The Hellenic Temple of Apollon, Zeus, and Pan

Delphinia Celebration 2007

The Delphinia is an ancient festival which honors Apollon as the God of Dolphins. In this aspect, Apollon is thought to be the God who guides ships home after wartime.

The traditional offering of the Delphinia is an olive branch wrapped in wool, which supposedly Theseus had offered to Apollon before he set sail to Crete to slay the Minotaur. In the modern festival, this can be any branch from a local tree which can be wrapped in cotton or wool yarn. The Greeks also used to adorn their statues with ribbons, and as such, these are also appropriate offerings to make. The following ritual is for solitary worshipers who are interested in celebrating the festival. Fish would make an appropriate food offering for this festival.

Preparations: The altar is adorned with images of Apollon and dolphins. The usual sacrifice tools (barley, khernips, offering bowls—one for food, the other for liquid, incense burner, a knife—for offerings that need to be cut, and a candle or fire-bowl) are also present. For the branch offering, you will need a branch, some wool yarn or cotton balls, and some ribbon. You may also wish to bring tea lights and incense as an offering.

Procession: Wrap the yarn or cotton around the branch, tying it with the ribbon. Bring this and your food offerings to the altar in the procession. When you reach the altar, light the altar fire or candle. Carry the barley and khernips around the sacred space, separating the sacred from the profane.

Purification: Wash your hands and sprinkle the offerings with khernips.

Opening Prayer: Hold some of the barley in your hand and speak the following or similar prayer.

Holy Apollon Delphinios,

God of Dolphins and Friend of Sailors,

I come before You today to celebrate the Delphinia!

Holy One, may You look upon those

Who are sailing home with favor and love.
May they have a safe return to their homeland.
God Apollon, accept and delight in these offerings.

Cast your barley into the food offering bowl.

Sacrifice and Feast: Select portions of the food for Apollon and place them in the offering bowl. Then offer your branch by placing it either onto the altar or onto Apollon's shrine. This can be followed by offerings of candles and/or incense. The last offering is a libation or drink offering which is poured into the libation bowl.

Other Festival Activities:

Libations to Hyakinthos: Hyakinthos was one of Apollon's lovers. Myth tells us that Zephyrus, God of the West Wind, was jealous and killed Hyakinthos. The ancients celebrated a festival in His honor, and HTAZP honors Him with a libation at the Delphinia, when spring is returning and the hyacinths are beginning to appear.

Divinations: Apollon is also the God of Divination and Prophesy, therefore divination of any type is appropriate at His festivals. Keep in mind that when you are using your divination tools for this purpose, it is Apollon speaking through the tool. Be sure to offer a libation in thanks both before and after you do your reading.

Clay Dolphins: Because this festival deals with Apollon as the God of Dolphins, it would be appropriate to make clay figures of dolphins and offer them to Apollon. You can find either modeling clay or sculpey for this purpose. Also, you may purchase small dolphin figurines and offer these as well.