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The Pagan Origins of the Olympic Games
The Olympics are coming in just a couple of months – opening ceremonies are July 23! – and despite things still being weird, thanks to the ‘Rona, celebrations will still be happening. The Olympics have a long history, and I thought it might be fun to explore their origins in the polytheistic world of ancient Greece. The Total Pagan Entertainment Package The Olympic Games are one of the most highly anticipated events in the sports world today. The Games are a huge event, attracting athletes from nearly every country. Although it has turned into a marketing and merchandising behemoth, the original purpose of the Olympic Games was a far less…
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The Greek Plynteria Festival
The city of Athens, Greece, is named for its protectress, the goddess Athena, and at the top of the hill called the Acropolis, there is a great temple in her honor. This temple, the Parthenon, contained a giant statue of Athena, made of ivory and adorned with gold, as a tribute to her magnificence. The residents of Athens took their relationship with their patron deity quite seriously, and every year held a spring festival in her honor, called the Plynteria. The name comes from a Greek word that means “to wash.” The Plynteria, like many other Greek festivals, spanned two to three days, around May 25th (fun fact: the Greeks…
