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Panathenaia (Ritual Honoring Athena)
Our next Panathenaia will be held in Sherman NY on 15 July 2006. Please sign up here if you'd like to come.
The space in which the ritual is to be conducted should be cleansed with sulfur several hours before the rite begins. The altar should also be set up before-hand, and it must face East. A cult statue or images of Athena are set upon the altar. One might also include owls, as that is her sacred animal. A bowl of khernips (perirrantéria) should also be set up just outside the ritual space. This is where the participants will wash their hands before entering the sacred space.
Everyone participating in the ritual will gather away from the ritual space. We will form a procession, carrying the items to be used in the ritual. Music will be playing during the ritual. The order for the procession will be as follows: the maiden carrying the barley and knife, the hydrophóros (water-carrier), thumiamaphóros (incense-carrier), participants carrying the sacrifices, péplos, offerings, and food, and lastly the spondephóros (libation-carrier). Participants who are not carrying anything will follow the spondephóros. If anyone plays flutes or other musical instruments, please space yourselves evenly in the procession!
As each participant comes to the bowl of khernips, they stop to wash their hands before entering the ritual space. Anyone who is not ritually clean from miasma will not be permitted to enter.
Participants then enter the space, and moving in a counter-clockwise direction, circle the ritual area one time. This serves as an additional purification of the space. In ancient times, this would have been a dance, and we will do a simple circle-dance step, leading with the right foot. All ritual items will then be placed on a table next to the altar, and each person is then free to stand where ever they choose. It is not necessary to stand in a circular formation.
The priest takes the khérnips and sprinkles the participants, sacrifice, offerings, and altar with the water. He says, “As the khernips is pure, so you are pure. May you be cleansed of all míasma.”
The priestess then passes the basket of barley to each participant so they can take a small amount of barley. (Be careful when reaching into the basket as the ritual knife is buried underneath the barley!) She then steps to the altar and offers the following prayer.
[Note: Athena is an Olympian deity, and thus one or both palms should be lifted up during prayer.]
“Hear me, Athena Parthénos [maiden], Athena Glaukôpis [owl-eyed], Pallás Athena [young woman], Athena Poliás [of the city], Athena Sotéria [savior], or by which ever name you wish to be called. You were born from the head of your mighty father Zeus. When you sprung forth, with shining helmet and spear, great Olympos began to reel horribly at your might, bright-eyed goddess. Round Gaia cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly. But once you, maiden Pallás Athena, had stripped the heavenly armor from your immortal shoulders, wise Zeus was glad. Hail, goddess, the patron of the city of Athens! We come together to honor you on this sacred day of the Panathenaia, your birthday. As we honor you, we also ask that you give us strength, good fortune and happiness!”
She then steps back, and all participants throw a small amount of barley at the altar, sacrifices, and offerings.
The priestess takes the ritual knife from the basket and cuts off a small portion of the meat offering. She holds it up for the goddess to see, and says, “Athena, we bring you offerings of marinated meats.” That is put in the altar fire and allowed to burn for a moment. The fragrance and smoke should be allowed to rise freely.
Next, the spondephóros steps forward with the wine for the libation. Lifting the jug up for the goddess to see, he says, “Athena, we offer this spondé in your honor.” He then pours a little into the fire. The goddess may signal that she has accepted the offerings by making the fire flare up. (This usually only happens when the wine is poured directly into a burning fire.)
Another participant steps forward with the olives. She lifts them up for the goddess to see, and says, “Athena, the olive is your sacred tree. We bring olives in your honor.”
As this point, the incense carrier steps forward with the incense, and holds it up for the goddess to see. She says, “Athena, we offer this incense in your honor.” The incense is then placed on the altar.
After the incense has risen for a few minutes, the priest declares, “The offerings have been made; call the goddess!”
The priestess again steps forward to offer hymns to Athena. She recites the Orphic Hymn to Athena.
Revered Pallás, you alone great Zeus bore by himself,
noble and blessed goddess, brave in the din of war.
Renowned and cave-haunting, you may and may not be spoken of.
Your domain is on wind-swept hilltops
and shaded mountains, and dells charm your heart.
Arms please you, and you strike men's souls with frenzy, O maiden vigorous and
horrid-tempered.
Slayer of Gorgo, blessed mother of the arts, you shun the bed of love
and, O impetuous one, you bring madness to the wicked and prudence to the
virtuous.
Male and female, begetter of war, counselor,
she-dragon of many shapes, frenzy-loving, illustrious,
destroyer of the Phlegraian Giants, driver of horses,
Tritogeneia, you free us of suffering, O victorious goddess.
Day and night-- ever into the small hours--
hear my prayer and give me a full measure of peace,
of riches, and of health accompanied by happy seasons,
O gray-eyed and
inventive queen to whom many pray.
Now the péplos is brought forth, and the priestess holds it up for the goddess to see. She says, “Athena, every year the ancient Athenians would celebrate your birthday by bringing you a new péplos. They would dress the 40 foot gold & ivory statue of you in the Parthenon with it. We only have this small marble statue of you today, but still we would like to present you with a new péplos for it. We pray that our humble offering pleases you, noble goddess.” She then puts the péplos on the statue, and then holds it up for participants to see, who should clap & shout in excitement. Then the statue is returned to the altar.
At this point, other participants may step forward to offer meat, olives, libations (wine, water, oil), incense, flowers, etc. They may say one of the following:
An offering to you, Athena Poliás, “of the city”Participants may also choose to say a few words from the heart while making their offering. This is especially appropriate when referring to past offerings or to special requests.
Lastly, the spondephóros once again steps forward and makes a final libation. He says, “Hail to you, Athena, the child of Zeus. We shall assemble in your honor again!”
This signals the end of the ritual.
Thank you for participating! Don’t forget to sign the form giving permission for your photo to be taken.