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HISTORY / LORE:

A libation is the outpouring of a liquid (wine mixed with water, spring water, milk, oil or honey) from a phaile (flat drinking bowl with raised center and no handles) or a choe (large two handled jug that stands on the ground) onto an altar, into the altar fire, onto a herm (pile of rocks), into a pit or onto the flat ground. In many cases, it doesn't mater if the liquid reaches its destination. What matters is the wastefulness that, in a form of sympathetic magic, says "I have enough to share with you if you will share with me."

One type of libation is the sponde. This is the pouring of a portion of a drink for an Olympian deity before drinking your fill. This is followed by a prayer. (As an example, say: "Libation! Libation! Libation! To the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus, let us pray that in addition they may give to us all protection, health, many blessings and the enjoyment of our present blessings. Let that be our prayer.") In social gatherings, this prayer is followed by relaxing, drinking, singing of songs, telling stories and riddles, and playing games. Examples of songs are the paeon (story song sung by a guest to honor a deity) and the scolia (a drinking song where the person holding a myrtle branch sings part of a song then passes the branch to another to continue the song.) Of the three libations in the example above, the first is usually dedicated to Hestia, the second to Zeus and the third to the deity being honored or to the Olympians in general.

The other type of libation is the choe which has the same name as the jug used for it. The choe is the spilling of all of the contents of a jug onto the ground to appease the Chthonic deities or dead heroes so you won't be plagued by ghosts or evil spirits (keres). As a general example: Water is fetched from a flowing spring and taken in procession to the grave site or Herm. While facing east, a silent prayer is given then the choes are spilt onto the ground to the west. Olive branches are strewn on the ground over the area where the libation soaked into the ground and, finally, everyone departs without looking back.

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