Ye gods

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.

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