Aniconic:- Absence of Graphic Representation of any humans or living creatures.

Aniconism is a style, usually of religious representation though it can also apply to art where humans and living creatures were not depicted in art form. The ancient Hellenic religion was an ICONIC religion where Gods were frequently depicted in the form of humans and where beauty, artform, grace etc.. was celebrated. It was because of the Greek iconic religious belief that artistry and sculpture as we know it reached its peak. A lot of modern sculpture technique has not actually changed very much since Hellenic times!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Inclusive Polytheism:- The belief that there are many distinct Gods but that the number of Gods are limited and that all the different pantheons in the world are the same pantheon of Gods, just known by different names and different myths. Example would be Jupiter of the Romans and Zeus of the Greeks and Indra of the Indians are the same God, as is Ceres of the Romans, Demeter of the Greeks and Isis of the Egyptians are the same God.

Read the rest of this entry »

This blog has two storylines that will eventually converge.

Many years ago when I was flatting while in University my flat used to have this big ivy plant that covered the entire north facing side of the house. It was one of those traditional ivy plants that crawled over the wall etc.. It is not variegated, it is just the traditional Hebera helix.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recently I have been studying more about the Greco-Bactrians and the Indo-Greeks due to my attempt to reconstruct Greco-Buddhism.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Great Serpent Apalala
(Greco-Buddhist Reconstructed Stories Series)

By Astalon

( Greco-Buddhist Reconstructed Stories is an adaptation of the known Buddhist stories from various Buddhist sutras and adapting into it known Greek elements. There is no large assumption jumps in attempting to reconstruct the stories. It is based solely upon known Greco-Buddhist syncretism )

Read the rest of this entry »

The Redemption of Tykhe Hariti
(Greco-Buddhist Reconstructed Stories Series)

By Astalon

( Greco-Buddhist Reconstructed Stories is an adaptation of the known Buddhist stories from various Buddhist sutras and adapting into it known Greek elements. There is no large assumption jumps in attempting to reconstruct the stories. It is based solely upon known Greco-Buddhist syncretism )

Read the rest of this entry »

In my attempt to bring back the practice of Greco-Buddhism I had always found it interesting that the most common depiction of the Lord Buddha by the Indo-Greeks is always that of Herakles Vajrapani on his right and Tykhe Hariti on his left.

Read the rest of this entry »

In my previous blog I have talked about my design of the Altar of the Twelve Gods using a cactus pot.

Read the rest of this entry »

As part of my personal and semi-public practice I have an altar to the Twelve Gods. I made this altar about a three weeks ago after I realized two things.

Read the rest of this entry »

When we Hellenics think of reciprocity, we immediately think offerings, we immediately think about the Gods. We understand that the Gods uphold the laws of reciprocity, that though the Gods are boundless the law of reciprocity is sacred to them. The reason we offer to the Gods is not to bribe the Gods but to reciprocate with the Gods. As the Gods have given so much to us, so we should offer something back in turn. We know that the Gods inherently benefit not from our offerings or our prayers. We know that our offering of libation, hymns, deeds etc.. is not something that the Gods need or really desire. What we do know is that reciprocity is sacred to the Gods and that is why we offer in our worship and prayer.

Read the rest of this entry »