Hellenismos - Greek Polytheistic Reconstruction

Revival of Hellenic Pre-Christian Religion

Jan 21, 2009

Hellenismos is part of a growing movement of Pagan reconstructionism. Practitioners successfully blend ancient Greek beliefs and practices with modern sensibilities.

Hellenismos is the revival of pre-Christian Greek religious belief and practice. It is known by other names, including Hellenic Pagan reconstruction, Dodekathism, and Greek reconstructionism. It is a growing religious movement among Neo-Pagans and other spiritual seekers.

Sources for Hellenismos

The Greeks left behind a great deal of information for reconstructionists to glean from in order to create their religious practices. Classics such as the Odyssey and the Iliad are rich in the lore and life of ancient Greece.

The Hymn to Demeter, Hymns of Orpheus, and Hesiod's Works and Days are just a few of the texts that help modern worshipers frame their practice. Since Greece has held a particular fascination for scholars over the ages, there is also a large amount of work that can be used for reference.

Deities in Hellenismos

The Olympian deities should be familiar to those who grew up learning the classic Greek tales in school. While there is debate among scholars as to who the famous 12 inhabitants of Mount Olympus were, the general consensus is that they are:

Which gods were worshipped varied among different regions. There are other deities and nature spirits within the Greek pantheon that, depending on personal preference, may or may not play a large part in the individual Greek reconstuctionist's practice.

Beliefs, Ritual, and Spiritual Practice in Hellenismos

Hellenismos is a polytheistic religion, which is a belief in many gods. Depending on the individual, this ranges from soft polytheism or the idea that the gods emanate from one divine source to hard polytheism in which the gods are entities unto themselves.

There is no central governing organization or person for Hellenic Pagan reconstruction. Beliefs and practices are diverse within the community and are only touched upon here.

The focus of Hellenismos is devotion and praise of the gods. Right practice (orthopraxy) is favored over right belief (orthodoxy). Magic generally plays little or no part. That is not to say that magic isn't practiced, merely that it is not seen as necessary to honor the gods. Right relationship with the gods is developed by prayer and giving libations and offerings. According to Dennis Dutton in his article On Prayer on the Hellenion website, prayers are offered in three parts thus:

Temples, altars, and shrines were erected to the gods, and some worshipers do the same even if it's in a small corner of their homes.

Ethics in Hellenismos

There is no concept of original sin or eternal damnation. Reciprocity is a virtue highly valued. If you are wronged, you have every right to defend yourself.

Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle posited their own theories on how humankind should behave. Another source for moral instruction are the Delphic maxims. Two of the most well-known of these are to know thyself and nothing too much or more modernly, nothing in excess. Hospitality and piety are also integral to the ethics of Hellenismos.

While not all Hellenic polytheists are reconstructionists, those who are devote themselves to recreating their religious practice as closely as possible to that of the ancients.

The copyright of the article Hellenismos - Greek Polytheistic Reconstruction in Reconstructionist Pagan Religions is owned by Patricia Deneen. Permission to republish Hellenismos - Greek Polytheistic Reconstruction in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.