| Word |
Meaning |
| Astragaloi |
Knuckle bones of sheep or goats that were used as dice for games and divination. |
| Chthonic |
Of the earth or underworld. |
| Cult, cultus |
The worship of a deity described broadly, or a specific worship style. Ex., Dionysos Cult. Does not refer to harmful religious organizations. |
| Daimon (pl. Daimones |
a spirit that can be a god, or a less powerful non-physical being. It’s also used to address spirits and gods when you don’t know who has helped you. One famous daimon is Agathos Daimon. |
| Delphic Maxims |
A list of 147 guidelines towards an ethical life. Received from the Oracle of Delphi. Products of their time, and therefore it is not necessary to follow them strictly. |
| Epithets |
A word attached to or used in place of the name of a God or Goddess. Epithets are used to indicate either a specific domain of the Deity, a specific origin myth or region, or an entirely different entity, through either domain or origin.
|
| Hero/Heroine |
A deified ancient Greek person, recognized for some remarkable feat, such as Atalanta or Herakles. Sometimes immortalized. |
| Hubris |
Disrespect, broadly. |
| Katharmos |
Ritual purification. |
| Kathiskos |
The name of a jar of foodstuffs given as an offering to protect the household’s food storage. Dedicated to Zeus Ktesios. |
| Kharis |
The reciprocal relationship between worshipper and god. |
| Libation |
A liquid offering; a drink offered to the gods. |
| Manna |
Powdered frankincense. |
| Miasma |
Spiritual uncleanliness or pollution that a person or space can get. Literally ‘pollution’. Can be removed by literally washing your hands. |
| Mystery religions/Mysteries |
Ancient Greek religions where the most important beliefs were not written down or shared with the non-initiated. Ex., Eleusinian Mysteries. |
| Nemesis |
A goddess. Also the idea of a balance of good and bad things happening to someone; just desserts for doing something bad, or well-earned rewards. Also a goddess who rules over this idea. |
| Oikos |
Literally 'home’, ‘house’, ‘family’ or 'bloodline’. |
| Orphism |
The name given to a set of religious beliefs and practices originating in the ancient Hellenic world, associated with literature ascribed to the mythical poet Orpheus, who descended into Hades and returned. |
| Papyri Graecae Magicae (PGM) |
A collection of late Greco-Egyptian papyruses made by and for magicians, discovered in Egypt. |
| Pillars of Hellenismos |
A modern construct listing philosophical ideals for Hellenic pagan life. Created by a homophobe. |
| Syncretism |
The natural combination of different religions that coexisted in the same area historically, such as the Greco-Roman pantheons. |
| Theoi |
Gods (plural). Theos (masculine singular) or Theia (feminine singular). |
| Titanomachy |
A mythological 10 year war between the Olympian gods and the Titans for dominance over Earth. |
| UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis) |
Based on personal experience, and not derogatory. UPG should not be taken as universal truth, nor be prioritized over historically confirmed information. |
| Xenia |
Hospitality, especially to guests and strangers. |