It took more than 1600 years, but the ancient Greek god Zeus was honoured once again, pagan style, by a tiny group of modern worshippers yesterday at an ancient temple in the heart of Athens.

It was the first known ceremony of its kind at the 1800-year-old temple of Olympian Zeus since the ancient Greek religion was outlawed by the Romans in the late 4th century.

Some 200 people attended the ceremony organised by Ellinais, an Athens-based group campaigning to revive ancient religion, next to the ruins of the temple. The group defied a ban by the Culture Ministry which had declared the central Athens site off-limits.

Worshippers, dressed in ancient costume, recited ancient hymns calling on Zeus, king of the gods and the mover of things, to bring peace to the world.

"Our message is world peace and an ecological way of life in which everyone has the right to education," said Kostas Stathopoulos, one of three high priests overseeing the event, which celebrated the nuptials of Zeus with Hera, the goddess of love and marriage, below the imposing Corinthian-style columns in the city centre To the Greeks, ecological awareness was fundamental, he said, after a priestess called on Zeus "to bring rain to the planet".

A herald holding a metal staff, topped with two snake heads, proclaimed the beginning of the ceremony before priests in blue and red robes, released two white doves, symbols of peace.

A priest poured libations of wine and incense burned on a tiny copper tripod while a choir of men and women chanted ancient hymns under the watchful eye of guards', dressed as ancient Greek hoplites, or soldiers.

"Our hymns stress the brotherhood of man and do not single out nations," said priest Giorgos Alexelis.

"We are Greeks and we demand from the government the right to use our temples", said high priestess Doreta Peppa.

Ellinais, which has 34 official members - mainly middle-aged academics, and other professionals - was founded last year.-AP