The Month of Poseidon – Winter Solstice in Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece calendars deviated from city state to city state but more often than not, the month named in honour of the ancient Greek god of the sea; Poseidon, fell at...
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For the term "the Winter solstice,".
Ancient Greek Myths about Birds
In ancient Greece, birds represented power, freedom and wisdom and show up in numerous Greek myths and legends where they most often appear as messengers of the gods, oracles and even gods...
Ancient Pinecone Magic and Symbolism
Images of pinecones, sacred eyes and not least, the thyrsus, the ancient Greek magic wand, have been associated with the pineal gland (named after the pinecone), since ancient times and pop up in...
Are the 12 Days of Dionysus the Ancient Greek Origins of Christmas?
Could the twelve Days of Dionysus, a no-holds-barred celebration of the birth of the Greek god of wine and fertility, held just after the winter solstice, in the second half of the...
10 of the Saddest Love Stories in Greek Mythology
All’s fair in love and war, or so they say. Back in ancient Greece though, love had much more to contend with, such as vengeful and envious gods, or Apate; the personification...
Dionysia – the Original Ancient Greek Carnival
How did Greek Carnival originate? The Greek Orthodox Church rather try to play down the goings on of Greek Carnival, all this bawdiness is not seemly. As with many Christian celebrations, Saint Valentine’s...
My Greek Christmas Part II – Stir up Sunday
If you have read my Greek Christmas Part I, you are most likely wondering why I was happy to discover, last Thursday, that dried fruit for a traditional British Christmas cake, needs to...
Halcyon Days – The Ancient Greek Love Story of Ceyx and Alcyone
Days of warm sun and calm seas, Alkionides Meres, as the Greeks call them, usually appear at some time from the end of December to mid January. When we think of Halcyon...
Kallikantzaroi – Greek Christmas Goblins
Many of the same customs and traditions as well as folklore are practiced and believed all over the World no matter where they originated. Through the years the stories have been tweaked...
The Unique Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae
The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae is a unique, one-of-a-kind ancient Greek sanctuary, dedicated to the god Apollo Epicurius (“Apollo the helper”). It is located approximately 230 km south of Athens,...
