mainland Greece, to the islands and coasts of Ionia in Asia Minor, to Magna Graecia (Sicily and southern Italy), and to scattered Greek colonies in the Western Mediterranean, such as Massilia (Marseille). The ancient Greek concept of divinity was generally polytheistic. Religious practices varied from place to place, but all Greek peoples recognized the twelve Olympian gods (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Hephaestus, Athena, Hermes, Demeter, and Hestia or Dionysos). Other gods and heroes were also prominent in Greek mythology.
[edit] Worship
The most widespread public act of worship in ancient Greece was sacrifice, whether of grain or the blood sacrifice of animals. Sacrifices served multiple functions: one might perform a sacrifice as the culminating act of a public religious festival, before an important undertaking to gain the assistance of the gods, or as part of a rite of passage. The temples of the Greek religion generally were not public gathering places where people gathered socially for collective indoor prayer; most temples held little more than a cult image of the deity and the accumulated votive gifts, which might amount to a treasury.
Votive gifts were offered to the gods by their worshippers. They were often given in thanks for benefits conferred by the Gods or in anticipation of future divine favors. They could also be offered to propitiate the gods for crimes involving blood-guilt, impiety, or the breach of religious customs. They were kept on display in the god's sanctuary and then usually ritually discarded after a set period of time.
[edit] Theology
In modern terms, the ancient Greeks had nothing which could be called a systematized theology. The art, literature, and even architecture of the time abounded with images and accounts of the Greek gods and heroes and their exploits. Hesiod's Theogony provides a polytheistic creation myth and a wide-ranging family tree of the Greek gods. Very late in the history of classical religion, the Neo-Platonists, including the Roman emperor Julian, attempted to organize classical paganism into a systematic belief system, to which they gave the name of Hellênismos: the belief system of the Greeks. Julian also attempted to organize Greek and Hellenistic cults into a hierarchy resembling that which Christianity already possessed. Neither of these efforts succeeded in the limited time available; Greek religion had always been local, variable, and inconsistent.
Finally, the public practice of the Greek religion was made illegal by the Emperor Theodosius I and this was enforced by his successors. The Greek religion, stigmatized as "paganism", the religion of country-folk (pagani) - other scholars suggest the force of paganus was "(mere) civilian" - survived only in rural areas and in forms that were submerged in Christianized rite and ritual, as Europe entered into the Dark Ages.
[edit] Modern revivalist movements
[edit] Naming
Modern revivalist or reconstructionist Hellenic polytheism exists in several forms, both in Greece and in other countries. There are no standardized naming practices for this religion, and individual practitioners and groups use a variety of names, often reflecting subtle differences in belief or practice. The Greek organization YSEE (Ύπατο Συμβούλιο των Ελλήνων Εθνικών, Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes) refers to the religion as the "Ethnic Polytheistic, Hellenic Tradition", or simply "Hellenism", and its practitioners as "Ethnikoi Hellenes". Another Greek organization, Dodekatheon (Δωδεκάθεον, Dōdekátheon), uses the term ἑλληνικὴ θρησκεία (hellēnikē thrēskeîa, translated as "Hellenic religion"). A third, the Helliniki Hetaireia Archaiophilon (Societas Hellenica Antiquariorum), prefers the phrase, "traditional Hellenic religion of the Dodecatheon".
The US-based organization Hellenion uses the term "Hellenismos" (Ἑλληνισμός, Hellēnismós). This term, corresponding to the English word Hellenism, meant (in ancient Greek) the civilization and culture of ancient Greece, and is used in modern Greek to refer to the totality of the Greek people and culture. The term's use in religion stems from a systemization of Greek Religion done by the Roman Emperor Julian. Its use to refer to modern revivalist Hellenic polytheism was popularized by Andrew Campbell, Hellenion's founder and the author of Old Stones, New Temples. [1] Another American group, Elaion, uses the term "Dodekatheism" (Greek: δώδεκα, dodeka, "twelve" + θεϊσμός, theïsmós, "belief in the gods"). "Hellenic Paganism" is frequently used, most notably on the HellenicPagan mailing list, which at over 400 members is the largest English-language discussion group for Hellenic polytheists. However, some Hellenic polytheists, such as the members of YSEE ([2]), object to the use of the word "Pagan" to characterize their religious practices because of the term's origin as an insult.
Other terms in common usage by revivalist Hellenic polytheists include "Hellenic" or "Greek reconstructionism" and "Hellenic Traditionalism". Those whose religious practice combines Greek and Roman elements may use terms such as "Graeco-Roman Paganism", "Classical Paganism" or "Olympianism". (For Roman revivalist religion, see Religio Romana; many practitioners of Religio Romana are also members of the organization Nova Roma.)
[edit] Beliefs and practices
Hellenic polytheists worship the ancient Greek Gods—the Olympians, nature divinities, underworld deities—and heroes. Ancestors are honoured, both physical and spiritual. It is primarily a devotional or votive religion, based on the exchange of gifts (offerings) for the gods' blessings. Hellenismos has an ethical system based on the principles of reciprocity, hospitality, and moderation.
There is no central "ecclesia" (church) or hierarchal clergy, though some groups are beginning to offer training to those who wish to serve in that capacity. Individual worshippers are generally expected to perform their own rituals and learn about the religion and the Gods by reference to primary and secondary sources on ancient Greek religion and through personal religious experience, often referred to in Hellenic groups as "UPG" (Unverified Personal Gnosis).
Hellenismos isn't a book-based religion; there is no single text believed by worshippers to be the word of the Gods. Instead, theological beliefs and practices are based on multiple sources:
The main value of Hellenism is eusebeia, often translated as piety. This implies a commitment to the worship of the Hellenic Gods and action to back this up. Other core values are hospitality, self-control and moderation.
[edit] Reconstructionism
In polytheism, Reconstructionism is a methodology which attempts to accurately base modern religious practice on culturally and historically genuine examples of ancient religious practices. Other polytheistic groups that frequently use Reconstructionist methodologies include Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism, Germanic Neopaganism, and Kemetic Orthodoxy.
Not all modern Hellenic polytheists use a Reconstructionist methodology. A 2004 survey of 94 American Hellenic polytheists by Sarah Winter showed that 64% considered themselves to be Reconstructionists. [1] The term is frequently used in the United States to differentiate between syncretic and eclectic Neopagan movements and those based in the mythology and religious practice of a specific ancient polytheistic culture.
[edit] Syncretic and eclectic movements
Several modern syncretic and eclectic religious movements incorporate aspects of Hellenic polytheism.
[edit] Hellenic polytheism and Wicca
Ancient Greek religion and mythology are a major source of inspiration for many Neopagans, and worship of the Greek Gods is frequently incorporated into the practice of Neopagan religions such as Wicca. A popular Wiccan chant recites the names of seven goddesses ("Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana"), three of whom are Greco-Roman in origin. [3] Robert Graves developed his theory of the Triple Goddess in his writings on Greek mythology, and many Wiccans today recognize the Greek goddesses Persephone, Demeter, and Hecate as representative of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects of the Triple Goddess.
Though there are some Wiccan covens dedicated to specific Greek deities, few groups identify themselves specifically as "Hellenic Wiccan". Wicca does not require its practitioners to dedicate themselves exclusively to one pantheon, so most Wiccan worship of Greek gods occurs in the context of an eclectic approach that draws on the mythology of many cultures. This difference in approach has caused a great deal of tension between Wiccans and American Hellenic polytheists, especially those who consider themselves Reconstructionists. [4] Specific practices that some Reconstructionists find offensive include the use of magic, historically inaccurate portrayals of the Greek gods in Neopagan literature, and generalizations about Neopaganism that assume the term applies only to those who practice Wicca or Wicca-inspired religions.
[edit] Discrimination and controversy
Main article:Persecution of Ancient Greek Religion
Ancient Greek religion was historically a community religion. Due to the vagaries of history, the Christianization of Greece and the destruction of Greco-Roman culture was especially brutal. The modern Church of Greece...
The 2004 Summer Olympics stirred up several disputes concerning Hellenic polytheistic religion.
- Professor Giorgos Dontas, president of the Archaeological Society of Athens expressed public outrage at the destruction of ancient archaeological sites around the Parthenon and Acropolis in preparation for the Games.
- Prior to the Olympic Games, MSNBC correspondent Rehema Ellis in a story called It's Greek to Me: Group Tries to Restore Pagan Worship documented the vandalism and arson of a bookstore in Athens which sold books promoting ancient Greek religion. She also interviewed several adherents who were upset about the current state of affairs in Greece. Ellis said: "A contrast in this place where the Olympic Games were created to honour Zeus — now those praying to the ancient gods are criticized for putting too much faith in the past"
The Greek Society of the Friends of the Ancients objected to the commercial use of Athena and Phevos as the official mascots of the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. They felt that the caricatured representations of the Greek Gods Athena and Phoebus were disrespectful and culturally insensitive.
[edit] See also
- Greek mythology
- Polytheism
- World Congress of Ethnic Religions
- Separation of church and state in modern Greece
- Religion in modern Greece
[edit] Notes
- ^ Kharis:Hellenic Polytheism Explored by Sarah K. I. Winter. Self-published. (2004)
[edit] References
- Greek Folk Religion by Martin P. Nilsson ISBN 0-8122-1034-4 (1998)
- Athenian Religion: A History by Robert Parker ISBN 0-19-815240-X (1998)
- Greek Religion by Walter Burkert ISBN 0-674-36281-0 (1987)
- Demolish Them by Vlassis Rassias ISBN 960-85311-3-6 (1994)
- "Some still put faith in gods of the past" by Kimberly Winston, Chicago Tribune Aug. 20, 2004
[edit] External links
[edit] Hellenic polytheist organizations
- Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes (YSEE) (English version)
- Dodekatheon (available in Greek only)
- Societas Hellenica Antiquariorum (English version)
- Hellenion
- Elaion
- Australian Ethnikoi Hellenes (branch of YSEE)
- Hellenes Ethnikoi in Canada (branch of YSEE)
- Kyklos Apollon
- Neokoroi
- AOTSC.TDC. Hellenic Pagan Fellowships
[edit] FAQs and articles
- The Cauldron Hellenic polytheism FAQ by Andrew Campbell
- The Cauldron Hellenic polytheism links and booklist (includes selections from Old Stones, New Temples)
- Sannion's Sanctuary (articles and essays on Hellenic polytheism)
- Neokoroi articles and sample rituals
- Kalash: The Lost Tribe of Alexander the Great (possible continuous Hellenic polytheistic tradition)
- The Journal of Hellenic Religion - a peer-reviewed academic Journal by Markoulakis Publications
- Tropaion: researching ancient Greek religion - an academic based weblog studying and researching Hellenic polytheism.
- Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored - a book about Greek reconstructionist paganism.
- Frequently asked questions about the Ethnic Hellenic religion and tradition by YSEE
[edit] Hellenic polytheism in the news
- Pagans fight for divine rights of old Greek gods (Free Republic, September 21, 2003)
- International Religious Freedom Report US State Dept. investigation into religious freedom in Greece (2004)
- International Religious Freedom Report US State Dept. investigation into religious freedom in Greece (2005)
- NPR reports on "Return of the Hellenes" movement (with audio) (August 5, 2004)
- Letter From Greece: The Gods Return to Olympus (Archaeology Magazine, January/February 2005)
- Group tries to restore pagan worship MS-NBC (August 2004, interview with YSEE members during the event of "Olympic" Games in Athens)
