Hi I realise that this probably isn’t the kind of ask that you usually get but I’ve been wanting to get into Hellenic polytheism for a little while now but have no idea where to start. Are there certain books or texts I should read? Are there values or rules I should know to follow? do I need to be of a specific nationality or worship specific gods within the religion? How do I pray and make altars? Are there specific clothing garments that should be worn?
again I’m sorry for the bombardment of questions but I have been scouring the internet looking for how best to go about this and have found nothing so I thought it would just be best to ask someone.
thank you in advance if you do end up answering this but if you don’t that’s understandable and thank you anyway :)
Hi there! It's alright. I'm open to all sorts of asks and happy to help!
Before we get into it, I'll be talking about some things that might be quite traditional, things I use as someone who relies on historical accuracy in my practice to a certain degree. You don't need to strictly do everything like the ancients did. If you'd like to reconstruct in your practice that's awesome. I know from my own experience that it can be difficult at first, so don't be too hard on yourself if you can't do something. It takes time, patience and a lot of learning.
IMO the basics are The Iliad, The Odyssey, Theogony, Homeric Hymns and such.
Theoi.com is a fantastic resource for myths, cults, and historical information on the gods. The website has a library where you can find plenty of classical texts.
Here's my post on how mythology applies to religion. I'd like to edit it soon and add a couple things but maybe you'll find it helpful.
These also might be helpful:
Hellenic Online Groups/Forums to Avoid
Authors to Watch Out For in Hellenismos
You don't need to be of a specific nationality, ethnicity or come from a specific background. It's an open religion, meaning everyone's welcome regardless of where they come from!
There is no one specific strict set of rules one needs to follow in order to be a Hellenic Polytheist. There are certain customs, for example when it comes to worship and of course, remember to learn and respect the culture and the tradition.
If we observe the history, there are things that might seem like some form of rules but it didn't just regard the religion. It was also about functioning in the ancient society and religion played an important role in said society. Not all of these rules may be applicable nowadays, though and they could vary in different regions.
Try to approach the gods while washed
Obey sacred laws (they varied depending on the sanctuary)
Do not steal from temples
Now, in the modern-day reconstruction of the Ancient Greek religion, these are the so-called Pillars of Hellenismos:
Ethike Arête - the practice of habitual excellence
Eusebia - reverence, loyalty, and sense of duty toward the Gods
Hagneia - the maintaining of ritual purity by avoiding miasma
Nomos Arkhaios - observance of ancient tradition, (religious) law, and customs
Sophia - the pursuit of wisdom, understanding, and truth
Sophrosune - the control of self through deep contemplation
Xenia - adherence to hospitality and the guest-host relationship
It's more of a modern thing created for the purpose of reconstruction and has its origins in philosophy. They're pretty much the ideals the ancients admired and strived for, which can be mirrored in one's practice. I think they can be quite helpful. Not everyone follows the same pillars, however. They may vary depending on the practitioner.
Your altar can be as extra or as simple as you want. Essentially, it's a space you dedicate to the gods. The altar doesn't need to be super big or too fancy. It's up to you. You can have one altar for multiple gods or a general home altar. It's quite practical. You can also have separate altars to the deities of your choice but that's not a requirement. For example, I have a general altar for Theoi where I normally pray and make offerings and separate altars for my patrons.
Some "basic" elements an altar could include are:
Something to burn the incense
A place for the offerings, e.g. a plate/bowl
A depiction of the deity, e.g. a statue, drawing, image
Something that reminds you of the, e.g. their symbols
You don't need to spend a fortune. Handmade things are always a good way to honour the gods.
If you need to practice in secret you could make a "hidden" altar. I mentioned it here: LINK
When it comes to prayer, traditionally there are some customs depending on the deity:
When praying to Ouranic [heavenly] Gods, one should stand with hands outstretched in the air and palms facing upward
When praying to Chthonic [underworld] Gods, hands mustn’t be raised, and the prayer should be murmured
When praying to Einalic [sea] Gods, Nymphs and spirits of the earth, arms must be spread wide towards the sea; the hands are also be facing the cult image
You can pray out loud or silently, though. I often do it "in my head" whenever I can't do it out loud.
One more important thing. I won't ramble about it here but here's a great post about purification and miasma: LINK
It's not required to wear a certain type of clothing however, if you're down for something like that veiling could be an option. Its purpose was to exhibit modesty. It was a common practice among women but it was not exclusive to them, men did veil as well.
It's a good way to honour Hestia, for example as she's known to wear a veil herself.
Here's an amazing post about it listing different styles: LINK
The most well know form of veiling involved using Himation, a rectangular cloak or shawl wrapped around the body and thrown over the left shoulder, like on the picture above but a more simple way to veil could even be wearing a beanie.
Or... you could always do it Achilles' way lmao! ↑ Whatever floats your boat!
Here are some posts that might be useful:
Hellenic Polytheism Masterpost
Cheat sheets for Hellenic deities
Offerings (traditionally)
Misinfo about Hellenismos
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