THEOGAMIA

THÆOGAMÍA - ΘΕΟΓΑΜΙΑ

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Thæogamía and the Two Kosmogonic Substances

Thæogamía (Theogamia, Θεογαμία) is marriage between Gods, but here we are speaking of the festival which celebrates the marriage of Íra (Ἥρα) and Zefs (Ζεύς), representative of the union of the two kosmogonic substances, Earth (Γῆ) and Water (Ὕδωρ).

According to the mythology, Zefs is the king and father of Gods and men. Íra is said to be his sister and wife. The meaning of this mythology is that Zefs is the manifestation of the active kosmogonic substance Water, called variously, from this perspective, Water/Fire/Æthír. Íra is the manifestation of the receptive kosmogonic substance: Earth. These kosmogonic substances are primal, from the beginning, and exist together. Therefore, poetically, they are siblings, i.e. brother and sister. Without the interaction of Earth and Water, Íra and Zefs, there is no creation; therefore, they are, poetically, married.

The Great Ærmaphróditos

In the Thæogamía, we also celebrate the union of Ærmís and Aphrodítî, a union which produces Ærmaphróditos (Hermaphrodite,Ἑρμαφρόδιτος), a being with both sexes. Ærmaphróditos is the personification of the Divine Consorts, the union of each of the six pairs of Olympian Gods. The union or 'marriage' of every pair of Olympians is an Ærmaphróditos The Great Ærmaphróditô (τῶ Μεγάλω Ἑρμαφρόδιτω) is the marriage of Zefs and Íra, which is the union of the two kosmogonic substances, Earth and Water. Because of the immeasurable significance of this pair of Gods, the hymns to the Great Ærmaphróditô are always recited at the conclusion of every ritual, beginning first with the Orphic hymn to Íra and ending with that of Zefs.

When do we celebrate the Thæogamía?

The date of which the Thæogamía was celebrated in antiquity is disputed, perhaps 26 or 27 Gamilióhn (late January to early February, in the month of Aquarius [Υδροχόος]). The month of Gamilióhn (Gamelion or "marriage month," Γαμηλιών) was dedicated to Íra, so it would be most appropriate to celebrate the holiday during this month.

PLEASE NOTE: Ritual in our tradition is not permitted to be displayed in a public place, such as this website. If you have a sincere desire to learn more, please write: Inquire.HellenicGods@gmail.com.

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this HellenicGods.org, you will find fascinating stories. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally; a literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is often concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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