The Apollonian 2

As said by Homer, Apollo is the physician to the Olympian gods, whose wounds or diseases he cured by means of the root of the peony.

This inspired the name “Paean” a common epithet for Apollo and the epithet “sons of Paean” that has been applied to physicians.

Every transformation demands as its precondition "the ending of a world"-the collapse of an old philosophy of life.

C.G. Jung

As said by Homer, Apollo is the physician to the Olympian gods, whose wounds or diseases he cured by means of the root of the peony.

This inspired the name “Paean” a common epithet for Apollo and the epithet “sons of Paean” that has been applied to physicians.

Delphic Maxim 33:

Guard what is yours
(Ιδια φυλαττε)

This is a warning, that we should not be blind to risk and danger, even when we are people of goodwill and trust. The idea of “what is yours” has a more extensive meaning than merely your material property. You have your interests, you intellectual property, your dignity. All these things shape and make you, and it is prudent and just to look after your interests. Being good does not mean you have to give away all that is yours and thus ruin yourself through unlimited generosity and kindness. It is too often the misunderstood zeal of being good, whereby people ruin themselves; they give all away, open their doors to strangers and find themselves robbed for the foolish trust. The wise man looks after his interests and his belongings.

Link

Hail Apollon, divine healer, guide my hands.
Grant me skill to mend, wisdom to ease suffering,
And strength to care for those who cannot speak their pain.

Hail Artemis, protector of beasts, stand beside me.
Watch over the wild and the weak,
Lend me patience and compassion in their care.

With devotion, I honor you both,
Now and always.
Hail Apollon Paian! Hail Artemis Agrotera!

The inspiration of the Poet
By: Nicholas Poussin

Hail Apollo Cunomaglus, Lord of Hounds, I adore You.

Ancient Roman Apollo Silver Ring Found in 1985, in England

A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.

Hippocrates

What god drove them to fight with such a fury?
Apollo the son of Zeus and Leto. Incensed at the king
he swept a fatal plague through the army – men were dying
and all because Agamemnon spurned Apollo’s priest.

Homer

Hail Apollon, charioteer of dragons,
Radiant lord of light and truth,
Your fiery steeds pierce the heavens,
Their breath igniting wisdom in the skies.

You who guide the sun across the firmament,
Illuminate the path of clarity and courage.
With your golden bow, you strike away falsehood,
And your melodies heal the wounds of the weary.

O oracle of Delphi, seer of the unseen,
Grant me insight to discern the hidden,
Strength to walk the road of virtue,
And the grace to embrace the beauty of harmony.

May your presence dispel the shadows of doubt,
And your flame kindle the fire of inspiration.
In your honor, I offer this prayer,
As I stand in awe of your celestial glory.

Hail Apollon, charioteer of dragons,
Forever shall your name echo through the cosmos.

The Bronze Mice of Apollo Smintheus were attached to bronze oil lamps, candelabra, lampstands, and other pieces of furniture.

Hail Apollon Smintheus, lord of Mice, I adore You.

2025 Greek & Roman Pagan Religious Calendar Now Available!

We are overjoyed to announce the publication of our 2025 Greek & Roman Pagan Religious Calendar! Updates to last year's calendar include:
- A few new holidays listed
- New information about the months
- New pictures throughout the calendar
- Improved typography
- New notations for the public holidays and ill-omened days of the Roman religious calendar
- Accurate reckoning of this year's lunar months
- The specific dates and times of the quarter and cross-quarter day events
- Our customary notation of the lunar phases corresponding to the quarter and cross-quarter days, which we call the Temple Lunar Seasonal Celebrations
- And more!

Last year's calendar got rave reviews, and this year's is even better. Get them quickly from our Etsy store while supplies last: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1841505258/2025-greek-roman-pagan-religious

Note: The 2025 Germanic calendar will be available within the next few days.

Now, according to the Orphic and Pythagoric doctrine, the lyre of Apollo is an image of the celestial harmony, or the melody caused by the orderly revolutions of the celestial spheres. But I cannot believe that Orpheus and Pythagoras considered this harmony as attended with sensible sounds, according to the vulgar acceptation of the word: for it is surely more rational to suppose, that they meant nothing more by the music of the spheres, than their harmonical proportions to each other. Indeed these wise men, to whom metaphors were familiar, may be easily conceived by vulgar sound and vulgar harmony to insinuate internal sound, and harmony subsisting in its origin and cause. Hence we may consider the souls of the celestial spheres, together with the soul of the world, as composing the choir of the nine Muses (ed. Mousai; Gr. Μοῦσαι) (who are called by the Platonists nine Syrens [ed. Seirínæs; Gr. Σειρῆνες]) and dancing in numerical order round Apollo the sun of the intellectual world. But these nine Muses are far different from the marine Syrens of the poets who, resident as it were in the sea of material delights, draw us aside by their alluring melody, from the paths of rectitude. For these are divine Syrens inviting us to the proper end of our nature; and forming from the eight tones of the eight spheres, one perfect and everlasting harmony.

Thomas Taylor

What is this loud and agreeable sound that fills my ears?"

"That is produced," he replied, "by the onward rush and motion of the spheres themselves; the intervals between them, though unequal, being exactly arranged in a fixed proportion, by an agreeable blending of high and low tones various harmonies are produced; for such mighty motions cannot be carried on so swiftly in silence; and Nature has provided that one extreme shall produce low tones while the other gives forth high. Therefore this uppermost sphere of heaven, which bears the stars, as it revolves more rapidly, produces a high, shrill tone, whereas the lowest revolving sphere, that of the Moon, gives forth the lowest tone; for the earthly sphere, the ninth, remains ever motionless and stationary in its position in the centre of the universe. But the other eight spheres, two of which move with the same velocity, produce seven different sounds, ---a number which is the key of almost everything. Learned men, by imitating this harmony on stringed instruments and in song, have gained for themselves a return to this region, as others have obtained the same reward by devoting their brilliant intellects to divine pursuits during their earthly lives."

By Cicero: The dream of Scipio

"Varro says there was an Orphic book about summoning the soul, called the Lyre. It is said that souls need the cithara in order to ascend." [Virgil]

This would imply that the music of the kithára of Apollon has the ability to cause a transformation in the soul, enabling it to ascend or progress. In antiquity, it was generally believed that the earth was the center of the universe, but the idea was that our planet was the grossest part, not the most important. What was above the earth was not merely more elevated, but it was the realm of divine beings. The heavens were believed to produce musical tones and one means to access the divine was through music which is in harmony with these realms.

Hail Apollon Leschenorius,
Guardian of sacred halls and steadfast counsel,
Protector of words exchanged in trust,
I call upon Your wisdom and grace.

By Your light, may discourse be just,
By Your hand, may alliances be forged.
You who see beyond the spoken word,
Grant clarity and harmony in gathering.

I adore You, radiant Apollon,
Guide our hearts in unity,
Guard these halls with Your eternal watch.
Hail and be ever honored!

Hail Apollon Erasmius, lovely, I adore You.

...the inventor of the blessings of music was not a man, but one graced with every virtue, the God Apollo. ... Thus music is in every way a noble pursuit, being an invention of the Gods.

Plutarch

Hail Apollon Mælioukhos týrannæ, Who rules with sweetness, I adore You.

Chase after money and security
And your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
And you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

Lao Tzu

Apollo
By: Giovanni Andrea Sirani

Hail Apollon, Master of Many Forms, I Adore You.

Divination Fundraiser, and Lunar Rites Reminder

Tonight is the Deipnon. This is the day of monthly home-cleaning and self-purification, and the night when one makes offerings (of which they do not partake) to the ancestors and to Hekate. It is also the best day of the lunar month for divination, and it is an ancient tradition to perform divination for the new year.

This year, I am going to perform divination for those who make a fully tax-deductible donation of $15+ to the Temple. My preferred method of divination is I Ching, but I am also trained in Tarot, Futhark, and Ogham. Unless you have a particular preference, I will provide I Ching divination. If you have deep, burning questions about your personal or spiritual life or about the nature of things, or if you are curious about your future or outcomes of the next year, this is the service for you. I will perform the divination at the hour of sunrise Monday morning on the lunar day of the Deipnon just before the New Year, a triply propitious time to perform this work on the most powerful planetary hour and planetary day possible to perform it.

You must donate within the next 19 hours (before 7:30 a.m. EDT on Monday) if you would like to receive this service at the most propitious time of the year. The next propitious time will be chosen for those who donate after this time.

Donate at https://otnr.net/donate/ for the Custom Amount $15 or greater, and check the box "Write us a comment," leaving the comment:
"For Divination by I Ching/Futhark/Tarot (choose one). My question is "What will/would be the outcome of ___? Please send fortune to [First and Last Name] at [email address]."

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

Epictetus

With confidence then approach the gods as counsellors, and further, when the counsel is given you, remember whose counsel it is, and whom you will be disregarding if you disobey.

Epictetus

Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.

Plutarch

Hail Apollon Cydimus Kouros, Renowned Son of Zeus, I Adore You.

Hail Apollon Panderkes Omma, the All-Seeing Eye which brings the light which shines on mortals, I adore You.

Bronze Apollo with Lyre

Delphic Maxim 22:

Pursue honour
(Δοξαν διωκε)

Honour is one of the most difficult ideas to grasp. For many people think of something else, when they think of honour. Some say, it is the good name, and when someone slanders you, he or she damaged your honour; but I do not think so. Honour is what you do, for true honour is not diminished if nobody knows, nor would it be true honour when you get praise for something you falsely claim. The Gods see your actions, and only actions count. You can hold speeches and say idle words what you plan and desire, but only the test of action proves what sort of person you are. Your actions define your honour! Not your idle words, and not the petty words of others. Let thine actions speak for you!

Link

Hail Apollon Acersecomes, Forever Young, I Adore You.

Apollon Eleleus, Intimidating Those Who Oppose You, I adore You.

As you begin planning to purchase a calendar for the 2025 year, please note that we will be selling our 2025 liturgical calendars next year. We will sell our traditional Greco-Roman-Celtic lunisolar calendar, as well as an easy-to-follow Germanic one. These beautiful, highly informative, and helpful calendars are highly recommended by all who use them.

Calendars will not be available for purchase until early January. We hope you will consider supporting us and elevating your religious life. 🙏🏻

Hail Apollon Prostaterious, Guardian, I adore You!

Roman Sun Dial located at the Temple of Apollo in Pompeii.

Apollo Olbiodotes, who fills the soul with bliss, I adore You.

All fortune is good fortune; for it either rewards, disciplines, amends, or punishes, and so is either useful or just.

Boethius

Roman period Head of Apollo

In the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, when Apollo is presented with an opponent who threatens to destabilize the order he wishes to impose on the cosmos (e.g. Pytho or Telphousa), he eliminates them and takes their names. In the HH Hermes, we are presented with another way for a god to gain recognition among the Olympians. Rather than destroying his opponents, Hermes allows Apollo to hold onto his τιμαί so long as he is willing to join in friendship. Through his own inventiveness, Hermes is able to open up parallel spaces within the established cosmos. As a result of Hermes’ exploits, we are reminded of the importance of thinking about the Greek pantheon as a dynamic system in which our understanding of the cosmos comes from the complementary and competing attributes of the Olympian gods.

Reconsidering Zeus’ Order: The Reconciliation of Apollo and Hermes by Christopher Bungard

Zeus, Leto, Apollo and Artemis

The Gods truly exist and hence, like all truths, must be heeded to bring us to the Good and for us to realize good and right action. The Good emanates all Being, and the Divine Intelligence was the first thing to arise from this outpouring of life and being. The Divine Intelligence contemplated its Being and celebrated its various aspects and potentialities, which became the heavenly Gods, the Ideas. Then, the Divine Will arose, taking these Gods/Living Ideas, and directing them into unorganized matter (hyle), shaping it according to his vision, creating the heavens and then the earth for the purification of souls. The Gods are our way to realize the Highest One, the Good, purify ourselves, actualize divinity, and realize our divine destiny; they are spiritual paths, they are the principles at work in the universe, and they are perfect living super-persons that care about humanity, work with us, and exhort our contemplation, adoration, and service of them. The imprints of the Gods can be found in the substances of this world, and these substances can be used by Priests in theurgy (god-serving magic) to channel divine energy to order the world according to the Gods, and Laity can use basic substances, universal offerings, and prayers to perform the theurgy appropriate to their station in the ecclesiastical hierarchy. We worship the Gods, because we seek to understand them and grow in understanding of ourselves, our world, and divinity; because we wish to improve ourselves and become greater; because we wish to celebrate, enjoy, and refresh ourselves in the Divine Beauty of Being; because we are compelled to them; and because we realize ourselves through them, as we are extensions of them playing in this world. Take these words to heart, dear followers. Study the Gods, read their mythologies, pray to them and worship them, and contemplate them, and your understanding and the fire of your devotion will grow. Above all, begin actualizing your divinity through your participation in a true natural religious organization such as our excellent Temple.

Athena and Apollo
Relief of the front wall of a sarcophagus.
Marble. 2nd cent. CE.

Apollon and the Muses
By Helene Knoop

I apologize for my infrequent posting. Recently, the Gods have given me gifts of opportunity to use my hands to heal, and I must follow the calling. I still plan to post, but as I follow that call, I find the time that I have to spare becoming less frequent to run this channel alone so I may be soon looking for a second admin for this channel to keep it as active as it deserves. Please hang in there with me.
May Apollon forever bless all of you who follow and give due worship to Him. ❤️🔆
-P

Leto and her Children, Apollo and Diana
By: Anton Raphael Mengs
1769

Turn to us now, Mighty Archer, I pray that finally now, Apollo, You will come to our aid! Father, revive the life of this man. If You approve of what we do, then stir back to life he who is of the utmost importance for the success of our venture; and so from this one does the fate of all hands depends

Valerius Flaccus Argonautica 5.17-20

Apollo Kledones, who uses chance to send us signs, I adore You

Before you heal someone, ask him if he's willing to give up the things that make him sick.

Hippocrates

But it is impossible, Theodorus, that evils should be destroyed; (for it is necessary that there should be always something contrary to good) nor yet can they be established in the Gods; but they necessarily revolve about a mortal nature, and this place of our abode. On this account we ought to endeavour to fly from hence thither, with the utmost celerity. But this flight consists in becoming as much as possible similar to divinity.

Plato, Theaetetus

The nine muses were discovered in the ancient Greek city of Zeugma.
The mosaics have been almost perfectly preserved for over 2,000 years.

Helios-Apollo with the radiant halo of Helios in a Roman floor mosaic, El Djem, Tunisia, late 2nd century.

Temple of Apollo,
Ortigia, Sicilia.

Apollo Sauroctono
Roman 2nd Century

At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.

Marcus Aurelius

Pastoral Apollo
By John Flaxman

Those who are in the wrong in matters of supreme importance are objects of pity rather than of hate ...

Julian the Philosopher

Apollo Attended by Nymphs
by François Girardon

The Apollo Necklace
By Henry Wilson