Editing Hellenism (modern religion) (section)

=== Arete ===
{{Main|Arete}}
Arete ({{lang|grc|Ἀρετή}}) is often translated as "excellence" or "moral virtue."<ref name="lsja">[[Henry Liddell|Liddell, H. G.]] & [[Robert Scott (philologist)|Scott, R.]] ''[[A Greek–English Lexicon]]'', 9th ed. (Oxford, 1940), [[Sub voce#sub verbo|s.v.]] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=LSJ%20a)reth/&lang=original {{lang|grc|ἀρετή}}].</ref> Arete is intrinsic to the concept of living up to one's potential. For modern Hellenists, arete is one of the most important virtues, and it is believed that cultivating it will lead to a good life of happiness and prosperity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellenicgods.org/virtue-in-hellenismos |title=Arætí: virtue in hellenismos |publisher=HellenicGods.org |access-date=2020-06-23}}</ref> Cultivating arete is not limited to just one domain, but also refers to the improvement of all aspects of one's existence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hellenicfaith.com/virtue/ |title=Virtue |date=13 August 2017 |publisher=HellenicFaith.com |access-date=2020-06-23 }}</ref>

In the [[Iliad]] and [[Odyssey]] of [[Homer]], "arete" is used mainly to describe heroes and nobles and their mobile dexterity, with special reference to strength and courage, but it is not limited to this. [[Penelope]]'s arete, for example, relates to co-operation, for which she is praised by [[Agamemnon]]. The excellence of the gods generally included their power, but, in the [[Odyssey]] (13.42), the gods can grant excellence to a life, which is contextually understood to mean prosperity.