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.

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.

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.

The Smallest Temples Can Make Big Impacts

When it comes to Greek temples, the gigantic and glorious are well known, but not always commonplace. Most temples were not the size of the Parthenon, for example. Those grand icons were the exception, not the rule. Small country temples were probably far more common than people imagine. 

My own beautifully adorned modern temple, which I have owned and operated for several years now, is also of the small country type. Anyone who has been to or seen it, knows that it measures only about 12 feet long and 10 feet wide. And the Temple of Athena Nike on the Akropolis of Athens, as seen in the picture here, only measures 26 feet in length and 18 feet in width. But it has an amazing, iconic history and cultural impact.

The ancient Greeks were devoted and lovingly religious people; they adored their Gods and loved being spiritual. While the Parthenon became the wonder of the world, the small shrine and Temple of Athena Nike preceded it, and although a very small temple, the builders put their hearts and souls into the design, with wrap around art depicting the Greek Gods and also the Athenian battles and victories over the Persian Empire - the glories of Olympos and Earth. While only a fraction of the size of the Parthenon, a significant part of the Greek identity and history is housed in the Temple of Athena Nike, and would be lost without it. They so desired that victory stay with their City that, even though they didn't build a huge temple to Her, they put all of their devotion into it.

I always tell people who want to build a temple, to do it. No matter how big or small it may have to be. It doesn't matter.

We tend to think that a temple is something that has to be monumentous, but that's simply not the case. A temple is simply a place for religious worship. It's the devotion that matters. I always encourage people, and even post literary content, on how to build temples and temple communities, no matter how limited their means may be, because any kind of Hellenic temple is a blessing upon the world and the community it serves.

I don't know what kind of mark my own humble temple will leave on this world when I'm gone, or if it will even remain beyond simple legacy. I don't know what will happen to the physical structure in centuries to come. But I know I have at least touched and made a difference in the lives of a few people who might not have been touched otherwise.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Can Humans Agree On Beauty?

I recently came across a very intriguing question about human beauty. It basically asked if there is a definition of beauty that everyone could understand and agree on? Being someone who, of course, worships Aphrodite, that inquiry picked at my brain quite a bit.

When I was a teenager and young adult, I was far more picky about my taste in women. I think that's the case with a lot of young men. In other words, the beauty they see is, one, very distinct, and two, mainly on the surface of the human body.

But today, I look back on all the women I turned down and deeply regret it, because I realize the great beauty and quality of attractiveness that they possessed. As I grew older, my philosophy became, there is beauty in everything if you have the right eyes. But the question is, what are the "right" eyes? I think we grow up in a society that instills in us reactionary traits that tell us certain things are unattractive or degrading, when in actuality they are not, such as body fat or a deviating characteristic. But when you become older and abandon these social norms, your eyes change. 

I missed out on some wonderful beauty in my life, the beauty of personality, character, and uniqueness. But beauty isn't only about sexuality, and this is where a lot of people lose sight of the wonders of life. I normally see the beautiful in everything around me. I think, especially in the modern age, most people fail in this virtue, not because they lack the ability to achieve it, but because they haven't allowed the perception to enter their minds.

People are generally too occupied with daily stresses and so used to daily life, that the beauty of it all never crosses their minds, and this is where I think humans could agree on beauty if they only allowed themselves to see it. The beauty of nature, of life in general, of even the clothes and jewelry that people wear, the languages they use, and the arts they create. Why do most people not stop to see the inherent beauty in all of these things? We could all agree that life is beautiful. 

What's worse is that the failure to see inherent beauty makes our lives dull, and can even lead us down a road of depression and mental and emotional deterioration. The ancient Greek worldview was one that found the world an amazing place, and life one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed in the universe, especially the complexity and possibilities of being human. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Why Do The Gods Appear Mostly In Human Form?

I was asked this very intriguing question by someone on social media who had read my post about the Gods having biological genders. I found it fascinating that I had never given the topic a lot of thought before. Nevertheless, I thought it would make an excellent post topic, as it would be far too long for a social media comment section.

I think it's first important to note that the Gods, in the myths, sometimes changed into other lifeforms before returning to their original manifestations. Sometimes they even turned people or objects into different things. This is one reason I believe that the Gods are, at least in one respect, the consciousness of the universe.

But as far as human manifestation is concerned, I have always said and believe that it is we who look like them, not the other way around. We did not create Gods. They created us. But let us say that we are looking at this in terms of the Gods being the consciousness of the universe, at least for a moment. The Gods are actually beyond any comprehension humans can imagine, but we can at least take a theory and speculate on it.

We must conclude that the Gods can be whatever they want, and are therefore not bound to any one body or form. So the Gods come to us in a human form because that's how we, as humans, can best understand and interact with them. Not to mention that humans are the most blessed mortal beings on Earth, because we are the smartest and create the most love and beauty. So why wouldn't the Gods adore us enough to not only prefer the manifestation of the most blessed on the planet, but the ones that they themselves have blessed to be such? After all, as we are told, the Gods love to have relationships with us. Humanity is clearly chosen.

On the other hand, maybe the Gods really do look like that. Perhaps they gave the most blessed beings on Earth their own appearance. As a philosopher, I have always thought that sometimes the wisest thing I can say is, I don't know. But in order to hold onto my belief that it is we who look like the Gods, and not the Gods who look like us, I would have to say that the Gods gave us their most common images.

So perhaps what the Gods appear in is not human form, but their own entirely. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Why The Gods Definitely Have Biological Genders

I've heard people and groups in the past say that the Gods do not have genders, or that they are "genderless." I'm not here today to say that they don't have the right to their beliefs, or that they are somehow impious. UPG is perfectly valid. I am simply saying that I disagree, and in this post, I am going to make my case.

The first obviousness of the claim should be readily seen. To say, for example, that Hera (the Supreme Goddess, Mother of the galaxy and Goddess of women themselves) is not female, is historically inaccurate. The entire reason we have the words God and Goddess is to make a distinction between male and female. But let's go deeper.

I have found that the belief in genderless Gods mainly stems from the belief that gender is a social construct. But this is not a universally accurate statement.

Gender roles can be a social construct, but biological sex is not. No one gives you that except for nature, and nature is of the Gods, and therefore, defining sex comes from the Gods, not just for humans, but mostly every living thing on the planet. Male and female exist abundantly in the universe, everywhere around us, and also in the Gods as logic would therefore dictate. 

Even if you transition, you are still defined by that, otherwise why feel the need to transition to better define yourself? And while it's true that we can possess traits from both sexes, we will still have a central manifestation. Sex is a defining characteristic of who someone is.

The gender roles of human society are not what determine the genders or sexes of the Gods in any case. Often, a God or Goddess did not choose a realm because of their gender. Athena isn't the Patron of Athens because She's female, but because She won it. Poseidon isn't the God of the sea because He's male, but because He chose it. 

And sometimes, the gender roles of Greek society were the opposite of the Gods' stations. For example, men did most of the hunting, yet Artemis is the hunting and wilderness Deity mainly. Yes, She can have a counterpart (Her brother Apollon) but that even more so proves that the Gods have genders, otherwise why is there a distinct male and female here? If gender didn't matter, why the need for the recognition of two opposites? 

Furthermore, the Sex Goddess is female even though men were the dominant sex. The Deity of agriculture is female even though men did most of the field work. It could go on with examples. In a society dominated by men, you would think that the highest stations would go to Gods if gender roles made the determination. But they don't, because Gods are not created by humans. The Gods simply are.

Even if we go back to the gender roles of Greek society alone, we cannot logically argue that those were the only manifestations of biological sex. The Greeks even had certain festivals and religious functions only for women because they were directly tied to being female and not male.

I think the insistence on genderless Gods is really a social construct in and of itself, that desires to remold the Gods to conform with modern social mindsets, but what we have to realize is that such a thing is not necessary, nor do we as humans have any right to redefine a God. 

In the Goodness of the Gods, I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

Where Is The Akropolis Well of Poseidon?

The two incredibly powerful Deities faced off, Athena and Poseidon, battling it out for Patronage of the glorious City that would become Athens. 

The contest was simple, provide the greatest gift to the Athenians. We all know Athena won with the gift of the olive tree, and that Poseidon's saltwater spring, while great for sea navigation, was not chosen. The mark of His trident, where He struck the ground on the Akropolis and produced the water source, can still be seen today. But what of the spring itself? 

It existed well after the battle had concluded, and was documented late into Athenian history. Modern scholars and scientists have also admitted its reality in the Temple of Erechtheion on the Akropolis. The well was called The Sea of Erechtheus. In his chronicles of Greece, Paunsanias attests to the salty water of the well, which is astounding considering how far from the sea, and how high the Akropolis rises above sea level.

The Erechtheion temple rests on the north of the Akropolis, and still today can be visited and toured. The well lies abandoned as it is not used for any purpose today.

How did a saltwater well end up in this location? People can always find an alternative narrative they like in anything, if they look long and hard enough. But for me, its origins are obvious. Poseidon's mark is there and so is the spring. For me personally as a Hellenist, I find it fascinating each day that our religion is found everywhere. And the things left behind by the Gods are not only reminders of them, but also of human history.

Some might argue that water from the nearby sea eventually somehow pushed its way into the well, while leaving all the other wells in Athens alone for some reason. But entertaining that idea, could it be plausible that the contest was not a one day event? 

Maybe it was drawn out over a period of time, using the natural world as a means by which to accomplish the objective. Perhaps Poseidon's trident shook and began the process of this part of the earth becoming integrated with seawater so that His gift upon the Akropolis could come to fruition. Who knows these things? What I am confident of is the truth of it all.

I came up with this topic today after reading a portion of one of my history books on Athenian worship the other night. I find that few people go after the historical truth of these things, and even fewer realize they exist. But I suppose we all have our own callings in whatever it is that we do.

In the Goodness of the Gods, I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.

A Greek Sphinx Speaks In 2024

Archaeologists and scholars spent countless years trying to decipher the Greek writing on a Sphinx that originated from 3rd Century BCE Romania. In 1848, the statue was stolen and never recovered. However, a drawing remained, and today, the writing on it has finally been translated.

The Greek Sphinx was considered to be a fierce guardian and a creature of immense wisdom. Its wings represent heaven, its body the earth, and the mortal head a pathway by which to speak to mankind.

The writing on the statue simply says, Lo, behold, worship; here is the holy lion.

It first pretty much destroys the modern idea by some that the ancient Greeks didn't believe in worshipping, and that they were not highly religious people. To real historians and Hellenists, such a claim is beyond ridiculous, but there are some who actually believe and teach it.

In my own personal Hellenic life, I have put statues of Greek Sphinxes on my porch to guard the entrances to my home, and sometimes in the past, have even considered asking the Gods to send one to protect me or the ones I love. In ancient Greece, they were sometimes guardians of temples and cemeteries. They were not "bad creatures," as much as they simply had the capacity for wrath and weren't afraid to use it.

The Sphinx was a holy messenger to mankind, and endowed with the ability and desire to protect and guard even to the point of killing the passerby. How can a being of holy wisdom be so deadly, or why? Because ultimate knowledge is dangerous, and in some respects, isn't meant for mankind.

Perhaps the Sphinx in question is telling us to revere the Higher Powers, and never think that we are above, equal to, or don't need them in our lives. Because none of that is true, and to think otherwise will lead to our ultimate demise. I think that's a message that humanity DEFINITELY needs in 2024.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Source

Mystery of The Wood From The Sky

One of the original shrines of Athena on the Akropolis, held as Her statue or representation, a distinctive piece of tall wood, unknown to specific time, that was regularly washed and robed and placed in the shrine for veneration. It is a fact that this existed as stated. Completely lost to history at this point, but the story behind this wood was that it fell from the sky during a storm. Presumably, it landed on or near the Akropolis, but the story and the myth is far more fascinating than just that.

Athena is the daughter of Zeus, King of all Gods and God of the sky and storms. As the story is told, She emerged from His head, and some myths say, it happened after Hephaistos used an axe to split his head open for a time, so that She could escape. The storm and the falling wood may have very well been seen as the rage of Zeus, and the splintering of the axe handle, as Athena burst forth into the universe. What if it truly was? Or what if She gave it to the Athenians later?

Pausanias, in his wonderful and timeless volumes concerning the descriptions of Greece, describes the shrine as existing even during his own time, which was far later in history, as he lived from 110 to 180 CE, a good while after the ancient world is officially considered to be "over" by modern historians. He says that the wood and shrine went all the way back to before the unification of Attika, which would have predated even Theseus. Therefore, this sacred image was housed and in use for well over a millennium, over a thousand years of history just in this one small area. 

However, we do not know the time that the wood itself fell to Earth. Human activity in Greece is, at least, 1 million years old, with modern human presence being over 200,000 years old. Of course, over time, far greater, beautiful and more elaborate statues and temples were built to the Goddess, but this original image always remained, considered by some to have been the most holy of them all, or so Pausanias says. 

While we know it existed, we do not know the fate of this relic. We know it survived the Persian and Roman invasions because Pausanias lived well after these time periods. But these were also not religious wars, unlike the time of Christian occupation. The Christians turned even the Parthenon into a church for a time, and no doubt destroyed everything that represented any Gods but their own. All of the gold, silver and bronze, the extreme wealth of the treasuries, and the majesty of the statues and temples on the Akropolis, met their demise and looting during this time period.

But importantly, to my mind, it shows us something about the Greeks, or at least the Athenians, when it came to their theological beliefs and life. Pausanias said the Athenians were more religious than any other man, at least that he knew. While they eventually had glorious statues and temples, some unsurpassed in all of Greece, they also found the Gods in everything around them. There was no separation from their religious life and ordinary life; they were one in the same. The Gods spoke to them, helped them, and elevated them in all things.

In the Goodness of the Gods, I'll see you at the next Herm down the road, Chris Aldridge.

Humans Did Not Create Gods, and Here's How You Know

One of the most common arguments, even from some philosophers as far back as ancient times, is that humans created the Gods of their cultures. Now certainly, I'm not saying that there were never any myths ascribed to the Gods that came, at least in part, from human understanding. But it's not true that the Gods are creations of humans. The Gods are real, and I will tell you why.

Let us think about it logically, or perhaps, in a way that most people never have before. And for this, let's of course refer to ancient Greek times, since that's where my religious and spiritual focus resides in life. In ancient Athens, a City ruled by men, a Goddess was the Patron. In a culture where men did most of the hunting, Artemis was the main Hunting Deity. In a society where sex was primarily ruled by men, a female Deity (Aphrodite), was the presiding Divinity. So the question begs, if humans create Gods, why were all of these Gods not male instead of female? Shouldn't a society ruled by men create male Gods to be their leaders?

The simple answer is that humans do not create Gods. Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite, for example, are who they are, regardless of the society we create, or the preferences we may have as human beings. When Athena claimed Athens, it did not matter which humans ruled it, or how the society was structured. She overruled them all. The same for Artemis and Aphrodite. The wild and the love of the universe belong to them, and no mortal social structure can change that. 

As a man, I might be a good martial artist, but when I need strength, it's Athena I pray to. When I need protection for my children, Artemis is who I sacrifice to. And for the power and passion of sexuality and sexual success, Aphrodite's my counsel. Furthermore, I see no reason that this should be a threat to my masculinity. The wonderful powers and Divinities of the masculine and feminine swirl all around us, in the Heavens, upon the Earth, and in the Underworld.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Ruins Of Theseus' Palace On The Akropolis

In some of my recent studies, I happened across a piece of mysterious information hidden in the pages of an old book from my temple's library, something that few people know about in the grand picture of ancient Greek history and archaeology. All throughout Mycenaean archaeology, we have uncovered all of the palace ruins of the main Trojan War Heroes, with Odysseus being the most recent and final one. 

But atop the Akropolis of Athens, the City that Theseus ruled, loved and defended so much that the Athenian motto became, "Nothing Without Theseus," it has been believed that the remains of Theseus' palace rest there. Sure enough, the modicum ruins of what was most certainly a late Bronze Age Megaron Palace still remain, the time period in which Theseus could have most certainly lived, and long, long before the Parthenon was ever even dreamed of. 

A Greek Megaron is not the grand kind of palace we would think of today that houses the monarchs of England. Rather, it is more of a Great Hall building, built in a rectangle that hosts an open porch, is surrounded by four columns, and in the center houses an open air hearth. There would have also been a throne or throne room for the King to sit. Throughout the life and history of the Athenian Akropolis, buildings rose and fell, and new ones were added, such as the Parthenon, so the only traces of this Megaron we have is basically the foundation. Nevertheless, we do know it existed, when it existed, and what it was used for; royalty. 

If you were a tourist in Athens around 400 BCE, and you had been so inclined to ask, the citizens would have probably told you all about the old Palace of Theseus that once stood on their citadel. To them, it would have been historical fact. You may have even been directed to the City's Sanctuary of Theseus just below the Akropolis, and the burial that they believed to be His. We know where this religious center stood as well. But the Palace of Theseus is an even greater mystery because there is so little of it remaining, due to the passage of time and the evolution of the citadel.

However, the Megaron that could have very well belonged to the legendary Hero still looks at us from the rocky history of the hill. We can walk upon the steps or floor that Theseus Himself may have, and all of the ancestors before us who walked in to consult or ask for His help. Today, there may no longer be a great throne at the end of the Great Hall, but upon those ruins, we can still look up to the heavens, on top of the sacred fortification, and pray to Theseus.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Ancient Greek Medicine and Healing for Modern Problems

At first notion, people today may assume that the physicians of ancient Greece are not relevant to modern medicine and the healing arts. But such a presumption is gravely incorrect. While some ancient methods such as bloodletting are shelved in the archives of error, mostly everything else the Greeks practiced gave birth to all of the medical fields we have today. And doctors have not forgotten this, because they still recite, at least ideally, the Hippocratic Oath of Physicians. Now it has been altered so much to fit personal preferences that I'd argue the modern recitation can no longer be called the Hippocratic, but the ancient Greek as the mortal father of medicine still holds sway over our minds and actions in the field.

Bringing ancient medicine back into our everyday lives is invaluable, whether one is actually a Hellenist or not. The history of healing in ancient Greece is very wealthy and diverse, and the adoption of it remains beautiful and powerful. 

To the Greeks, everything was religious and spiritual. The physical and spiritual worlds interacted on a daily basis. For this reason, the Greeks believed, one, that the best healing and medicine took place when the mind, body and soul were treated and balanced. Neither was left to neglect. One method through which the physical and spiritual body could be tended to was through the Asklepios Healing Temples. Asklepios is the son of Apollon (the God of healing), and is the God of physicians and medicine. These temples were built to Him for the purpose of healing the sick. Afflicted people would travel to these locations and sleep inside the building, where the God would either heal them or send them messages, signs or omens through dreams that would help them achieve recovery.

One's spirituality and connection to the Divine is proven to have immense healing powers, both for the mind and physical body. That's why religious people are less depressed than non-religious or atheists, and if you tell your psychiatrist that your religion helps you deal with your mental health issues, they will tell you to keep doing it as a form of therapy. The benefit of a balanced mind, body and soul is self-evident. Your bodily health will do little good if your mind and spirit is in tatters, and vice versa. All of the essential properties that make up the human body and experience have to be healthy.

Secondly, the Greeks understood that a person's health relied heavily on proper diet and exercise. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, said as much. Moderation, which means to have a healthy balance in all things, was at the center of Greek life. To neither starve nor overindulge, but to reach and practice healthy living consistently. When it comes to diet and exercise specifically, we may find it lamentable that most people today are seriously lacking in either one or the other. Obesity and laziness are epidemics of their own, and they cause the body and mind to decay and make them prone to disease and disorders.

For years, especially when it was summertime or warm enough, I would go on runs every night through my City. At one point, I reached 7 miles nonstop. This was part of my mission to lose the weight I had gained years ago and maintain a healthy body mass. Of course, I also had to combine this with healthy eating. It does little good to exercise if you're just going to put the junk right back inside you when you're done. It's like trying to pump water out of a boat with a giant hole in it. I lost the weight and had never felt better in my life, both physically and mentally. Since then, I have always recommended that people do simple exercise like running. Not only will it keep you healthy, it will give you a great outlook on life.

Third, it was not long before Botany and its medical benefits found its way into the Greek physician's world and that of their patients. In ancient Greek theology, mostly everything was a gift from the Gods, and miraculous plants would have been no exception. In fact, profound ones such as Oregano, were believed to have been planted by Aphrodite Herself, and in humans, the plant can help produce white blood cells that aid in recovery and strengthen immunity. There are so many wonderful benefits to Greek herbology that, if one is interested in adopting it for their life, I have put a link to an information site at the bottom of this post.

The Greeks knew that the answers to the ailments of life were placed in the universe around us by the Gods. They only needed to discover them. Everything the Gods give to humans, is Divinely blessed. The Gods love for us to live, and live to the fullest. Therefore, their gifts and blessings to us will aid in that goal.

Finally, the ancient Greeks began to perfect the practice of surgery. They advanced so well in this art for ancient times that they were able to treat and seal wounds, repair fractured and broken bones, remove bladder stones, and even treat cataracts (a condition that causes impaired vision). Necessity, as Plato would say, is the mother of invention. They had to figure out some way to address life's all too common problems, but what makes the Greeks so exceptional in this was that they rose to these challenges. They never gave up. That's the lesson we should take from them as well. Not just for our careers or education, but for the survival and sustainment of our blessed selves. 

All of us today would grow immensely by adopting most or all of ancient Greek medicine into our lives. The ancient Greeks certainly did not have all of the medical advances and technologies that we do today, but part of the Greek way was to take what was available to you and make it the best you possibly could, to make the best version of yourself and your City.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Greek Herbology

The Forest Screams - Could It Be Dionysos?

Channels and videos dealing with everything from the paranormal to simple hiking adventures are filled with what we commonly know as "unidentified, non-human sounds or screams" coming from the forests of the world. And I just love myself a good mystery, a good intrigue, something unknown to investigate, so let's take some time today to explore these happenings. 

Take a moment to visit this link to hear one of the videos people have made of unexplained screams and yells in the forest. Then come back to my blog post. Of course, there are scores of other videos and reels that have been made by various individuals, recording many kinds of screams and ravings in the woods. All you have to do is search for the topic on youtube.

In ancient times, Dionysos, the God of wine, revelry, joy, life and rebirth, was known for His loud celebrations in the forests. In fact, His worshipers would gather in these remote areas, such as the female devotees of the God called Maenads, whose name means "to rave" or "raving ones." A specific natural forest location of theirs was in Nysa, where a temple of Dionysos stood.

In the Orphic Hymn to Dionysos, He is called, "loud-roaring, reveling, and howling." In the video posted above of the unknown screams and ravings in the woods, people in ancient times may have very well concluded that it was Dionysos or His Maenads, especially if it was near a known worship center. In the times of old, things we consider paranormal or supernatural were simply daily life and commonplace.

In the forests, away from the civilization and the common ailments of human life, it's easy to see how someone could release, and why they might enjoy the ability to leave their old world behind as much as possible for a time. Dionysos lifts us to life, brings us to life, breaks us free of death. 

I myself grew up in the middle of a forest, down in a small, remote valley in central North Carolina, and especially during my childhood, the depths of the woodland provided me with a much needed retreat on a regular basis. In fact, anything could happen in them. Nothing was impossible, meaning was everywhere, adventure lured at every turn, and everything was beautiful. There is something about the haunts of the forest that make them otherworldly.

The importance of Dionysos to Hellenic life is, like all the Gods, vastly important and crucial, but like all Gods as well, Dionysos also retains His own uniqueness. As the God of life, the youngest of The Dodekatheon, and Twice Born, He is known as the "Savior God" of Greek religion, although He is certainly not the only God who carries the Savior Epithet.

Dionysos is salvation from death, depression, sadness, and anything else that hinders life and its enjoyment. I developed my own temple rite to the God in this respect. There is historical record of some of His worshipers in ancient times eating a live bull in a ritualistic setting (the bull being a symbol of Dionysos), and in so doing, they believed they were taking the God into themselves. Wine is also known as the blood of the vine just as far back.

If this sounds familiar, you're right, but the concept of ingesting communion with a God was not originally Christian; it's very ancient and very polytheistic. In my own rite, I include a drink of wine or grape juice and a small bite of rich chocolate (should I ever find chocolate in the shape of a bull, that'll be spectacular). The chocolate, being an ecstatic food, is the body of the God, while His wine is, of course, His blood.

Before consuming, I recite this simple prayer, I pray to Dionysos, Twice Born God of everlasting life, to descend His blessings upon the food of joy and the drink of the vine, to bless my mind, body and soul with His wonderful Godhood. Spirit of Dionysos dwell within me, blood of Dionysos flow through me."

If there has been no general offering to Him in return, some of the wine or chocolate can be given. But it's also important to remember the objective and reality of Dionysos and this rite. It is not Christian. He is not a God of abstinence or one who teaches us to resist and hate our humanity. There is no "cross to bear." You don't invite Him to save you from your humanity because your humanity is not evil or damned. It is blessed. Therefore, Dionysos blesses us with all it takes to live a happy and joyful life, and drives out whatever threatens that. Dionysos reminds us that it's okay to live.

What are the screams and ravings that people keep hearing deep in the forests of the world? Dionysos? The ghosts of His Maenads? New worshipers? Or maybe all of the above? The ancients most certainly knew of these same kinds of sounds. They wrote about them in their hymns to the God and stories about those who followed Him throughout their lives. Perhaps there is always that natural calling out there, reminding us that there is freedom from the dismal things that may plague us.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

When Religion Was What It Should Be

Crusades, terrorism, and oppressive theocratic dictatorships. These are the things that commonly come to mind today when people think of widespread religion, mainly because we are so used to seeing the dominant religions, which are based on oppression, wreak havoc on the world. A fringe element of radical Muslims committed the worst terrorist attack on American soil, and only our Constitution stops radical Christians from using the government to force everyone into their way of life.

It's almost as if you have to rally against religion if you want to be a freedom fighter, or at least stand against the militant elements of it. However, religion was not always like this, which is something that Pagans and Polytheists like myself are trying to teach and bring back to humanity. Religion was not about imposition in ancient times, nor did it possess so much insecurity that one culture couldn't stand another simply because they had a different religion. Ancient man found himself more than able to live harmoniously in a diverse world. Of course his own culture had its own theology and customs, but there was never any reason conceived to force the entire world into the same way of life. When a Greek visited Egypt, for example, they didn't demand that the Egyptians worship the Greek Gods instead, and abandon their own culture. 

When I was in my first year of college in 2008 back in North Carolina, my philosophy and writing class held a discussion on the history of religion and spirituality. At one point, a girl across from me said that ancient religion was the way religion was supposed to be. It was about a man, woman, or community worshiping their Gods, so that the City, sea, fields, etc, would produce the good and productive things of life for them. 

Only later when I became a Hellenist did I fully understand where she was coming from. Hellenists worship the Gods because it brings bliss to our lives, and shows our proper reverence for the Higher Powers. We simply love and also respect our Gods. Even to this day, we are perfectly content in our own skin, and do not concern ourselves with the fact that other people may have a different theology. 

The admission of monotheism was really the time when religion became globally weaponized, especially when governments realized the great ability that religions like Christianity had to control massive amounts of people. Even though religion had changed, mostly by force, it still retained an ultimate place of importance in people's lives, especially as time went on and the newer generations could be lied to about how their ancestors were converted, and governments were not ignorant of this. They found that they were able to use the new religions and their orthodoxies to produce any kind of obedience, war or wealth they so desired.

However, theology itself was, and is, about the Divine and the human experience of it. It's not about a system of oppression. I don't normally think about it when I walk through my temple doors, but it should be a revelation that I don't walk through them for the same reason I did church doors when I was a Christian. It's not my hope that the world bows to me, but that I find the Gods in my life. If we as the human race could but understand the simple truth that this is the goal of human religion and spirituality, we would never again fall.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.