The Secret Texts of Hellenic
Polytheism
A Practical Guide to the Restored Pagan Religion of
George Gemistos Plethon
John Opsopaus
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Ancient Wisdom
A. The Six Lawgivers
B. The Seven Legendary Sages
C. The Seven Sages of Ancient Greece
D. The Eight Philosophers
E. The Magical Oracles
3. Plethon and his Book of Laws
A. The Council of Union
B. The Name “Plethon”
C. A Secret Pagan Order?
D. The Case of Juvenal
E. The Fate of the Book of Laws
F. Aftermath
G. The Book of Laws and its Remains
H. Prayer to the Gods of Learning
4. The Gods
A. Personification
B. The Orders of Reality
C. Zeus: The One Itself
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D. Supercelestial Gods
1. Poseidon: Form
2. Hera: Matter
3. Apollo and Artemis: Identity and Difference
4. Hephaistos, Dionysos, and Athena: Stability and Change
5. Atlas, Tithonos, and Dione: Gods of Heavenly Souls
6. Hermes and Pluto: Gods of Earthly Souls
7. Goddesses of the Elements
8. The Titans: The Gods of Tartarus
9. The Generations of the Gods
E. Visible Beings
1. Celestial Gods
2. Earthly Daimons
3. Human Beings
4. Animal Souls
5. The Sacred Calendar
A. The Day
B. The Month
C. The Year
D. Practical Matters
6. Rites and Rituals
A. Order of Service
1. General
2. Timing of Services
3. Kneeling and Bowing
4. Practical Matters
5. Sources
B. Ordinary Worship Services
C. Holy Day Worship Services
D. Fasting
E. Monthly Holy Days
F. Annual Holy Days
1. Old Year and New Year holy Days
2. Eighth Waxing of Fourth Month
3. Midmonth of Seventh Month
4. Eighth Waning of Tenth Month
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7. Invocations
A. Morning Invocation to the Gods
B. Afternoon Invocations
1. First Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
2. Second Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
3. Third Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
C. Evening Invocation to the Gods
D. Evening Invocation to Zeus After the Fast
8. Abbreviated Invocations
A. Morning Invocation to the Gods
B. Afternoon Invocations
1. First Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
2. Second Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
3. Third Afternoon Invocation to the Gods
C. Evening Invocation to the Gods
D. Evening Invocation to Zeus After the Fast
9. Hymns
A. Introduction
B. Texts of Hymns
1. Perennial (2)
2. Monthly (13)
3. Sacred (6)
4. Daily (6)
C. Musical Accompaniment
1. The Harmoniai or Modes
2. Use of the Harmoniai
3. Melodic Form
10. How to be Excellent
A. The Cardinal Virtues
B. The Specific Virtues
C. Becoming Excellent
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11. Reconstructed Doctrines
A. Fate
B. Prayer
C. Purification
1. Ritual Purification
2. Philosophical Purification
D. Sacrifice
E. Powers of the Seven Planets
F. Daimons
1. The Nature of Daimons
2. The Functions of Daimons
3. “Evil” Daimons
4. The Guardian Daimon
12. Theurgy
A. Background
B. Technique
1. Preparation
2. Invocation
3. Meeting
4. Agreement
5. Dismissal
6. Follow-up
7. Personal Gnosis
13. Conclusions
Appendix A. Plethon’s Summary of the Doctrines of
Zoroaster and Plato
Appendix B. Plethon’s The Book of Laws
Appendix C. Commentary on the Oracles of the Magi
Bibliography
A. Further Reading
B. References
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