10 Ancient Religions That Are Still Followed Today including: The Church Of Thor And Odin,Zoroastrianism,Tu’er Shen,Pagans Of Russia,followers Of The Greek Gods,Nahua Aztec religion and more.

"Atlantean figures" from the Nahua culture of the Toltecs at Tula. photo: wikipedia.org

Updated 23/04/2020

10 Ancient Religions That Are Still Followed Today

10 Asatruarfelagid . The Church Of Thor And Odin. 

9 Zoroastrianism. The Oldest Monotheistic Religion.

8 Tu'er Shen. The Chinese God Of Homosexuality.

7 Mari. The Pagans Of Russia.

6 The Return Of The Hellenes. Follower Of The Greek Gods.

5 Nahua. The Last Aztecs.

4 Romuva. The Religion Hidden For 1,000 Years.

The old beliefs have changed. Ancient religions have had to adapt to a new world and, in many cases, barely resemble the faiths that once covered the world. To their followers, though, they still have meaning, and connect them to a part of the world that’s been left behind.


10 Asatruarfelagid
The Church Of Thor And Odin

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and other members of Ásatrúarfélagið walk to a blót at Þingvellir in the summer of 2009. photo: wikipedia.org

A church called Asatruarfelagid has been building up followers to bring back the worship of Thor and Odin. It’s bigger than you might imagine—currently, they had 2,400 followers. They even opened their own shrine, a circular temple overlooking Reykjavik. There, ordained priests of Nordic religion host weddings, funerals, and ancient rituals.

The Ásatrú graveyard in Reykjavík photo: wikipedia.org

Their rituals are a bit different from how the Vikings did it. For one thing, they don’t sacrifice children anymore. They do, however, hold craft nights and social get-togethers that are a great way to make new friends. Oh, and they give out a lot of free coffee and snacks. 

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson at a blót in 1991 photo: wikipedia.org

The new religion has little in common with the vicious pagan beliefs that inspired it. To the followers, though, it’s more about connecting to their culture than about believing in ancient myths. They see the myths as “poetic metaphors,” not as something to be taken literally, and their worship as a celebration of the culture they came from.


9 Zoroastrianism
The Oldest Monotheistic Religion

Sadeh in Tehran, 2011) photo: wikipedia.org

Zoroastrianism has been traced back to the sixth century BC, and it’s been called the first monotheistic religion on earth. The faith has never been completely wiped out, but it’s certainly not as strong as it once was. 

Parsi Navjote ceremony (rites of admission into the Zoroastrian faith) photo: wikipedia.org

They don’t believe in evangelizing or converting others over to their faith, and so its followers have whittled down. Today, there only 190,000 left, most of them in India and Iran.

Faravahar (or Ferohar), one of the primary symbols of Zoroastrianism, believed to be the depiction of a Fravashi (guardian spirit) photo: wikipedia.org

They still keep their faith alive by holding religious classes and celebrations and by sharing ancient poetry. They also do their best to keep a fascinating burial ritual intact: sky burials. Dead Zoroastrians are not supposed to contaminate the earth with their bodies. 

A scene from the Hamzanama where Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib Burns Zarthust’s Chest and Shatters the Urn with his Ashesphoto: wikipedia.org

Instead, they are to be left in funerary towers where vultures are free to eat their remains.Today, though, there is only one funerary tower left in the world, located in Yazd, Iran. And so the body of a Zoroastrian who wants to be buried according to his faith has to make a long trek from wherever they may live to Iran.


8 Tu’er Shen
The Chinese God Of Homosexuality

According to legends, Tu’Er Shen started life as a mortal man named Hu Tianbao, who fell in love with a man above his station. Hu Tianbao was too afraid to speak to the object of his affections and instead secretly spied on him in the bath. He was caught. The man he loved, enraged, beat Hu Tianbao to death.

According to Zi Bu Yu (子不語), a book written by Yuan Mei (袁枚, a Qing dynasty writer), Tu Er Shen (兔兒神 or 兔神) was a mortal man called Hu Tianbao photo: antinousgaygod.blogspot.com

A month later, Hu Tianbao came to another man in his dreams, now in the form of a rabbit. He had become the god of same-sex lovers, he announced, and needed mortal men to build his shrine. Soon, it evolved into a whole religion dedicated to Tu’Er Shen—until the government stamped it out on charges of being a “licentious cult.”Today, a Taoist priest is trying to bring Tu’Er Shen back. 

photo: antinousgaygod.blogspot.com

He believes that homosexual Taoists need a god for their prayers, and so he has built a shrine to the rabbit god of homosexuality. There, he officiates gay weddings and encourages people to pray for help in love.


7 Mari
The Pagans Of Russia

Mari orthodox monks and novices. 1894 photo: wikipedia.org

The Mari are a Russian ethnic group who, long ago, followed a pagan religion based on the worship of nature. Nature, they believed, was a powerful source of good that worked to help humanity—as long as humanity did not harm it.

When Christianity took over, the Mari were all but stamped out. Following their old faith became forbidden, but a few kept up the rituals in the cover of night. After midnight, they would go out to the glades and pray, risking detention and death if they were caught.Since the fall of the Soviet Union, they’ve been free to follow their faith in the open. 

Proportion of Mari in the population of Bashkortostan as of the 2002 census. photo: wikipedia.org

There are some, mostly in rural areas, who still practice the old rituals. It has been changed over time, though, working in several Christian traditions. Some of the worshipers still have pictures of saints up in their homes, and a few have been spotted unconsciously making the sign of the cross as they leave the grove


6 The Return Of The Hellenes
Follower Of The Greek Gods

Prometheus depicted in a sculpture by Nicolas-Sébastien Adam, 1762 (Louvre) photo: wikipedia.org

Since 1996, a group of people called The Return of the Hellenes have been trying to bring the Geek gods back. The movement started with a philosophy professor named Tryphon Olympios. Today, though, he’s gathered a whole number of followers and holds full Greek festivals. One is the Prometheia Festival, dedicated to the celebration of Prometheus bring fire to humanity. Whole groups of people, some dressed in modern clothes and some in togas, come out to celebrate. 

Prometheus Brings Fire by Heinrich Friedrich Füger. Prometheus brings fire to mankind as told by Hesiod, with its having been hidden as revenge for the trick at Mecone. photo: wikipedia.org

It’s not exactly the most historically accurate religion. For one thing, their key festival—the Prometheia Festival—didn’t exist in ancient Greece. 

Prometheus (1909) by Otto Greiner photo: wikipedia.org

And when the ancient Greeks made sacrifices to the gods, they usually didn’t place a few flowers and fruits on the ground—they butchered live animals.Still, to the people who follow it, it’s a way to connect to their past. “It’s going back to the roots,” one follower said. “It makes me feel the continuation through the millennia.”


5 Nahua
The Last Aztecs

The Aztec sun calendar is a circular stone with pictures representing how the Aztecs measured days, months, and cosmic cycles. photo: wikipedia.org

One of the surviving Aztecs groups, called the Nahua, are a blend of a lot of different indigenous tribes and believes, all mixed together to make something new. 

"Atlantean figures" from the Nahua culture of the Toltecs at Tula.. photo: wikipedia.org

Some of these people still use traditional healers, who treat their illnesses with herbs, incense, and sometimes even the blood of sacrificed chickens.They keep some of the rituals alive, too—although they tend to stick with ones that involve dancing and skip over the ones that involve human sacrifice. 

Number of Nahuatl speakers per state (Mexico only) photo: wikipedia.org

One ritual, the Dance of the Aerialists, has five men attached to ropes climb a very tall pole. One stays at the top, playing a drum and a reed flute, while the others leap down and let the ropes spin them around the pole. They make 52 turns around it, representing the 52-year cycle of the ancient Aztec calendar.


4 Romuva
The Religion Hidden For 1,000 Years

Romuvan ceremony photo: wikipedia.or

A thousand years ago, the Balts lived in modern Lithuania, worshiping fire as something sacred and eternal. Their tribes built sanctuaries upon the highest hills, where their priests protected an eternally burning fire.

The late Romuvan krivis (high priest), Jonas Trinkūnas, at 2009 feast of ancient martial arts Apuolė-854 photo: wikipedia.org

Each home had an eternal fire of its own, lit inside of a sacred hearth.The religion came back in 1967, while Lithuania was under Soviet rule. It was called the Romuva movement, a call to connect Lithuanians back to their roots. The Soviets didn’t like it—they tried to smother and extinguish it.

Žemaičių Alka photo: wikipedia.org

When the Union fell, though, they were once again free to practice their religion in the open.Today, Romuva has grown big enough that it’s now recognized as a “non-traditional religion” in Lithuania. It’s spread to other countries, as well. 

The official symbol of the Romuvan Church of Lithuania on a flag. photo: wikipedia.org

Congregations have opened around the world, some as far as Chicago, Boston, and Toronto.


3 Tengriism
The Religion Of Genghis Khan

Ai-Churek, a Tuvan shaman, during a ceremony at the fire in Kyzyl, Tuva, Russiaphoto: wikipedia.org

The most famous Tengriist is probably Genghis Khan, who stayed true to his Tengriist principles and granted freedom of religion across the land. 

Kurşun dökme (Turkey) photo: wikipedia.org

Today, followers use the religion to connect themselves to their nation’s past. It’s been revived as a way to create a national identity that resists the influences of globalization. But it’s still inclusive, and the followers often practice other faiths at the same time.One Tengriist, Dastan Sarygulov, says that his faith is technically not a religion at all. “It’s a worldview,” he says, “which has become a lifestyle.

Ötüken yïš is regarded as the residence of Tengri and capital city of Turks in Irk Bitig. photo: wikipedia.org

Followers of Tengriism don’t have a holy religious book, but they follow all the spiritual and moral commandments accumulated in major religions.”Another explains that he is “half-Muslim” as well as a Tengriist, saying, “I don’t fully follow Islam, I just partially follow some Muslim rituals.”


2 Nova Roman
The Modern Roman Pantheon

The flag of Nova Roma, based on the colours and symbols of the Roman Empire. photo: wikipedia.org

In the 1960s, a movement calling itself the “Roman Traditionalist Movement” sparked in Italy, fighting to bring back the traditions of their Roman ancestors—including the worship of Jupiter. The effort to bring back an ancient faith has taken a lot of different forms. 

Nova Romans performing a Roman religious ceremony in Aquincum (Budapest), 2008. photo: wikipedia.org

There are organizations all around the world with distinct ideologies, all starting their own movements to bring back the Roman gods. In the United States, the group’s called Nova Roma. They celebrate ancient Roman holidays and boast that they “try to be as historically accurate of a recreation of the religion as possible.”


1 Kemetism
The Pharaohs Of Harlem

Private altar of a practitioner in the Czech Republic, with a statue representing Thoth featured prominently. photo: wikipedia.org

The Egyptian gods are making a comeback in the last place you’d expect: Harlem. The religion is called Kemetism, taking its name from an ancient name for Egypt, and it already has thousands of followers.These people show up to ceremonies dressed in traditional Egyptian clothes. 

Eye of Horus photo: wikipedia.org

They have rules dictating what clothes they can wear on each day of the week. They even have their own school that teaches their ideology.To the Kemetists, this is a chance to celebrate their African ancestry. “The people who need it the most were taken away from Africa, taken away from who they are,” one Kemetist priestess says. “We aren’t meant to be in the projects. We are meant to be in the pyramids.”


Other articles on the same theme:

• How old is the Bible? We include Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other religious movements such as the Rastafari

• Babylonian Mythology Gods

• Top 10 - atrocities committed in the name of religion including Forced Conversion to Islam, Aztec sacrifices, Inquisition or Roman persecutions

• 5 Myths About Christianity

Story source:


The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Listverse . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Top 10 Greatest Historical Warriors close to perfection and invincibility.

In this list we see a combination of two of my favorite things – ancient  (well mostly) history and warriors. While most of these warrior groups come from ancient history – one or two come close to modern history. They all, undoubtedly, belong on this list.

10

Aztecs

The Aztecs were famous soldiers and ruthless in battle. They were usually dressed like animals like the eagle or the jaguar. They used pretty primitive weapons like clubs and bows but used them with great effectiveness. 

Aztec warriors as depicted in the Codex Mendoza  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

This page from the Codex Mendoza shows the gradual improvements to equipment and tlahuiztli as a warrior progresses through the ranks from commoner to porter to warrior to captor, and later as a noble progressing in the warrior societies from the noble warrior to "Eagle warrior" to "Jaguar warrior" to "Otomitl" to "Shorn One" and finally as "Tlacateccatl". The Eagle Warrior, Otomitl, and Shorn One figures wear the pamitl.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

The “Shorn Ones” (Cuachicqueh) were the greatest warriors and as soon as the enemy came they swore they would not take another step back. They were eventually defeated by the Spaniards with much more modern weapons but they were a great empire in large part due to their great warriors.

9

Mongol Warriors ( Mongol military tactics and organization )

The Mongols were considered barbarians and savages. They dominated Europe and Asia and were most famous for riding on horseback lead by one of the greatest military commanders in history, Genghis Kahn. 

Mongol warrior on horseback, preparing a mounted archery shot.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were highly disciplined and masters with using the bow and arrow on horse back. They used a composite bow that could rip through armor and were also pretty good with lances and scimitars.

Mongol cavalry archery from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's Universal History using the Mongol bow.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were masters of psychological warfare and intimidation, and built one of the largest empires the world has ever seen. 

8

Mamluks ( Muslim slave soldiers and Muslim rulers of slave origin )

A mamluk was a slave soldier who converted to Islam and served the Muslim caliphs and the Ayyubid sultans during the Middle Ages. Over time, they became a powerful military caste often defeating the Crusaders.

Mamluks attacking at the Fall of Tripoli in 1289 (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

Ottoman mamluk heavy cavalry armour, circa 1550 (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

On more than one occasion, they seized power for themselves; for example, ruling Egypt in the Mamluk Sultanate from 1250–1517. After mamluks had converted to Islam, many were trained as cavalry soldiers. Mamluks had to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code that included values such as courage and generosity, and also cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery and treatment of wounds, etc.

7

Roman Legion

The backbone of the Roman army that led to an empire that was unrivaled in terms of size and power. They were usually heavy infantry with armor and a shield modeled after the ancient Greeks. 

A re-enactor as a Roman centurion, c. 70. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were masters of the sword and spear combination going along with a shield. They were made up of the wealthiest soldiers that could afford to make the best weapons and armor. They were disciplined, well-armed, and had great strategy which lasted beyond their empire. 

6

Apache Warrior 

The apaches were like the ninjas of America. They would sneak up behind you and slit your throat without you even knowing. They used primitive weapons made mostly of wood and bone. 

(Photo: deadliestwarrior.wikia.com)

They were also the greatest knife fighters the world has ever seen and were pretty good with the tomahawk and throwing ax. They terrorized the southwest United States and even the military had trouble beating them. They were great hit and run fighters and their descendants teach modern day special fighters how to fight in hand to hand combat. 

5

Samurai

The samurai were the knights of Japan and the masters of the katana. They were heavily armed soldiers covered in armor and willing to die for their masters. 

Samurai with sword, ca. 1860. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They wielded the sharpest sword the world has ever seen and it could easily slice a man in two. They were also masters of the yumi (bow) and were some of the best shots of the ancient world. 

Samurai warriors with various types of armor and weapons, 1880s (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were like professional soldiers and were harshly trained and fought knowing their honor was on the line. Due to their violent habits, peasants soon rose up against them and the ninja was born.

4

Ninja Takawithbo

The ninja were the masters of stealth and sabotage. They were originally peasants trained to defeat marauding samurai, but the eventually became the legendary assassins that most people think of today. 

Yamato Takeru dressed as a maidservant, preparing to kill the Kumaso leaders. Woodblock print on paper. Yoshitoshi, 1886. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They are known for using a Kanata like sword, blowgun, ninja stars, and kusarigama which would be my weapon of choice. They are known for being stealthy shadow warriors of the night. 

Drawing of the archetypical ninja, from a series of sketches (Hokusai manga) by Hokusai. Woodblock print on paper. Volume six, 1817. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They greatly feared for their ability to kill and just disappear. They were also great martial artists and underwent rigorous training. 

3

Vikings – the terror of Europe.

The most feared warrior of the ancient world. They terrorized Europe with their raids and pillaging. 

Rook, Lewis chessmen, at the British Museum in London (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were ferocious in battle and used weapons that suited their stature. They were big and mean and used their axes, swords, and spears expertly in the conquering of cities. Even their religion was about war and they believed when you died in battle you fought once again in a never ending battle. 

( Photo: Pinterest.com )

They were all you would want in a soldier and proved it on the battlefield by destroying all in their paths. On the flip-side, they were also incredibly good traders so they also brought much good to Europe. 

2

Spartans

You thought they would be number one didn’t you? The Spartan culture was all about war and training men for war their entire lives. 

Statue in modern Sparta to commemorate King Leonidas I, who led the Spartan army at the Battle of Thermopylae. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They had a saying: “come back with the shield or on top of it” which means don’t come back unless you are victorious. They were some of the toughest soldiers the world had ever seen and have become infamous for their last stand at the battle of Thermopylae. They were masters of the shield and spear combination that was later copied by many other armies. 

1

Knight

Knights were great warriors clad in full body armor on horseback. The warrior of feudal Europe, the protector of kings. 

David I of Scotland knighting a squire (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were the richest, most trained warriors, and had the armor, weapons, and horses to get the job done. They were among the toughest soldiers in history to kill because of their armor. 

The English fighting the French knights at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were highly effective soldiers that had trained almost their entire lives (due to boys of the day wanting to grow up to be one) and became the tank of the ancient world. The reason they are listed as item 1 – instead of Spartans (which most people would have expected) is that knights were also expected to behave in a moral manner and from the fact that most did, we have the term chivalrous which comes from old French chevalier meaning “knight”. 

The miles Christianus allegory (mid 13th century), showing a knight armed with virtues and facing the vices in mortal combat. The parts of his armour are identified with Christian virtues, thus correlating essential military equipment with the religious values of chivalry: The helmet is spes futuri gaudii (hope of future bliss), the shield (here the shield of the Trinity) is fides (faith), the armour is caritas (charity), the lance is perseverantia (perseverance), the sword is verbum Dei (the word of God), the banner is regni celestis desiderium (desire for the kingdom of heaven), the horse is bona voluntas (good will), the saddle is Christiana religio (Christian religion), the saddlecloth is humilitas (humility), the reins are discretio (discretion), the spurs are disciplina (discipline), the stirrups are propositum boni operis (proposition of good work), and the horse's four hooves are delectatio, consensus, bonum opus, consuetudo (delight, consent, good work, and exercise). (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

The knight was the perfect example of a warrior and a gentleman.

Other articles on the same theme:

• Top 8: Famous Vikings you should know about

• Over a millennium ago, the real Ragnar Lodbrok ran a legendary battle that would ensure them a place in history

• The truth about Thermopylae and the 300 Spartans who accompanied King Leonidas to the Gates of Fire

• Sasuke's story, first samurai without Japanese origins . It was a black slave

Story source: 

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Listverse . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.