Our temple's official flag was created in February 2011 by our Head Priest, Chris Aldridge. The Aegean Blue sea in the top left holds a golden Vergina Sun in its center, its 16 points representing the 12 Gods of Olympos and the 4 elements of Earth. Extending out from it is a white field that symbolizes piety, purity and spirituality (the white field also represents the foam of the Aegean). It is stained on the end with a labrys, a symbol of ancient Greek culture and civilization, colored red to honor the sacrifice that ancient Hellenes gave to maintain their culture and way of life. Finally, the axe is divided into 3 sections to represent the 3 main phases of ancient Greek history; Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic. There is no official way for the labrys to be presented other than its color and place on the flag.
When the flag is not flying and is displayed inside the temple, it is surrounded by either green fringe or an outline of green to represent philosophy and growth.
On December 29th, 2021, Priest Kal submitted a redesign of the temple's flag. The theme remained the same but with better graphics. A bit of the symbolism also changed. There are now 14 points on the Sun instead of 16. The new points represent the 12 Olympian Gods and additionally Hestia and Haides. The 8 pedals in the center of the Sun represent 8 major City States of ancient Greece, notably those that were most influential to Hellenism and Western society (Athens, Sparta, Delphi, Olympia, Arkadia, Argos, Korinth and Thebes).
On July 29th, 2022, the old flag was lowered in our sanctuary for the last time, and the new design was raised.
Additional Symbols
On February 2nd, 2020, the temple's official sacred animal became the Gryphon. It's body of a lion and the wings of an eagle representing the realm of mortals below and that of the Gods above. The Gryphon stands as a connection for us to the Divinities, and protects the temple, its people and resources. A Gryphon statue stands at the pole that holds our temple's flag.
On November 22nd, 2020, our temple's official flower became the sunflower, which surrounds the base of the pole that holds our temple's flag. The sunflower pays homage to the Vergina Sun that appears on our flag, and the Sun itself represents ultimate goodness. In our religion, the Sun is a God (Helios) whom Homer calls the Delighter of Mankind, and He who gladdens the hearts of mortals.
On January 23rd, 2021, our temple gained its Patron Hero when the ancient and Heroic warrior, Ajax (aka Ajax the Great) accepted our priest's invitation to fulfill that role. Priest Christopher chose Ajax because our temple has always been strong, resilient, and honorable, which are also traits that Ajax embodies. Ajax is the Patron Hero of Temple of the Greek Gods. We give prayer and sacrifice to Him in general temple rites of the day.
On February 1st, 2021, our temple named its Patron Philosopher, Solon. The Athenian Lawgiver is best known for His 10 Tenets of morality and virtue, but His reforms saved and restored one of the great cradles of western civilization. Solon is our Patron in that our temple holds His philosophy as its most influential codes of humanity. We also give prayer and sacrifice to Him in general temple rites of the day. There is not, however, a rebuking of all other ancient Greek philosophy and morality.
On June 22nd, 2022, our temple also gained an official jewel or stone, the Emerald. The stone represents life, love, romance and rebirth. It was also chosen for its links to the Love Goddess, who to us would be Aphrodite. Our official Emerald or Emerald embodiment stone resides in an undisclosed location in the temple.