The Hellenic Temple of Apollon, Zeus, and Pan

Olympieia Celebration 2007

The Olympieia is an ancient Athenian celebration which marked the founding of the temple of Olympian Zeus. The ancient festival took place in the spring (19 Mounikhion) and included a cavalry procession with horses, and presumably other events where horses were also involved. There is also some evidence to suggest that a bull was sacrificed. The modern festival shall also honor Zeus as King of the Gods, beginning with a theoxenia for Zeus Olympios, followed by a symposium focusing on kingship and what it means in this modern day. It will include contests and games in honor of the ancient festival. The following ritual presents some ideas for a solitary worshiper.

Preparations:

The altar is adorned with images of Zeus Olympios. In this aspect, Zeus is enthroned, holding a scepter with an eagle upon it and a lightning bolt. Another appropriate image for Zeus Olympios is a crown of oak leaves. Colors appropriate are purple (a color commonly associated with royalty), gold, white and red. Offerings can include images or figures of crowns, bulls or horses. Before beginning ritual, wash your hands and face, and put on clean clothes. Incense commonly offered to Zeus is styrax (which is often called benzoin or amber). Since there is a possibility of a bull sacrifice, a possible main dish is steak or buffalo. Also, another possibility is a cake shaped like a bull for vegetarians. Fruits make good offerings as well, and Zeus seems to favor apples.

Procession:

Gather all the offerings, put on some music (or even sing some kind of melody) and process to the sacred space.

Purification:

Carry around the altar, offerings and other participants (if any) the khernips and barley. You may wish to have a tray on which to place these items so it is easier to carry. This marks out the sacred space, where the ritual is to be performed. Wash your hands in the khernips.

Opening Prayer:

Take a handful of barley and speak the following or similar prayer:

Holy Zeus, King of the Gods!

I come before You to honor Your Kingship,

May You be with me today, accept my offerings,

And through Your guidance may I understand

what kingship means in these modern times.
Great Zeus the King, Who wields the thunderbolt,

Be with me today as I celebrate Your festival, the Olympieia!

After the prayer is spoken, cast your barley onto the altar or into the offering bowl.

The Sacrifice:

Select portions of the food offerings you have brought and place them into the offering bowl. Follow this up with some offerings of incense, candles, ending with a libation to Zeus. This is the time where you feast in Zeus' company. Pay attention to any feelings you may have as you eat, or any change in the candle flames as these could be messages from the God.

Following the Ritual:

The theme of this ritual is Zeus' Kingship, and there are a number of activities that a solitary worshiper can do to celebrate this aspect of Zeus.

Here are some ideas:

Make crowns out of paper or clay and then dedicate them to Zeus
Read some of Zeus' mythology such as the “Titanomachy” (the battle between the Titans and the Olympians) and then take some time to sit and meditate on what you have read. Think about what the myth means to you and how it can be applied to how you see Zeus as King. You can extend this activity to meditate on what kingship means to you, and how this may apply to Zeus.
In the ancient festival, there was a cavalry procession. For a solitary worshiper, this would be a good time to play a game. This can either be a computer game, or board game (if there are enough people or if you have any one-player games). Strategy games would be more appropriate, such as “Warcraft II,” “Command and Conquer,” “Risk,” and “Carcassone.” Also any games having to do with kings are appropriate, such as “The King's Banquet.”

NOTE:

Historical Information about this festival was collected from:

Adkins, Roy and Lesley. Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece. Oxford University Press. 1997, p355

Simon, Erika. Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary. University of Wisconsin Press. 1983, pp 15-16