Daitalês (lit. Banqueteers) is a type of small religious association common in ancient Greece. The members gather regularly in honour of the deiti(es) the group is dedicated to for dining and a symposium. Our Daitalês began as a study group teaching ourselves the Attic Greek language in our symposiums (much more studious than the typical drinking party that was an historical symposium). But we sometimes do a little drinking, and always pour libations to Athena. And we occasionally organise public Hellenic rituals in downtown Boston or at Pagan festivals.

We emphasise the local nature of Hellenic religion, specific to where we live.

Some of our rituals include:

Patriots Day: honouring the Heroes of Marathon (who fought to preserve Athenian democracy which survived to serve as a model for our own country); Pan (who helped bring victory at Marathon), and the goddesses Nike and Demokratia; as well as the Heroes of Lexington, Concord, and Menotamy (modern day Arlington) who fought on the opening day of our revolutionary war; and the victors in that day's running of the Boston Marathon. Our procession begins at the Old State House and goes up to the Public Gardens where we pour libations at the statue of George Washington.

The Nymphs of Boston: honouring our own nature spirits, including Karlea (Charles River) and Mustika (Mystic River).

The Deities and Spirits of the Polis: a procession around Beacon Hill and vicinity making offerings of barley and praise to the divinities, spirits, and heroes of Boston at their public statues and shrines, culminating in a celebratory picnic.

Some of our projects:

• A reconstructed calendar showing the ancient Athenian festival cycle.
• The Rev. Maureen tells us about the names of the deities, and how to pronounce them.

Incidentally, Daitalês is also the title of Aristophanes' first play (now lost). The protaganists of this comedy met to dine in honour of and in the quantities of Herakles.