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Showing posts from July, 2021

Eurynome Dances the World Into Existence

 "Eurynome, the Goddess of All Things, rose naked from Chaos, but found nothing substantial for her feet to rest upon, and therefore divided the sea from the sky, dancing lonely upon its waves.  She danced towards the south, and the wind set in motion behind her seemed something new and apart with which to begin a work of creation.  Wheeling about, she caught hold of this north wind, rubbed it between her hands, and behold! the great serpent Ophion."  -- Robert Graves, the Greek Myths Eurynome original painting available through Saatchi Art .  Prints, stickers, and other merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America . Eurynome is the Pelasgian Creator Goddess.  The Pelasgians were inhabitants of the Aegean region before the arrival of proto-Greek speakers around 1200 BCE.  They are mentioned numerous times by ancient Greek writers, and archaeological evidences suggests the Pelasgians were farming in Athens and surrounding areas as early 6000 BCE.  Genetic

George Washington and July 4

 I was inspired by recent 4th of July festivities to do some plein air painting at Valley Forge.   George Washington's Fasces original painting available through Saatchi Art .  Prints and merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America . In the park, there is a prominent statue of General George Washington with his favorite prop, the fasces.  George here is gazing out towards the house he stayed in during the encampment at Valley Forge.  He brought his enslaved cook Hannah along, who was half Oneida Native American and half African.  Most of his hundreds of other slaves stayed at his Virginia plantation during the war. Washington's Headquarters, Valley Forge ( source ) The room at Washington's Virginia plantation in which the female house slaves were locked every night. Prior to the Revolution, George single-handedly started the French and Indian/Seven Years War when he ambushed and killed a French patrol in French territory during peacetime.   The Jumonvi

Cybele

 Cybele processing through Rome, with her lions and frame drum.  Cybele original painting available through Saatchi Art .  Prints and other merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America . Cybele was an Anatolian Great Mother Goddess.  The Romans were losing the Punic wars against Carthage.  Tanit, the lion Goddess of Carthage was too strong.  So the Romans sent to Phrygia for Cybele.  Cybele arrived in Rome in 204 BCE, the war was won, and Cybele became one of the chief deities of Rome.  St Peters Cathedral in the Vatican is built on the site of Her temple. "Roman emperors like Augustus, Claudius, and Antonius Pius regarded her as the supreme deity of the empire.  Augustus established his home facing her temple, and looked upon his wife, the empress Livia Augusta, as an earthly incarnation of her." ( source ) When Cybele moved to Rome, she brought Attis along, her tragic son/lover, whose self-mutilation, death and resurrection represent the fruits of the e