u/Fabianzzz

Happy to announce my newest book, the Theoimanteion.

While I generally write historical or theological works, every now and then I publish a divination system. The Theoimanteion is a bibliomantic divination system in the style of the Homeromanteion. It uses dactyllic hexameter lines (original language on the left page, translated into English by yours truly on the right) focused on over 70 deities. If you've wanted something like an Oracle Deck based on the gods, but rooted in a more traditional style of divination, this might be what you're looking for.

Link is here: https://a.co/d/0eh3hcne

Hey all! Happy Monday. As the title says, I wrote a book, Queer Divinity, which is a compilation of the Queer ancient Greek myths. It is tilted towards modern Paganism, however it is a compilation of ancient sources and will be of interest to those curious about the history, and the sections on Queer theology will hopefully be of use to anyone of any religion. Description:

>As Hellenism explodes in popularity, many in the community have noticed that we have become a haven for spiritual exiles from other religious traditions which reject Queer people. With myths of Queer love and gender transformations, numerous philosophical treatises on identity, love, the nature of the gods and the nature of the soul, and centuries of receptions to Queer Antiquity by Queer people, this should of course not surprise us.

>But what are the sources we’re basing this on? Are we interpreting them correctly? Could the Ancients even comprehend ‘Queerness’? Often the individual Hellenist isn’t even sure of where to begin looking to start answering these questions. This book hopes to change that.

>For the first time, Hellenists will have access to a compilation of primary sources in English translation about the Queerness of over forty deities. Their Queer loves, their manifold manifestations of sex and gender, their blurring of boundaries, and their blessings of these gifts to mortals. The author also traces potential paths forward for understandings of myths, cults, and theologies of each deity, with the hope of grasping more than just a myth or two, but the essences of each deity. This is done with the ultimate hope of achieving a step forward towards a Queer Hellenist Theology.

Link:

https://a.co/d/09g5dE7c

Hello all,

Some of you who have been on here for a while may remember Kynthia (AKA AzoresHerakleia), the person who first created r/Hellenism (when we transitioned from r/HellenicPolytheism to here). She is also the creator of HellenicFaith.com. While she is no longer a mod here, she has fallen on some harder times and is asking for support. We would like to extend that to her, both as an act of mutual aid and also in gratitude for the work she has done for our community. You can read more here:

https://hellenicfaith.com/2026/07/16/i-need-help-regarding-donations/

Hey y'all, hope y'all are well.

I've been poring over the newly released Orphic Fragments from Loeb, and one thing that strikes me is the importance of the Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers.

They've stuck out to me ever since I did a deep read on Hesiod's Theogony when I translated it. The Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers are seemingly monstrous but essential for Zeus' coup to work. But they aren't frequently mentioned in ancient theological works or modern worship.

Other 'groups' of deities often get more attention: Satyrs and Nymphs are popular in modern worship and ancient art, Arlechina V. has written about the Cult of the Winds, and the various groupings of goddesses: Fates, Furies, Gorgons, Muses, Horai/Seasons, and Graces all get some theological treatments somewhere in ancient writings and some modern worship today. But the Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers seem absent in both places. All Cornutus has to say is:

Cornutus, Compendium of Greek Theology 17 (trans. Fabian MacKenzie):
And it is mentioned in another myth, one about Thetis, that Zeus was saved by her:

*“When the other Olympians wanted to bind him,*  
*Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athena.”*   
  
*This shows that each of the gods individually plotted against Zeus, and together they were about to hinder the cosmic order, the one which has occurred, as if the element of water ruled and changed everything to water, or that of fire consumed everything, or air likewise. But ‘Thetis’ (Θέτις) ‘distributed’ (δια****θεῖσα****) everything according to its nature, and set ‘Briareus’ (Βριάρεως) the hundred-hander against the aforementioned gods, according to which the exhalations from the earth are distributed in all directions equally, as though by many hands the ‘division’ (διαιρέσεως) into all these things occurred. But consider if he is named Briareus from being the ‘elevation of nourishment’ (αἴρειν βορὰν, read as βορὰν αἴρειν) of the parts of the cosmos. And he is ‘Aegean’ (Αἰγαίων) because he is ‘always rejoicing’ (ἀεὶ γαίων) and growing.*

and

Cornutus, Compendium of Greek Theology 22 (trans. Fabian MacKenzie):
And on account of the force which is beheld from the sea, all those who are violent and plot terrible plans, such as the Cyclops, the Laistrygonians, and the Aloadae, are said to be born of Poseidon.

So presumably the hundred-handers are division, nourishment for the divided cosmos, and ever-growing (entropy?). This makes sense: Cornutus makes the Titans gods of differences and that is quite similar to the role the Titans play in Orphic thought vis a vis Dionysus.

However, as in Hesiod, the Hundred-Handers and Cyclopes are necessary for the universe in the Orphic theologies. Here are some Orphic fragments. All translations are Michael Chase. I'll indent the direct quotes.

The Hieronyman Orphic Theogony:

39 b Proclus, Commentary on Plato’s Cratylus

Since we find that the theologians indicate the divine productions by means of them, and they say that the causes of all artisanal production are the Cyclopes, who taught . . . Zeus as well.

45. Athenagoras, A Plea for Christians

Sky, having united with Earth, engendered the females Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, and as males, the Hundred-Handers: Cottus, Gyges and Briareus, as well as the Cyclopes: Brontes, Steropes and Arges. After binding them, he hurled them into Tartarus, because he had learned that he would be deprived of power by his children. Angered by this, therefore, Earth gave birth to the Titans:

>Lady Earth brought forth the children of Sky, who, indeed, they also call by the nickname “Titans,” because they “took vengeance” on great starry Sky.

The same etymology is given in Hesiod.

The Orphic Rhapsodies in 24 Books:

124a, b, c

a Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library

Having married Earth, (Sky) first begat those who are called the Hundred-Handers: Briareus, Gyges, and Cottus, who were unsurpassed in size and strength, and had one hundred hands and fifty heads each. After them Earth bore him the Cyclopes: Arges, Steropes, and Brontes, each of whom had a single eye on his forehead.

b Proclus, Commentary on Plato’s Parmenides

But the Orphic style is proper to the Hellenic theology: it applies the names Cronus, Zeus, Sky, Night, Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers to the highest principles of all things.

c Hermias, Commentary on Plato’s Phaedrus

For after the order of the Nights, there are three orders of gods: of Sky, of the Cyclopes, and of the Hundred-Handers, whose proper names he himself declares.

168 b Proclus, Commentary on Plato’s Cratylus

Since we find that the theologians indicate the divine productions by means of them,^(1) and they say that the causes of all artisanal production are the Cyclopes, who taught . . . Zeus as well.

173 Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library

Then the Cyclopes gave Zeus thunder, lightning, and the thunderbolt, to Pluto a helmet, and Poseidon a trident. Armed with these weapons they defeated the Titans, and having enclosed them in Tartarus they established the Hundred-Handers as guards. For their part, (the gods) cast lots for their rule: to Zeus fell the lot of rule over the heavens, to Poseidon over the sea, and to Pluto over Hades.

203 Proclus, Commentary on Plato’s Timaeus; Damascius, Commentary on Plato’s Parmenides; Hermias, Commentary on Plato’s Phaedrus

(The Cyclopes)

who provided Zeus with thunder and fashioned the lightning bolt for him,the first to have the hands of a craftsman. And they taught Hephaestus and Athenaall the works of art that the heavens enclose within them.

208a, b, c

a Syrianus, Commentary on Aristotle’s Metaphysics

The theologians also show that they do not hesitate to call the Cyclopes and Hephaestus bronzesmiths and builders, nor to assign the art of weaving to Athena and to the Girl.

So right now the Cyclopes and Hundred-Handers are on my mind. I'm going to keep doing some scholarly digging on the ancient sources, but am curious about modern folks: does anyone worship them today? What does that look like for you? Who are they to you?

Thanks for reading y'all!

Ask your local florists if you can purchase old flowers in bulk for a discount. Often they will have to throw away entire bouquets even if just one flower doesn't look the best, so tons of perfectly good flowers sadly get discarded as well. I was able to get all of these rose petals for just 5 dollars, all still perfectly fresh.

Y'alls gotta get to reading! Bare minimum:

1. Hesiod's Theogony
2. Homeric Hymns
3. Hesiod's Catalogue of Women
4. Homer's Iliad
5. Homer's Odyssey
6. Hesiod's Works & Days

Again, bare minimum. Many more books to read. Callimachus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Virgil, Ovid, Statius, Nonnus. Countless more. Get cracking.

My name is Fabian MacKenzie and I'm an author. My general focus is on Dionysus and Hellenism, however, my most recent book is about how Pagans reacted to the rise of Christianity in Antiquity. What this book captures is a lost side in a volatile debate raging in Antiquity: who knew who God was? This will be of interest to Gnostics, Christians, Pagans, Atheists, Jews, and anyone else curious about the debates which hit the scene two millennia ago.

Link: https://a.co/d/0gf6JWJL

There's a frequent type of post on here where someone asks what books they are supposed to be reading. Most people love these posts (books are better than TikSlop), but I also don't think we are always answering them well. When new folks ask this question here, they often get a barrage of comments featuring dozens of books with little rhyme or reason as to what kind of order they are supposed to be read. Someone asking for 'a' book is given a hundred, as if that helps.

This post is my attempt to try to fix that, by trying to limit myself to books I think are beneficial and also providing a structure (the list has an order, although there is no harm nor foul if someone goes out of order: the important thing is to read).

I do want to say this: your spirituality is not a class you are taking. You are not going to get an 'A' in spirituality if you read 100 books—that is not normal to want nor possible to achieve. The vast majority of ancient Hellenists were illiterate.

However, Hellenism as it is today is quite isolated, which hampers learning opportunities. In another religion, you might learn through a kind of osmosis: a Catholic will hear their scriptures read during mass, ask their priest a question after the service, and get exposed to their faith through cultural events at their church like concerts, stage shows, and speeches. This isn't true for Hellenism: Hellenists need to supplement, especially when most of us are on our own.

However, there's few better religions when it comes to hitting the books. Hellenist literature is world renowned, which has in turn elevated scholarship on ancient Greek religion to a high point. Here is my attempt to guide the reader (presumably one new to Hellenism, but who knows) to some of the vast literature available to us.

NB1: Some of these are my books. Not trying to promote myself over much, I have been writing the books I have thought this community needs. I am also gonna throw in alternatives below the main numbered headings. If you like the subject of a book, feel free to do a deep dive, but again I am trying to go for quality over quantity. Finally, this has been few a through drafts—in earlier versions I was more specific with answers, but I was disatisfied with those lists. So 6, 7, 9, and 10 are rather 'choose your own adventures.' I do believe we are a people of a book rather than a library, and my ultimate list reflects that.

NB2: Books are great, but I know not everyone can spend time sitting down reading. I'd encourage those who think they are to busy to read and/or those who read when they can but want something to listen to to check out History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps (podcast), Literature and History (podcast) and the Philosophy of Tragedy. These are all great as stand alones but will also help supplement any learning.

1. Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship (HP:HW) by Labrys Hellas

There's a lot to love about Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship. For starters, it's short, simple, and to the point. If someone is not wholly sure that they want to be a Hellenist, a tome that is going to hurt if it falls on their foot is something less than ideal.

Now, there is a criticism some people might level at it: it is much more 'reconstructionist' than most people will feel comfortable with. With that said, I think that this reconstructionism brings structure, which is much needed. One can always experiment later, but the structure allows for something to return to.

There isn't really anything like this which is both as accessible as HP:HW and as rigorous. Other similar works I have found tend to have too many historical flaws which I think make a poor foundation for later.

2. Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

This is an academic text, one that is made for people who studying Antiquity professionally. However, for all that, it is quite accessible. As a result of this, it is often the baseline for modern Hellenists, to the extend that some take what Burkert says (or what they misremember him saying) as gospel.

It remains the foundational text for 'Greek Religion' for scholars, although there are more recent treatments. I have some reason to believe a new book will be forthcoming in the next decade or so which might become the new foundation, but for now, Burkert is the baseline. If you like Burkert and want similar options, Jan Bremmer's Greek Religion and The masterpiece which is more generalist but in my opinion most informative is Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide, edited by Sarah Iles Johnston.

3. A Guide to the Gods by Fabian MacKenzie (full disclosure, my book)

A Guide to the Gods is a book with entries on 49 gods (or groups of gods, like the Muses). It does include some encyclopedic information: genealogies, correspondences, etc., but what I wanted to do with the Guide was try to compile the theological thinkings about various divinities into one space. We often learn mythology, but we don't always learn what those myths mean. This is something that various Hellenist writers cared deeply about, and they offered various answers. I organized these, deity by deity, so that those thoughts (some of which are in very obscure places) could be easily accessible.

If you want something more scholarly which retains a focus on a 'god by god' format, you might enjoy Jennifer Larsson's Ancient Greek Cults. Alternatively, if you want a strictly 'theological' take (from an Ancient Pagan), my recommendation is Cornutus' Compendium of Greek Theology.

4. The Iliad and the Odyssey.

It is quite true when people say we don't have a 'Bible', as in a text believed to be inerrant, authoritative, and divinely inspired. But Homer is what comes closest. The Iliad and the Odyssey are somewhat underappreciated in modern Hellenism. Both seem quite remote from our worlds today, and while the gods are notable when they appear, the focus is on characters it can be hard to relate too.

I think those are valid frustrations, and I don't fault anyone who skips over the catalogue of ships. But I these works are foundational to Greek (and later Roman) thought. Almost every primary source you read will have a reference, implicit or explicit, to them somewhere.

I picked the Rouse translations because he is my favourite translator of Greek epic. Others might prefer Emily Wilson, who is much more modern.

Now, any primary source is good: I am personally a big fan of doing Hesiod's Theogony (my translation, goes in depth on the theology), then the Homeric Hymns (M. L. West, who helps reconstruct parts of the lost Homeric Hymn 1: to Dionysus), then the Iliad and the Odyssey, as it builds from the creation of the universe, to the distribution of divine powers, then to human contestations (this is after Jenny Strauss Clay's Politics of Olympus).

If you aren't up for reading all of Homer at this point in your journey, that's okay! I'd recommend listening to a podcast called Literature and History on spotify/apple/whatever. This will guide you through the evolution of Greek literature and is quite thorough.

5. Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored by Sarah Kate Istra Winter

After the above four, I think it is useful to return to a guide to modern practice. What is beneficial about Winter's Kharis is that it is focused on bridging the gap between antiquity and today. After some grounding in those things (ritual, history, theology, and literature), Kharis is very useful for inspiration to branch out with one's practice.

If you enjoy Kharis, you might also enjoy Komos, by the same author. NB: the books sell out on etsy, message the store and let her know that they are out, she will replenish them.

6. At this stage, I think it is helpful to get to know one deity very well (presumably one you worship, but maybe surprise yourself). Studying one god up close will make you ponder questions for all of them: what are the prehistoric origins of the various gods? What are their myths? How did they live on after the decline of Hellenism in Antiquity? The questions one starts to ask after going deep will help when reading other books later.

I have a whole book list by god here, but I would prioritize scholarly work for this. I'd recommend a Routledge Gods and Heroes book for any god they have, Kerenyi's books as well, and Sarah Iles Johnston's Hekate Soteira.

7. After that, I would read a lengthy primary source focused on that god in full. For Zeus, the Muses, or Hekate, that might be Hesiod's Theogony, for Hera I would recommend the Aeneid (Juno, but she's quite important), for Persephone, Demeter, or Hades, I would recommend Homeric Hymn 2. Hestia isn't prominent in myth, but Ovid's telling of the Vestalia (Fasti Book 6 lines 249-460) is a good option. If you skipped the Odyssey, you might return to it for Poseidon. For Apollo or Athena, you might opt for the Orestaia, for Apollo Homeric Hymn 3, for Hermes Homeric Hymn 4, for Aphrodite Homeric Hymn 5, for Artemis Euripides' Hippolytus, and for Dionysus, Euripides' Bacchae. We are unfortunately deprived of Homeric Hymn 1, which would have told us about Dionysus bringing Hephaestus to Olympus, and I am unsure of specific suggestions for Ares (presumably the Iliad, if nothing else). (If you are trying to do this for lesser known divinities, you should be aware they might not have good sources: you might substitute by reading their theoi.com page in full).

8. Hellenism: A Handbook by Fabian MacKenzie

The above 7 books are to hopefully put the reader in closer contact with the reason they signed up for the religion: the gods. I think after that, it is helpful to begin branching into Greek thought: there were specific strains of thought which ran throughout Hellenism over the millenia during which it was practiced. These can be intimidating at first: Platonism, Stoicism, Epicureanism, etc.

This book is my attempt to try to do that (this post, in a much earlier form, hit a stumbling block which inspired that above book). It takes the various schools, writings, and such, and tries to offer a sampling. It is by no means perfect, but I think it is helpful for an introduction, especially for Hellenists.

9. After getting acquainted with various philosophical schools, read a primary source from one you want to learn more about. Platonism? Try the Timaeus. Stoicism? Try Marcus Aurelius. Want to feel like a fly in the wall between an Epicurean, a Stoic, and a Skeptic? Try Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods.

If you feel a little to close to Diogenes, and the high falutin philosophy stuff is just not for you, I'd recommend Lucian. Lucian of Samosata was a satirist who lampooned philosophy and everything else. A semi-serious yet still funny work is his De Luctu, or On Funerals, which mocks human anxiety about death and dying.

10. So, by this time, if you're playing along, you should have had two modern books on Hellenist practice (1 and 5), two scholarly books on Hellenism historically (2 and 7), two source books compiling information (3 and 8), the Iliad and the Odyssey, a primary source on a god, and a primary source from a philosophical school. That's a lot.

At this stage, I would think that even if you aren't sure what specifically to read next, you should have an idea of what you are looking for.

Are primary sources for mythology speaking to you? Consider the Greek tragedies (esp. Prometheus Bound, the Oresteia, the Theban Trilogy, and Bacchae). Consider Latin sources, such as Ovid's Metamorphoses or Vergil's Aeneid. (As a Dionysian, I must at least mention, though I hesitate to recommend, Nonnus' Dionysiaca).

If you're really ambitious, you might make your next book an intro text to Latin or Ancient Greek, and start your journey to read the sources in their original language.

Do you have specific historical questions? The great news is that there's thousands of books and articles written by Classicists which do deep dives on the most minute details. One can return to a particularly interesting passage in a book or an article and see which authors are referenced there, or simply plumb the bibliography and pick whatever titles sound interesting.

My hope is that this has been helpful, would love feedback if folks have it!

Trans Wilmer Cave Wright.