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Libation to Alexander the Great
Members and guests of our local Hellenion proto-demos offered libations to Alexander the Great to mark the anniversary of his death, which was 10 June 323 BCE.
All participating will come to the ritual clean and pure from míasma. (Read about how you can prepare yourself here.) Each stops to wash their hands in the khérnips before entering the ritual area.
Participants move about the altar in a counter-clockwise direction, and then place any offerings they have brought upon the table next to the altar. The altar is oriented toward the East, and may be decorated with images of Alexander, and other things associated with him. A bowl for receiving libations will also be on the altar.
The priest then takes the khérnips and purifies each participant. As he does, he says, “As this khérnips is pure, so are you pure. May you be cleansed from all míasma.”
The incense is lit, and the priestess then says the following prayer to the hero-god, while all lift their hands upward:
“Hear me, O Megas Alexandros! You are the son of mighty Zeus and the princess Olympais, although raised as a son by Phillip II, King of Macedonia. You were trained in rhetoric, science, medicine, literature, and philosophy by Aristotle. At an early age you ascended to the Macedonian throne, and conquered more lands than had been done previously before, even by your ancestor Herakles! For this, we honor you not only as hero, but also as a god! Grant us your favors and we shall assemble in your honor again.”
At this point participants come forth with various libations of wine, water, milk, honey, olive oil, etc. As they pour their libation, they recite one of the following lines:
In 335 BCE you defeated the defecting Thracians
In Phrygia, in 334, you cut the Gordian Knot
In 332, you founded the famous city of Alexandria
In 331, you made a pilgrimage to the temple of Amon-Ra, who acknowledged your
divinity
In 331, you captured Babylon after the Battle of Guagamela
In 326, you crossed the Indus river into India
In 323, you returned to Babylon, where you contracted a fever, and died there on
the 10th of June
Any special requests or personal devotions are made at this time. Participants may step forward and make an offering of whatever they wish. A few words from the heart should be said out loud.
When all have made their offerings, a final libation is poured by the priest: “Hail, Alexander, heroic son of Zeus. May your memory live on forever.”
Photos are posted here.