Sarah Iles JohnstonRecensioni

Instead of a review, a devotional "rhyme-poem" to thank the writer of this greatly researched book.

Key of virtue, poureth the soul, opener of gateways, chaser with demon-dogs,
Archeress of nekroi, drakaiana Artemis, blesser of the purified souls,
Red for divine fire, white for aethyr, black for hylic chtonic abysmal chaotic jaw,

When lions roared across the Tartarus, ‘tis formless eyeless chaos,
Marked me for a Saturnine spirit without a soul - wrapped in niger cloak
You were the first to open the shadows to the seer,
Isis after trials - unveiled the divine worlds,

Serpent of Eileithyia incised upon my neck, it ascends from water
Into the divine world’s embrace, Mithraic cross upon my forehead,
Magna Mater and Helios with Muses whisper thunderously:
“Thou shall be free”.

Mask of Hekate is shown only to a child, or a tormented devotee
For the profane she turns into swirling maelstorm of Physis’ terror
That casts them into ignorance of dealing with Gods,
Whereupon they are a mocking stock of everything they think they see.

Gods are seen in the sky, stars, heart and high intellect,
They manifest in great synthony of hopeless pain, great love,
And mystes’ constantly observant eyes.
If there is no chalice coined of a heroic life - how do you imagine
That wine is fulled with ambrosia by the immortal company?

They great Gods never manifest as luring tempting images of chtonic deceptions,
When you close your eyes at night. Or as simulacra and nightmares that torment some,
Let me give you an advice - when shadow terrorize you at night, catch the golden thread, do not be afraid, but follow the silver Pythagorean path,

Propitiated the Erynies’ dead, befriend the better part in demons,
Call for protection against the combustible, volatile part
And in apothropaic theurgy honor her, as her lilly’s grow with delight,

Isis will show you the path, once the ordeals are done,
Hekate will open the cosmic gateways, if verily thy desire
Is to cast the Earthly, the unworthy, the undivine,
And leave it to be devoured by the howling ones.

Instead of a review, a devotional "rhyme-poem" to thank the writer of this greatly researched book.

Key of virtue, poureth the soul, opener of gateways, chaser with demon-dogs,
Archeress of nekroi, drakaiana Artemis, blesser of the purified souls,
Red for divine fire, white for aethyr, black for hylic chtonic abysmal chaotic jaw,

When lions roared across the Tartarus, ‘tis formless eyeless chaos,
Marked me for a Saturnine spirit without a soul - wrapped in niger cloak
You were the first to open the shadows to the seer,
Isis after trials - unveiled the divine worlds,

Serpent of Eileithyia incised upon my neck, it ascends from water
Into the divine world’s embrace, Mithraic cross upon my forehead,
Magna Mater and Helios with Muses whisper thunderously:
“Thou shall be free”.

Mask of Hekate is shown only to a child, or a tormented devotee
For the profane she turns into swirling maelstorm of Physis’ terror
That casts them into ignorance of dealing with Gods,
Whereupon they are a mocking stock of everything they think they see.

Gods are seen in the sky, stars, heart and high intellect,
They manifest in great synthony of hopeless pain, great love,
And mystes’ constantly observant eyes.
If there is no chalice coined of a heroic life - how do you imagine
That wine is fulled with ambrosia by the immortal company?

They great Gods never manifest as luring tempting images of chtonic deceptions,
When you close your eyes at night. Or as simulacra and nightmares that torment some,
Let me give you an advice - when shadow terrorize you at night, catch the golden thread, do not be afraid, but follow the silver Pythagorean path,

Propitiated the Erynies’ dead, befriend the better part in demons,
Call for protection against the combustible, volatile part
And in apothropaic theurgy honor her, as her lilly’s grow with delight,

Isis will show you the path, once the ordeals are done,
Hekate will open the cosmic gateways, if verily thy desire
Is to cast the Earthly, the unworthy, the undivine,
And leave it to be devoured by the howling ones.

changing attitudes toward the dead and ritual practices associated with ghosts

Great book, I recommend it to those who wish to learn about the greek goddess Hecate (or Hekate).

This is an erudite volume that requires considerable background to grasp the complexity of ancient religion.

A grab-bag of short historical and analytic treatments of the major ancient religions. The one on Zoroastrianism is particularly good.½

This is an excellent collection of essays on Medea, and I would highly recommend it for anybody interested in the figure of Medea in any incarnation.