Mysteries of IsisSymbolic appropriation Between Paganism and American Italian cults to the Virgin Mary, the Bridge between the ancient and the modern religions

of The Goddess.

Final Presentation: Contemporary Paganism- Kraemer CHS

James Jacob Pierri

Temple of IsisAt Delos,Statue of Priestess.

Osiris, Isis with sistrum and HermAnubis with Caduecus

Various IsianVotary statuettesIncluding erotic Representation, Horus and musicalplaying

Votive lamp, Isian Priestess,Sistrum.

Collection of IsianArt and ritual paraphernalia Including sistrums,Votive lamps, coins, Statues of Isis/Venus,A Priestess and Isis Riding a Elysian Mystery Pig.

Collection of Isi

Hands of aMummifiedIsian Priestes

Magna Mater

Lets Begin;

Isis wins over the Hearts and spiritsOf the Roman People.

Isis healing the sickWith Horus, AnubisApis Bull, Bast & Nepthys.

Isis temple locatedNear the GymnasiumIn Pompeii.Early morning mass.

Isian Priestess robedIn the costume of Isis,Possibly to lead a Celebratory or ritualisticProcession in public.

An Isiac Priest Prepares for a ritual Of Isian mystery forDevotees taking Initiations.

Isis as portrayed in TraditionalEgyptian custom, ArtisticallyAbstract and revealing too Much skin was inappropriateFor Roman virtues.

Romanized IsisThough the Goddess’Message was excitedlyAccepted, some of herOriental accessories, Dress and cohortsNeeded to be tamed forA conservative Roman following

Juno Roman Queen Of Heaven & The GodsHolding baby Hercules.A half divine hero whoChallenges personal Tests to prove hisImmortality.

Isis AphroditeSyncretism at work in Hellenic Alexandria.The combination of two culturesConcepts of Goddess was warmly Welcomed by devotees.

Roman Priestess from PompeiiWith situla in left handAnd what once was a sistrumIn her right.She wears the diadem of IsisFortuna.

MithraPersian GodAdpted by Roman soldiers.His popularity wasHigh in the Roman Empire, stronlgy Influencing theChristian theology

Emperor NeroWasn’t particularly fond of Oriental religions.To show his disapproval He rudely urinated on a Sacred statue of Isis in Public

Rome, various rulers and change of religious climate change

CyrilBishop of AlexandriaDealt a powerful blow againstPaganism & Goddess worshipBut also contributed to the Christian founders to Accept the idea of The Theotokos ( God bearer/Mother of God(s)

LucinaRoman Goddess of light & Foresight. Her celebrationsCoincided with the SaturnaliaThe winter celebrations at Ancient Rome

DianaRoman Goddess residingOver the Moon.Diana’s cult and herDevotees remained loyal Long into ChristianityReign.

Roman Venus:Genatrix, GoddessOf life, love and Fate

DemeterEarth Goddess, presidingOver the Elysian Mysteries.Sycretisized with Isis early Greek civilization.

The GoddessIs introduced renewTo a Christian Public

Filling a somewhat Empty position in the Empires new religion“Our Lady” surroundedBy cherubs,a diadem ofStars, rising on a moon And crowned Queen ofHeaven, quenched the Thirst of Goddess Devotees through outItaly.

Long after the fall of the Roman Empire, Italy became a seriesOf City States and fragmentedKingdoms serving under Christianity. Though someRemote peasants remainedLoyal to their pagan ancestorsWays and devotion to Diana mayHave continued under guise ofCults to the Virgin.Of which Diana was perpetually.

TAKING APPROPRIATEDOr sycretized Pagan/CatholicTraditions to the new world in America.Believers found a safe place to Continue their customs andAllow them to integrate andAssimilate with other ethnicities.

Our Lady of the Sea procession in Hoboken Nj circa 1950’sHere the Goddess is still presented to her public for adorationThrough the streets. This scene is similar to the Isis NavidgvmHeld in ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt.

The feast is still celebratedTo this day, funded by Devoted followers and notSanctioned by the AmericanCatholic Diocese. Like her forerunner In Ancient Rome, crowds still Gather to follow the cultStatue to the river, where Sacred rituals are still Conducted.

Roses, torches, CherubsA Sun God, Cloaked with The stars of heaven.Reminiscent of Isis and All of the Goddess that SheWas sycretisized with.

Just like their AncestorsIt is an inherited HonorTo participate in the Celebrations. The Devotees joyously display Their pride and belief.

As time moved on Italian Americans were able to Freely and publicly Express their Paganism,Which began with TheirGreat GrandparentsConcealing their Traditional folkloricBeliefs from their smallVillages in Italy.

Symbols, art and Appropriation

within the Italian American pagan traditions and beyond

The Moon

The Roman Goddess Diana was to many people The MotherOf the people of ancient Rome, her symbol was the Moon.As acquainted with the moon like numerous Goddess’

The veneration of The Goddess with The Moon, dates back to Neolithic times.

In Summeria/BabylonIshtar/Astarte the Great Goddess was inseprable, Much the same way GoddessDevotion is symbolized today

The triple Moon and its sacred Phases regarding life, death & Regeneration has sustained itsMessage via numerous culturesAnd traditions for aeons.

The Goddess still holds herSway over her devotees viaThe tides in nature & life.

As a symbol of feminine Power, it reminds us of A time when it was easierTo be in tune with intuitionAnd the rhythm of nature.

To many Italian Americans exploringPaganism through their uniqueRelationship with Catholicism, canFind an easy path cleared due to An already open adoration for a Goddess that has been their sinceChildhood. Inseparable from herFormer pre Christian incarnation, TheGoddess never really was lost.

“Our Lady”is usually theTile chosen by many, verySimilar to Wiccans and Pagans, when calling on The Goddess Myrinominus

The Goddess as represented in herVarious aspects as Maiden,MotherCrone still hold the same ideology Carried over from Paganism to American Italian Catholicism that Still links the spirit and memory to Former Goddess such as Isis, DianaIshtar.

The Goddess has changed faces and names over the courseOf history, but the image still remains, Holding the new bornSun, while standing between heaven and earth. She the FullMoon, her offspring the bright star. The powerful and moving Image still conevys the same power as thousands ofyears ago

The Star

The Goddess in Egypt Was considered to dwellIn the constellation of theDog star or also known asSirius, deriving from the Name Osiris.As ruler and mover of starsAnd mans Fate, Isis isVenerated still to change The course of a devoteesPath in life at her whim, Either mercifully or to Punish blasphemers

The Astrologers of Summeria were famousFor their knowledge In the art of the heavens.Part of their worship ofThe Goddess was to Study her movements.

Astarte always associated with the symbol of the star, paving The way for Goddess through out time to lay claim to the Star as her reminder of her presence.

As religion changed, the star didn’t looseIts weight or power. Still leading followersTo new ways of philosophy, The GoddessStill influenced Catholicism by includingAstrologers to be the first to look for theirNew God. Again a celestial orb, surrounded

By cherubs reminds oneOf Isis giving birth to Horus in a marshy DeltaSwamp in Egypt.

Like Isis Urania,Isis Maris, The Madonna also foundHer place as Stellar Maris.Still connecting the GoddessWith her heavenly associations.It’s a very easy to realize that The Goddess hasn’t been hiddenAt all, in fact, She has been there The whole time.

The Snake

The Snake is a primordial Reminder of early life.Wisdom and virility, protectionOr caution. The Snake has been Recognized as a major symbolAmongst the Goddess cults since Earliest times.Here Greek Athena is Represented to be honoredAs well as feared.

Minoan Snake GoddessOr Priestess, learning The control of dancing with theSnakes was performed To show power. Priestess’ were valued, respected And honored.

In Egypt Snakes were honoredAnd respected to give visions.The eye of the Gods, the protectionOf man. The snake has long been A symbol of strength and mystery.

Isis appearing to LuciusIn “ The Golden Ass” Rears a serpent on her arm.Thus revealing her immortality.

Again we find familiar Symbols, the moon, cherubsThe diadem of the zodiac, The dove and the snake at foot.Linking the newer version ofThe Goddess to her ancient Forbearers.

We now see before our eyes the Links between our Pagan pastFrom the foot of Athena on the Acropolis to the foot of Maria, At the Vatican in Rome.Which was built on top of the TempleTo Diana.

The Dove

The Dove an eternal symbol Of peace and love.Associated With The Goddess.Pure, free and gentle.Either pulling Venus chariot orDelivering messages of love, Child bearing and new life.

Venus the RomanGoddess at homeIn nature is Portrayed in Similar poseAs the Madonna.Yet still set in Nature, golden Hair and depicting Their sacredPlace.

The GoddessAccessories and familiar implements

Symbols such as :

Wheat

The Torch

Sacred Knot

Situla

Starry cloak

Chalice

Mother Goddess image

The Goddess has always providedWheat, which sustained its Symbology still to this day.Festivals in Honor of Isis/Demeter inThe same vain as American ItaliansVenerate St. Anna.

The Torch plays a vital role in Goddess mythology.She leads the way for the dead, the living and the spiritually Blind. From Demeter seeking Persephone, Hecate lightingSpiritual darkness and Liberty giving hope in our modern day

The Sacred Knot that perpetuates virginity, knot of Fate,Binding heaven and earth. The Knot of Isis has survived inStyle and image for generations. It’s a Pagan reminderOf the oath Priestess took to tie them selves to spiritual Service, it is an honor.

The Situla carried over from ancient Egyptian practice and Into Roman ritual is still used to carry Holy Water, in ancientTimes it was from the Nile, in modern times blessed by Priests. Water being the very essence of life, is consideredSacred to Goddess devotees, especially amongst Isiacs.The custom is still carried out via Catholic or Pagan way.

The Starry Cloak worn by The Goddess through out history.Representing her connection to the heavens, as described By Apuleius in “ The Golden Ass” , Lucious views Isis wearsThe stars as a cloak. This concept has survived still.

The Chalice is the most universal symbol of The Goddess.Pagans and Catholics alike view this vessel as holy.To hold “ life” with in it, this ritual tool has played itsPriceless role in religious work. To toast a happy moment, Commerate a spiritual change.

The Mother GoddessSince mans Pagan beginnings a love andAdoration towards our Blessed Mother we have foreverVenerated Her with out change. Be her Venus and Cupid, The Lord, The Lady and new Birth, Maria and Jesus orIsis and Horus. The connection played between this symbolIs vital to the heart, psyche and spirit. Giving us the hopeWe are loved by Nature, our physical/spiritual mothers and That Life will continue.

Italian American Pagano/Catholic ways

The next series of images are a blurred

Line between paganism and Christianity.

It is a continual line from ancestors in a

Contemporary world.

Home shrines to The GoddessCan be found devotedly amongstItalian Americans ranging from Venus to Isis Maria

Italian American home shrines or using a Pagan term“ Lares” Shrine, are home shrines designed to honorSpirits of the dead, God/ess’, saints or other Family Oriented dieites.

From young to old, showingPublic adoration is a naturalAnd is an affectionate communalCustom and tradition.Goddess worship and venerationIs ong from dead where I comeFrom, we just show it in MyriadOf ways. Like Isis Myrionimus“She of a 1,000 names”