Icons of the Gods

The philosopher George Gemistos (c.1355–1452), who called himself Plethon, created a polytheistic religion based in Platonic philosophy and ancient Greek religion. It is described primarily in his Book of Laws, much of which was burned by an intolerant fanatical priest after Plethon’s death. These cards illustrate the gods of Plethon’s religion, who are based on those of ancient Greece, but sometimes have different attributes in accord with his Platonic theology. Each god represents a Platonic Idea or Form, as indicated on the cards in Greek. The cards are intended as devotional icons for contemplation. The front shows a symbolic image of the god, and the reverse contains a devotional text, sometimes one of Plethon’s hymns, sometimes another text inspired by his Laws. For your convenience these texts are repeated in the accompanying booklet. For an introduction to Plethon’s philosophy and religion and its practice today, please see my book, The Secret Texts of Hellenic Polytheism A Practical Guide to the Restored Pagan Religion of George Gemistos Plethon (Llewellyn, 2022).