PAT ritual for the Kourotrophos
Beginning at sundown on the 19th of June, the Kourotrophos (child nurturers) were honoured. Gaea, Artemis, Hekate, Aglauros and Pandrosos shall be sacrificed to. Elaion will be organizing another Practicing Apart Together ritual for this event in the daylight hours of the 20th (so today!). You can follow the event of Facebook here.
The Kourotrophos are (mostly) female deities who watched over growing children--Gaea, Artemis, Hekate, Eirênê, Aglauros and Pandrosos, especially. This specific offering is known from the demos Erchia, but duplicates similar offerings on the Acropolis of Athens.
In this ritual, we honor Gaea, Artemis, Hekate, Aglauros and Pandrosos. Artemis is named Kourotrophos by Diodorus Siculus, a Hellenic historian, in book five of his library:
"And Artemis, we are told, discovered how to
effect the healing of young children and the foods which are suitable to the
nature of babes, this being the reason why she is also called Kourotrophos."
[5.73.5]
Hesiod, in his 'Theogony', explains why Hekate is Kourotrophos:
"So, then. albeit her mother's only child, she
is honoured amongst all the deathless gods. And the son of Kronos made her a
nurse of the young who after that day saw with their eyes the light of
all-seeing Eos (Dawn). So from the beginning she is a nurse of the young
(kourotrophos), and these are her honours." [404]
Aglauros and her sister Pandrosos seem to have been fertility deities in Athens. They were eventually regarded as daughter of the Athenian king Cecrops, however, and myth tells us the sisters were entrusted with the care for Erichthonios, hidden away in a basket. He was the son of Athena and Hēphaistos, who grew to term in the Earth (Gaea), and would later rule Athens as king. Aglauros had a sanctuary on the Acropolis in which young men of military age swore an oath to her as well as to Zeus and to other deities. Herse, sometimes regarded as a third sister, has no mention in these accounts.
Gaea, as a mother and raiser of many children, of course receives honors as well during the Kourotrophos. Pausanias, in his 'Description of Greece' says:
"There is also a sanctuary of Ge (Earth) Kourotrophe (Nurse of the Young) [at Athens], and of Demeter Khloe (Green). You can learn all about their names by conversing with the priests." [1.22.3]
We are also considering adding Eirene, as Euripides, in Bacchae says the following about Her:
"The god [Dionysos], the son of Zeus, delights
in banquets, and loves Eirene (Peace), giver of riches (olbodotes), goddess who
nourishes youths (thea kourotrophos). To the blessed and to the less fortunate,
he gives an equal pleasure from wine that banishes grief." [420]
As the ritual is quite lengthy, you can find the
full version here.
PAT ritual for the Panathenaia
The Panathenaia was an Athenian festival celebrated every June in honor of the Goddess Athena. The Lesser Panathenaia (Panathenaia ta mikra) was an annual event, while the Greater (Panathenaia ta megala) was held every four years and assimilated the practices of the Panathenaia ta mikra into itself. The set date for the festival was from the 23rd to the 29th of Hekatombaion and the festival was similar, in practice, to the Olympic Games but it had its own unique elements as well. In short, The Panathenaia was the 'birthday of the city' and referred to Athens. We will hold two PAT rituals to celebrate it: one on the first day in honour of Athena, and one on the last in honour of the many Gods who watched over the city. As such, the first PAT ritual should be performed either in the night of the 7th of August, or the daylight hours of the 8th of August, and the second on 15 August. Will you be joining us?
The ritual for the first day of the Panathenaia can be found here. It includes a torch-lit procession (which can also be conducted with a wind light or electric candle) and libations to Athena in Her many forms related to the Panathenaia. It can be performed either in the night of the 7th of August, or the daylight hours of the 8th of August.
The ritual for the last day of the Panathenaia can be found here. It honours Athena, Zeus, Agathos Daimon, Hera, Poseidon, and Hestia. We will be performing it at 10:00 AM EDT on 15 August.
For more information about the Panathenaia, please go here, and to join our group for the event, please go here.
PAT ritual for the Panathenaia
The Panathenaia was an Athenian festival celebrated every June in honor of the Goddess Athena. The Lesser Panathenaia (Panathenaia ta mikra) was an annual event, while the Greater (Panathenaia ta megala) was held every four years and assimilated the practices of the Panathenaia ta mikra into itself. The set date for the festival was from the 23rd to the 29th of Hekatombaion and the festival was similar, in practice, to the Olympic Games but it had its own unique elements as well. In short, The Panathenaia was the 'birthday of the city' and referred to Athens. We will hold two PAT rituals to celebrate it: one on the first day in honour of Athena, and one on the last in honour of the many Gods who watched over the city. As such, the first PAT ritual should be performed either in the night of the 7th of August, or the daylight hours of the 8th of August, and the second on 15 August. Will you be joining us?
The ritual for the first day of the Panathenaia can be found here. It includes a torch-lit procession (which can also be conducted with a wind light or electric candle) and libations to Athena in Her many forms related to the Panathenaia. It can be performed either in the night of the 7th of August, or the daylight hours of the 8th of August.
The ritual for the last day of the Panathenaia can be found here. It honours Athena, Zeus, Agathos Daimon, Hera, Poseidon, and Hestia. We will be performing it at 10:00 AM EDT on 15 August.
For more information about the Panathenaia, please go here, and to join our group for the event, please go here.
Hi Elani! I wanted to thank you for organizing such wonderful rituals, you and the Elaion group are fantastic at bringing together our disparate community. I had a question about holding a 'wake' for Athena as you mentioned you did a couple years back. Is there a good night to do that? What kind of things should I do? Do you have any advice for one who wishes to follow your example and hold a private Pannychis?
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