The Syrian Goddess

The Syrian Goddess PDF

Author: Lucian

Publisher:

Published: 2010-05-22

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13: 9781452881621

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

To the student of oriental religions the Dea Syria is brimful of interest. It describes the cult and worship of the goddess of Northern Syria, Atargatis, at her sacred city, Hierapolis, now Mumbij. The time when Lucian wrote would be the middle of the second century B.C. We do not see any reason to reject the traditional authorship of the treatise: on the contrary, the work seems to reveal the famous satirist at home, taking a natural interest in local memories and institutions, while making, doubtless, mental notes that were to prove of use in the works for which he is best known. INTRODUCTORYThe Sacred CityOrigins of Temples and ShrinesTHE OLDEST SHRINES AND CULTS OF SYRIA.Hercules of TyreThe Phœnician Astarte at Sidon. Legend of EuropaAphrodite of Byblos and the Legend of AdonisLegend of Osiris at ByblosThe Adonis River; its red colourCult of Aphrodite in the Lebanon at AphacaHierapolis: The greatest Sanctuary. Its Pilgrims LEGENDS OF FOUNDATION.Ascribed by some to Deukalion. Story of the DelugeStory of the ChasmAssigned by others to Semiramis. Derceto, the Fish-GoddessBy others again to the Lydian AttisLucian shares the View that it was founded by DionysusRe-built by StratoniceStory of Stratonice and Combabus DESCRIPTION OF THE TEMPLE AND SHRINES.The Inner Sanctuary. The EffigiesComprehensive Character of the GoddessObject between the God and GoddessThe Sun GodA Bearded ApolloImage of the God borne by the Priests in DivinationAtlas and other ImagesSacred AnimalsThe Priests and Temple Attendants RITES AND CEREMONIES.The SacrificesSacred Lake and FishesCeremony at the LakeCeremony at the Euphrates ("The Sea")Festival of the Pyre CUSTOMS AND INSTITUTIONS.The GalliTheir Initiation CeremoniesTheir BurialAnimals used in Sacrifice. Sanctity of the DoveTonsure and other Customs of PilgrimsMethod of Sacrifice. The LibationHuman SacrificeTattooSacrifice of Hair

On the Syrian Goddess

On the Syrian Goddess PDF

Author: Lucian of Samosata

Publisher: e-artnow

Published: 2021-10-21

Total Pages: 75

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

On the Syrian Goddess is a Greek treatise of the second century AD which describes religious cults practiced at the temple of Hierapolis Bambyce, now Manbij, in Syria. Not only does it acknowledge that at one time a paramount Goddess was worshipped in the regions of the Ancient Near East, it goes into detail of the practices of her devotees which later generations considered reprehensible. The book describes the worship as being of a phallic character, with votaries offering little male figures of wood and bronze. There were also huge phalli set up like obelisks before the temple, which were ceremoniously climbed once a year and decorated. The treatise begins with a re-telling of the Atrahasis flood myth where floodwaters are drained through a small cleft in the rock under the temple. Nonetheless, On the Syrian Goddess played an important role in the development of modern Neopaganism.

The Syrian Goddess

The Syrian Goddess PDF

Author: Lucian

Publisher:

Published: 2016-07-30

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 9781535572521

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Lucian of Samosata's De Dea Syria, (the Syrian Goddess) is one of the most 'notorious' classical writings. Not only does it acknowledge that at one time a paramount Goddess was worshipped in regions of the Ancient Near East, it goes into details of the practices of her devotees which later generations considered reprehensible. Nonetheless De Dea played an important role in the development of modern Neopaganism. Lucian recounts his personal observations of the worship of the Goddess Atargatis (a form of Isthar or Astarte) at the temple of Hierapolis, in what is today Turkey. Lucian writes in the style of Herodotus, and, remarkably, in Herodotus' dialect of Greek, which at that time was over five hundred years old. Lucian describes huge phalliform idols, cross-dressing priests who castrated themselves, ritual prostitution of female worshippers, and occasional infant human sacrifice. Among other passages of interest, there is a variant account of the Greek flood myth of Deucalion which is here blended with pre-biblical Ancient Near Eastern deluge accounts. With extensive footnotes.

The Syrian Goddess

The Syrian Goddess PDF

Author: Herbert A. Strong

Publisher:

Published: 2015-07-06

Total Pages: 134

ISBN-13: 9781330841136

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Excerpt from The Syrian Goddess: Being a Translation of Lucian's "De Dea Syria," With a Life of Lucian To the student of oriental religions the Dea Syria is brimful of interest. It describes the cult and worship of the goddess of Northern Syria, Atargatis, at her sacred city, Hierapolis, now Mumbij. The time when Lucian wrote would be the middle of the second century B. C. We do not see any reason to reject the traditional authorship of the treatise: on the contrary, the work seems to reveal the famous satirist at home, taking a natural interest in local memories and institutions, while making, doubtless, mental notes that were to prove of use in the works for which he is best known. Of the many writers who refer to the Dea Syria, no one dwells upon the fundamental character of the cult at Hierapolis, nor deals with the problem of its historical origins. It is this aspect of inquiry, therefore, with which we chiefly deal in the Introduction and the foot notes. Lucian's description, amplified by the later account of Macrobius, and further illustrated by the local coinage of Hierapolis, reveals the central cult as that of a divine parr.' The male god, a form of Hadad, is symbolised by the bull, and is hence both "Lord of Heaven" and "Creator." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Lanterna Rally - Theme by Grace Themes