#dodekatheon

MAKHAI WAR-BRED CAPTAINS [Odysseus & Ajax]

Old rivals. Long time veterans of the Dodekatheon's wars (Both were present for the Hegemony's Acid bombing of Elysium). Currently operating in the 2nd Titanomachy's corpse mines battling BONEMEN units entrenched in fortifications built into the rotting titan flesh.

I'm getting so sick and tired of all these Greek nationalists in the Hellenic Polytheism community 🙄🙄 People have been sharing this photoset in Hellenist Facebook groups of Greek Gods being portrayed by people of African descent and of course there's a ton of racist comments saying stuff like "The Greek Gods aren't African", "The Greeks aren't black", "This is cultural appropriation", "This is offensive to the Gods", and so on.

First off, the Greek Gods aren't any human race or ethnicity. They're Gods. They can appear however They wish. They even take non-human forms like animals and gold dust. People don't throw a fit when Zeus turns into an eagle saying "Zeus isn't an eagle, this is offensive!!" So why throw a fit when He's portrayed as a race other than white? The Gods transcend ethnicity and culture. They've been around since the beginning of time, before our galaxy and planet was even formed. They don't belong to any one group of people and to try and claim Them and say They belong to one culture is hubris.

Second, the Greeks themselves were (and still are) a racially diverse people. Not everyone who lives in Greece today or back in ancient times was white and to claim so is ignorant.

Third, you can't appropriate a culture and religion that's open. The Greek culture and religion has always been open for anyone to join. Therefore, you can't appropriate it.

And fourth, I don't like speaking for the Gods, but I highly doubt They'd be offended by people trying to honor Them in costume and makeup. Actors have played the Greek Gods in movies and theatre countless times before over the centuries and nobody complains or finds it offensive. These photos are meant to be works of art to honor and appreciate the Gods. Why would They be offended by it? In my experience it's very hard to actually offend the Gods. But I don't think trying to create something beautiful to honor Them would offend Them.

I saw this one particular guy in this one group who was very obviously racist and nationalist. He believes only people that belong to certain ethnic groups and cultures can worship the Gods who correspond with those ethnic groups and cultures, which is ridiculous. Only if a religion is specifically closed to outsiders would that be true. But if a religion is open like Hellenismos (which it IS an open religion, despite what these Greek nationalists are trying to claim these days), then it's free for ANYONE to practice, no matter where you come from or what your ethnicity is.

I'm just so sick of this nationalism and racism invading Hellenic Polytheism. 😔 It has no place here. Anyone can reach out and connect with the Greek Gods, not just people of Greek descent. The Gods are universal.

The next epithet in my series is Zeus Sthenios, one that I've personally been interested in for a little while, so I'm excited to talk about it today! Some translations that I've seen include "the strengthening", "of the strengthening", "the powerful", etc.

Here's a little bit from his Theoi.com epithet page about it:

STHE′NIUS (Sthenios), i.e. "the powerful," or " the strengthening," a surname of Zeus, under which he had an altar in a rock near Hermione, where Aegeus concealed his sword and his shoes, which were found there by Theseus after he had lifted up the rock. (Paus. ii. 32. § 7, 34. § 6.)

The myth from which this epithet comes would take a bit of time to explain it in full, so I enourage you to look it up if you're interested! However, you don't need to hear a long myth in order to grasp what this epithet is about - being strong.

In terms of personal worship, Zeus Sthenios may have a lot to do with physical strength, but I'm sure you can call upon this epithet for emotional strength as well.

Even if I have nothing to say, I am going to try to get into the habit of just lighting a candle or giving an offering daily to the Gods even if I don't say anything besides "I give this to X"