the writing and photography of Neil Kramer

Oh, Zeus

zeus.jpg

According to the BBC: 

Followers of the 12 Greek Gods, who, according to mythology, ruled the Ancient World from Mount Olympus, have cast a thunderbolt at their Orthodox opponents.

After successfully staging a landmark ceremony at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, their leader pledged to fight for the right to conduct baptisms, marriages, and funerals according to the rites of the ancient religion.

“We are a legitimate religion. But the authorities don’t let us do this, but we shall claim this right through the European Union,” said Doretta Peppa, the high priestess, who led the prayers next to the 15 remaining columns of the temple.

“It is time we reclaimed our religion from the misrepresentations of the modern world,” announced Ms. Peppa. “First there were all those bad Hercules movies,  then the second banana in the Rocky films was named “Apollo” Creed, and the worst offense — there wasn’t one, but TWO cheesy “Poseidon” Adventures.  How would you like it if we named Zeus’ nerdy little cousin one of your Gods?  How about Jesus or Muhammed?  I didn’t think so.”

Followers of 12 Greek Gods have quickly organized, and the temple has already created a popular “Sisterhood” and a “Men’s Club.”  Sisterhood President, Aire Stophelese, has called for February to be “Social Action Month,” in which they will refuse to sleep with their husbands until all unfinished chores are finished in the house.

The revival of this ancient religion has angered many in the Greek Orthodox church, which strongly disapproves of what it regards as paganism.  Schisms have also developed between friends and families with differing views on the religion. 

Tensions remain particularly high in the Pusadapolis family.  This Sunday, as Eddie Pusadapolis and his mother, Aegina, sent prayers to Mount Olympus, Eddie’s father, Spridon, attended his Greek Orthodox church, as he does every week. 

“They have been brainwashed by a dangerous cult,” insists Spriridon.  “There is only one true God!”

“I don’t care what my father says,” retorts Eddie Pusadapolis.  “Who does he think he is? A king?!  Sometimes I wish I could just kill him and marry my own mother!” he continued, as he lovingly took his mother’s hand and helped her up the steps to the Temple mount.

34 Comments

  1. Leezer

    Neil:
    Boy you have really outdone yourself this time. Is there seriously a religion called the 12 Greek Gods? And the name Pusadapolis sounds familiar. Was she that young blonde woman who was on The View but then was fired?

  2. Eileen Dover

    Mmmmmm.

    Social Action Month is my idea of fun!

  3. Lisa

    Good old Eddie Pusadapolis. I wonder if he knows that mourning becomes Electra?

  4. Neil

    Ha! Thank you, Lisa. I have proved Sophia wrong. She said no one will get it.

  5. Heather B.

    Prometheus would never play second fiddle. Nor would he ever make a movie ridiculing the marriage practices of his people, except for Zeus of course. He’d embrace young Eddie though.

  6. the Yearning Heart

    If Euripedes pants, then you gotta buy ’em.

  7. Lisa

    Oh, Neil, not to denigrate your choice of location, but Sophia probably thinks that because you live in SoCal.

  8. Churlita

    Is this some kind of theatery O’Neill take? Because the Oedipus and Lysistrata references were making me feel like I was back in my freshman survey class in college.

  9. Neil

    Hey, I didn’t read this stuff until Sophomore year!

  10. Miss Syl

    Eddie P. better watch his mouth. If his dad ever converts, he would have a case for swallowing him alive.

  11. Jazz

    Maybe someone should break it to Eddie that ancient Greeks didn’t run around marrying their mothers.

  12. Alissa

    It all goes back to incest. Every time.

  13. plain jane

    Well I don’t get it, but then I don’t have enormous breasts so that is to be expected.

  14. reese

    I can’t shake him loving taking his mother’s hand after that statement, ::shutter::.

  15. reese

    Or do I mean ::shudder:: LMAO, I need coffee.

  16. Finn

    “Aire Stophelese”

    You don’t sleep much do you? You just stay up all night thinking up this stuff.

  17. M.A.

    Oh, Neil. Aeschylus?

  18. Dagny

    I thought that all women practice Social Action Month at some time in their lives.

  19. It's Me, Maven

    Hey, I’ve been celebrating Social Action month for years. Holy Aphrodite, I’ve been cultwashed too!

  20. It's Me, Maven

    Jazz, one word/name: Oedipus

  21. Katie

    Give poor Eddie a break, he didn’t *know* it was his mom at the time…
    And if the members of 12 Greek Gods look anything like Harry Hamlin in “Clash of the Titans”, then Ye Gods! I’d think about converting. Though that would be an awful lot of stairs to climb just to go to temple.

  22. Neil

    Hilary Swank: “And the winner for the blog post clearly written to show “girls who read books” that this writer went to college and can come up with sophomoric gags, but hopefully amuse his readers enough so one day, if he ever really needs it, he could get into their pants:

    “Oh, Zeus!””

    Neil: “Thank you. Thank you. What an honor. I’d like to thank Katie for reminding me about “Clash of the Titans.” However, I do have a fondness for “Jason and the Argonauts.” I’d like to thank my mother, Sophia, the blogging community, and God… well, actually all Twelve of them.”

  23. LisaBinDaCity

    Excuse me, I was looking for Neil’s blog? Not high school literature class 😉

  24. Neil

    Lisa, I’m done with this being a “tits and ass” blog. From now on, it is all about educating the next generation about the Classics. Next up: “What was so “hot” about the Renaissance?”

  25. buzzgirl

    Cute! But maybe Eddie should spell his name “Oeddie”? 🙂

  26. Dana

    Oh, Neil, I suggest jocasta blind eye on all their petty sectarian conflict. It’s nothing but a case of you-rippa-deze, eye-rippa-doze.

  27. Neil

    Dana — No way did you make that one up! That is too clever.

  28. better safe than sorry

    this one didn’t work for me today, too much like school.

  29. Pants

    And I thought the Mormons were weird.

  30. Amy K

    What is hot about the Renaissance are nude statues such as Michelangelo’s David. 🙂 And Shakespeare’s sonnets. You have to admit that Luther having the balls to put the 95 theses up was pretty hot, too.

    Neil: I, being an English teacher, take offense to the complaints of the Philistines! Lovely post, Professor!

  31. Janet

    If I die and I find myself in front of Zeus, I will be kicking myself for all those times I dressed up as a retarded Hera for Halloween.

    Well, actually, no matter who I end up standing in front of, I will be kicking myself. Maybe cults are the only safe way to die.

  32. Vaxalon

    At its core, every religion is silly.

    Even the atheists.

    Anyone making fun of these folks is launching missiles from their glass silos.

  33. Neil

    Vaxalon – Excellent point. I was less making fun of these people, than thinking they were pretty cool (except the wearing of the skirts). All religions are weird. There’s nothing crazier than the story of Noah’s Ark.

  34. fringes

    You were not making fun of them, you were making fun with them. Geez, there is a difference.

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