One of the greatest of the Greek mystery schools was that of the Eleusinian mysteries held in the month of Boedromion. Unlike other schools and cults, the Eleusinian mysteries could be attended by even foreigners with the only stipulation being that one had to speak Greek.

Here at the temple, we don’t require anyone learn Greek until some of the higher-level mysteries; however, it is a fascinating language, and even the most elementary study of the language can help to enrich the experiences at the temple.

Greek is one of the oldest languages, and much of the ancient Western canon from Homer and Herodotus to the New Testament is written in it. By learning classical Greek, one can study original source material as well as read directly from inscriptions on artifacts from temples to tablets. The Greek alphabet itself, also has a magickal system associated with it, much like the runes. Each Greek letter has an esoteric correspondence as well as a number that can be used in magickal practice and divination.

The temple offers introductory classes when there is enough interest, but there are a few resources that we recommend for those people interested in taking their spiritual journey to a different level. One word of caution; make sure that any language course you buy or subscribe to is for ancient or Koine Greek, and not modern Greek. Although there is more similarities between the two than there are between modern English and Shakespearean English for example, it would still be better to focus on classical Greek.

The course that we’ve found to be the most in-depth and practical for our use of the language in spiritual practice is put out by a group called the Joint Association of Classical Teachers. Although the group has quite a few books that support the student of classical Greek, the books that you need to get started are as follows:

If you are planning on taking a course through the temple, these are the only two books you will require. If you are planning on doing self-study, we recommend the following:

After you have completed the course, here are a few books that you’ll find interesting and allow you further practice with the language:

For more information on language resources at the temple, feel free to contact us. At some point we’d also love to put together a group that helps one another learn and practice Greek. If you are interested, please send us an email.

ἴθι εὐτυχής!  (Good Luck)