Paian | Παιαν

A Beginner's Guide to Hellenic Polytheism

The Paian Project

| παιάν : an epithet of Apollon; a physician or healer; a song to the gods in thanks or victory; a solemn chant; a prayer or hymn |

Paian | Παιαν is a devotional research project dedicated to offering Hellenic Polytheists a foundational primer of Ancient Greek Religion and worshiping the Ancient Greek Gods, which readers may build on or discard at their discretion. Though Paian | Παιαν is traditional in nature, it is not the purpose of this project to take a stance on the arbitrary divide between Reconstructionism vs. Revivalism, but rather to use the term "traditional" to distinguish those practices rooted in historical precedence from the adapted contemporary practices that result from a living religion, whether inspired by personal interactions with the gods or in an effort to fill in the gaps where historical sources fail. My aim is only to provide context. Your praxis is between you and your gods.

I offer this devotional work to the community in reciprocity as my thanks, so that those that come after may begin their way with fewer obstructions. Do ut des. I give so that you may give. May this project serve you well on your journey.

χαίρε
- Kay

Decorative: The ruins of Apollo's temple in Delphi. Among the rubble 3 pillars persist and stand strong.

What is Hellenic Polytheism?

The Ancient Greeks never had a name for their religion. Worshiping the gods and performing rites and rituals was just what everyone did (with regional differences). So natural it didn't need a name, it was simply custom. Well then, what name do we use?

Hellenic Polytheism is the modern term for the reconstruction and/or revival of the Ancient Greek Religion and the worship of their many gods (which depending on the time period may include some Egyptian and Roman gods). Those that identify as Hellenic Polytheists may also be called Hellenists, a term which means 'of or relating to Greek history, language, culture', but more commonly in English refers to a Classicist who specializes in Ancient Greece. This has led to some recent confusion amongst newcomers mistakenly referring to themselves as "Hellenes" or "Hellenics" which is an ethnonym for Greek peoples translated literally as "Greek". Thus Hellenic Polytheism translates literally to Greek-Many-God(s), meaning you can be a Hellenic Polytheist or a Hellenist, but not Hellenic or a Hellene (unless you are in fact Greek).

There is no "one true path" when it comes to this religion. Ancient Greece resisted a Panhellenic orthodoxy. Instead, there were a generic set of ritual and worship principles, an orthopraxy, supplemented by rich philosophical traditions and The Mysteries. There were many theologies to pick and choose from, and worshiping alongside someone with a conflicting theology didn't matter when everyone rinsed their hands in the same lustral waters (an Ancient Greek euphemism for community). There has always been and always should be a great deal of flexibility for belief in Hellenic Polytheism.