hellu this is my BG3 tav Delphinia (and her archfey patron Hellebores) - w -

Locked doors? No problem! Eldritch blast!

A bit of writing under the cut for funsies

Smaugust Day 21, Star ✨

~ 6 (or 7) Mounykhion ~

Celebrating Apollon and Aretmis, Delphinia kicked off with unmarried girls proceeding to their shrine/temple on the bank of the Ilissos River.

Girls carried branches of olive wrapped in white wool in honor to Apollon. Delphinia is thought to be in dedication to Apollon as a god who controlled the sea and fair travel as Theseus had prayed to him for his fallen companions before he set sail.

While in mythos Theseus is connected to Apollon it is more likely that this day was in celebration to his twin, Artemis, as it falls on her holy day. In this sense, the women asked for Artemis' protection and favor. Similarly, maidens were associated with Artemis, not Apollon.

Modern Hellenist can observe this day by celebrating both the Twins, though I recommend separate. An unmarried women might wish to offer to Artemis for protection and Apollon for fair travels. Men and non-binary people might wish to offer to Artemis for thanks for the protection of women, good hunting, travel at night, or anything else and Apollon for fair travel. You may also wish to thank the Twins for anything they might have done recently for you, or simply offering in thanks to build Kharis.

Traditional Offerings:

Offering of Olive branches in white wool (or yarn/ribbon)

Symbols of Artemis (deer, bows, arrows, antlers, the moon)

Symbols of Apollon (the sun, chariots, bows, arrows, lyre, poetry)

Traditional Acts:

Offerings to Artemis and Apollon as Twins

Offerings to Artemis as the protector of unmarried women and young girls

Offerings to Apollon for fair travel

Singing Hymns to the Twins

The Delphinia is a festival to Apollo Delphinius and Artemis Delphinia, celebrated on the 6-7th of Mounychion. It might have marked the beginning of the navigation season, as the weather cleared with the arrival of spring. It is thus believed that this festival honoured Apollo under his sea aspect, but the purpose of the festival is still very obscure.

“When the lot was cast, Theseus took those upon whom it fell from the prytaneium and went to the Delphinium, where he dedicated to Apollo in their behalf his suppliant's badge. This was a bough from the sacred olive-tree, wreathed with white wool. Having made his vows and prayers, he went down to the sea on the sixth day of the month Munychion, on which day even now the Athenians still send their maidens to the Delphinium to propitiate the god.”

Plutarch, Life of Theseus, trans. Bernadotte Perrin

(9/26/2021)

Sea rite,

Virgin rite,

like dolphins diving between waves,

we dance in the altar fire for an age.

Apollo Delphinios,

of the womb and of the sea,

in darkness we call

and in light you heal.

We offer you smoke,

wine, this divine meal.

Artemis of the maidens,

watch over our children

and teach our girl

in the art of beauty and blood.

Before setting sail

we, like Theseus,

come with prayer

and wool and wood,

so you may keep us on course

on the surface of that wine-dark sea.

Grant us grace,

cleanse and consecrate,

hunters, saviours, and companions.

🏹🌕☀️🌊