Female Figurine. Japanese, Jomon period, 1000-200 BCE.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY (1/2 cause this is part of a duet thingieee)

someone else's belief or non-belief in the myths doesn't necessarily matter to me; there's bound to be a range of positions today as there was in the ancient world. but what does matter is whether someone is carrying forward harmful practices or ideas because they've simply rewritten a surface-level 'nice' version of the myths in their head, rather than engaging more deeply with the source culture and seeking to understand their meanings in context.

we can and should worship the gods without needing to ignore, absolve, or justify the cruel, oppressive parts of their myths and cultures. instead we need to ask questions like, what do these things tell us about the function of religion, or gender roles, or property rights at the time, in this place? what might this suggest about the god’s worshippers, their role in public worship or household rituals, or their relationship to civil governance, public unrest, marginalized groups, imperial expansion, etc.?

Orpheus in the Underworld. by Pierre Amédée Marcel-Béronneau (1869–1937)

Orpheus playing the lyre, surrounded by real and mythical animals are listening to. Marble, Aegina, 4th century AD. Byzantine Museum in Athens

Ancient Greek Electrum Coin from Phokaia, Possibly Depicting Aphrodite, ca. 477–388 BC Berlin State Museums

Hebe holding a cup of nectar to Jupiter in the form of an Eagle, c. 1795/96 by Ignaz Unterberger. British Museum

Diana (Moon), c. 1809 - 1815 by José Álvarez Cubero. Royal Collection, Museo Del Prado.

1. A lot of dudes. Just a ton of fucking people from beginning to end of the process.

2. Ancient people weren't stupid, they just figured shit out the same way we do: fuck around until you find out.

3. We're gonna plan this out and it's gonna take ten fucking years, and you will cope.

4. Sticks and string are surprisingly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, like moving stuff and making sure things are even and go in the spot you wanted to put them in!

Tried to make a somewhat accurate bronze age Dionysus statue 🥲✌️