I Remain

I have been thinking in recent times about my life over the last 17 years, and I do not say this with arrogance at all. In fact, I am very grateful to the Gods, and I give them the credit and thankfulness for what I am about to discuss. I do not mean to say that I sat idle while the Gods did everything for me, but I know that my human strength alone was not enough, the Gods met me with their favor.

I first came online, I think, in 2007, and I certainly was not always the same person or the same religion. Throughout the years, I have changed and grown, and also encountered many obstacles, mistakes and triumphs. But in my early years, I had a notable amount of haters and critics, even as I became a Hellenist, and I'm not talking about people who simply disagreed with me. I'm talking about people who lied about me, actively tried to bring me down, and even tried to bring harm to me and my family. And it wasn't always online either. Even in the workforce and a community we lived in, a company and some of its people tried to lie and destroy my wife's reputation. 

Today, we are fine, still standing strong, things have only gotten better for us, and our old enemies are obscure. No one pays attention to their content anymore or cares, and nothing they said or did has any relevance to our lives now. They all failed to destroy us, and I think one of the reasons the Gods protected us was because while we made mistakes and learned from trial and error, they knew our hearts were good, and that we would eventually evolve into something better. 

I also think we should consider that drama has a shelf life. Eventually people move on, and the promoter no longer has anything to offer. But there is no expiration date on a good man or woman. They can keep moving forward and contributing to growth, knowledge, and community. 

Again, I do not write this post to make myself seem high and mighty or more than what I am. I am a humble Hellenist and I do not think of myself as better than anyone. I just kept moving on and refused to bend to the will of haters. As I have said in one of my prayers before, Athena makes me an Akropolis against the onslaughts of my enemies. I would also add that my perseverance hasn't just been against some old foes, but against my own mental and physical health battles over the last year. And I think the Gods, the Good Spirit and the Heroes put the determination in me, that no matter what happens, I will not give up, I will not give in, I will not quit. Ever. 

If you're out there today facing the same things that I used to, and may even face again in the future, do not let it destroy you. Keep your focus and keep moving forward. What seems like devastation now, may be absolutely nothing later. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

A Flash of Lightning and An Answered Prayer

Something profound happened to me last Night that I would love to share with the community. For the past 2 years, life has not been easy for me. In fact, the growing stress and pitfalls I have sometimes crashed into, contributed greatly to my growing and severe anxiety disorder. In recent time, I have started to overcome it significantly, but during the time when it hit the hardest, I was in bad shape. It made me worry and stress about everything that mattered in my life, which is what anxiety disorder does, it attacks everything you hold dear, and it causes you anger, irritability, and fear of your past mistakes. But deep down, I was able to push through because I knew the Gods, and knew better than what my illness told me. Instilled in me was the refusal to give up, and eventually, the illness got tired of fighting, I would say.

Each Day and Night, I pour libations to the Gods, Spirits, Heroes, Deified Mortals, Ancestors and the Blessed Dead at my outside altar. While it's a set practice for me, sometimes the prayers can slightly differ based on my current circumstances or how I may address the Gods and other Beings. The ending to my prayer, before the closing of khaire, was, Gods please accept my apology for all of my offenses, and bless my temple, home, family, me and all the people of the world. After the last word, the Sky lit up with a flash of lightning above me, opening my eyes back up.

The space in which it happened meant that the flash interrupted the closing word of the prayer. The Gods closed the prayer themselves and sealed the rite. My devotion was accepted, the past that I was referring to was put behind me forever, my prayer answered. It was a sign I really needed at that time. In ancient Greek religion, this would very likely not be viewed as random because of the precise timing, but that the Gods responded positively. I think the Gods also loved the fact that my prayer was selfless. While I asked for blessings upon myself, I also included more than myself, such as my family, temple, home and all the people of the world. 

There is no feeling like the Presence of the Gods and the peace it always brings.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

1 Million Views!

December 27th, 2014, that's when I made my first post on this blog and website, a new idea of mine to share my life as a Hellenist, writer, priest, father and husband, and a supportive outlet for the Hellenic community. Although it was not the first time I had ever started a blog, it's just been the longest-running, and one that I have intended to keep as my sole blog and website from now on. Over the years, scores of readers have enjoyed my unique perspectives and literature that have been available for the Hellenic and Pagan communities. And today, my site hit 1 million views for the first time. I allowed it to go to 1 million and a thousand before I declared it, in order to try to account for the times that I myself have visited the site or clicked around it. 

I know that, in the grand picture of the internet, this is incredibly small, especially when you consider that there is content out there with billions of views and counting. But for a religious community as small as ours, I think it's a great achievement. I know that over the years, a lot of people have loved and supported my content along with some of my published books.  And I am forever grateful to the Gods and all of those who have brought me to this point. The site has certainly seen my best and worst of times, but it's always been a lifeline for me, and hopefully a blessing for others.

Here is to many more years, and hopefully, the views and support will only keep climbing. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Sunken Ruins and Sacred Law: The Realities of the Myth of Baucis and Philemon

Image From TikTok AI.

What happens to a people who show no regard for Divine Law? Myth is not always metaphor or allegory. Sometimes we can physically see the ghosts of their realities. 

I believe I heard this Myth for the first time many years ago, but it's one that has stuck with me as one of my favorites for several reasons. The story of Baucis (the wife) and Philemon (the husband), is about an impoverished couple who lived in a village in Phrygia (modern Turkey). While there is no surviving text that explicitly ties this story to Greek Myth, it was written by the Roman Ovid, who simply copied the Greek Myths he knew. Therefore, we might reasonably assume that Baucis and Philemon was one of those that he copied as well.

The Gods Zeus and Hermes went in disguise as needy travelers to test the Xenia (hospitality) of the people they encountered, as Xenia is a sacred and Divine Law of treating travelers and guests with help and courtesy. When they entered the village, they found that everyone turned them away, except for this elderly couple who likely had far less material wealth than some of the other villagers. 

They did not have lavish banquet tables and expensive feasts for the Gods, or gold and silver to give them. They probably just had something like a wooden slab for a table, old wooden chairs, and a simple Hearth for cooking whatever they had. They likely had fresh water to offer to drink, or perhaps some young wine, and some basic fruits and vegetables. They may have had some basic meat if they had fished or hunted at times. But despite their lack of material, they treated the travelers with the greatest courtesy and gifts they had at their disposal. Ovid says they gave the Gods a feast of cabbage, smoked pork, olives, vegetables and herbs, eggs and cheese, and for dessert they gave nuts, apples, grapes and honey.

Having found the couple to be the only ones in the village worthy, the Gods took them to a hill overlooking the area before they flooded the village and everyone else in it, wiping them from the Earth. I imagine that, for this level of extremity, the Gods must have found the village unredeemable. As a reward for the elderly couple, they granted the couple any wish they wanted. They asked for two. One, to have a wonderful temple to serve the Gods in, and two, that they both die at the same time, so that neither one of them would ever have to be without the other. Both wishes were granted, leaving only the temple remaining in the area, and they lived out the rest of their lives as priests of the Gods and passed into their next life side by side. They both became intertwined trees, Baucis (Linden tree) and Philemon (Oak tree).

The obvious meaning of the story is simple, that Xenia is a Sacred Law that the Gods highly value and expect. But also, that the Gods will never look down one someone who is doing what they can with what they have, who is doing the best they can. 

Modern archaeologists who have excavated this region have found submerged villages. In fact, throughout the region's history, places have been dropped right into lakes and the Sea. At present, there has been no temple found overlooking one of these submerged villages, but archaeologists have not even come close to excavating all there is to find in this part of the world.

Divine punishment came to the people of this village for their breaking of the sacred. Perhaps we might also look at it as a consequence of man's own folly, that when he disconnects from the Gods, it may not be that the Gods directly punish him, but that he loses their good graces, and disaster then more easily befalls him. In short, without the Gods, man is nothing. I don't see it as a message of fear-based religion, but of how much better our lives are when we are in harmony with the Universe.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Why Is The Time of Our Death A Tightly Guarded Secret?

I have thought that knowing the exact time of my passing would be one of the greatest blessings, and would not scare me, for two main reasons. One, knowing the month, Day and year of my death, would mean that I would, in fact, not fear that it w0uld come sooner. And two, by knowing the exact time of my death, I could prepare for it and make sure my family, temple and assets are supported and protected. But this is only wishful thinking. While humans can now calculate a life expectancy, there is no way to tell the exact timing, or even if a given individual will reach their life expectancy. Some people may even feel Death coming sometimes, and know their time is coming, but again, no way to pinpoint. So we are left in mystery.

But as a philosopher, one question I tend to end up asking is why? Why don't we know? Why have the Gods or Fate made sure to keep this secret closely guarded? I suppose the general answer is we don't know, but what possibilities could exist? 

Perhaps one reason is because we are supposed to live. The Hellenic worldview is not primarily concerned with passing on. We are concerned with living to the fullest right now. Perhaps if we knew when we were going to die, we would spend too much time preparing and contemplating, and not enough time living our present life. The Gods, perhaps, don't want us to focus on dying, but living. In the grand picture of things, you don't get a lot of time in this here and now manifestation. Even if you live to be 100, you still have to die. Compared to the age of the Earth, when you factor in an average human life of 75 years, your life lasts 0.0014 seconds. If you live to 100, it's 0.0019 seconds. What will you do with yours?

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

The Evolution of the Evil Eye from Ancient Greece to Today

The concept did not begin in ancient Greece, but the Greeks still very much believed in and philosophized about it. I am referring to the Evil Eye. They called it Vaskania. It's important to realize what it meant to the Hellenes and what it means to people in our own time.

Plutarch described it as intense envy that projects harmful rays from the eyes, that the individual is projecting those emotions onto others. You have to admit, when you have felt intense hate, you can feel it in your eyes too. And thus we consider it important to control and conquer those emotions, not only because they might cause us to harm someone else, but because it destroys our own peace, happiness and even our own health. In my view, it does not mean to have love or admiration, it means to not allow those to turn into the negative aspects, which are hate and jealousy. 

Science has proven that intense emotions can indeed impact the people who are around them through a phenomenon known as emotional contagion. Neuroscientists argue that humans possess shared neural networks, linked to mirror neurons, that mirror the emotional states of those nearby. The intensity of an individual's emotional state can foster an "affective synchrony," altering the brain activity and creating psychological distress in people within their immediate social circle. 

And of course, when someone has uncontrolled rage, they can physically act out against their targets, causing mental, emotional, physical or material damage to the person's life. In short, science has proven that the Greeks were right. Someone who possesses uncontrolled rage as we have discussed, can harm people even without actually touching them. 

Realizing this factor also caused me to reflect on my own emotions and the energies that come from them. So how did the ancient Greeks defend themselves against the Evil Eye? The Greeks had several methods.

1. Eye Cups. They would paint huge eyes on their drinking cups, in an attempt to reflect back the rays from someone close by when they raised it to drink. I think this may have been a favorite at dinner parties or large banquets. 

2. Ship Bows. Sailors would also endow the bows of their ships with giant eyes. 

3. Gorgons. As I have discussed before in my writings, images of Gorgons were also used for protection, and Medusa's head was a powerful shield. Doorways, armor and even City walls were endowed with the image of the head. I also have a beautiful plaque of Medusa's head above my temple doors.

4. Neutralization of Compliments. This one may seem to us to be a little over the top, and therefore we may reject it. But historically, at least some Greeks believed that receiving intense praise from someone could cause someone else to become jealous enough to cause harm. So when someone gave them such an unusual praise, they would spit into their own clothing folds, chests or even armpits. They believed it would neutralize the envy by humiliating themselves. Today, we might simply stop the person by acknowledging our own humility. 

5. Phallic Symbols. The penis was not viewed with contempt or embarrassment in public in ancient Greece like it is today in modern society. Sexuality and the human body was simply a natural part of the human and Natural World, but it would still draw attention. People would sometimes wear a phallus necklace around their necks or hang them over doors to divert people's eyes. 

6. Invoking Gods who avert evil.

How has the Evil Eye evolved today in modern Hellenism, Paganism, and Spirituality in general? Hellenists today, I would say, haven't really changed the belief that the Evil Eye exists, we may just disagree on exactly what it is. But we adopt a few of the ancient methods for protection from it, such as invoking Gods, wearing Medusa or a Gorgon, and even reproduction symbols. I myself practice cleansing, prayer and offering to the Gods on a daily basis, and have images, such as Medusa which I talked about earlier, over my temple doors. Over the years, I have also liked the idea that laughing at a curse from another person is excellent for defusing it. What you do not let in, cannot harm you. We must also take note of our own emotions as well, and keep them regulated so as to not be our own worst enemies. 

Modern Pagans and Spiritual individuals in general may hold a variety of views on what the Evil Eye is and how to stop it. Calling it Psychic Attacks and using methods such as creating boundary protections, wearing amulets, and internal emotional regulation for protection. 

What do I think the Evil Eye is personally? I think it is exactly what the Greeks thought it was. It's pretty much been proven. While I don't believe people are literally shooting beams out of their eyes, there is no question that the energy and emotions pulsate outward and onto other people and places, and as I said earlier, when you feel enough hate, you can feel it in your eyes. 

Reflecting on this, and learning more about the Evil Eye, it has caused me to not only think more about protecting myself, but equally more about how I react to the world, the people around me, and my own internal conflicts. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Sources

Plutarch. Moralia, Volume VIII: Table Talk, Books 4-6. Translated by P. A. Clement and H. B. Hoffleit. Loeb Classical Library 424. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961.

Wang, Jing, Lili Wang, and Xueting Li. "The Role of Self-Representation in Emotional Contagion." Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 18 (May 2024): Article 1361368. Link.

Theseus at Marathon, George Washington at Gettysburg

In my past books and writings, I have talked about the incident at the Battle of Marathon where the Greeks defeated the outnumbering Persian army and saved the Western World, more specifically, it was the Athenians. During the battle, soldiers reported seeing a man whom they described as Theseus. Some say He rose from the ground, others that he simply appeared, and led the charge. It became more than just a rumor, it became documented, as the event was witnessed by several people. After the battle had been won, the Oracle of Delphi instructed the finding and return of the bones of Theseus to the City of Athens. The General Cimon went to the island of Skyros, where Theseus had been killed, and exhumed a grave that he interpreted to be Theseus, and took the remains back to Athens where a Sanctuary of Theseus was built on top of it. But the exact location of this sanctuary, The Theseion, is unknown.

When I first started studying Theseus, I was fascinated with this event in His history and timeline, but recently, I came across a similar story regarding the history of my own country, and paired with the fact that I am a lover of history, I had to write about it. At the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, the second Day became imperative for the Union, as the Confederacy was charging up the high ground hills in an attempt to flank the Union line and destroy it. Colonel Chamberlain and his shattered 20th Maine regiment made it to the top of Little Round Top just in time and beat back charge after charge of Confederate soldiers, eventually taking out their swords and bayonets after running out of ammunition and charging down the hill, halting the last Confederate charge and effectively ending the threat against the Union flank. Had the 20th Maine failed, the Union army might have been destroyed. The Battle of Gettysburg was considered to be the turning point of the war. The objective of the South was to destroy the Union Army and force Lincoln to negotiate peace. Because of people like Chamberlain and the 2oth Maine, that goal was never achieved.

But during this struggle on Little Round Top, soldiers on both sides reported seeing the ghost of who they could only describe as George Washington on a white horse leading the Union soldiers, and some Confederate soldiers even shot at the ghost, only for the bullets to have no impact. The experience was so vivid for those fighting the battle that it made it into postwar memoirs of veterans. From ancient times to modern, soldiers tell accounts of their Heroic leaders from the past returning to help them. Skeptics claim that it is the result of things like battle fatigue. I understand that hallucinations can happen to people, but I don't buy that the exact same affliction would happen to multiple people and simultaneously cause them all to see and report the exact same thing. 

When we have our Heroes, they remain with us, and they come when we need them, give us the spirit and power we need to overcome, and fight for us.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

How Hellenism Changed My Life

The joy of getting up each Day, pouring a libation in my yard to all the Gods, Spirits, Heroes, Deified Mortals and Ancestors of ancient Greece, feeling that Divine Connection first thing in the morning, and preparing for another enjoyment of life, is an irreplaceable sublime, to say the least. When you have felt the Presence of the Gods, you know how terrible you would feel without it. You cannot give it up, nor do you want to.

But there are core truths in my life as a Hellenist. Hellenism changed my life in so many profound ways, and in this post, I would like to outline several of the top ones. How Hellenism changed my life. 

1, Honesty. I used to live life thinking that there was nothing wrong with lying, especially if it was to get yourself out of something. In other words, refusing to take responsibility for yourself. I did not know the inherent value of truth and honor. But now, I take measure to keep my word, to be truthful, and to own my actions. Simply the value of being a good and decent person.

2, Care and Compassion. I suppose the best way I could describe this is by using the ideal of Xenia, or Sacred Hospitality. The value of helping those in need, and showing courtesy and love toward your friends and family members, not only honors the Gods and make those in your care feel hopeful and supported, but it elevates your feeling of self-worth. You realize, in one way, that you are a good man or woman.

3, Self-love, and respect. I'm already enough. I don't have to be anything I'm not, or don't want to be. The Gods made me a wonderfully unique person with my own talents and potential, and I have every right to pursue those. Additionally, the world, as well as yourself, is made a better place if you let the goodness of the Gods shine through you, and build your own kindness with those around you. 

4, Self-happiness. This is where I came to two of the greatest realizations of my life at this point. One, if you let other people tell you what to believe, you will have 0% peace and 100% anxiety. Two, you have to be brave enough to make your own decisions in life. The key to happiness is choosing your own roads of destiny. There are many before us in life. Choose the one that makes you happy and gives you fulfillment.

5, Moderation. Especially in my younger Days, I had a big problem with overindulgence, mainly when it came to food. Moderation does not mean to give up the things you like or that make you happy. It means to find a healthy balance with them. Overindulgence and starvation are both equally destructive. I learned that true happiness and enjoyment in these things comes from finding the balance because you can't enjoy anything if you're sick. The middle is where you can experience the most joy in actuality. Moderation has helped me stay healthy.

6, Inherent beauty of life and the world. Ever since I was a boy, I can remember loving life and the beauty of the world around me. But that was amplified when I became a Hellenist. The wonderfulness in everything in and around me, became always apparent. I became able to look past the "mundane" as it were. Or even find the beauty in the mundane. I see inherent worth in all of life and the Universe. 

7, The Gods are always good. I realized my inherent worth to them. There's no way I can fail the Gods, because you cannot fail those who already have everything and do not need anything from you, and my humanity is not inherently broken; I am blessed, by the Gods and by life. The Gods are always good and always do good, and I am part of that good.

8, Religion and science are not opposed. I have no need to choose between scientific knowledge and my theology. In fact, science strengthens my belief in the Gods, partially because of the immense complexity and direction that is clearly revealed within life and the Universe. But in the grand picture of things, there is no battle between the two concepts. Who do I thank when the doctor gives me healing care, some might ask? I thank Apollon and the doctor. Apollon for showing, revealing and teaching the arts of healing to mankind, and the doctor for dedicating themselves to the practice. All good things come from the Gods. Apollon gives the medicine and the knowledge, the doctor performs the services. 

9, Wonderfully diverse spirituality. I love the fact that Hellenism acknowledges so many levels of Divinity and Ascension. Gods, Spirits, Heroes, Deified Mortals, Ancestors, and the Blessed Dead. There is nothing in my life, nor any issue I can face, where there is no one to help me, teach me, guide me, protect me, bless me, or whatever it may be. The Powers of the Universe take an immense interest in human life.

10, Individuality and Inherent Worthiness. I don't have to be someone I'm not. In fact, the Delphic Maxims say, "Be Yourself." Hellenism does not demand that I adopt a belief or a lifestyle that is contradictory to my own human nature and my own peace and direction for my life. I can decide who I am, what I want to do, and go that direction in the pursuit of Virtue and excellence. I am a worthy person and a necessary part of the Kosmos because I am here. The fact that the Gods created me shows that they consider me a beautiful part of the world.

11, Let go of blame. Epictetus is my favorite philosopher when it comes to blame, because he has helped me let go of so much bitterness and resentment, especially from my past. He spent 30 years as a slave, and when he was free, he did not spend his life blaming and hating. He moved on and became one of the most well known Greek philosophers. He said, small-minded people blame others, average people blame themselves, and wise people know that all blame is foolish. It accomplishes nothing for the good in us or the people in our lives. It only prevents us from peace and achievement. Besides, we are all human and doing the best we can with the knowledge and resources we have. In short, life is life, and there's no need or productivity for blame.

12, Self-Mastery. Finally, I would say that I have learned a good deal of self-mastery in the sense of controlling my emotions and reactions to other people and my life circumstances. People can only provoke you if you give them the power to do so, but not only that, the value of controlling how I see myself, what I allow to take place in my life, and how I control my own life.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

The Truth About The Christianization Of Greece

To my mind, the simple fact that much of the ancient world's history has been lost primarily due to persecution by Christian authorities, speaks for itself in regards to how the ancient world disappeared. This is the often overlooked history of the Christianization of Greece.

Ancient Greek religion went away primarily because its institutions were outlawed by Christian Rome. This is not to say that there were no willing conversions in early Greek Christianity. Every religion can find willing converts, and it would therefore be dishonest to presume that Christianity did not obtain them also. But there are two things to consider. One, we have no census or record of the number of willing converts in the early Days, only estimates that can vary depending on source. And second, we have to consider what "willing" actually meant at times.

There are three factors to consider in the Greek conversions. One, early Christianity absorbed an extensive amount of ancient Greek philosophy. They realized the strong truths and values in Hellenism, and they adopted parts of it to give Christianity backing with the Greeks. Literally, Christians adopted Greek Polytheistic philosophy in order to appeal to the people they were talking to. Even though the philosophy was not monotheistic or Christian, because people like Socrates and Plato believed in the Greek Gods. It was, in fact, very Greek Polytheistic. But the Christians used the basis of the ideas themselves and placed their own religion upon it. They tried to make it look, in other words, like Christianity was Greek, even though it wasn't. Christianity is Jewish, whose theology is fundamentally different and polar opposites from the Greek.

They would also take religious customs and simply replace them with a mirror image of their own, as far as such an image could be achieved. For example, replacing Gods with saints. A good example is the Temple of Poseidon in Didyma, Argolis where a cathedral of St. Nicholas was built on top of it, a saint who Christians call "lord of the sea" and "protector of sailors," just as Poseidon was/is. Another good example is Zeus and the Sun God Helios and the Prophet Elijah, whose Greek name is spelled Ilias, sounding like Helios. The prophet was said to have rose to heaven in a chariot of fire, and to this Day, mountaintop churches in Greece that were formally dedicated to Zeus and Helios, have been replaced with chapels of Elijah. Additionally, Helios drives the Chariot of the Sun, aka a Fire Chariot.

The early Christians knew that if they were completely foreign to the Greeks, they would lose. They knew they had to become Greek enough, and thus you have the Greek Orthodox Church, which is different from Roman Christianity.

Second, early Christians in Greece were also known to wage physical war against sacred worship places and temples. In short, they destroyed them and ousted the Hellenes therein. In 426 AD, the famous Temple of Asklepios in Epidaurus, known for its Healing Festival, was ultimately shutdown by Christians. In 391 AD, Theodosius the First ordered the closing of Greek temples. He also outlawed the Olympic Games and the Greek religion in general. Some temples may have also been abandoned or left to decay, either because those who oversaw them decided to leave (perhaps because of the loss of too much support pushed by persecution), or because the State would no longer provide funding for their upkeep. There is also a legendary monastic claim that, in 324 AD, Emperor Constantine sent a force of eviction to Mount Athos, removing all Hellenists from the mountain and destroying any temples there. Today, Christian monasteries stand on it. While this is a Christian legend and not verified as historical fact, it shows a vision that early Christians had no problem entertaining, which was to physically destroy their religious competition if necessary.

During the reign of Emperor Justinian, an order was given by him to burn ancient Greek books and pictures, and destroy Greek statues. Other Pagan and Polytheistic writings also fell victim to this, and because of it, we have lost untold sums of ancient history. Finally, ancient sites had their treasuries and other valuables plundered by the church and its officials for financial and building support, such as was done to the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. Statues that remained would often be vandalized, with crosses carved into their faces, and their hands, feet and genitals broken off.

In 359 AD, Greek Polytheists and others also found themselves victims of the infamous Skythopolis Trials and the Skythopolis Death Camps. In Book 19, Chapter 12 of the work by Ammianus Marcellinus, we are given horrific descriptions of what happened to those who were deemed treasonous or sacrilegious by the Christian Emperor Constantius II of Rome. The charges levied against the accused were magic, superstition, and consulting oracles, and sometimes other charges would be added such as being a poisoner. He also adds that once someone was brought up on charges before these trials, it was highly unlikely that they would be found not guilty, as there was extreme bias in the court. This leads us to believe that it was largely a kangaroo court, designed for the purpose of exterminating unwilling converts. Refusal to accept Christianity in the face of the Christian State resulted in either death, torture, loss of property, or exile.

"men were brought in from almost the whole world, noble and obscure alike; and some of them were bowed down with the weight of chains, others wasted away from the agony of imprisonment. As the theatre of torture and death Skythopolis was chosen, a city of Palestine which for two reasons seemed more suitable than any other: because it is more secluded, and because it is midway between Antioch and Alexandria, from which cities the greater number were brought to meet charges. 

some died from the mangling of their bodies, others were condemned to further punishment and had their goods seized, while Paulus was the prompter of these scenes of cruelty, supplying as if from a storehouse many kinds of deception and cruelty; and on his nod (I might also say), depended the life of all who walk the earth. 

Paulus aka Paulus Catena or Paul the Chain, was a Christian imperial investigator.

For if anyone wore on his neck an amulet against the quartan ague or any other complaint, or was accused by the testimony of the evil-disposed of passing by a grave in the evening, on the ground that he was a dealer in poisons, or a gatherer of the horrors of tombs and the vain illusions of the ghosts that walk there, he was condemned to capital punishment and so perished. In fact, the matter was handled exactly as if many men had importuned Claros, the oaks of Dodona, and the once famous oracles of Delphi with regard to the death of the emperor.

Claros refers to the Oracle of Apollo at Claros. Dodona refers to the Oracle of Zeus at Dodona.

the Cornelian Laws exempted no one of whatever estate from examination by torture, even with the shedding of blood."

- Marcellinus, Ammianus, Book XIX, Chapter 12.

Unfortunately, we have no record as to how many people met their end at these Trials, or how many probably also died during transport to the court, and people dying while imprisoned is usually caused by things like starvation, disease, and/or torture. But if it was influential enough to warrant historical recording, we might presume that the numbers were also high. Interestingly, the Cornelian Laws were first instituted by ancient Rome, and then used by the Christian authority that took over. But the Cornelian Laws, in their originality, were not designed to target Christians, as they were written around 80 years before Jesus. In short, Christianity did not exist when they were written, nor did being a Roman Polytheist exempt someone from them.

In the early period, some Greeks who converted did so out of a sense of community, and third, by the late period, Greeks converted as a matter of social status and survival. Those who refused throughout this time saw nothing less than the cultural genocide of their people, and even danger to their own physical lives.

Before as late as 2006, Hellenists in Greece could not openly exist. By 2006, it was not illegal to believe in the Greek Gods, but publicly practicing it could get you arrested and/or fined. Only in very recent history have Greeks won the right to openly worship the Greek Gods again, ending a centuries old ban. In May of 2006, thanks to the efforts of the Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes, an Athens court ruled the religion again legally recognized and free. But still, that's not to say that persecution has completely gone away, as Hellenists in Greece today sometimes face violence and vandalism against them and their sacred worship areas. 

The bottom line is simply that Hellenism was forced out of Greece by and large, not peacefully replaced. It is widely argued that if Hellenism had been allowed to freely exist, it would today be a very strong competitor with Christianity. 

The Christianization of Greece did not occur as a sudden massive spiritual awakening to a brand new way of life, as some may have you believe. It was done over a long period of time through systematic destruction, ambitional pursuits, a need for survival, oppressive laws, and outright deadly persecution. Is this to say that the Christians never achieved any real conversions? No, it's to show that they knew they had to apply adaptation and force in order to actually remove the competition that Hellenism strongly provided. In short, new ideal and peaceful conversion was not doing the job that was needed to significantly take over.

To presume that a country and a people who had spent centuries upon centuries being Hellenic because that's what they truly believed and trusted in, would suddenly give it all up simply because someone from another culture came and said they should, is just not logical.

"People did continue to pray to these gods. Greek religion was practiced for 800 years after Xenophanes, and disappeared at the end of the ancient world under massive state pressure. Quite clearly, that criticism had touched only the surface, not the roots." 

- Burkert, Walter, Greek Religion, p. 246.

Christianity did not come to power automatically. It took around 300 years. So how did early Christianity gain enough Roman power to threaten the Polytheism of the known world? The answer may lie in Walter Burkert's words above. Christianity may have appealed to governments because of its ability to control populations and institutions. For whatever reason, once the early Christians had secured the government, they were able to use that power to inflict indefinite damage. The Christians knew the government was where their victory lied, because, as Burkert says, they were not touching the roots, aka the common people. 

Is this research being used by me to produce hatred, intolerance or shame toward Christians or their churches in our time today? Absolutely not. I do think they should return to the Hellenes the sacred lands and areas that rightfully belong to them, but people alive today had nothing to do with the actions of ancestors or founders who lived around 1,675 years ago. It's to show that, despite some modern claims or presumptions, Greece was not peacefully converted to Christianity, or changed its ideals 100%; nor was it a massive one time swoop in changing. I want the people of Greece today to realize that their ancestors and their bloodline history and theology is worthy of respect and veneration. Their ancestors loved the Gods, and many of them paid ultimate prices for their refusal to abandon them.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Sources

* Picture: By Greece_location_map.svg: Lencer / derivative work: Uwe Dedering (talk) - Greece_location_map.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link, black cross was added.

* "The Influence of Greek Philosophy on Christian Thought: Foundations of Christian Philosophy," Fabrizio Musacchio, January 5, 2025, Link.

* Webber, Malcom, "Tool: The Influence of Greek Culture on Christian Theology,"  LeaderSource, Link.

* Maloney E. Ashley, Imperial Christianization in Corinth: 300-600 AD, Ohio State University, 2010, Link.

* Stilo, Aelius, "The Destruction of Pagan Temples," Link.

* Howells, Caleb, "Five Ancient Greek Temples Turned Into Churches," Greek Reporter, November 26th 2025, Link.

* Chrysafis E, Ioannis, "Why All Greek Churches on Mountaintops Are Called Profitis Ilias," Greece Is, July 16, 2020, Link.

* Leonard, John, "Of Gods and Dreams: The Ancient Healing Sanctuary of Epidaurus," Greece Is, March 28, 2019, Link.

* Pharr, Clyde, The Theodosian Code, London, Princeton University Press, 1952, Link.

* Stilo, Aelius, "The End of Paganism," Link.

* Corcoran, Simon, Anastasius, Justinian, and the Pagans: A Tale of Two Law Codes and a Papyrus, 2009. Link.

* Herrin, Judith, "Book Burning as Purification in Early Byzantium," Oxford Academic, April 7, 2013, Link.

* Moronski, Liz, "The Temple to Artemis at Ephesus," Connecticut College, Link.

 *Almutawa, Shatha, "Layers of Culture," Perspectives on History, 2014, Link.

* Marcellinus, Ammianus, "Roman Antiquities," Link.

* Butera C, Aurora, The Legal Privileges and Punishments of the Roman Empire's Catholic Revolution, Union College, 2016, Link.

* "Hellenic Reconstructionism," Religion Facts, March 17th, 2015, Link.

*  Welles, Elyse, "Vandalism at Sacred Site: Hellenic Polytheist Altar Destroyed on Athens Hill," The Wild Hunt, May 27, 2025, Link.

* Burkert, Walter, Greek Religion, Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishing, 1985.

* Ellerbe, Hellen, The Dark Side of Christian History, Orlando, Florida, Morningstar & Lark, 1995.

Does Zeus Fear Nyx?

There is a part of Greek Mythology concerning Zeus, King of the Gods, and Nyx, the Primordial Goddess of Night. The story of this comes from The Iliad, Book 14, Line 261, which describes Zeus' reaction to Her after Hypnos, the God of Sleep, ran from Zeus into the embrace of Nyx. The Iliad basically says the following:

Zeus stopped in reverence and would not displease Nyx.

Some people today have interpreted this as Zeus halting before Her in fear, but this is a misinterpretation and not what the Greeks meant. What we have to realize as English speakers in 2026, is that ancient Greek words didn't always have the same meanings as they do to us. For instance, calling a God awful meant to be in awe of them, whereas to us, the word awful means something that is irreverent. 

The word used in The Iliad to describe Zeus' reaction to Nyx is hazomai, which means to "stand in awe or reverence, or holy dread." Which again, dread did not mean the same thing to the Greeks as it does to us. In a religious context, it means respect. So what the Greeks meant is that Zeus has reverential awe for the Primordial that predates Him and is necessary for the Universe to remain in balance and Order. He values every part of His Kingdom and the foundations of it. It means He is Just and Pious, not scared, and understands the need for the other Gods and will not violate them. In the story of Nyx, Zeus chose the stability of the Universe, rather than battling with Nyx.

It doesn't say that Zeus cannot defeat Her. It says He chose to not violate Her, because the Order of the Universe was far more important. As my wife said, Zeus is King, not the Gestapo. The Gods both have mutual respect for one another, and that does not diminish the power of either, Zeus because of His Kingship, and Nyx because of Her Necessity. In ancient Greek religion, there were wars between Gods and other beings like the Giants, but the religion is largely not concerned with ongoing rivalries. All the Gods are worthy of respect. Of course, there could be something birthed that decides to defy the Gods, but the religion itself is not about an ongoing Godly or spiritual war.

In short, Zeus can beat Her, but He knows that to do so, would send the Universe into chaos once again, and so Nyx remains extremely powerful, not because Zeus cannot win, but because if He does, there will be tremendous upset. With great power comes great responsibility and Zeus, in His great wisdom, understands this. So the interpretation of Zeus having no power before Her, is not true. In actuality, He respects Nyx and Her House. A King does not destroy His own Universe, He loves, protects and nurtures it.

Now here is where it gets more interesting. Someone might respond to me with this by asking, "If Zeus respects the domains of the other Gods, why did He overthrow Kronos?"

The simple answer may be that there was too much chaos, but it goes deeper. The Greek Universe is one of reciprocity. By swallowing His children, He tried to completely destroy them, which did not respect their domains or existence, and was therefore a violation of one of the most basic spiritual bonds of the Greek Universe; reciprocity. Zeus took over to restore balance to the Kosmos. However, this still does not mean that Kronos commands no respect or functions. He was still worshiped in ancient times, and is still worshiped by Hellenists today, but over different domains and for different reasons. As I have said before in this post, the Greek Universe is not one of ongoing rivalry. We believe Kronos now exists peacefully with the other Gods, and is a God of the Harvest and a God of Cycles; also Lord of the Isles of the Blessed - given to Him by Zeus.

Now I don't view this prayer as talking about Kronos, but rather, as a God of Cycles, asking Him to help me through the most influential of my own in life. The point here is that even for Gods who were once fighting each other, balance and peace can still come among them.

If you wish, let's end this post with a prayer to these amazing Gods, Zeus and Nyx. 

O' Zeus, beloved King,

whom all of life, 

even Gods, call Father,

O' gorgeous and Mysterious Nyx,

dark do you come,

sending the world into sleep and quietness,

great do you both reign,

in Kingship and Necessity,

may all the glory of the Gods,

rejoice in the sound of your blessed names,

and all of us who still walk the Sacred Way,

be delighted and honored to know you.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

On Public Perception of War

These are my thoughts about the existence of war that has always been within most of human culture. Before I do so, however, I want to make my readers aware that this post has nothing to do with the civil unrest that has been going on in our society as of lately. This is about general history and the human condition.

In ancient Greek religion, Ares is the God of War, but He is also not the only God who takes an interest in the field. Athene is the Goddess of War, but She does not have the bloodlust of it. Rather, She fights only when necessary, preferring peace and diplomacy, but when She must fight, She is the Master of Strategy and cannot be defeated. Aphrodite carries the Epithet of Warlike and Armed. She was called Warlike perhaps because of Her association and love relationship with Ares, and called Armed because sometimes war and love found themselves intertwined, such as with the Trojan War. It has also been suggested that She had earlier Manifestation as a Warrior-Goddess. Of course, we cannot deny that the passionate life of humans can sometimes lead us to fight for love and what is our desire. But our love life does not have to involve any kind of confrontation. In fact, most of Aphrodite's Epithets have nothing to do with war.  But the fact remains that it can be a result. It's in our nature to fight for the things we want. There is power in it.

I offer a far different view on war. While war is not something that we should always jump to, a lot of us in the West are free today because our people won against an enemy who didn't want us to be. Example, the American Revolution. We did not want the fight, but the fight came anyway, beyond our control. And had it not been for the strength, strategy and power to push back the forces of oppression, the Free World might be very different today. Sometimes the only language an oppressor understands is the sword. Sometimes the sword is useful in defending and advancing what is right.

Sometimes we have to fight because we have no other choice if we want to survive and flourish. No matter how much we may want peace, that doesn't mean others will. Now I'm not saying that we should choose war as a first option. Peace should flourish wherever possible. But sometimes war is necessary. Although I do think people use it far more often than they should. 

War also doesn't just have to do with the battles that we commonly equate it with. It doesn't have to just be swords and guns on a battlefield. It can refer to the wars that we wage in our own personal lives. We all have private battles that we share with the world, and private battles that we never tell anyone about. It could be with physical and mental illness, finances, career, school, family life, or our personal feelings of worth and accomplishment. We all have things that we hope to achieve victory over or in. In some ways, life is a battle. I have accepted this, I just ask Athene and Ares to be my Generals. :)

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

The Freedom That Hellenism Offers

One core concept that has always made me cling to Hellenism in my life is that of personal freedom. There are religions and ways of life out there that are so restrictive on the human condition. They want to control your sex life, your beliefs, and your politics to name a few. Now I'm not trying to arrogantly tear down those religions or philosophies, I'm just stating an observable fact of serious human control, when I believe that we were given life for the purpose of enjoyment and fulfillment.

The ancient Greeks were a free people of both mind and body, even though the extension of that may have varied from City to City. In modern Hellenism, the basic premise is this, Enjoy life, just don't let anything control or destroy you.

In other words, eat the food, but don't let the food eat you. Enjoy your sex life, but don't become a slave to it or be reckless. In short, moderation. As long as you do not reach a point where your pleasures and passions destroy your life, harm others, or interfere with your ability to live a regulated life, do as you want. As an example, if I want to have a threesome, I can, as long as everyone is a consensual adult, we know that we are healthy and not giving each other diseases, and I don't become so addicted to it that I cannot enjoy life otherwise. What remains enjoyable and prosperous is good. Now I would cleanse myself before doing rituals afterwards, of course, because human sex creates miasma (ritual impurity), but sex itself would never be an offense. I can eat the foods I like, so long as I do not fall into gluttony, because that harms my health and potentially shortens my life. And I can drink the alcohol so long as I always have the ability to stop at a healthy point. As far as your private personal beliefs, neither the Gods or man care, they only care if those beliefs turn into hubris or harm. When it comes to your politics, again, just avoid hubris and harm. State your political beliefs freely and fight for them. You can be a socialist, you can be a capitalist, you can be Green Party, whatever. 

There is no punishment for being human, only the need to find a healthy balance with the things in your life and avoid hubris (arrogance). We are not against enjoying our pleasures and passions, we just don't let our pleasures and passions destroy us. Why is it important to create that balance? Because overindulgence and starvation are both equally destructive. We do not deprive ourselves of the things we like, because that can make one depressed, frustrated, and unhealthy, but we also don't drown ourselves in them, because that can also make one depressed, frustrated, and unhealthy. We don't say, "Don't do that with your life." Instead we say, "Be healthy with it." To my mind, this makes for the best life because it gives the best comfort and prosperity to the human condition. It allows joy, happiness and healthiness while also eliminating suffering.

To live your best life in accordance with Arete, and to enjoy every Day of it, is your own individual choice to make.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Source for Picture:

By EAnderson88 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16197001,

No Changes Were Made.

What If A Former Murderer Came To My Temple For Help?

In a discussion on this subject some time ago, I decided to draw my own conclusions on the matter, and that question is basically, "Is there an offense someone can make that can forever be unrepairable with the Gods?" In other words, is there a mistake that can make sure you can never be a Hellenist? Or at least, make sure you could never be part of any group or organization? I have thought about this myself extensively, "What if someone had been convicted of murder, served their time, wanted to change and be Hellenic, and came to my temple for help?" I might first conclude that they were sent to me for a reason, however that may have worked itself out.

Let's first be clear as to what murder is. Murder is not when you are forced to kill someone in order to save your life or the life of someone you care about. It's not even automatically murder to simply kill someone in and of itself. Accidentally causing someone's death is homicide or manslaughter. Murder is when you intentionally take someone's life who is posing no threat to your physical well being. In short, it's an intentional unjustified killing of another human being. It's absolutely the worst offense someone can make.

In ancient Greece, whether or not someone could atone and return to the religious community was based on what kind of killing had taken place. For self-defense or accidents, they could be purified and return. For premeditation, it may have been considered incurable at least in some instances. That's not to say they could no longer worship the Gods, but they may not be able to come back to certain temples, sanctuaries, or other religious orders in their communities. There was also no such thing as life imprisonment in ancient Greece. The City wouldn't have wanted to pay for someone for that long. You were executed or exiled if you were guilty of premeditated murder. In Early Homeric Times, murder could be cleared through reparations to the family or exile. 

It must first be kept in mind that purification was not just about the individual. If they came into a temple or participated in a City's ceremony while having such pollution, it could disrupt everything else. So it wasn't only about punishing them specifically, it was about protecting the spiritual welfare of the entire Polis. So the ultimate question is, "Can they be purified? Can the Gods remove that pollution?" Yes, they can. But only they can make that choice. They can do anything, and therefore, that means they can clear someone of murder. 

If such a man or woman came to me for help with sincere remorse after having served their sentence, I would take them to a calm place in Nature and use every means and every tool possible at my use to cleanse them of the miasma. I would start with purified water blessed by the Gods, then into sulfur purification for some of the most powerful, invoking Gods such as Zeus Kosmetes (Orderer), Zeus Hikesios (of Suppliants), Zeus Katharsios (of Ritual Purification), Zeus Prostropaios (Turner of Pollution), Zeus Soter (Savior), and Zeus Meilikhios (Gracious and Merciful). I would invoke Apollon Alexikakos (Averter of Evil), and pray for His cleansing and purifying light. I would also perform my temple's Dionysian Rite, invoking Dionysos as the God of Rebirth and life. In short, everything and everyone I could think of to free this person from the worst of crimes.

Then I would advise them to make a great sacrifice to the Gods, acknowledging their wrongdoing, accepting all the consequences, making possible reparations to the family of the deceased, and expressing sincere devotion to a better life. All of this might indeed ensure that they could start their own personal and private life as a Hellenist. As for me, I helped the suppliant as best as I could. 

As far as entering my temple, I would honestly be torn on the issue. On the one hand, I have a strong belief in redemption, simply because I believe the Gods can do anything for someone, and there were Heroes in Greek religion who atoned for terrible offenses, including murder. But I would also be compelled to think about the comfortability of the other members. Perhaps divination would be in order. I would turn to the Gods for an answer. They might advise a probationary period for the person before they could enter. There could be several possibilities. But the person could still ask for my counsel and learn from all the information out there for worshiping the Gods and being Hellenic in their own life. I would tell them that they can rebuild their own life from this point onward.

What do you think?

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Sources - 

Google, Life In Prison In Ancient Greece, 2026, Link

Google, Purification of Murder in Ancient Greece, 2026, Link