#hellenicpolytheism

You were pagan the first time you felt something holy in the woods.

Before you knew the name of Odin. Before you read about Hecate. Before you ever heard the word Druid or Wicca.

You were pagan when the moon made you pause.

When autumn felt like a ceremony. When storms felt like a voice instead of weather.

Ancient people didn’t convert into Paganism. They lived inside it.

The farmers of Greece poured wine for Demeter because harvest was survival. Norse families honored gods recorded later in the Poetic Edda because winter was real. Celtic tribes left offerings in rivers because water was life.

It wasn’t aesthetic.

It was relationship.

And maybe that’s why you’re here.

Not because it’s trendy. Not because it’s rebellious. But because something in you remembers that the earth is alive.

You don’t have to force this path.

Sometimes it feels less like choosing — and more like returning.

The relationship between Ares and Aphrodite is a story that translates into multiple cultures and can easily be interpreted and applied to various aspects of life. It is a story of opposites, adultery and star crossed lovers who initially should not be able to live in a happy and cohesive relationship but the differences that most think would call for separation are what bring the two even closer together. In this essay I will discuss how the relationship of Aphrodite and Ares came to be and why it is, the interplay between Ares, Aphrodite and Hephaestos, and how this myth still applies to modern day life.

Aphrodite is a Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and most prominently for the sake of this essay, procreation. She brings light, life and beauty into this world. Conversely, Ares is the God of war, battlelust, courage and civil order. Aphrodite is the representation of the ideal woman in ancient Greece. These two archetypal characters, one embodying life and love, the other embodying war and destruction, clearly contrast one another so intensely. But nonetheless the myth of Ares and Aphrodite is one of love, lust and at times a problematic union. When Aphrodite and Ares fell into love she was already married off to another God, Hephaestos.

A common theme in ancient Greece that carries into the modern day is that, men of an older age who were considered as less desirable often feared losing their wife to a young, more powerful, more attractive man of higher social standing. That is very much what happened in the marriage of Hephaestus and Aphrodite. She committed adultery many times with Ares, they even went so far as to commit adultery in the very bed Aphrodite and Hephaestus slept in. But this is not a simple story of a woman of loose morals exploring alternative options. Aphrodite and Ares found love, comfort and solace in one another. The contrast between them is what makes their relationship strong.

Some would say that the ideas of love and creation clash with war and death. However without one you cannot have another. That is why marriage so often can cause or resolve a war. Even on a basal level they are similar. Love and war both start slowly then suddenly and can end abruptly with both sides feeling injured and weaker than they entered. Although technically there are winners and losers, nothing is ever that black and white. Love and war are constantly shadowed in shades of grey. From a far off perspective Love and war seem like entirely individual concepts, but when analyzed closer perspective the two are more intertwined then most would admit. The same concept applies to Aphrodite and Ares. Although many do believe the union between these two gods is inconceivable and porposterious, when one studies the way the two contrast and compliment each other it is obvious that they are meant to be together. For war would not exist without love and the children born from it.

The message that this myth teaches us is as easily translated into modern day life and multiple cultures in the same way that one can draw from common cliches, all is fair in love and war or opposites attract. These cliches exist because they are easily digestible and applicable to the trials and tribulations us as humans face throughout our lives. Both of these cliches also apply heavily to the relationship between Aphrodite and Ares, and when put into the format of smaller more consumable cliches people are familiar with it is easier to understand the relationship between these two gods and why it was such a vital story to incorporate in the mythologies.

An ancient Athenian festival of reflection, harvest, myth, and thanks.

What is it?

On the Hellenion calendar (which is free to download on their site), September 23 marks the first day of the month, starting Pyanopsia (Πυανέψια). The ancient Greek festival for Apollo, held on the 7th day (Sept. 29th) of the month marks Pyanepsion. Each month the 7th day is dedicated to Apollo. This month continues until October 22, 2025, which marks the beginning of the next month, Maimakterion.

It honors:

Apollo, God of prophecy, light, music, healing.

Theseus, who vowed thanks to Apollo for safe passage before facing the Minotaur.

It’s a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and protection as the seasons turn.

How was it celebrated?

Panspermia → a communal stew made of beans, grains, and seeds was cooked as an offering and shared.

Eiresione → a decorated olive or laurel branch, wrapped in wool, hung with fruits, pastries, honey, wine. Carried in procession and placed at Apollo’s temple and or at the doorway of homes.

Offerings → jars of honey, oil, wine, seasonal fruit.

Songs → children would sing hymns as they carried the eiresione, celebrating renewal and abundance.

Purpose & Meaning

Thanksgiving → for the harvest, for Apollo’s blessings for safety.

Renewal → the eiresione marks an end to scarcity and a prayer for abundance.

Myth & Memory → a time of remembrance of Theseus’s legend and to Apollo’s protection.

Celebrating Today

If you want to honor Pyanopsia in a modern way:

Cook a bean and grain stew (panspermia) and set aside a portion as an offering.

Create an eiresione with a branch, yarn/wool, seasonal fruit, honey, or symbolic items — hang it on your door or altar.

Offer honey, olive oil, figs, or wine to Apollo.

Share or retell myths of Theseus and or hymns to Apollo.

Reflect on gratitude — the blessings you’ve received this year, and what protection you seek as the darker months begin.

Why it still matters

Even today, Pyanopsia resonates as a festival of gratitude, abundance, and protection. It’s about pausing with the harvest season, honoring the cycles of nature, and giving thanks for what we have while preparing for the months ahead.

Here are some resources to further help you in learning and celebrating:

Pyanepsia – Hellenion

HellenicGods.org - PYANEPSIA - ΠΥΑΝΕΨΙΑ

Pyanepsion - 4th Month of the Ancient Greek Attic Calendar - Greeker than the Greeks

Pyanopsia | Ancient, Rituals, Celebrations | Britannica

Pyanopsia Explained

Pyanopsia - Wikipedia

Why I include the other video:

While I'm not that knowledgeable about it all, it seems the myth of Theseus and Ariadne is a complex one that includes various accounts and interpretations. While Ariadne is often credited with helping Theseus defeat the Minotaur, the exact details of the events can vary across different versions of the myth. Some accounts suggest that Ariadne, rather than Theseus, killed the Minotaur, while others focus on Theseus's role in the battle.

It is widely accepted that Ariadne provided Theseus with the ball of thread, which he used to navigate the labyrinth and escape the Minotaur. The narrative of Ariadne's involvement in the Minotaur's defeat is a significant part of Greek mythology, symbolizing the balance between hope and despair.

"Triumph of Bacchus"

Timebelle, APOLLO.