Ye gods
The week's news at a glance.
Athens
Pagans honored Zeus this week at an 1,800-year-old Athens temple—the first time a religious ceremony had been held there since the fourth century, when the Romans banned the worship of Greek gods. The temple is not open to tourists, and the Culture Ministry, fearing damage to the ruins, refused to make an exception for worship. So the 20-odd worshippers from the Ellinais society, which seeks to revive ancient Greek culture, limited their prayers to the steps. Last year Ellinais won a lawsuit forcing state recognition of the ancient religion.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
See the bright lights from these 7 big-city hotels
The Week Recommends Immerse yourself in culture, history and nightlife
-
Scientists want to regrow human limbs. Salamanders could lead the way.
Under the radar Humans may already have the genetic mechanism necessary
-
Sudoku medium: June 25, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle