Adrian

Like it’s also ok to still be disgusted by the gods’ rape and SA. The Greeks made fun of Zeus in comedies cause of this.

Niobe committed hubris, but that doesn’t stop the Greeks from sympathizing with her.

This is a list of various types of sources that may or may not be helpful to everyone. I have included resources lists made by others on the tumblr posts section, especially when it comes to books, as I’ve seen many people say the books are good but I have not read them myself, and therefore do not want to personally recommend them.

IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD, please let me know! Feel free to send an ask, DM me, or reply/reblog with it! It can be a post you made or that you found helpful, a different website, a video, or even a type of media that isn’t listed here already (I want a good range!)

I hope to add to this often as I find things.

Websites

The Theoi Project - brilliant for researching specific deities and has primary sources listed. Any deity info can probably be found here, though I’ve found it more helpful for some than others and not entirely useful for hero worship

Mythopedia - I use this in tandem with the Theoi Project as it actually has profiles on the heroes as well as ones on gods and creatures, so it’s useful for hero worshippers like myself and can be used in a similar way to TTP. I particularly like the page on Tiresias. This link goes to the Greek mythology page, but the site also contains information about mythology of other regions.

Hellenic Festival Calender - exactly what it says on the tin. Best resource I’ve found for celebration stuff

Perseus Library - I use this almost constantly for my research project in classics. It has tons of primary sources which you can read in English or in Greek.

Ancient Literature

The Iliad by Homer - I read the E.V Rieu translation revised by Peter Jones. Great for getting to know the ‘personalities’ of the gods and seeing a lot of Ancient Greek customs in practice. Also, if you wanted to get into hero worship, there are a LOT of heroes to choose from in here. There’s also a lot of other myths referenced in here that are very interesting. Also the story is heart-wrenching in itself.

The Odyssey by Homer - Currently reading the Robert Fagles translation. Similar to above. Additionally, this contains some stuff about the underworld/afterlife.

Homeric Hymns - You can find these on Theoi.com and probably Perseus Library. Great for knowing more about specific deities.

The Theogony by Hesiod - You can find parts of this on Theoi.com, but I’d recommend the Oxford World Classics edition that contains both this and Works and Days. It mainly discusses the genealogy and relationships of the gods.

Works and Days by Hesiod - Can probably be found on Perseus Library, but again, I’d recommend the Oxford World Classics edition that contains this and The Theogony. Just a lot about the ancient society, plus some myth.

The Oresteia by Aeschylus - I read the Robert Fagles translation and it is gut-wrenching. Aside from characterisation, and being part of the epic cycle, this contains prayers and ancestor/hero worship type things, and some theology (specifically about the furies)

Tumblr Posts

My posts, such as my beginner’s guide to Helpol, and my guide to hero worship, are not linked here. They can be found in the pinned post on my blog.

List of professional patrons @thegrapeandthefig

Subtle Worship Masterpost @khaire-traveler

Helpol Books @olympianbutch and @khaire-traveler

Masterlist of hero worship guides @hero-shrine

Athena Masterpost @citrineandrosmarin

On Medusa @/me — why the ‘Athena cursed Medusa after being raped by Poseidon’ myth is inaccurate and harmful (spoiler alert: it’s because it’s not Greek)

Apollo and Hyacinthus @/me - my interpretation of the myth based on my knowledge of homosexual relationships in Ancient Greece, because there’s a massive cultural context to this myth that I never see anyone talk about — probably due to the nature of the age gaps which are very uncomfortable by modern standards

Videos

This is a list of recommended videos and just because a video is here does not mean I have watched or recommend the rest of the content on the channel. I don’t have time to go through everything. Even with these videos, I may have some gripes, and if I do I will list them. It tends to be a lot of the same thing.

Stop Saying Myths Aren’t Literal by Hellenism Today - dislike the use of the terms Hellenism and Hellenistic, but aside from that, this is a good source that goes over mythic literalism in quite a simple and easy to grasp way.

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What is Anthesteria?

Anthesteria, celebrated from the 11th to the 13th of Anthesterion (February–March), was one of the biggest festivals dedicated to Dionysus. Known as the Festival of Flowers, it marked the arrival of spring, the opening of the new wine casks, and the renewal of life. But it wasn’t just about feasting and drinking, it was also a time of purification, fertility, and remembrance, when the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin.

At the heart of the festival was the ritual opening of the wine casks that had been fermenting since the last harvest. This wasn’t just practical; it was symbolic. The wine had been maturing underground, just like Dionysus himself had once been carried in Zeus' thigh before being "born again." Bringing the wine to the surface was more than just a tradition,it was a reflection of Dionysus’ own myth.

But Anthesteria wasn’t all joy and celebration. It was believed that during these days, spirits wandered freely, so while people enjoyed the festivities, they also took precautions to protect themselves. The festival was a strange mix of life and death, revelry and ritual, perfectly embodying the nature of Dionysus, a God of both wild celebration and deep mystery. During Anthesteria, it was also said that the maenads celebrated privately in the mountains and forests. In some legends, Dionysus' marriage to Ariadne was held during Anthesteria.

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Days of Anthesteria

Day 1: Pithoigia (Jar-Opening) 🌸

The first day of Anthesteria, Pithoigia, was centered around the ritual opening of the pithoi, large clay jars that contained the previous year’s wine. These casks had spent months underground, and now, they were unearthed and brought to the sanctuary of Dionysus. A portion of the wine was poured out as an offering, and the rest was shared by all members of the household.

The day was filled with flowers, marking the beginning of the season. Everyone over the age of three was invited to participate in the first taste of the new wine, and the mood was communal and joyous.

Day 2: Choës (Pitchers) 🏺

The second day of the festival, Choës, was a time of popular merrymaking, characterized by wine-drinking contests in which even slaves and children participated. People dressed in their finest clothes, with some even embodying figures from myth connected to Dionysus. There were visits to friends and drinking contests, where participants had to drink an entire chous (about 3 liters) in complete silence. This day was open to everyone, even slaves, highlighting how Dionysus transcended the boundaries of class and status.

For children, Choës marked a special rite of passage. Boys reaching their second year were crowned with flowers and given small drinking vessels, symbolizing their gradual initiation into the community. Meanwhile, the devoted followers of Dionysus, his maenads and priestesses, took part in private, sacred rituals that marked the spiritual union between them and the god.

Day 3: Chytroi (Pots) 💀

The final day, Chytroi, was dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Pots filled with a sacred mix of seeds and grains, called panspermia, were offered to Hermes Chthonios and the wandering souls of the deceased. During this time, it was believed that the spirits of the underworld walked among the living. To protect against any malevolent spirits, people chewed on hawthorn leaves and smeared their doorways with tar. The festival came to a close with the dismissal of the spirits: "Away with you, Keres, it is no longer Anthesteria!"

With these words, the spirits were sent back to the underworld, and life in Athens returned to normal, marking the end of the brief but intense period when the living and the dead had shared the same space.

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Activities To Do:

🍷 Drink wine, or any liquid that you like.

🍷 Place flowers on your altar.

🍷 Honor God Dionysus.

🍷 Go to pottery.

🍷 Make a special mask for Lord Dionysus.

🍷 Do a libation in nature.

🍷 Go to the theater.

🍷 Collect flowers from nature.

🍷 Read and recite the hymns to Dionysus.

🍷 Honor both life and death.

🍷 Take a walk in nature and/or in the mountains.

🍷 Draw Dionysus's symbol or carve His name in stones or wood.

🍷 Make art for Dionysus.

🍷 Make a flower crown.

🍷 Honor your deceased loved ones.

🍷 Leave offerings for spirits.

🍷 Light candles.

🍷 Plant seeds in your garden.

🍷 Plan a feast and celebrate with your loved ones.

🍷 Sing and dance while listening to your favorite songs.

🍷 Do creative activities like art or poetry.

🍷 Go wild and celebrate it as you wish, Kala Anthesteria!

I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long while, and talking to my friend @olympianbutch today gave me the push I needed to do so. When I was starting out as a Hellenic Polytheist years ago, this is the kind of resource I needed. So I hope you all enjoy and find this helpful!

Introductory Reading:

Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Athenian Popular Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Greek Religion by Jan N. Bremmer

On Greek Religion by Robert Parker

Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS

Comprehensive Guides:

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

Companion to Greek Religion edited by Daniel Ogden

Understanding Greek Religion by Jennifer Larson

Rethinking Greek Religion by Julia Klindt

The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow and Julia Klindt

Polytheism and Society by Robert Parker

The Gods and Theology:

Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson

Theologies of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow, Julia Klindt, and Robin Osborne

Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion by Ellie Mackin Roberts

Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World (Routledge Series)

Offerings and Sacrifice:

Personal Experience and Materiality in Greek Religion by K.A. Rask

Singing for the Gods by Barbara Kowalzig

Smoke Signals for the Gods by F.S. Maiden

Sharing with the Gods by Theodora Suk Fong Jim

Primary Sources:

Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod

The Homeric Hymns

The Orphic Hymns

Sources for the Study of Greek Religion by David Rice and John Stambaugh

Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. Warrior

God of herds, travel, communication, language, luck, wealth, and thieves.

Epithets

Promakhos ~ The Champion

Hermeneutes ~ The Interpreter, The Translator

Trikephalos ~ Of Roads and Intersections (literally; "The Three Headed")

Propylaios ~ Of the Gateway

Pompaios ~ The Guide

Mechaniotes ~ The Trickster

Poneomenos ~ The Busy One

Oiopolos ~ The Shepard

Kharidotes ~ The Giver of Joy

Eriounes ~ The Luck Bringer

Dotor Eaon ~ The Giver of Good Things

Associations

Animals

Cattle, sheep, and other herd animals

Tortoise

Hares and rabbits

Snakes

Hawks

Roosters

Colors

Brown

Green

Gold

Orange

Yellow

Black

Plants

Crocus flowers

Strawberry trees

Snowdrop flowers

Offerings and Devotional Acts

Dice and playing cards

Feathers

Model ships, trains, and cars

Books

Keys

Maps and atlases

Tokens of luck (rabbits feet, four leaf clovers, coins, horseshoes, etc.)

Coins and other currency

Alcohol

Bull symbolism

Candles and incense

Learning a new language

Journaling

Traveling

Helping and being kind to strangers

Learning about other cultures

Playing strategy games (chess, checkers, go, etc.)

Hermes, God of Travel, Flocks, Roads, Thievery, Language, Athletics, Astronomy and Guide of the Dead. 🪽

He is Alexikakos because he is Paean and Mousagetes

He is the Averter of Evil because he gives wisdom to men through the conduction of the Muses, which gives us the wisdom to know right action and take it

His role as a physical healer I also see as a reflection of this more spiritual role, as physical injury is also analogous to persisting in an illusory or ignorant view of the world.

I KNEW I WAS COOKING!!!!

Lady Tyche

If you’re looking for a more modern reconstruct, the LABRYS’ “Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship,” is a great starting point too. If you want to cut all the fluff and get straight into it, Walter Burket’s “Greek Religion,” gets cited in just about every book ever about Hellenic Polytheism. It’s tackles a broad range, but dry imho, so I’ve never read all of it.

Hymn 24 to Hestia

Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White.

Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.

Hymn 29 to Hestia

Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White.

(from a mostly revivalist perspective)

• candles aren’t reliable for divination. don’t use candles for divination. please at least try to get a pendulum or something if you want to do divination. candles are just too easily influenced.

• no, the gods aren’t mad at you (unless you killed someone or burned down a temple). just because your candle flickered doesnt mean theyre mad. just because they didn’t answer your prayer right away doesnt mean theyre mad.

• the gods CAN reach out to you. it happens to a lot of us. on the other hand, you don’t have to wait for a god to reach out. worship whoever the hell you want.

• you don’t need an altar. you could just have an empty space you dedicate to praying in and that would be fine. also, you don’t need a BIG altar. it could be a mint box or something and that would be fine.

• you’re allowed to eat offerings. if you’re not in a position where you can waste food, just eat the offerings. not everyone is privileged enough to burn or bury all their offerings and in fact the ancients often ate parts of their offerings too

• the myths aren’t meant to be taken literally, but rather metaphorically. don’t disregard them entirely but don’t treat the gods like their myths literally happened and theres physical proof of them happening

• anything can be a devotional act. having a glass of water could be a devotional act.

• offerings dont need to be big or exquisite or expensive. grab a flower from your backyard or something. offerings dont even have to be physical (re; devotional acts).

• it’s okay if you struggle to find information about the religion. not everyone has access to them and it’s privileged to think everyone has to read ten books on the subject (while that would be nice, we need to be gentle with those who struggle to do research on their own).

• gatekeeping isnt okay. it doesn’t matter where someone learned about the religion, they should be welcomed and treated with respect.

• same goes for age, ethnicity, and previous religion if they had one. young polytheists shouldnt be shamed. people who aren’t greek CAN be a helpol (this even happened in the ancient times, generally as long as you could speak greek you could take part in rituals, no matter your ethnicity).

• you don’t have to take part in every single holiday/festival/etc. you could just take part in those for the gods you worship. also, it doesnt have to be complicated. you could just take some time to pray to the gods the holiday is for/about.

remember, your practice is yours. it can be as complicated or as easy as you’d like it to be. don’t let people on the internet dictate your practice.

Though, I just have two little things to add/thoughts on it:

While yes, some people eat their offerings they give to the gods, I would recommend against eating offerings for Chthonic (underworld) deities or spirits. This is more so out of respect/the Greek belief that the food may have become tainted and lead to an early death.