VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

PRIESTESS PYTHIA, PRIESTESS OF ANCIENT DELPHI

                                PART I

The Pythia commonly known as the “Oracle of Delphi,” was the priestess at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.  It is said that the Pythia was widely credited for her prophesies inspired by Apollo.

The earliest account of the origin of the Delphic oracle is provided in the Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo, which recent scholarship dates within a narrow range, ca 580-570 BC.  Some historians state that it dated back to the 13^th century B.C. During this period the Delphic Oracle was the most prestigious and authoritative oracle among the Greeks.  The oracle is one of the best-documented religious institutions of the Classical Greeks.  The last recorded response was given during AD 393, when the emperor Theodosius I ordered pagan temples to cease operation.

Authors who mention the oracle include: Aeschylus, Aristotle, Clement of Alexandria, Diodorus, Diogenes, Euripides, Herodotus, Julian, Justin, Livy, Luca, Ovid, Pausanias, Pindar, Plato, Plutarch, Sophocles, Strabo, Thucydides and Xenophon.

The name “Pythia” derived from Pytho, which in myth was the original names of Delphi.  The Greeks derived this place name from the verb, pythein (to rot), which refers to the decomposition of the body or the monstrous Python after she was slain by Apollo.

No major decision was made without consulting the Oracle of Delphi first.  Greek leaders, foreign kings, generals and common folk made the pilgrimage to the Delphi sanctuary, paying great sums for the Pythias’s oracles.

The prophesies of the Pythia would determine the course of everything from when a farmer planted his seeds to when an empire declared war.  Arguments over the correct interpretation of an oracle were common.  The oracle was sought for every question of life. 

Pilgrims would first bathe in the Castalian spring, ritually sacrifice a sheep and then put their questions to the god.  The King of Lydia and Phrygia traveled to ask on matters of civic governance and outcasts arrived seeking purification.

The Pythia played a major role in Greek Colonization too.  She advised on likely sites for settlement, suggested patron deities, and was overall a key agent in the spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean.

The Oracle of Delphi functioned in a specific place, the adytum, or “no entry” area of the temple’s core, and through a specific person, the Pythia who was chosen to speak as a possessed medium, for Apollo, the god of prophesy.  Apollo was known as an oracular god, a prophetic deity, and known to his fellow Olympians as a legislator.  From Delphi, we are told by historian Herodotus, he dictated the constitution of Sparta.

Part II is scheduled toward the beginning of December.  We will explore how the priestess was chosen, the 4 step-process that  the visitors would go through before consulting the Oracle and the vapors that were said to have played a role in her inspirations and prophesies (based upon research by Joseph Fontenrose).

CONTRIBUTING WRITER:  PATRICIA BOWMAN

November 14, 2014

VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

           MYTHOLOGY, IDOLATRY,                         PAGANISM, POLYTHEISM
               All elements that make the fantastic
                       Greek History Immortal

CONTINUATION PART 2

VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

 

Zeus, known as Jupiter by the Romans:  Zeus was King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus.  God of the sky and thunder.  He is symbolized by the thunberbolt, eagle, oak tree, scepter and scales.

Hera, known as Juno by the Romans: Hera was Queen of the gods and was the goddess of marriage and family.  Her symbols include the peacock, pomegranate, crown,cuckoo, lion and cow.  She was said to have been extremely beautiful and had, "cow eyes." 

Poseidon, know as Neptune by the Romans:  Poseidon was the lord of the seas, earthquakes and horses. Symbolized by the horse, bulls, dolphins and trident

Dionysus, known as Bacchus by the Romans:  God of wine, celebrations, ecstasy.  Patron god of the art of theater. Symbolized by the grapevine, ivy, cup, tiger, panther, leopard, dolphin and goat.

Apollo, known as Poebus by the Romans:  God of light, knowledge, music, poetry, raven, wolf, swan and mouse.

Artemis, also known as Diana by the Romans:   The virgin goddess of the hunt, virginity, childbirth, archery and all animals.  Symbolized by the moon and deer, the hound and she bear, snake, bow and arrow.

Hermes, known as Mercury by the Romans:  Messenger of the gods, commerce and thieves.  Symbolized by the caduceus. 

Athena, known as Minnerva by the Romans:  She was the virgin goddess of wisdom.  Symbolized by the owl, olive tree. She arose from her father's head fully grown and in full battle armor after Zeus swallowed her.

Ares, known as Mars by the Romans:  God of war, violence and bloodshed.  Symbolized by the boar, serpent, dog, vulture, spear and shield.

Aphrodite, known as Venus by Romans:  Goddess of love, beauty and desire.  Symbolized by the dove, apple, bee, swan and rose.

Hephaestus, known as Vulcan by the Romans:  Master blacksmith, craftsman, god of fire and of forge.  Symbolized by fire, the anvil, ax, donkey and hammer.

Demeter, known as Ceres by the Romans:  Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature.  Symbolized by wheat, torch, pig.

Hades, known as Pluto by the Romans:  Because Hades spent too much time in the underworld was not always given a seat in the pantheon - temple.

Hestia, known as Vesta by the Romans:  Goddess of the hearth, and order of domesticity and family.

In conclusion and of interest, the question lingers, whether these mythological characters were real or imagined and requires further investigation. The Holy Bible speaks of similar creature such as centaurs, cherubs, angels of God and angels of man, giants - not only human but also of giant vegetation around the same time period?  Could these creature have been what scientists refer to today as "transhumanistic creature," or are they only allegorical as some believe? 

 ARTICLE BY:  Suzen de Witt

 Hellenic Culture Advocacy

 July 22, 2012

 Video Link:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=noGmCvVc9Gw

Dear  friends,

The following is a VIDEO we are posting to portray the
Hellenic Culture and History, over a period of 2.500 years.

Please, wish us luck, our Advocacy is doing great so far
thanks to you,
Evi Martyn


Interview With Evi Martyn On Hellenic Culture

           MYTHOLOGY, IDOLATRY, PAGANISM,
                             POLYTHEISM

                       All elements that make the fantastic
                               Greek History Immortal


PART 1


An introduction
By:  Evi Martyn


In the following article Ms. Suzan De Witt, one of our writers, will expound on Mythology, Idolatry, Paganism and 
Polytheism in the Greek Empire prior to Christ and the
Christian Religion.


I would like to make a reference to the incredible but true fact  history has recorded in regards to the turning point, and pivotal moment of Greek Polytheism and their introduction to 
Christianity.

Here it is:  When St. Paul, on his way to Rome to preach Christianity, stopped in Athens and visited the Parthenon, he was confronted by all the statues representative of the twelve Gods of Olympus.

As he was observing all the various names of the Gods he came across a statue that had no name on it, instead of a name he read, "To The Unknown God."

The Greeks, in their infinite wisdom, in order not to offend a missed God, created a special alter dedicated to the  "Unknown God." 

To that Paul replied:  "This is the God I have come to talk to you about,"  and the rest was history.

What wisdom, what imagination and foresight those amazing people had!! 
                                                         Evi Martyn
                                              Hellenic Culture Advocate




PAGANISM, IDOLATRY, POLYTHEISM: 
By: Suzan De Witt


Greece was a pagan Empire prior to Christ.  The Golden Age of Greece 331 B.C. to 146 B.C. was an intense period of paganism and idolatry throughout the world.  Many fairy tales and horoscopes have made light of those idols in today's society, but to ancient Greece, idolatry was a serious matter.
Greeks had faith in these symbols and images and prayed to them believing in their powers.  We must keep in mind that they had no benefit of God or Christianity, but instinctively felt the need and desire to have "God" in their lives.


                                Mythology

The mythology of ancient Greece has survived in the form of fairy tales and children's stories.  Mythology also figures prominently in astrology.

Investigating the basis for these mythological figures from the past leaves one with a haunting suspicion that perhaps these mythological creatures were in fact real??? 

The mythological Gods were the immortals of the ancient Greek pantheon (temple of all Gods).  They are divided into roughly eight classifications that represented certain elements and energies such as:

           a)     Protogenoi class
           b)     Daimones class
           c)     Theoi class
           d)     Daimones class 2
           e)     12 Olympian Gods
           f)      Constellation group
           g)     Monsters, beasts, giants
           h)     Heroi Hemi Theoi


Of the eight classifications of mythological Gods the 12 Olympian Gods were the prinicipal deities of the Greek Pantheon.


To be continued soon

In PART 2,  of this article, we will discuss the 12 Olympian Gods.


By: Suzan De Witt
 














 

       May 18, 2012, Friday

       A big thank you to all my readers
       for the wonderful comments I am
       receiving !!!!
       It is the best way to encourage!!!
       Evi Martyn
       Scroll down to read: "THE ORIGINS OF MUSIC"   
       *** If you wish to send your comments, please, go to
                               Evi Martyn guest book.

             

May 14, 2012

                           Continuing on the subject: " THE ORIGINS OF MUSIC "

                                      THE PERIODS OF MUSIC

1.    Prehistoric:

       At the end of the sixth and the beginning of the fifth century
      B.C. we have the beginning of the GREEK TRAGEDY . This
      period marks an enormous ERA of great poets of COMEDY
      and TRAGEDY   ( 555-440 B.C.)

     Unfortunately, for the music in Ancient Greek Tragedy we do
     not have  saved works.  However, the Ancient Greek Tragedy
     has undoubtedly impressed many composers of Western Euro-
     pe, who wrote notable OPERAS based on Greek DRAMA.
                                        Some examples:
                 17th century / Claudio Monteverdi ( Italian composer)
                                         Opera: L'ORFEO which is regularly
                                                                         performed today
                 
                 18th  century / Christoph Gluck ( German composer)
                                         Opera:  ORFEO and EURIDICE

                 19th  century / Richard Wagner ( German composer)
                                          adopted Greek Drama in his operas.

                 20th  century / Richard Strauss  ( German composer)
                                          Opera: ELEKTRA based on Greek
                                                                           drama.

2.     ANCIENT MUSIC:     (2000-1200 A.D.)
                                  
        Byzantine Music: /  Music of the Byzantine Empire
        composed to Greek texts, as ceremonial, festival or religious
        church music.
        The Byzantine Music remains the oldest genre of extant
        music where the names of the composers are known. It is
        a very important Musical ERA particularly for the Othodox
        Christian Church, which has adopted the"Byzantine Chant"
        as part of its LITURGY.

 3.     Renaissance  1685-1757
             Baroque     1685-1750
                  Classical   1756-1791
                       Romantic  1833-1897
                            Post Romantic  1860-1911
                                 Impressionistic  1862-1918
                                     Twentieth Century  1891-1953

4.     The twelve tone Music:   (Arnold Schonberg, Igor Stravinski
                                                   Scott Bradley)

5.     Neoclassicism : ( Stravinski, Sergei Prokofieff, 
                                      Paul Hindemith ( my teacher) ***
       
        Futurism:  ( Filippo Tomasso, Luigi Ruscolo, etc.)  

6.     Electronic Music:  This music was developed post WW2 
                                        when magnetic tapes became 
                                        available for creating various sounds
                                        and then manipulating them in some 
                                        way.

7.     Jazz-influenced
        Classical composition:  ( Leonard Benrstein, 
                                                  Aron Copland, 
                                                  George Gershwin
                                                  Darius Milhaud
                                                  Maurice Ravel)      
*** Paul Hindemith and his wife Maria Landes Hindemith were my 
       teachers at the Hochschule fur Musik , in Munich Germany
       during my studies there. Fantastic teachers!!!!!                                        

                                                                                           Article by:  EVI MARTYN
                                                                                concert pianist
                                                               Hellenic Culture Advocate 

                          This segment concluded our subject   THE ORIGINS OF MUSIC.
                          We hope we gave you a concise illustration in short of the fantastic ART called
                                                                            '' ' MUSIC ' ''