t - Illustrated Glossary of Hellenic Polytheism

Themis - the Titan daughter of Ouranos and Gaia (Sky and Earth). She succeeded Gaia as the prophetess at Delphi, who then gave it to Phoebe, who gave it to Apollon. Themis is the Goddess of Divine Law and teaches mankind how to worship and all the rules of justice, morality, and piety. She was a bride of Zeus before Hera, by whom she bore the following children: the Moirai, the Horai, and the Nymphai. She is also the mother of Prometheus (according to Aeschylus).

theodicy - See th æ odikia.

Theodosius I - (Flavius Theodosius I) - born 347 CE in Spain, died 395 in Milan. Theodosius I was the Roman Emperor responsible for making (Nicene) Christianity the official state religion beginning in 380 CE. His actions were the cause of the greatest persecution of all non-Christian beliefs during his reign and afterwords, the sacking and decimation of numerous temples, eventually driving opposing beliefs into absolute secrecy. The persecution was so insidious that it was not even feasible to become a martyr because your entire estate was confiscated, ruining your family.

Although Constantine I is often given credit for the Christianization of the Empire, it was Theodosius I who was responsible for absolute intolerance to all other beliefs. The persecution of the ancient way surpassed any persecution previously committed by the Roman empire against Christians and it had an entirely different motive: it was designed to completely eradicate any view other than the Christian view. No other belief was tolerated. Not only was polytheism suppressed, but even Christians who did not accept the details of the Nicene creed. In particular, the Arian Christians were declared heretics and suffered greatly, many thousands were slaughtered and survivors either converted or fled entirely from the Empire.

The Emperor took Christian authority seriously, even submitting to the penance imposed by Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who, under threat of excommunication, commanded Theodosius to wear sack-cloth and ashes and publicly repent for the slaughter of 7,000 at Thessalonika .

It was during and as a direct result of the reign of Theodosius I that the Sacred Mysteries of Eleusis (in existence since at least 1600 BCE) ended in 380 CE, the Olympic Games at Olympia (a gift-offering to Zeus) ended in 393, and the Eternal Fire of Vesta (Hestia) was extinguished at Rome in 394.

Theogamia – See Thæogamía.

Theogony - Please visit these pages: Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony and Orphic Cosmogony and Theogony.

Theoi - See Thæi.

Theologus - See Thæológos.

Theophany - See Thæopháneia.

theophoric name - Etymology: theo - "deity", pherein meaning "to bear, or carry", so a theophoric name is a name the carries the deity within it. For instance, the name of the God Apollo can be found in Apollodoros, Apolloneia, Apollonios, and Apollophilios.

Theoros - See Thæohrós.

Theos - See Thæi.

therapon - servant, or warrior's attendant (such as Patroclus to Achilles) This Greek word is the root of the English word therapy. Another meaning is ritual substitute.

Theurgy - Please visit this page: Thæourgia.

Thnitós - (thenitos; Gr. θνητός, ΘΝΗΤΟΣ) Lexicon entry: θνητός, ή, όν, also ός, όν: Dor. θνᾱτός (v. infr.): Aeol. θνᾶτος:—liable to death, mortal, opp. ἀθάνατος, freq. in Hom.. 2. of things, befitting mortals, human. (L&S p. 802, right column, edited for simplicity.) Cf. Mortós and Vrotós.

Thought, Aristotle's Laws of - See Laws of Thought, Aristotle's.

Thrásos (Gr. θράσος, L&S p. 804, right column) = Thársos (Gr. θάρσος, L&S p. 785, left column) = Thárros (Gr. θάρρος, L&S p. 784, right column, starting with θαρρᾰλέος) = Courage. Cf. Andreia (Gr. Ἀνδρεία, ΑΝΔΡΕΙΑ), meaning manliness or courage. Thrásos or Courage is one of the Four Cardinal Virtues of classical antiquity. Please visit this page: Virtue in Hellenismos.

thriskeia - (threskia or threskeia; Gr. θρησκεία, ΘΡΗΣΚΕΊΑ) [pronunciation: threes-KEE-yah] Thriskeia is organized worship and ritual, the outward expression of religious belief. Thiskeia is usually translated into English with the word religion. Thriskeia is religion. When the belief system of Hellenismos is put into practice and organized into temples and ritual, this is called thriskeia. To say that Hellenismos is merely thriskeia is misleading because Hellenismos is not creedal but philosophical, in the highest sense of the term. In other words, the genuine Hellenismos is more based on the manner in which we live our lives rather than on the organized outward forms and beliefs. Thriskeia is an aspect of Hellenismos, but is not inclusive of its entire meaning.

Lexicon entry for threskeia: θρησκ-εία, Ion. θρησκ-είη, ἡ, (θρησκεύω) religious worship, cult, ritual, ἡ περὶ τὰ ἱρὰ θ. Hdt.2.18, IG12(5).141.5 (Paros, iii B.C.), J.AJ17.9.3, etc.; τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος SIG801 D (Delph., i A.D.); ἡ περί τινος θ. ib. 867.48 (Ephesus, ii A.D.): pl., rites, Hdt.2.37, D.H.2.63, PGnom. 185 (ii A.D.), Wilcken Chr.72 (iii A.D.). 2. religion, service of God, LXX Wi.14.18, Act.Ap.26.5, Ep.Jac.1.26; θ. τοῦ θεοῦ μία ἐστί, μὴ εἶναι κακόν Corp.Herm.12 fin.; ἑκατέρα θ., i.e. Christianity and Paganism, Them.Or.5.69c; θ. τῶν ἀγγέλων worshipping of angels, Ep.Col.2.18. 3. in bad sense, religious formalism, ἀντὶ ὁσιότητος Ph.1.195; θ. βιωτική vulgar superstition, Sor.1.4. (L&S p.806, left column)

thumiama (thymiama) - (Greek: θυμίαμα) Thumiama is the Greek word for incense. Incendere is the Latin word for incense.

Lexicon entry: θῡμἰἀζω (ed. thumiasdo), = θῡμἰιἀω (ed. thumiiao), Gp.I 2.8.8. θῡμἰαἰνω (ed. thumiaiuo),= θῡμἰιἀω (ed. thumiiao), Gloss. θῡμἰᾱμα (ed. thumiama), Ion. θῡμἰηυα (ed. thumiayua), ατος, τὀ,incense (L&S p.809)

Dictionary entry: Incense, subs. P. and V. θῡμιαμᾰτα (ed. thumiamata), τἀ, V. ἐπῐθῡμιαμᾰτα (ed.epithumiamata), τἀ. Fill with incense, v. trans. V. θειοῦν (ed. theioun) (Eur., Hel. 866). Burn as incense: V. ἐκθῡμιᾶν (ed. ekthumian). Reeking with incense, adj.: V. θυοδὀκος (ed. thuodokos). (English-Greek Dictionary, compiled by S.C. Woodhouse, 1910; found in the 1987 Routledge & Kegan Paul edition on p.427)

Thunderbolt - See Kæravnós.

thymós - (Gr. θῡμός, ΘῩΜΌΣ) Thymós is "anger: An appetite of the soul directed to the avengement of incidental molestations." (TTS XV p.10) In reality, this ancient word has many meanings, as can be seen in the lexicon entry

below.

- Lexicon entry: θῡμός, ὁ, soul, spirit, as the principle of life, feeling and thought, esp. of strong feeling and passion (rightly derived from θύω (B) by Pl.Cra. 419e ἀπὸ τῆς θύσεως καὶ ζέσεως τῆς ψυχῆς): I. in physical sense, breath, life. 2. spirit, strength. 3. πάτασσε δὲ θ. ἑκάστου each man's heart beat high. II. soul, as shown by the feelings and passions; and so, 1. desire or inclination, esp. desire for meat and drink, appetite. 2. mind, temper, will. 3. spirit, courage; personified, Passion, Emotion. 4. the seat of anger. 5. the heart, as the seat of the emotions, esp. joy or grief. 6. mind, soul, as the seat of thought. (L&S p. 810, left column, edited for simplicity.)

Thyræus - (Gr) surname of Apollo from a word signifying gate, entrance: his altars were often placed inentrances. (CM p.24)

Thyrsos - (Thyrsus; Gr. Θύρσος, ΘΎΡΣΟΣ) The Thyrsos is a staff made of fennel, covered in ivy, and topped with a pine cone. The Thyrsos is used by the devotees of Dionysos in ritual. It is a phallic symbol. The pine is a tree sacred to Iphaistos, the great Olympian God, and the pine-cone is related symbolically to the Fire of the God, pushing the soul to the higher levels, to deification, like a swirling rhombos (rhombus; Gr. ῥόμβος).

Thraicius Sacerdos - surname of Orpheus, from his Thracian origin. (CM p.443)

Thrásos - (Gr. θράσος, L&S p. 804) = Thásos (Gr. θράσος, L&S p. 785) = Thárros (Gr. θάρρος, L&S p. 784 starting with θαρρᾰλέος) Thrásos is Courage, one of the Four Cardinal Virtues of classical antiquity. Cf. Andreia.

Thyrxeus - surname of Apollo. He had an oracle of universal resort under this name at Cyane in Lycia, where the votaries of the God, by looking into a fountain which was sacred to him, were able to discover all they wished to know. (CM p.24)

Timí - (τιμή, ΤΙΜΗ) Lexicon entry: τῑμ-ή, ἡ, (τίω, v. ad fin.). worship, esteem, honour, and in pl. honours, such as are accorded to Gods or to superiors, or bestowed (whether by Gods or men) as a reward for services. 2.honour, dignity, lordship. 3. a dignity, office, magistracy, and in pl., civic honours. b. a person in authority, an authority. 4. present of honour, compliment, offering, e.g. to the Gods. II. of things, worth, value, price. 2.valuation, estimate, for purposes of assessment. III. compensation, satisfaction, penalty. (L&S p. 1793, right column, within the entries beginning with τῑμέω, edited for simplicity) Cf. Klǽos and Dóxa.

Titán - (Gr. Τιτάν. Plural is Titánæs or Titans; Gr. Τιτᾶνες) Please visit this page: Titans-Titánæs-Τιτᾶνες.

Titánæs - (Titans; Gr. Τιτᾶνες) Titánæs is the plural of Titán. For more information on the Titánæs, please visit this page: Titans-Titánæs-Τιτᾶνες.

Tithys or Tethys - (Gr. Τηθύς, ΤΗΘΎΣ) Tithys is the Sea.

Lexicon entry: Τηθύς, ύος, ἡ, Tethys, wife of Oceanus, nurse of Hera, Il.14.201, 302; daughter of Uranus and Gaia, mother of the river-gods and Oceanides,Hes.Th.136,337, cf. A.Pr.137 (anap.), Th.311 (lyr.); Ὠκεανὸν . . καὶ Τηθὺν ἐποίησαν τῆς γενέσεως πατέρας Arist.Metaph. 983b30; taken as type of a very old woman, prob. in Call.Iamb.1.248(Hermes 69.174); cf. προτήθυς. II. in later writers, the Sea, Lyc.1069, AP7.214.6 (Arch.), Nonn.D.31.187, Orph.A.335, etc., cf. Porph. ap. Eus.PE3.11, Suid. [ῡ in disyll. cases, ῠin trisyll.] (L&S p. 1786, right column)

The Sea has symbolism in Hellenismos. The Sea represents the middle area of the soul, the middle area of the Orphic egg, the dominion of Poseithohn (Poseidon; Gr. Gr. Ποσειδῶν, ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ), for Poseithohn rules all the sea and the Middle Sky extending to the Moon. So, the Sea represents the influence of Poseithohn. This influence of Poseithohn is the Progress, or evolution, of the soul, the sixth Natural Law.

Tityus - described alternately as a son of Gaia, or the son of Zeus and Elara. He was a giant and the father of Europa. He assaulted Leto, the mother of Apollo, and was then slain by Apollo and his sister Artemis.

Toksotis - See Toxotis.

Tólma - (Gr. τόλμα, ΤΟΛΜΑ) Tólma is a Greek cosmological term meaning audacity or daring; it represents the Orphic Earth (Gaia) rupturing the Primordial mixture, asserting itself as separate.

Top - The Top is one of the Toys of Diónysos. See Rómvos.

Toxotis - (Gr. Τοξότης,ΤΟΞΟΤΗΣ) Toxotis is the third month of the Mystery year, beginning November 21. Toxotis is the Greek equivalent of the zodiacal sign Sagittarius. Toxotis is ruled by the Goddess Artæmis (Artemis; Gr. Ἄρτεμις, ἌΡΤΕΜΙΣ). It is a month of Changing (Mætavoli; Gr. Μεταϐολἠ).

Toxotis is described in Liddell & Scott as the Archer, Sagittarius, a sign in the Zodiac. (L&S p.1805, right column)

Toys of Dionysos - Please visit this page: The Toys of Diónysos.

Transmigration of the soul - Please visit this page: REINCARNATION.

trees - The tree is symbolic in Hellenic religion of the Ethereal Vehicle of the soul and the various trees are sacred to different Gods and Goddesses.

Hestia - the chaste tree

Ares - manna ash (not with certainty)

Artemis - walnut and cypress

Hera - the chaste tree and pomegranate

Poseidon - the pine tree

Athena - the olive tree

Aphrodite - apple and myrtle

Apollo - laurel and larkspur

Hermes - the strawberry tree

Zeus - the oak (Greek: drus) as well as the olive tree

Demetra - although wheat, barley, and mint are sacred to her, no tree seems to be associated with Demetra

Dionysos - silver fir

THE TREES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE GODS: THE GODS, according to an ancient legend, made choice of certain trees to be under their special protection. Jupiter chose the oak, Venus the myrtle, Apollo the laurel, Cybele the pine, and Hercules the poplar. Minerva, wondering why they had preferred trees not yielding fruit, inquired the reason for their choice. Jupiter replied, "It is lest we should seem to covet the honor for the fruit." But said Minerva, "Let anyone say what he will the olive is more dear to me on account of its fruit." Then said Jupiter, "My daughter, you are rightly called wise; for unless what we do is useful, the glory of it is vain." (Aesop's Fables, Fable No. 268, trans. George Fyler Townsend, 1871.)

Tríaina (Trident; Gr. Τρίαινα, ΤΡΙΑΙΝΑ. Roman: Fuscina or Tridens.) The Tríaina is the three-pronged spear or scepter of Poseidóhn which has the power to cause earthquakes, sea-storms, and even to crack rocks.

Trident - See Tríaina.

Triennial feasts - see Trieterika.

Trieterika (Trieterica) - (Greek: Τριετηρικου, ΤΡΙΕΤΗΡΙΚΟΥ) the Triennial Feasts of Dionysos. The festivals are honored in the 52nd Orphic Hymn, To the God of Triennial Feasts (LI. To Trietericus, in Taylor). The word is defined as three years, but the meaning is a bit unclear as some sources say alternate years; Athanassakis says this in his commentary to the hymns on p.129 (yet he cites the Homeric Hymn To Dionysos 1.11 "so shall mortals ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three years."- Evelyn-White translation). The Perseus Latin study tool explains the Latin Trietericus: "of three years, i. e. (since in reckoning intervals of time both extremes were counted), biennial, of alternate years." This is in agreement with Farnell's The Cults of the Greek States Vol.5, p.178: "It appears also, from Ovid's account of them, that the Trieterica were always held in the winter. Now there is nothing in nature that regularly takes place in the winter of every alternate year that primitive man could possibly observe." What exactly the feasts celebrated is equally obscure.

Triple Heart, The - A prayer to Apollo in English and ancient Greek: THE TRIPLE HEART - ΤΡΙΠΛΉ ΚΑΡΔΊΑ.

Tripli Karthia - A prayer to Apollo in English and ancient Greek: THE TRIPLE HEART - ΤΡΙΠΛΉ ΚΑΡΔΊΑ.

Tripod - See Tripous.

Tripous - (Tripod; Gr. Τρίπους, ΤΡΊΠΟΥΣ) The Tripous is the three-legged seat of the Pythia (Gr. Πυθία), the priestess who was chosen to act as the voice of the Oracle of Apollohn at the God's sanctuary at Dælphi (Delphi; Gr. Δελφοί). The seat of the Tripous is symbolic of the soul; the three legs symbolize the phallic or fertilizing ability of the three parts of soul.