How to Worship the Greek Gods: Everything You Need to Know
Welcome to Hellenism 101.
I, A Simple Altar, shall be your indelible tutor on this most trippy of journey’s.
Lend me your ear, reader: you shall enjoy yourself… OK, I’ll stop quoting The Golden Ass now.
So you want to worship the Greek gods?
It can be super confusing to get started with Hellenic Paganism.
But don’t worry I’ve got you covered!
Read on for everything you need to know about how to worship the Greek gods for beginnners.
The Greek Gods Aren’t Petty
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the Greek gods. Including from people who claim to worship them!
Here are some things to be aware of when connecting to the Greek gods:
The myths aren’t literal.
The gods welcome everyone regardless of gender identity, sexuality or ethnicity.
The gods don’t get angry.
The gods don’t have ‘beef’ with one another.
You don’t have to be Greek to worship the Greek gods.
You don’t have to worship all of the gods.
Which Gods Are Worshipped in Hellenism?
A variety of gods and spirits are worshipped in Hellenism.
These include:
Ouranic gods
Kthonic gods
Daimons (spirits)
Heroes
Nymphs (nature spirits)
The Greek gods are commonly referred to as the Theoi.
Ouranic and Kthonic Gods
The ancient Greeks divided their gods roughly into Ouranic and Kthonic deities.
Ouranic gods are celestial deities associated with the sky.
Kthonic gods are deities associated with the underworld.
Some deities were considered both Ouranic and Kthonic.
The ancient Greeks worshipped these gods slightly differently.
I’ll be highlighting these differences at the end of each section.
Because I’m helpful like that.
What Are the Gods?
It is impious to suppose that the divine is affected for good or ill by human things. The Gods are always good and always do good and never harm, being always in the same state and like themselves.
Sallustius (86-35 BCE), On the Gods and the World
There’s no strict philosophical theology in Hellenism.
How you conceptualise the gods is up to you.
No one telling you how to think here.
Yay for freedom of thought!
But I rather like Sallustius’s ideas, so I’m presenting a super short snippet for you to ponder.
Gaius Sallustius Crispus was a Roman historian and politician.
He was a great thinker who served under the last Pagan Emperor of Rome.
In the quote above, he theorised that the gods are perfect, good and unchanging. Therefore, cannot experience anger or delight because that implies change.
He goes on to say that the act of worship turns us towards the gods, not the gods towards us.
You can read a more of what he says here.
signs a deity is reaching out
Despite what you see on social media. The gods aren’t big on ‘calling’ people.
I mean, no one on social media has ever exaggerated anything for their own personal benefit...
Do the gods nudge people sometimes?
Yeah?
Maybe?
Honestly, I don’t really think it matters.
You can choose which god to worship, just like the ancient Greeks did.
Begin by choosing a deity you feel drawn to.
BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH DEITY I’M DRAWN TO?!
Chill with the all caps friend.
Here’s what you need to do:
Read some Greek mythology (remember, it’s not literal).
Look at old paintings of the gods (my blog has tons).
Think about what you find meaningful.
For example, if you’re a lover of beauty, stunning artwork and delight in a sense of harmony.
Then Aphrodite might be a good choice because she rules over these things.
This is kind of the fun part.
Enjoy it!
How to Create an Altar to the Greek Gods
An older version of my Aphrodite altar.
Altars are spaces in your home dedicated to the veneration of a divine being.
Altars aren’t a requirement for worship of the Greek gods. But they’re a useful, tangible reminder of your spiritual path.
Plus, they’re pretty places to give offerings and prayers.
It’s perfectly fine to have multiple gods on one altar.
There’s a good deal of historical precedence for this.
You can have one altar, no altar or multiple altars.
Ouranic gods and Kthonic gods need to have separate altars.
For example, an altar dedicated to Zeus, Apollon and Aphrodite (all Ouranic deities) is fine.
But if you want to worship Hekate as well, then you’ll need a separate altar because she’s considered Kthonic.
Altar Ideas
Framed images or statues
Offering bowl
Incense burner
Candles
Flowers
Appropriate symbols
I used to have multiple altars. But it was getting a bit unwieldy. So, I pared back to one altar dedicated to the Ouranic gods.
Aphrodite has one small corner of it.
I like to keep my altar more on the minimalist side of life. If you prefer something more maximalist that’s fine!
Just remember, this is a place that you’ll need to dust on a tediously regular basis.
It’s a sacred space and it needs to stay CLEAN.
Less stuff on it = quicker cleaning.
How to Pray to the Greek Gods
Prayer was very important in ancient Greece. It’s one of the primary ways we communicate with the gods.
Prayer isn’t about grovelling and apologising for your “sins”.
There is no concept of sin in Hellenism.
What Do I Pray For?
There are four different types of prayer:
Prayers to praise the gods.
Prayers to thank the gods.
Prayers to request aid.
Prayers to request aid for other people.
The differences between Ouranic and Kthonic prayer is discussed at the end of this section.
Informal Prayer
An informal prayer is literally what is says on the proverbial tin! It’s a spontaneous, off the cuff prayer.
But there’s a specific way to start informal prayers using what we know from ancient sources.
Always start your prayers using this formula:
‘Hear me!’
The name of the deity with their appropriate epithets.
‘Whatever name it pleases you to be called’ repeated afterwards.
An example of an informal prayer might look something like this:
Hear me Hermes! Of the Market-Place, Luck Bringing, Granter of good things.
Or Whatever name it pleases you to be called.
Thank you for those extra hours I was offered at work today! I’m very happy with your generous gift because the extra money will help me to pay off my car loan.
Praise Hermes!
Requests For Aid or Vows
Vows are made during prayer when we want to ask the gods for something specific.
We touched on the ancient Greek prayer format in the above section. But it comes into play more fully for making vows.
Classical scholar Walter Burkert states that ancient Greek prayer follows a distinct formula:
‘Hear me!’
The name of the deity with their appropriate epithets.
‘Whatever name it pleases you to be called’ repeated afterwards.
Naming the place from which the god would come.
Explaining what previous offerings the person has made to the deity.
A short request for aid.
A vow made.
Here is an example of an ancient Greek prayer from the Iliad (800 BCE):
Hear me, he cried, ‘O god of the silver bow, you who protect Chryse and holy Cilla and rule Tenedos with your might, hear me O god of Sminthe.
If I have ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned for you thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Danaans.’
Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer.
A modern example of a prayer using this format would go something like this:
Hear me, Hermes! Of the Market-Place, Luck Bringer, Granter of Good Things or whatever name it most pleases you to be called.
Come from your place on Mount Olympos.
If ever I have made offerings of wine and sweet honey, I ask that you increase the flow of income and customers to my business.
I vow to make you an offering of red wine every day for one week.
Prayer Using the Homeric or Orphic Hymns
We’re fortunate to have several surviving Homeric Hymns (circa 700 BCE) to the gods.
These hymns are considered offerings in themselves, and would usually have been recited to music at state festivals.
In modern practice, you can recite a chosen Homeric or Orphic Hymn as a prayer and give an offering alongside them.
Here’s one of the Homeric Hymns to Hestia which I often use when lighting her candle:
Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollon, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.
Ouranic Prayer
Ancient Greeks prayed to Ouranic gods with palms up and hands out towards the sky.
Prayers were performed standing up and out loud.
Kthonic Prayer
Ancient Greeks prayed to Kthonic deities with hands down towards the ground.
Prayer was conducted with eyes averted.
Ancient Greeks banged on the ground to make sure that their prayers were heard in the underworld.
How to Give Offerings to the Greek Gods
Offerings are small gifts of food, incense or liquid made to the gods.
They are about strengthening the relationship between divinity and the human petitioner.
The Romans summed it up when they said, do ut des ‘I give that you may give’.
When we give offerings we create kharis or reciprocity between us and the gods.
Kharis is a very important quality to cultivate in Hellenism.
The differences between Ouranic and Kthonic offerings is discussed at the end of this section.
Below you’ll find some typical offerings from ancient Greece.
Offerings don‘t need to be expensive.
Give what you have.
Burned Offerings
This includes offerings of barley, incense and herbs. In modern practice, this usually takes the form of incense, candles and burned bay leaves.
First Fruits
This is an offering of the first ‘lot’ of a harvest or purchase of food or drink.
Libations
Libations are liquid offerings and one of the easiest things to give. Libations were referred to as sponde or khoe.
Votive offerings
Votive offerings are given upon the fulfilment of a prayer for aid. The worshipper would often give a votive offering in thanks.
How to give Offerings: step by step
Always wash your hands before giving an offering.
Wash your hands.
Say your prayer using the correct prayer posture.
Give your offering.
Spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation. You may experience pleasant feelings or nothing at all.
You don’t need to check that your offering was accepted through divination. Just gratefully accept that the gods heard you.
How to Dispose of Offerings
Leave offerings out for an hour or two before disposing of them.
Libations can be poured directly onto the ground outside or down the sink.
Food offerings can be composted.
Try to avoid leaving food offerings outside as it can attract pests and harm wildlife.
How Often Should You Give Offerings?
The more important a deity is to you the more frequently you’ll probably want to give offerings.
You can give offerings daily, weekly or monthly.
what if I Can’t Give Physical Offerings?
If you can’t give physical offerings due to your living situation.
Dedicating things you ‘do’ as offerings to the gods is perfectly acceptable.
For example, if you worship Athene. Every time you read a book or study, you can tell her you dedicate this to her as an offering.
You might say something like:
Hear me, Athene. Sharp-Sighted, of the Head, Goddess of Victory. I dedicate reading this book as an offering to you. I read in your honour Athene.
Ouranic Offerings
A libation to the Ouranic gods is called a sponde.
You can share a portion of your own food with the Ouranic gods.
Offerings to the Ouranic gods were traditionally burnt.
Ouranic deities enjoy offerings like incense that waft into the sky.
Kthonic Offerings
A libation to the Kthonic gods is called a khoe.
Your own food isn’t shared with the Kthonic gods. Give a separate offering of food to them.
Offerings to the Kthonic gods were traditionally left in a pit dug into the ground.
lyma and Miasma in hellenism
There’s a shit ton of confusion about miasma.
Miasma and lyma are often confused and conflated! But miasma is only really incurred through egregious acts committed against the natural order.
For example, murder, sexual assault, incest, desecration of the sacred and violence.
The Hellenic gods are to only be approached in a state of ritual purity or katharsis.
Most modern people would not be considered miasmic.
But we do incur lyma through the basics of living.
Lyma is mostly incurred through the following:
Childbirth
Contact with the dead
Funerals
Sex
Just to be clear there were no rules about seeing menstrual blood as unclean.
I’d just not give it as an offering or anything!
The simplest way to get rid of lyma is to wash your hands in clean water.
Hesiod says in his Work and Days (circa 700 BCE):
Do not pour libations of sparkling wine to Zeus and other immortals at dawn with unwashed hands. They do not hear your prayers, but spit them back.
Recommended Reading
If you’re super new, this is going to be an intimidating amount of information!
No one ever died from knowledge overwhelm.
Bookmark this page.
Then come back and re-read the different sections as necessary.
Once you’re a little more confident, dive into the reading list below.
Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored by Sarah Kate Istra Winter
Hellenic Polytheism : Household Worship Christos Pandion Panopoulos
Feel free to leave a comment below.
If you ask a question, check back as I don’t think you’ll be notified when I reply!