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| Home > Reconstructionism > Greek/Hellenic > Kerux Index > Kerux #8 | Search |
| The Kerux #8 1 Anthesterion 4/694 (25 January 2001) edited by Drew Campbell |
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THE KERUX #8
1 Anthesterion 4/694
25 January 2001
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
* Book Review: Greek Ways
* Hymn to a Modern Hero
* From the Hearth: Pottage for the Dead
* Poll Results: Relationships and Religion
* New Polls: Alcohol at the Anthesteria
* Announcements from Nomos Arkhaios
* Upcoming Events
* How to Contribute to the Kerux
***
BOOK REVIEW
Bruce Thornton, _Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization_ (San Francisco: Encounter Books, 2000). ISBN 1893554031
The title of Bruce Thornton's study invokes a much-maligned classic: Edith Hamilton's appreciation of ancient Greek culture, _The Greek Way_. As Thornton notes, Hamilton's work is scorned by contemporary scholars who are more interested in deconstructing Greek notions of class, race, and gender than in admiring their myriad accomplishment. Thornton braves their wrath in this clear and lively volume.
However, _Greek Ways_ invites comparison, not with its namesake, but with a more recent and controversial study of ancient values: Hanson and Heath's _Who Killed Homer?_ (reviewed in Kerux # 3). Like Victor David Hanson, Thornton is a professor at California State University at Fresno. And like his colleague, Thornton takes on postmodern critiques, now mainstreamed in our "culture of complaint."
But while Hanson and Heath set their rhetorical sights on the decline of classics as an academic discipline, Thornton takes a broader view. He examines Greek ideals--those notions and values that set the Greeks apart from their ancient Mediterranean neighbors and that form nothing less than the underpinning of Western civilization itself. Among these are a willingness to look critically at issues of gender, sexuality, political equality, warfare, and personal freedom.
To be sure, the ancients often did not live up to our modern egalitarian ideals--but then again, neither do we much of the time. Thornton does not skirt around the undeniably harsh realities of ancient life. What he does demonstrate, though--with abundant examples from literature, political oratory, and philosophy--is that unlike their contemporaries, the ancient Greeks questioned their own values relentlessly, developing what Thornton calls "critical self- consciousness." It is this quality that we have inherited and which Thornton believes is the unique contribution of the Greeks to the history of ideas. While other peoples were struggling under the confines of absolute monarchies and theocracies, the Greeks were creating consensual government, citizen militias, and personal freedoms that were simply unknown and unthinkable elsewhere. And ironically, it is this set of enduring values that have allowed us the intellectual freedom to denigrate Greek culture as a hopelessly benighted phallocracy.
Thornton writes in a clear, concise, and popular vein. Though his book lacks the sparkle (and the vicious wit) of _Who Killed Homer?_, his writing conveys a quality too often lacking in modern prose: sincerity.
Although Thornton spends little time discussing Greek religion directly, he has unknowingly done the Hellenic religious community a great service. The next time someone asks you how you could base your spirituality on a culture that owned slaves, denied women the vote, and glorified war, hand them a copy of _Greek Ways_. A finer apologia for our spiritual ancestors' achievements we could not ask for.
***
HYMN TO A MODERN HERO
by Isxios
On this, a special day of our own making, we salute a man
of high esteem.
On this, a day of our own making, we salute a man who had
a dream.
On this, a day of our own making, we salute freedom for all,
not just the few.
Blessed Gods above, blessed Gods below, blessed Gods who
dwell upon the earth.
I raise my hands in thanks for a brave new world.
A world where a man may stand proud.
Be he white. Be he black. Be he Asian. Be he blue.
On this, a day long fought for, we salute a man named King.
On this, a day long fought for, we salute a man of vision.
On this, a day long fought for, we salute those who will follow,
and all those who have been.
Blessed Gods above, blessed Gods below, blessed Gods who
dwell upon the earth.
I raise my hands in supplication, that the earth may never
be short of men and women like these, who shall not sit idly
by as others are enslaved and tortured for the wealth and
entertainment of others.
On this day that now has come, we salute you, Dr. Martin Luther
King.
[Editor's note: Although Dr. King's birthday is now past, we present this hymn as an example of how one can honor modern heroes in a traditional way. Many thanks to Isxios for giving permission to reprint his work.]
***
FROM THE HEARTH: Pottage for the Dead
At the end of the Anthesteria festival, on the day known as Khutroi, or "pots," we make offerings to the spirits of the dead that join us during the festival. The traditional offering was a sort of grain porridge; the grains remind us that the dead were sometimes known as "Demetrioi" or "Demeter's people."
Interestingly, Greek Orthodox Christians have maintained this tradition in the form of a boiled wheat dish served at memorial services. This dish, called Kolyva, can be reclaimed for use during the Anthesteria.
Kolyva (Sweet Boiled Wheat Pottage)
2 1/2 c. wheat berries
1 t. sea salt
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 c. whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 c. chopped almonds
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
3/4 c. toasted sesame seeds, slightly crushed
1 c. golden raisins
1 c. dried currants
1 c. pomegranate seeds (if unavailable, substitute 2 T. pomegranate
syrup, available from Middle Eastern shops)
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. powdered cloves
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
Rinse the wheat berries, and put them in a large cooking pot with enough water to cover. Add the salt, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until al dente (still chewy), about 1 1/2 hours. You may need to add more water to the pot; stir occasionally to prevent sticking. When done, drain, removing bay leaves and cinnamon sticks, and spread on kitchen towels overnight to dry out. When completely cool, mix the cooked wheat with the nuts, dried fruit, sugar, and powdered spices. Mold into a mound, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and decorate with additional nuts or pomegranate seeds. Serve small amounts to the ritual participants; priests, however, are traditionally forbidden to partake of this offering. A portion should be placed outdoors on the ground for the dead at the end of the festival.
[Note: This recipe was adapted from one in Aglaia Kremezi's _The Foods of Greece_. Other, simpler versions can be found online.]
***
POLL RESULTS: Relationships and Religion
Poll Question #1: If you are partnered, do(es) your partner(s) share your religious beliefs?
Choices and Results:
- Yes, we are both members of the same religion., 7 votes,
33.33%
- We are members of different pagan and/or polytheistic religions.,
5 votes, 23.81%
- We are members of different religions, one or more of which
is not pagan and/or polytheistic., 4 votes, 19.05%
- My partner has no religious beliefs., 5 votes, 23.81%
Poll Question #2: If you are not partnered, would you consider a relationship with someone who did not share your religious beliefs?
Choices and Results:
- Absolutely, 1 votes, 5.88%
- Probably, 8 votes, 47.06%
- Possibly, 4 votes, 23.53%
- Probably not, 1 votes, 5.88%
- Definitely not, 3 votes, 17.65%
***
POLL: Alcohol at the Anthesteria
The traditional Anthesteria ritual calls for giving children between the ages of three and four a serving of mixed (i.e., watered-down) wine. What are your thoughts about this practice as part of modern worship?
To vote, go to http://www.egroups.com/polls/kerux
***
ANNOUNCEMENTS
_Old Stones, New Temples_, a comprehensive introduction to modern Hellenic polytheism, is now available in the Glassbook e-book format for $8. The book can be ordered directly from the publisher by visiting http://www.xlibris.com/DrewCampbell.html .
*
The Nomos Arkhaios web site has recently been updated. I've added a few new links to Hellenic sites on the resources page, plus back issues of the Kerux are now available on the site: http://www.nomos-arkhaios.org/keruxback.htm
***
UPCOMING EVENTS
=Michigan=
On Saturday, February 16th, Rob Henderson will be teaching a class on Magic in Ancient Greece as part of Convocation 2001, held at the Northfield Hilton, in Troy, Michigan. For more information, visit the conference's web site at http://www.convocation.org/ .
=Northern California=
February 16-20, 2001: PantheaCon, pan-pagan convention in San Francisco. Drew will be giving a talk on Hellenism on Sunday the 18th at 3:30 p.m. in the El Dorado room. For more information, check the organizer's web site at http://www.ancientways.com/ .
On Satarday, 10 February 2001, Thiasos Olympikos will celebrate the Anthesteria, in honor of the Gods Dionysos and Hermes. For more information, visit http://home.pon.net/rhinoceroslodge/ or contact Pyrokanthos at rhinoceroslodge@pon.net .
=New England=
The Greater Boston Pagan Network hosts a series of open rituals by different local Pagan groups. For transportation and parking details, send a blank message to: sabbats-faq@numachi.com or contact Maureen at MaureenRW@excite.com or 781-388-3773.
***
CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERUX
The Kerux is always looking for articles, reviews, and announcements of interest to the Hellenic Reconstructionist community. We're particularly interested in items that support home-based religious practice and eusebeia (piety). Paste your contribution into an email and send to kerux-owner@egroups.com .
***
The Kerux is a project of Nomos Arkhaios, an educational resource center promoting the study and practice of traditional Hellenic religion. For more information, visit the website at http://www.nomos-arkhaios.org . Individual authors appearing in the Kerux retain all rights to their work. If you'd like to reprint something you see here, please write directly to the author of the piece for permission.
This article originally appeared on Andrew Campbell's Nomos Arkhaios site which is currently on hiatus.
This article is copyright © 2000-2003 by Andrew Campbell and is reprinted here with permission.