Byzantine sources confirm a Greek temple.
Hesychius of Miletus (6th c.) records Constantine clearing 427 pagan statues before building the first Hagia Sophia (Patria of Constantinople).
Socrates of Constantinople (5th c.) states the first Hagia Sophia was not the original structure on the site, aligning with Hesychius’ account (Historia Ecclesiastica).
Archaeological excavations confirm pre-Christian foundations, just as Christianisation always replaced temples—Pantheon (Rome), Parthenon (Athens), Temple of Hephaestus (Athens). Constantinople was no exception.
A newly uncovered statue of the Greek God Hermes, bearing Greek inscriptions, unearthed from the soil of Anatolia (Turkey) just the other day.
Hail Hermes!
Your ancestors are not just some concept, they are a spiritual force, spirits that can guide you through life, and who built the life that you have. Honor them.
Two bearded serpents top Hermes' staff (kerykeion). The scales were created with rows of punches. Each snake once had inlaid eyes. Bronze. Greek, 5th century BCE. Dallas Museum of Art (Image courtesy Dallas Museum of Art).
Today is Tuesday! Tuesday is ruled by Mars. Mars is the planet of action, war, conflict, passion, sex, and athleticism. Today is a great day to start a new project, stand up for yourself, win at a twitter argument, or start a new workout routine!
@Correction2016 I actually adore the sacred horse imagery, but also think the "solar wheel"/swastika here looks remarkably triskelion like in style, very curvy or spiral-like
Apollo—Solar God of light and prophecy, crowned with the Sun’s eternal blaze, stands as the axis of celestial harmony and divine revelation. From his lyre pours the sacred hymn of creation, weaving the heavens and earth into a divine tapestry where mortal souls ascend towards the eternal. His wolves, sentinels of liminal paths, embody vigilance, transformation, and the guardianship of sacred thresholds; his swans, luminous messengers of prophecy, glide as emissaries of hidden truths, bridging the realms of the visible and the unseen.
A key mystery is that everything is cyclical—civilization, our lives, and our feelings. It is all a loop of life, death, and rebirth. You can see this loop as a torment or you can understand that the cycle of growth and purgation is the cultivation of your soul towards divinity.
@Shepherdofmen Sad if you feel that way, but on a more serious note, to embody is to share qualities due to nature and descent.
Are we children of the gods, or not? If so, it is natural that we be like our "parents."
When our men learn to embody the strength of their gods
And revere women also as embodiments of the Great Goddess
Then righteousness will again reign over all the Earth
@basedpagan__ Medieval Christian religion was generally just a sham put on for legitimacy through the Church
Fourth Crusade and total lack of cohesion during crusades in general, before even getting into repression against pagans
"Et cetera"
It is telling that in our society, goodness and mercy are treated as trite platitudes, a joke
We have become ghoulish, numb yet enamored with senseless death and cruelty
But Father God is not amused
Our culture, our history, our art and heritage of our ancestors, among many other reasons are worth defending foremost b/c we are better than our enemies
Let us exemplify this nobility, while letting it be known that even the patience of a saint has its limits