Aidonian's blog

 the epithet Soter-Soteira seems to be bit strange. It means saviour but also deliverer. The Romans had a similar one called Salus. The difference between the two is that “Salus” means more physical wellbeing than with “Soter”. Soter implies a more psychological well being or for the soul than being physical safe.

For the Romans the epithet “Salus” means physical safety while “Soter/Soteira” for Hellenes meant more in the line of psychological, being safe from illness, etc….Its a epithet that can be applied to any deity. 

Soter/Soteira does not mean that the deity will rescue you or save you from disaster like monotheists think it works. When you call upon a deity with the epithet of Soter/Soteira means that you ask them to help you, but that you also thank them for helping you. While the Gods will help you, they also want you to do the work as well. For example, if I start running and I pray to Herakles to give me the strength to do so, Herakles will not help me if I didn’t put in the work. 

Strange enough the epithet “Soter/Soteira” does not mean saved from evil. That is a different epithet called “Apotropaios/Apotropaia” or “Alexikakos/Alexikaka”. The definition of “evil” differs here. 

Historically speaking Aidoneos (Haides) did not have the epithet of Soter but I gave him that because I felt that he has earned it through helping me. So Gods who normally did not had such a epithet can still receive that epithet through their relationship with a mortal. 

In the end it all depends how one views the epithet and its relation to the Gods. One thing is clear, it does not hold the same meaning for Christians. That saviour concept is foreign in Hellenic and Roman polytheism. While it might seem weird to assign the epithet of Soter to a God like Aidoneos (Haides) but to me it makes sense. He was there for me along with Hekate Soteira & Persephone Soteira during the darkest times in my life with their help I got through it. Was it easy? No, it wasn’t. They helped me during a time where I didn’t know where to turn myself to for help. To this day, I still honour Aidoneos as Soter. He didn’t intervene, but guided me on my path. For me He is not a Christlike figure, because He isn’t that. 

Its through my relationship with Him that I gave him the epithet of “Soter”.