What is Hellenisticism?

From Hellenic to Hellenistic: A Historically Sensitive Approach to Religious Identity in Modern Paganism

If you are a Pagan who engages the Greek Gods, or if you're interested in the philosophy and religious history of the Greeks, chances are you are familiar with terms like Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Paganism, Hellenism, and such. In a previous post, I discussed identities and labels and terms like “Hellene” and "Hellenist," introducing people to other labels and terms for religious identification mainly Hellenisticism and Hellenistic Religion.

In this post, I want to talk more about Hellenisticism and Hellenistic Religion and why I think these are terms that Pagans should adopt into their vocabulary and as religious identifiers. While terms like “Hellenic Pagan” or “Hellenic Polytheist” are common terms used by Pagans, it has to be stressed that Hellenic is an ethnonym, a term used to refer to a specific ethnic group. As an ethnonym, "Hellenic" (Ἑλληνικός) refers to the Greek people, our language, culture, and heritage reaching back to antiquity and into the modern world. “Hellenic” is synonymous with Greek national identity and is used officially in contexts like “Hellenic Republic” (the official name of Greece).

For this reason, it causes discomfort to see Pagans refer to themselves as “Hellenic” as shorthand for “Hellenic Pagan/Polytheist.” When a Pagan uses Hellenic to identify their religious identity, you are saying, in other words, that you are Greek. This is problematic, and I encourage other words to be used to avoid confusion and build respect for one another. Primarily, I promote the use of Hellenistic and or Hellenisticism.

The term "Hellenistic" derives from the Greek word Ἑλληνιστής, meaning someone who speaks Greek or adopted Greek culture. Hellenistic was used to describe non-Greeks, such as Jews or other peoples, who embraced the Greek language and cultural practices. It is used in the New Testament, where it uses the term to describe Hellenized Jews who retained their identity as Jews but also followed Greek customs (e.g., Acts 6:1. Side note: the Hellenistic period is a wonderful period to study along with Late Antiquity.

Photo by Nikos Vlachos on Unsplash

"Hellenistic" is also used by historians to describe and discuss the period of history after Alexander the Great’s conquests. This usage started with the 19th-century historian Johann Gustav Droysen. Droysen studied the cultural and political transformations after Alexander died in 323 BCE. Droysen used the term to define the era when Greek culture spread beyond the traditional Greek world, blending with Persian, Egyptian, and other local traditions across Alexander’s former empire. He sought to differentiate this period from the Classical era of Greek history (5th–4th centuries BCE), which centered on the independent city-states like Athens and Sparta—for Droysen, the Hellenistic period reflected a new cosmopolitan world shaped by the fusion of Greek and non-Greek elements, rather than the localized traditions of Classical Greece.

Using “Hellenistic” as a religious identifier by modern Pagans is more appropriate than “Hellenic” because it avoids the ethnonymic and cultural implications associated with the latter. Whereas "Hellenic" is an ethnonym that involves the Greek people and our cultural and national identity, "Hellenistic" is a historical and cultural descriptor. By adopting “Hellenistic,” modern Pagans avoid the impression of claiming Greek ethnicity/nationality.

Furthermore, “Hellenistic Religion” is already an established term in scholarly discourse to describe the diverse and hybridized spiritual practices that flourished during the Hellenistic period. These practices included worshipping traditional Greek Gods, newly syncretized deities like Serapis, and spreading mystery cults such as those of Isis and Dionysus. Modern Pagan practices often reflect this eclecticism, drawing from Greek traditions and Roman, Egyptian, and Near Eastern influences and contemporary ideas. The term “Hellenistic Religion” aligns more closely with these reconstructed practices' inclusive and cross-cultural nature, making it a historically precise and culturally sensitive choice. Alongside Hellenistic Religion, I have coined the term Hellenisticism to provide a simple term that can used and developed by anyone who aligns with the spirit of the Hellenistic age.

The Hellenistic period’s religious and cultural innovations mirror the practices and goals of many modern Pagans. As already said, this era was characterized by the fusion of traditions, philosophical developments like Stoicism and Neoplatonism, and the adaptation of local and foreign Gods. Similarly, modern Paganism embraces a syncretic approach, blending elements from various ancient (and modern) traditions to create a pluralistic spiritual system. Using “Hellenistic” captures these influences' historical and cultural scope while distancing itself from the exclusivity of “Hellenic,” which is strongly associated with Greek identity.

By adopting “Hellenistic Religion” and or “Hellenisticism,” modern Pagans can connect their practices to a recognized historical framework without misrepresenting or overshadowing the modern Greek experience. The term reflects the Hellenistic age's pluralistic and vibrant religious spirit while respecting the significance of “Hellenic” and “Hellenism” for Greeks today. This shift demonstrates cultural sensitivity and avoids any perception of appropriation while at the same time allowing Pagans a historical setting and framework to root themselves in.