Hellenistic Polytheism: syncretism, personalization and mystery

It's finally here! A deep dive into the Hellenistic Age and how religions shifted, changed and influenced one another.
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❧ PRIMARY SOURCES
• The Golden Ass by Apuleius
• The Greek Magical Papyri
• Moralia, Vol 5, The E at Delphi by Plutarch
❧ SECONDARY SOURCES
• The Cambridge Companion to the Hellenistic World: Continuity and Change in the Hellenistic Period by Jon D. Mikalson
• The Hellenistic Age by Peter Thonemann
• Hellenistic Religions : the age of syncretism by Frederick C. Grant
• Personal protection and tailor-made deities: the use of individual epithets: journals.openedition.org/kern...
• Pagan Monotheism and Pagan Cult: classicalstudies.org/annual-m...
• Hellenistic Religions: An Introduction by Luther H. Martin
• Religion in Hellenistic Athens by Jon D. Mikalson
❧ HELPFUL KZbin CHANNELS
• Aliakai: https: / aliakai
I also am a co-host of the the podcast Test Tubes and Cauldrons, an intersection of science and spirituality. Find us here or anywhere you get podcasts: / @testtubesandcauldrons...
❧ COPYRIGHT INFO:
Music is from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
• Alexander's empire at the time of its maximum expansion.
Generic Mapping Tools - Own work
CC BY-SA 3.0
• A golden coin depicting Tyche with a mural crown. Found at Tyre, currently in the Bode Museum, Berlin.
RomanDeckert - Own work
CC BY-SA 4.0
• Arsinoe II coin
CNG Coins
CC BY-SA 3.0
• Marble head of Dionysus, 2nd century AD, Capitoline Museums, Rome
Raffaele pagani - Own work
CC BY-SA 4.0
• Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis
Jeff Dahl - Own Work
CC BY-SA 4.0
• Ancient Egyptian god Osiris
Jeff Dahl - Own Work
CC BY-SA 4.0
• Istanbul - Museo archeol. - Tyche e Plutone - sec. II d.C. - Foto G. Dall'Orto 28-5-2006
G.dallorto
CC BY-SA
• Demeter. Coarse-grained marble, Roman artwork; the head is a modern restoration.
Marie-Lan Nguyen (September 2009)
CC BY 2.5
• Statue of Arete in Celsus' Library in Ephesus, 2nd century AD
Carlos Delgado
CC BY-SA 3.0
• Statue of Nike
Deiadameian
CC BY-SA 3.0
❧ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Historical Context
5:14 Caveats
8:30 What makes Hellenistic religions special
8:51 Personal Religion
11:43 Ruler Cults & the deification of people
15:04 Philosophical Monotheism
19:30 Mystery Cults
21:34 Syncretism & New deities
26:28 Modern Considerations
28:29 Conclusion

[@alexcypher4794]

10:59 Very interesting that the chthonic aspect of pre-Christian Greek polytheism was also connected to rebellion and transgression, per the description of voluntary associations of individuals defined by their implicity challenge to the socio-political order of the polis. This and their emphasis on gods of the underworld feels familiar in a modern setting.

[@nohelanikh6788]

I’d be interested in a deep dive video on Isis and her Greek aspects.

[@jackalschannel3557]

Seconded!

[@tasiadupree]

Thirded

[@FeltheBlithe]

This is on my list!

[@jackpomeroy6910]

@@FeltheBlithe Hermès Trisisemus ( I am horrible at spelling ) or Thoth in his Greek aspect would be interesting

[@delphinea.2848]

Not me accidentally clicking the dislike button only to then treat this video as a college lecture and take notes. Your content is just that good and I could listen to you talking all day.

[@grace-4072]

Fel, I really appreciate your clear captions that include punctuation. as a hard of hearing person it is frustrating to miss a lot when I watch YT videos and I really really appreciate when people take the time to create captions for their videos. Thank you for inspiring me and others and for sharing your journey:)

[@FeltheBlithe]

I’m glad it’s helpful! I’ve been short of money these past few months so captioning has been a more difficult than usual but I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things!

[@tadeasklepacek4376]

Pagan monotheism unironically based

[@FeltheBlithe]

Ikr ?? 😂

[@thepeopleslibrary8673]

Nice to see a Czech person around here 🇨🇿 ✌️

[@tadeasklepacek4376]

@@thepeopleslibrary8673 omg hiii😁🤙

[@MichaelRogerStDenis]

I can't wait to watch this one later! Congratulations on the ads, too! 😊 I'm so happy that you continue to grow to the point where you can monetize your content!

[@thebreadpilledwitch7508]

Great video! I just realized I am more A Hellenistic Polytheist then a Hellenic polytheist. Please do do a video on Hellenistic Buddhism ☸️

[@FeltheBlithe]

It's on my list!

[@lincolnripley3099]

I love watching you editing style develop. Always a joy to watch your videos, you knocked this out of the park!

[@creacrea281]

I always love your videos because you provide the actual terminology to explain what I think/feel/believe! Thank you for all of your research and organizing it so well 😊

[@faeotoole5051]

Hecate devotee here, currently reading about the Eleusinian Mysteries. Love your videos!

[@Davlavi]

Nice, like the video

[@jasonfilm1]

Love the cat!

[@daniellunt3920]

Υασσου From Australia! I’m a Hellenic polytheist basing most of my practise off the hellenistic period. I find your content very educating, and I hope in the future you can make a video on Serapis. I can’t really find a lot on the gods mythology, and ceremonies, which is quite disappointing, due to him being so unique. Ps: congrats on nearly reaching 3k!

[@Tarchoom]

I am an australian hellenic polytheist too was wondering is there any organisations in ausatralia for hellenic?

[@daniellunt3920]

I haven't heard of any Hellenic polytheist organizations in that are currently in Australia.

[@FeltheBlithe]

it's on my list!

[@Poseidoros]

I'm a Hellenistic polytheist, was very excited to see my path get some attention! (Yes, this is Comrade from YEET) I couldn't have put together a better video on the topic even if I tried! My approach is somewhere between Kemetic and Hellenic, I've noticed quite a few of the changes you mentioned (PGM, rise of Khthonic deities, among others) seem to be related to Kemetic influence. Kemetism generally has more focus on death and the afterlife than Hellenism, and PGM is very much a Kemetic text. Binding of Gods, taking their names, the power balance between mortal and deity in Kemetism isn't always as clear cut. I'm so glad this video exists, thank you so much for all your hard work!!

[@FeltheBlithe]

Thanks for your kind words, Comrade! Yeah it's interesting tracing where certain changes might've come from, the Chthonic influence for sure. I think some scholars even call it "the egyptization" of certain deities. The PGM really is such a fascinating look at syncretism. I definitely see why people are drawn to this path.

[@WildMen4444]

So does anyone else here worship any of the deified Hellenistic rulers? It's something I have been obsessed with lately. I mostly focus on Alexander and the Ptolemies but I have included the Attalids, the Seleukids, and a few others here and there. I think it's neat

[@lourdeslucat1227]

Hiii, could please make a Hermes deep dive? I really want to worship him💕🌟

[@PeanutButtNut01]

I’m feeling a calling to Hestia and Hermes in Hellenic. I’m not sure yet but both of them revealed themselves to me recently. I’m reading The Kybalion

[@edoardoputzu2804]

Please,if u can, do a video about syncretism, like syncretic gods, I'm really intrigue. Anyway I want to ask you something: I'm an Italian "pagan" but I worship Greek, Egyptian and Norse gods, so what am I consider? A syncretic pagan?😅

[@lainefarris8762]

Omg another person who worships these three pantheons, hi!!!

[@edoardoputzu2804]

@@lainefarris8762 wow hi, I didn't know that were other persons that worship these dieties, what are the gods you worship the most?

[@lainefarris8762]

@@edoardoputzu2804 hmmm, I have a lot of deities and can't really say who I worship the most but the ones I have the most connection with are Hellenic: Dionysus, Hekate, Hermaphroditus, and Aphrodite with Kemetic: Set, Sekhmet, Bastet, and Anpu Heathen: Hel, Loki, Thor and Frigga you?

[@edoardoputzu2804]

@@lainefarris8762 I especially worship Toth from the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon, Odin from the Norse Pantheon, practically because I use runes and he's the discover and master of the secrets of the runes (if I'm right), on the other hand from the Hellenic Pantheon I worship: Hestia, Aphrodite, Hekate, Tyche, Selene, Diónysos, Pandía and Zeus, but I also call other dieties if I have to. I'm only a student so I call to me the gods for help in especially school problems, nothing so special, I'm only a beginner with pagan things, I made mi first "invocation" only 4 days ago, because I necessitate help with a Latin test, probably you're more pagan than me😅😅😅😅😅

[@gamerofedge8111]

The term most often used for us who work in multiple pantheons is Eclectic, personally I worship Aphrodite and Isis(not Isis-Aphrodite) and I also observe a lot of the aspects of Celtic and Slavic paganism.

[@Nikotheos]

I am just beginning to explore Hellenistic religion, but the cat I know for sure I am into! 😃🐈‍⬛

[@tubestubes]

What was it you said to Athena before the 60 summary? "Fina Minerva preserve me?"

[@FeltheBlithe]

"Athena-Minerva preserve me."

[@Fauna-gt5ii]

Edit: would be interested in your take on the Greek magical papyri (and also the Homeric and Orphic hymns) as worship and if they could be used to help strengthen relationships with the gods xx A video of the Moirai would be amazing. Does anyone know of anyone who worships them publicly btw? Thanks xx

[@FeltheBlithe]

thanks for all the suggestions! I've added them to my video ideas list

[@Fauna-gt5ii]

@@FeltheBlithe that's rly exciting, ty xx

[@DaveMathison503]

Interesting name you've given yourself. Wonderfully opposite of the channels energy.

[@WildMen4444]

I'd say pretty confidently that the Hellenistic age is mostly what I draw from regarding my Hellenic praxis. I'm interested in mystery cults such as the mysteries of Dionysos, I worship several deified rulers (mostly Alexander and the Ptolemies though I throw in some others as well), and I worship Greco-Egyptian deities. I literally just made a sacrifice to Isis, Serapis, and Harpocrates and later in July I will be doing one in honor of Hermanubis. I'd say this particular era is easy to resonate with because it's one of the closest to the world we live in now. It's very easy to see how Christianity is essentially a product of the Hellenistic and Imperial Roman worlds so a lot of ideas that we see in the cultural hegemony we see the beginnings of in the past (though obviously I believe our ancestors did it better).

[@FeltheBlithe]

Thanks for sharing! The Hellenistic age is fascinating from a religious perspective

[@akashi752]

We want to know everything about Aphrodite-Zerynthia

[@Vortragskunst]

Thank you for your thoughts! -- In my opinion, it is not really correct to speak about "Pagan Monotheism" (but, indeed, it is a very common practice of today monotheists or even agnostic scientists grown up in monotheistic cultures). The ONE philosophers speak about is absolutely not comparable to the one God of monotheistic religions! Yes, they sometimes call it "God", but just to name the unnamable, while they all know that the ONE (or the GOOD, as the Platonists call it) has no name and is NOT a Deity -- it has no personality, no will, no intention, no attributes, no qualities at all, it is above the state of being, so you can't even say that it "exists", and it doesn't create anything. Read the pre-socratic philosophers as Parmenides, Heraclitus or Empedocles! If you call it "the Source" or a "Spiritual Power", you can only mean it in a very limited way, because actually it is unspeakable, unknowable and totally unthinkable. This, of course, is in no way the "God" of the Abrahamitic tradition, and you meet this thinking only in some esoteric forms of these religion, as the Kabbalah, the Gnosis or the Sufism -- in Christianity especially in the works of Dionysius Areopagita or Master Eckhart.

[@FeltheBlithe]

Some really good clarification!! I struggled a lot with this section to put into words a very complex topic in an understandable way and a shorter amount of time. Perhaps it deserves its own video!

[@Vortragskunst]

@@FeltheBlithe Thank you for your understanding! The topic, indeed, seems very complex. But only at the first glance! Because it is at the same time simplicity itself. That's the paradox of this item. You find this principle also in other old religions, as Taoism -- for example in the very beginning of the Tao Te Ching: "The Name that can be named is not the true Name. The Nameless is the Origin of Heaven and Earth." The best book, where it is explained, is in my opinion the work of Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy "Jesus and the lost Goddess". One of the most important books I ever read! A source of insight -- especially for Pagans!

[@dancingbear2367]

Can you still pray to greek gods even though you don't think you consider yourself as a hellenist

[@FeltheBlithe]

I think so!

[@WildMen4444]

Yes

[@dancingbear2367]

Your such a small channel I found your channel by sheer luck