Hellenic Ethics: Living Virtues in Community The ethical principles of Hellenic Reconstructionist Polytheism rest on fundamental human virtues as expressed in community, and are derived from the teachings of our ancient Greek spiritual ancestors. Some of the virtues discussed below will be familiar, and are indeed common to other traditional religious cultures. Others may prove surprising and even challenging to modern pagans who look to the Rede for ethical direction. A Key Principle: Reciprocity To most ancient Greeks, people fell into one of three categories: friends, enemies, and strangers. Underlying all of these relationships is the assumption of reciprocity. [1] Friends are those who help you and whom you are obligated to help. Enemies are those who harm you and whom you are likewise expected to harm, for doing so also helps your friends. Strangers or outsiders are those persons with whom you have no defined relationship and will probably view with a mix of suspicion and generosity, as they will you. Our relationship with the gods is also based on reciprocity: our offerings for their blessings, gift for gift. Unlike both the Christian ethical ideal (“Love your enemy” [2]) and the Wiccan Rede (“An it harm none, do what ye will”), traditional Hellenic ethics teaches that there is no shame in interpersonal conflict or just retribution; indeed, these are fundamental parts of life. (Nemesis is a goddess, after all, and the myths show the gods in conflict with each other.) Further, by not harming one’s enemies, one harms one’s friends, breaking down the fundamental
