Bendideia

Athenian Calendar Date: 19 Thargelion
Honouring: Bendis (Bendis-Hekate, Bendis-Hekate-Selene-Artemis)
Origin: The cult of Bendis travelled from Thrace to Athens and there they hosted Bendideia annually.

Jump to Bendideia Ritual of Cleansing and Torchlight script.

What is Bendideia?

Bendideia is a festival celebrating the goddess Bendis who originated from Thrace and has been syncretised with Hekate, Artemis, and Selene as a goddess of the moon, the wild, hunting, freedom, torches, and ecstatic Dionysian-style rituals. She is sometimes regarded as or seen as parallel to Phrygian Kybele and as mother of Sabazios. Bendis has been depicted on pottery alongside Themis (divine order), Apollon, and Hermes.

Some key components from the ancient celebrations of Bendideia include torchlit processions, cleansing (with basins, sponges, and garlands), horseback torch races, festival meals, and an all-night festival. The Athenians and Thracians had distinct ways of celebrating Bendideia with activities from their respective cultures.

This festival has been adapted for the Sanctuary of the Crossroad and focuses on:

  • Bendis-Hekate (or Bendis-Hekate-Selene-Artemis)
  • Torches
  • Ritualistic cleansing
  • The wild and freedom
  • Ecstatic ritual

Offerings to the Bendis

  • Wheat
  • Grains
  • Candles or Torches
  • Horse-themed votives
  • Dog-themed votives
  • Imagery of spears
  • Libations (wine, water, milk)
  • Cakes (such as small honey cakes)
  • Honey
  • Fresh fruits

Ways to Celebrate Bendideia

  • Write and recite a hymn to Bendis.
  • Light a candle as an offering to Bendis, representing her torch.
  • Cook a meal for Bendis and offer it to her.
  • Meditate with Bendis.
  • Conduct a sacred procession.
    • This could be with others or by yourself. A procession involves moving sacred items from one location to another. You may start inside and move outdoors, or the other way around. You may start at your front door and move to your altar, or just before your altar if you wish to do so.
  • Give offerings to Bendis.
  • Do a series of devotional acts for Bendis.
  • Dress in clothing or accessories that remind you of Bendis.
  • Donate to a shelter (dog shelter, homeless shelter, women’s shelter etc.) — Bendis was also associated with dogs, like Hekate is.
  • Take care of dogs.
  • Do a ritual in honour of her.
  • Research about Bendis, Thracian religion, and Ancient Greek influence and syncretism with Thracian religion.
  • Do divination with Bendis.
  • Plan and do an ecstatic ritual with Bendis (ecstatic dancing, exercise, spellwork etc.).
  • Purification (even better if after a procession or during).
  • Watch horseraces.
  • Craft votive offerings of spears, dogs, torches etc.
  • Go somewhere you associate with the wild (like the forest, but even other natural locations for personal association).

Celebrating Bendideia at the Sanctuary of the Crossroads

Around 19 Thargelion, we celebrate Bendideia with a torch procession-inspired ritual that implements elements of ritual cleansing and ecstatic ritual.

Bendideia Ritual of Cleansing and Torchlight script to either follow along during our live event or host your own Bendideia.

© Sanctuary of the Crossroads 2026