Beyond the Mystery
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Beyond the Mystery

Exploring the religions of the old and rediscovering our anncestors.
 
HomeSearchLatest imagesRegisterLog in

 

 Proserpina, Goddess of Sicily

Go down 
AuthorMessage
Silver Wind
Aud Mon Ra
Silver Wind


Posts : 1525
Join date : 2007-07-18
Age : 42
Location : The Mists of Avalon

Proserpina, Goddess of Sicily Empty
PostSubject: Proserpina, Goddess of Sicily   Proserpina, Goddess of Sicily Icon_minitimeTue Mar 04, 2008 10:49 am

by Steve Colombo

The story of Persephone (or Proserpina in Latin) is a well known Greek myth that is popularly told around Samhain time by many Pagans and is still known in mainstream society. The stories of the abduction of Persephone into the Underworld by Hades, and Her return from there, have inspired religious devo- tion in ancient times, artistic inspiration in the Renaissance, and characters on the TV shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. Gerald Gardner refers to the story's popularity in his Witchcraft Today. However, there is another side and dimension to this story that is not so well know generally, but is a cultural bedrock on the island of Sicily.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. It is home to its native people, the Sicilians themselves, who are named after the ancient Sicels, but it has been the meeting place of many major cultures, empires, and civilizations. Anciently, it was home to several prominent Greek colonies, and later it became the first holding off of the Italian Peninsula. Then the Romans claimed for their Empire. Western Sicily, especially the city of Syracuse, which was founded by the Greeks and where Socrates himself taught philosophy, still has a more Greek-style culture than an Italian culture, and there are still some pockets that speak Greek as the native language. During the reign of Augustus Caesar, he promoted the idea that the "Roman" people were the people of the Italian Peninsula and also Sicily. Today, Sicily is part of the Republic of Italy, but holds a certain amount of regional political autonomy. Sicilian is still the native language, but standard Italian and Latin are taught in schools.

Here is a brief recap of the story. The lovely girl Persephone, daughter of the, Vegetation Goddess Demeter, was picking flowers by a lakeside when She when was spied by the God Hades, ruler of the Underworld. He was immediately smitten by Her beauty and spirited Her away in His chariot driven by four black steeds, which took Them to His citadel in Tarterus. When Demeter heard of this abduction, She was sadden so much that She neglected Her duties as Goddess of Growing Vegetation until all the plant life began to die away. Demeter subsequently went through Her own sad adventures until Persephone was released in the Spring. Demeter was so happy upon the return of Her daughter that the world's plant life began to renew and grow again. However, there was a catch. Since Persephone had eaten some of the pomegranate, the food of the Underworld, She had to return again to Hades and remain with Him for part of the year. Demeter would miss Her daughter during this time, and in Her sadness, let the world die again until Persephone returned. This was the story of why the seasons changed. It was also the basis for the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were the secret re-enactment of this myth, which led its initiates through a symbolic life, death, and rebirth. The ancient center where these Mysteries were celebrated was in the Greek city of Eleusis, but there is more that is not so well known.

Persephone was known by the name Proserpina to the Latin speaking Romans, which is derived from the word proserpere, which means "to emerge." She was the daughter of Ceres, and Sicily was Her beloved island, the land over which She was Matron. Proserpina's abduction was said to have happened on the banks of Lake Peregusa, where She was picking flowers, which is by the town ofEnna, located in central Sicily. Pluto, as Hades was known in Latin, came forth from the volcanic Mount Etna, near Catania, which is on the coast of Western Sicily, in order to abduct Proserpina. Mt. Etna has figured richly in ancient mythology variously as the forge of the Roman smith God Vulcan, as the prison of the Titans who shake the Earth in their struggles towards freedom, and as an entrance to the Underworld. In Her terror, Proserpina gave chase, trying to escape from Pluto, but was eventually caught at the city of Syracuse. Both disappeared into the Underworld at Aretusa Fountain. Aretusa was a nymph who was turned into a spring by the Goddess Diana, in order to escape the wicked Alfeo who coveted her. In the Mediterranean, wells and springs were thought to be entrances to the Underworld.

The cult of Ceres and Proserpina was among the most celebrated in ancient times in Sicily. Our word "cult" comes from the Latin cultus, which simply means "cultivate" and referred to cultivating relationships with the Gods through offerings and prayers. The Ceralia, or the festival of Ceres, was celebrated anciently in April with a public procession, led by torch bearing priests, to the temple of Ceres. In The Golden Ass by Apulieus, Proserpina is referred to as being the Goddess of the Sicilians. In modem times, the story of Proserpina is known as a "Sicilian folktale" throughout Italy.

Today the area of Lake Peregusa is a Nature preserve. It has a pinewood forest that is a home for several species of birds, and the lake itself can appear red from the abundance of microorgan- isms. In the nearby area, there are Greek ruins dating back to the seventh century BCE. There are even the remains of several copper age huts and a graveyard. The myth of Proserpina is remembered by bronze statues of Renaissance master Bernini's "The Abduction of Proserpina" in the cities of Enna and Catania. Stories of Her are still remembered and told, and the legend of Her continues to echo through the ages.
Back to top Go down
http://www.journalhome.com/silverwynd2/
 
Proserpina, Goddess of Sicily
Back to top 
Page 1 of 1
 Similar topics
-
» The Goddess Three
» The Goddess
» Goddess in the Moon
» Tripple Goddess
» Three Goddess Spell

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Beyond the Mystery :: Pagan Life :: God and Goddess-
Jump to: