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HISTORY / LORE:

Hellenic beliefs, like most ancient religions, get their origin in pantheism, the belief that everything has a divine nature. At this point the moon (Luna), sun (Helios), dawn (Eos, mountains, springs, rivers, forests and grottos all are considered gods or goddesses. However, in their own unique way, the Hellenes humanize their gods and goddesses. So goddesses of the trees become nymphs called hamadryads and gods of the mountains become titans.

As culture developed, the great earth mother (Gaea) becomes the corn mother (Demeter) and corn maiden (Kore). Other goddesses become more defined and universal as three maidens; three Gorgons, three Moirae (fates), three Graces and the three Horae (seasons). On the male side, every local hero soon becomes a local god.

Finally, polytheism forms by defining twelve gods and goddesses (balanced in gender) to represent the major strengths, abilities and virtues that we mortals can strive toward but never achieve. The local deities and rural beliefs are drawn into this structure by adding the names of the local gods to the names of the gods in the pantheon. Thus we get Pallas Athena, Zeus Meilichios and Apollo Patroos. By its very nature, Hellenic Polytheism draws us toward balance since we can never achieve the extremes and tolerance of others beliefs since many of their beliefs and deities have been merged with ours. We can relate to our gods and goddesses since they are just like us and we can admire and respect them without fear since they are not perfect, all-powerful or omniscient. The worst thing we can do is to strive to be their equal or to consistently ignore one or more of them as this is the path away from the balance we hope to achieve.

In conclusion, to know our gods and goddesses is to know ourselves since they are a part of us. On the other hand a god or goddess cannot be created to fill a need. We must come to know them as they reveal themselves.

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