Greek Love: For Ritual Purposes
The much-loved annual event returns! One night, four talks, exploring eight thousand years of queerness, community and the divine.
Time & Location
10 Oct 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Hellenic Museum, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Event Details
This much-loved, one-night-only event returns for its fourth year – with a divine twist inspired by LGBTIQA+ History Month and the Hellenic Museum's new major exhibition, Rituals: Gifts for the Gods.
For millennia, ancient Mediterranean myths and histories have been a popular medium through which human diversity is explored. Today, LGBTIQA+ communities are breathing new life into these narratives, uncovering threads of sexuality, gender and queerness within them.
Join us for a fun, light-hearted evening of history talks, creativity and connection, celebrating contemporary understandings of queerness through the lens of antiquity. Experience galleries by night, enjoy a drink and hear inspiring talks from respected historians set among the treasures of the Hellenic Museum.
New format for an old flame ❤️🔥
This year, while our pavilion and courtyard are getting a glow-up, Greek Love will be taking over the museum’s galleries in a whole new way. Choose a token at the door, join your group and be guided on a journey through the museum by night. As groups rotate through the galleries you'll meet our four historians and enjoy a series of intimate talks, all while immersed in the museum's inspiring collections. The night will end by coming together for a magical group ritual, and some time to enjoy a drink or continue exploring at your leisure.
Your divine lineup 🔮
Inspired by Rituals: Gifts for the Gods, this year's event will delve into the divine, spiritual, and often queer dimensions of ancient religion. From deified lovers and gods of transgression to secret rites and modern spirituality, Greek Love: For Ritual Purposes will highlight the queer spaces, figures and practices that were deeply woven into ancient rituals.
Who Cried and Made You God?: The (Queer) Cult of Antinous with Tobias Fulton
Apollo, Artemis, and the Queer Coming of Age with Dr. Jessica McKenzie
The God/dess of Love: Queering Gender with the Bearded Aphrodite with Dr. Tanika Koosmen
Queer Spiritual Journeys: Using the Past to Repair the Present with Prof. Timothy Jones
Bring a gift for the gods 🤲
This year's event will finish with a participatory group ritual, to be explained in full on the night. As part of this ritual, guests are encouraged to bring a small votive offering to contribute – this could be a written work such as a letter or poem, a natural object such as a stone, feather, shell or leaf, a small figurine, photograph, artwork, or other personal item. Get creative, but please keep it under 30cm, nothing illicit or explicit, and remember: once it’s offered, it belongs to the gods! So only bring something you're willing to part with.
For anyone who doesn't have an offering with them, there will be a small votive-making station with craft materials available on the night.
Fine print (even deities love details) ✨
Times: Doors will open from 7PM for drinks and gallery access. Roaming talks start at 7.30PM sharp.
Drinks: Available for purchase at a cash bar inside the museum.
Please note: to keep ticket prices accessible for the community, catering is not included in this year's event. Guests are encouraged to eat before arriving.
Accessibility: This event involves moving between spaces and standing. The Hellenic Museum has wheelchair-accessible galleries, an elevator between floors, as well as one wheelchair and ample folding chairs available upon request. Please contact our friendly team if you have questions regarding access.
18+ Event: As this is a licensed event, all guests must be over 18 years of age.
Hero image: Square plate with embossed representation of a Griffin, currently on display in Rituals: Gifts for the Gods at the Hellenic Museum. Archaeological Museum of Delphi, 9756. From the repositories of the Sacred Way at the Sanctuary of Apollo, Delphi. Mid-6th century BCE. Gold, bronze.
Tickets
Event Admission
From $55.00 to $60.00
Sold Out$60.00
+$1.50 ticket service fee
$55.00
+$1.38 ticket service fee
This event is sold out