#Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art

[panicinthestudio]

Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art Virtual Opening, December 1, 2022

In Maya art, the gods are depicted at all stages of life: as infants, as adults at the peak of their maturity and influence, and as they age. The gods could die, and some were born anew, serving as models of regeneration and resilience. Join Joanne Pillsbury, Andrall E. Pearson Curator of Ancient American Art in The Met's Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, alongside Oswaldo Chinchilla Mazariegos, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Yale University, curators of the exhibition along with Laura Filloy Nadal, Associate Curator of Ancient American Art at The Met, to virtually explore Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art.  In this exhibition rarely seen masterpieces and recent discoveries trace the life cycle of the gods, from the moment of their creation in a sacred mountain to their dazzling transformations as blossoming flowers or fearsome creatures of the night. 

Maya artists depicted the gods in imaginative ways from the monumental to the miniature—from exquisitely carved, towering sculptures to jade, shell, and obsidian ornaments that adorned kings and queens, connecting them symbolically to supernatural forces. Finely painted ceramics reveal the eventful lives of the gods in rich detail. Created by master artists of the Classic period (A.D. 250–900) in the royal cities of what is now Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, the landmark works in this exhibition evoke a world in which the divine, human, and natural realms are interconnected and alive. 

Learn more about the exhibition here: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2022/gods-divinity-maya-art

The Met

[whencyclopedia]

Dogs and Their Collars in Ancient Mesoamerica

Dogs were an integral aspect of the lives of the people of Mesoamerica regardless of their location or culture and, throughout the region, were recognized as liminal beings belonging not only to the natural world and that of humans but to this world and the next.

Dogs were believed by the Aztec, Maya, and Tarascan to travel between worlds, assist the souls of the dead, warn of dangers to the living and, at the same time, were regarded as a food source, companion, and guardian in daily life. The dogs of the indigenous people are frequently depicted without collars because it seems to have been thought that these would restrict the dog’s movement between worlds.

Even so, collars did exist – fashioned for humans to wear – and it is thought that these developed from dog collars. This model changed with the arrival of Christopher Columbus (l. 1451-1506) in the West Indies in 1492. Columbus’ dogs all wore collars and were much larger than the animals the natives were used to. The European dogs had also been trained for war and so were far more savage than any dog a Taino, for example, had ever known.

After Columbus, who sailed for Spain, more Spanish invaders arrived and made their way north through South America to Mesoamerica, bringing Christianity with them. Christianity began to replace indigenous beliefs and, as the Catholic Church claimed dogs had no souls, belief in the supernatural power of the dog declined. Although there were no doubt many indigenous peoples who still believed in the dog as a psychopomp, there is no widespread evidence of this belief after the arrival of the Spanish as compared with pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The descendants of the ancient people of the region have only begun restoring their ancient cultures in the past 100 years and so, in time, the dog has slowly regained the status it once held.

Olmecs & Their Dogs

The Olmecs of Mesoamerica lived in the lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico c. 1400-400 BCE and bred dogs as food. The Olmecs are the oldest civilization in the western hemisphere, inventing the first written language of Mesoamerica as well as distinctive art and architecture which would influence the later civilizations of the Aztecs, Maya, and Tarascan, among others. The sacred animal of the Olmecs was the jaguar which was thought to be spiritually related to the dog. The dog was therefore associated with the divine while, at the same time, serving as a food source. There seems to have been no contradiction in this as dogs, servants and messengers of the gods, also served humanity by graciously offering themselves as food.

A tomb of the Zoque peoples, a Mesoamerican population thought to be descended from the Olmec, was discovered in 2010 in Chiapa de Corzo containing jade collars. These were ornamental collars for human wear but could have developed from the dog collar. The tomb dates to between 700-500 BCE and is the oldest pyramid tomb yet found in the region.

The indigenous people of modern-day Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and neighboring regions, built pyramids as temples, not as tombs, and this find is thought to reflect an earlier Olmec practice of keeping precious objects in temples – one that was observed by later cultures. The jade collars, though clearly for human use, could have linked an officiant with the spirit of a liminal dog who would bring messages from the gods.

Continue reading...

[shamandrummer]

Wisdom of the Thunder Beings

The Thunder Beings are a related family of divine beings who bring about weather changes such as thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Through their power abiding in the atmosphere, they sustain the Earth and protect the people. Through lightning, they directly purify the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the earth we cultivate. They create a world-wide lightning display that produces and maintains the "heartbeat frequency" (Schumann resonance) of the Earth's electromagnetic grid. Their holy medicine includes creativity, fertility, protection, peace, harmony, balance, compassion, wisdom, enlightenment, death and rebirth. Through the Thunder Beings, all life has been created, is sustained and will be destroyed. They sustain balance and destroy imbalance, the cause of suffering.

From time immemorial, people have worshiped the Thunder Beings. They are the source of all ideological, religious and spiritual transmission. The early cultures attribute their belief systems to the teachings of rain gods and goddesses. Their myths tell of how rain deities created the world, humans and all life. They came down to Earth in the distant past and gave humanity language, law, the arts, spiritual sciences, wisdom and knowledge. The Thunder Beings were instrumental in teaching their mortal cousins how to properly honor and commune with the spirits to gain their blessings.

The core beliefs and principles of all spiritual cultural traditions come from the Thunder Beings. The Native American spiritual traditions originated from the rain deities known as Wakinyan, Animiki and Kachinas. The Mongolian shamanic traditions originated from the sky deity known as Tengri. The Maya shamanic traditions originated from the lightning deities known as Chaac, K'awiil and Yaluk. The Chinese Taoist traditions originated from a thunder god known as Lei Kung. The Australian Aboriginal shamanic traditions originated from the cloud and rain spirits known as Wandjina. They are the roots of all integral shamanic and wisdom traditions.

Among the Yoruba people of West Africa, the orisha (god) of thunder is known as Shango. Shango is renowned for his oshe, a double-headed battle-ax, as well as the double-headed bata drum he uses to summon rain storms. The orishas are the powerful divine spirits of the Yoruba religion. They are the creator and sustainer of all things. They are the manifestations of primordial energies, both creative and destructive. They are the conduits by which life and all cultural wisdom entered the world. Like all of the Yoruba gods, Shango is both a deified historical ancestor and a divine natural spiritual force. Orishas enter the mortal world, complete epic feats, live, die and then are reincarnated into the world to complete even more amazing tasks. They are immortal energies that represent a core part of Yoruba philosophy and belief.

Every spring, the Lakota people gather at Black Elk Peak in the sacred Paha Sapa (Black Hills) for the "Welcome Back the Thunders" ceremony. The Lakota ceremonial season begins with the return of the Wakinyan or Thunder Beings. According to legend, the Wakinyan are huge winged beings that humans cannot see because they are shielded by thick clouds. Thunder is made by the sound of their voices, and lightning is created when they open and close their eyes. The Wakinyan created wild rice and gave the Lakota the spear, the tomahawk and pigments to make them impervious to weapons. The annual vernal equinox ceremony ends with Lakota teens carrying a sacred pipe and food offerings to the top of Black Elk Peak. As the highest point in the Paha Sapa, the Lakota consider it to be the most appropriate spot to bring prayers to Wakan Tanka (Great Mystery).

Among the Pueblo people of the American Southwest, the deities known as kachinas bring the rain for their three main crops: corn, beans and squash. Puebloans believe that kachinas are divine spirits present in features of the natural world such as clouds, winds, thunder and rain. They are also ancestral spirits that help connect humans with the spirit world. They come to the human realm to collect the people's prayers and take them back to the spirit realm. The kachinas dwell in sacred mountains and other holy places, but spend half of each year living near Pueblo villages. During this time, the men of kachina societies perform traditional ceremonies linked with the presence of the spirits. They wear costumes and elaborate masks and perform songs and dances associated with specific kachinas. The Puebloans say that during these rituals each dancer is transformed into the spirit being represented.

In the Asian traditions, the Thunder Beings are responsible for expressing the higher truth of spiritual reality, safeguarding it and disseminating it for the benefit of all beings. The essence of the Asian spiritual traditions is the direct experience of enlightenment--of perfect tranquility and unconditional bliss. This experience is fully attained through the Thunder Beings by virtue of their mystical thunder and lightning blessings. In Tantric Buddhism, their names and images are used in visualization-based meditations to awaken the mind. Through the proper use of these images and sacred sound in meditation, we can liberate our minds from suffering.

The Thunder Beings are invisible, yet out of compassion they reveal themselves through thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Their visible manifestation or mystical visitation is universally one of storm-display. Even though there is great destructive rage in storms, in truth this is merely a means of ushering in peace, of clearing great obstructions. Everything that the Thunder Beings do has the effect of bringing about peace and harmony.

Thunder Beings are perfect and beyond suffering. Nature is their manifestation; it is quite beautiful and harmonious. Where there is calamity, the cause is poor human activity, such as war, pollution and environmental devastation. There is little peace on Earth because there is little peace in our hearts. In order to establish it, we must diligently work for it through meditation and through compassionate activity. Meditation--whether it's silent or drumming up a storm--increases our wisdom and insight, our capacity to be of true help to others. Wisdom is the light of the Thunder Beings shining through our heart. It is the lightning within us striking its way out.

[eastvillagetripster]

Stony Stare

Mayan stone carved head in “Lives of the Gods, Divinity in Maya Art” show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Fifth Avenue and 81st Street, Uppper East Side, New York City.

[artlimited]

Collective Exhibition | Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art https://www.artlimited.net/agenda/collective-exhibition-lives-of-the-gods-divinity-in-maya-art-met-new-york/en/7584946

[highrouteadventure]

Did you know top 10 Pilgrim destination in Nepal?

Nepal is notable for its amazing traveling areas as well as for being the area of old strict landmarks and customs going back millennia. Similarly, it is accepted that 33 million divine beings and goddesses dwell in Nepal, and different sanctuaries and areas regarding these divinities might be tracked down all through the country.

Nepal is impacted socially by China and India, two of its neighbors. Although Nepal became a secular nation on January 15, 2007, 81.3 percent of its population still adheres to Hinduism. Also, Nepal's strict uniformity is exhibited by the enormous number of sanctuaries, places of worship, mosques, and religious communities.

Besides, Nepal has a rich history with significant people from Buddhist and Hindu folklore. Nepal is said to have been home to or visited by some gods. Nepal, on the other hand, is home to Gautam Buddha, the Asian light, and has a beautiful history that goes back millennia. Hindus and Buddhists also consider a few of Nepal's most ancient holy monuments to be the most sacred places on earth to see or experience redemption. These areas likewise highlight great instances of traditional expressive arts and classical design. These beautiful locales furnish guests with peacefulness and serenity along with an intriguing past.

Rundown of Strict Spots

1. Pashupatinath Temple

The Pashupatinath Temple is viewed as among the holiest locales in Nepal. On the banks of the Bagmati Stream in Kathmandu, it is arranged. This is the most well-known and oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. This notable journey site was perceived as a World Legacy Site by UNESCO in 1979.

The globe Pashupatinath represents Hindu lord Siva, who is the god of all Pashus (Animals), both living and non-living. As per its definition, Pashupatinath is the divine force of all living things on The planet. A further sign of the worth of other living things is the assortment of monkey flavors that can be tracked down about the Temple.

2. Lumbini

The well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site Lumbini is located in Nepal's Rupandehi district. Lumbini, the holy birthplace of Gautama Buddha, is our nation's glory. Following the rediscovery of the Ashoka point of support, which had been lost for millennia, by a German paleontologist, this was drafted as an UNESCO World Legacy Site in 1997.

At Lumbini, the sacred lake where Maya Devi, the mother of Master Buddha, used to wash is as yet unblemished. Perhaps of the most profound area on the planet, Lumbini is where travelers come to accomplish inward peacefulness. There are approximately twenty-five foreign-built Buddhist monasteries at Lumbini.

3. Boudhanath Stupa

Inside the Kathmandu Valley is a staggering area known as Boudhanath, home to the Boudhanath stupa. The Boudhanath stupa is a sacred site for Buddhist pilgrims. This holy structure is constructed in the style of a mandala and is the largest dome-shaped stupa in the world.

Boudhanath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage destination for Buddhists from all over the world, including those from Nepal. The stupa is viewed as a consecrated journey site by Buddhists and is found not a long way from Pashupatinath. A hall where monks and pilgrims can chant prayers and pay homage to the Buddha is located directly in front of the stupa.

4. Swayambhunath

Settled on the slope sitting above the Kathmandu valley is the notable and respected Swayambhunath Temple. It is also well-known, as is the Monkey Temple. The Swayambhunath stupa, another religious structure that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a significant Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal.

Swoyambhu, which means "self-created," is said to have been born from a lotus flower after a Bodhisattva named Manjushree cut a George at Chovar. The Buddhist chaitya's dome-shaped figure represents the world, while the four eyes on its four sides represent wisdom and compassion.

Because pilgrims from both religions regularly visit the stupa, visitors can observe the practices and rituals of both religions.

5. Muktinath

Temple is situated 3,710 meters above sea level. The Muktinath Temple is a blessed site arranged in Nepal's Colt locale. There is a firm belief that one might be able to end the cycle of birth and rebirth. Additionally, the literal translation of Muktinath's name is "a place for liberation."

The main landmark in Muktinath is a temple to Lord Vishnu in the shape of a pagoda. Behind the "Muktidhara" temple are 108 water fountains where pilgrims bathe in the hope of salvation.

Explorers have two choices: either go on a road trip in a jeep or fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then Jomsom. The flight only takes 25 minutes, whereas the drive takes two to three days to get to Muktinath Temple.

6. Manakamana Temple

The Manakamana Temple is a Hindu heavenly site found 105 km west of the capital. It is also believed that their request will be granted after visiting this celestial location. Two words give rise to the name: Mana, which means "heart," and Kamana, which means "wishes."

The staggering four-story Manakamana Temple has a rooftop suggestive of a layered pagoda. The entrance to the temple can be found in Kurintar. Nepal's Manakamana cable car is probably the first of its kind, making it easier for devotees to visit Manakamana Devi and return home in one day.

7. Janaki Temple

The ancient Hindu temple known as Janaki Temple can be found in the Mithila area of the Dhanusa district of Nepal. It is called Janaki Mandir. Janakpur is well-known for religious and cultural tourism due to the Ram-Janaki Temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Sita.

Since it took 9 lakh to raise this Temple in 1898, it is frequently alluded to as "Nau lakh mandir." It is a three-story, sixty-room structure with a total area of 4,806 square feet and a height of 50 meters.

King Janak, according to legend, ruled this kingdom during the Ramayana. His daughter Janaki (Sita) made it possible for her to marry Lord Ram here.

8. Pathivara Devi

The Pathivara Devi temple is close to Taplejung and has a height of 3,794 meters (12,448 feet). One of Nepal's most significant religious landmarks is the Pathivara Temple. To get here, it takes time and effort, so it's not an easy feat.

It is said that Pathivara Devi will answer all of our prayers if we worship her in her temple. When the weather is bad, getting to Pathivara is harder and more interesting.

9. Tengboche Monastery

Arranged on a peak at the gathering point of the Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola, the renowned Monastery is concealed by Mount Everest. In the twentieth 100 years, this religious community was constructed. Tengboche monastery is a well-known Buddhist shrine in Nepal, especially for the Sherpa people.

This monastery hosts the renowned Mani Rimdu festival each November. The three-day festivity is featured by the priests' notable cover moves. A look of Tibetan social impact should be visible in the perplexing enhancements, banners, mani stones, and petitions that embellish Tengboche.

10. Gosaikunda

Lake is one of Langtang National Park's largest and most sacred lakes. The Lake is full of pilgrims during Gangadashahara and Janai Purnima, two of Nepal's most important festivals.

Perhaps of the hardest journey in Nepal is the one to Gosaikunda. Because it was once the home of the Hindu idols of Shiva and Gauri, this location is holy and sacred. Outside of the holiday season, there aren't many pilgrims visiting this lake. Notwithstanding, this sacred site takes on an interesting and mysterious environment all through the Christmas season.

[platycat3]

The Maya as well as many other Meso-American civilisations engaged in artistry and sculpting. Similar to the Olmecs, the Maya were skilled in the art of stone working and created small figurines as well as large monuments out of stone, clay and other materials. These stone monuments while differing in size served a variety of purposes, ranging from ceremonial processes, adornments to homes or temples, and worship of gods, ancestors and those who have passed on. In this entry, the nature and relevance of two specific statues will be discussed, the first one being a depiction of the divine figure known as Chac.

Chac was an incredibly important deity for the Mayan people living in the north of the Yucatan peninsula, as he embodied the weather and water, as well as the four directions, a function that other mythological figures also embody in other indigenous societies on Turtle Island. This function as the embodiment of the four directions is referenced in similar ways by the attire Chac is depicted in, often featuring design elements focussed on the number four. These range from the four distinct holes in the statue, the four-part knot necklace Chac is wearing, as well the four ropes his belt features. Furthermore, the obsidian blade that once was lodged in the hilt of the statues stone axe was likely imported from further inland, as this Chac statue is from the dry and arid Yucatan peninsula, where obsidian is hard to find. 

As for the other statue, aptly named the ‘Embracing Couple’, the scale is the complete opposite.  Being much smaller than the 7 foot stone statue of Chac, this visual art piece is merely 10 inches tall. While the purpose of both statues is still ultimately unknown, the embracing couple seems to have a more personal meaning than the Chac statue. As the Couple was found at a burial site of wealthy and influential people off the coast of the mainland, it is possible that the statuette not only depicts individuals who have passed on and are being remembered by someone who made or commissioned this art piece, but also that this art piece is what high quality Mayan artwork can look like, for the right price. 

Visually speaking, the two art pieces look quite different from one another, despite being made by the same group of people. They both share an attention to detail on the face and head region of the human body, and have accurate and logical human proportions, while the Embracing Couple seems to feature more details. This is likely due to the scale of the two. 

In terms of bias, there isn’t a lot, as no ethnographic gap is present. The only dividing factor would be the differing amounts of precision invested in the construction of the two, as the smaller Couple was likely more expensive to produce. In terms of how the statues relate to global history, they represent how Mayan visual culture was adapted and integrated into other Meso-American societies after their subjugation by the Toltecs, which spread their ideas and art style further beyond their cultural borders.

[drjacquescoulardeau]

Let Them Speak In Glyphs

2 show the tremendous loss this catalog endorses irreversibly 4 the public. Nice to know the Maize God is “Jun Nal Ye,” but the composite glyph that spells this name is a lot richer. Every detail of the 3 syllabic glyphs is meaningful. Most are dropped by the transliteration. The MET just burry the glyphs without even giving some examples of this brilliant and awesome writing system.

[formlessing]

Lila

Brahman is full of all perfections. And to say that Brahman has some purpose in creating the world will mean that it wants to attain through the process of creation something which it has not. And that is impossible. Hence, there can be no purpose of Brahman in creating the world. The world is a mere spontaneous creation of Brahman. It is a Lila, or sport, of Brahman. It is created out of Bliss, by Bliss and for Bliss. Lila indicates a spontaneous sportive activity of Brahman as distinguished from a self-conscious volitional effort. The concept of Lila signifies freedom as distinguished from necessity.

— Ram Shanker Misra, The Integral Advaitism of Sri Aurobindo

"The definition of lila is “sport” or “play” in Sanskrit. It represents the idea of joyous and unnecessary creativity (Sax 13). The first appearance as a theological term was in the Vedanta Sutra in approximately the third century C.E. (Sax 14). Theological terms arose before mythology was written to explain it, in such texts as the Bhagavad Gita and the Harivamsa Purana composed 300 C.E. (Sax 15). The Vaisnava tradition, particularly the Krsna cult, was the leader in elaborating on lila and its doctrine (Sax 14).

In Hinduism, the gods embody the principles that teach its followers about enlightenment. These gods are believed to be complete, with no needs or desires. To resemble the gods, one must stop acting from necessity and act outside of cause and effect (Kinsley xi). They act outside of maya, or illusion and cosmic ignorance, as maya is the collection of illusive ideas which create a world that is false. The creative process and action of lila is real, and the creation is a manifestation of the true nature of God (Sax 15). Lila is associated with ananda (bliss) in freedom and spontaneity (Olson 165). For the self, this could represent support and appreciation of joy in living, or can be used as the idea to experience tragedies as part of the play of the gods (Sax 15). Maya-lila is the concept that creation is continuous, ceaseless cycles of creation and destruction. There are multiple realities, they are transformable, with blurred definitions between divine play and non-play. It permeates art and religion for the privileged upper classes who intertwine the serious, real aspects of life with creativity, such as switching male and female gender roles (Schechner 35). This cycle is permanent as the maya illusion of necessary work consistently interacts with the lila sport of divine play (Kinsley xii)."

[ihgdbook]

Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art - Joanne Pillsbury

[shoedaydreams]

Loved seeing the new “Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art" at the Met. The exhibit is so well laid out showing how important Day and Night were as divinities and I find fascinating thr was so many cultures have such beautiful but different forms of hieroglyphics. .... #UnderGlassCollection #ShoeDaydreams #CuratedCloset #TheClosedDoorCollection #SophisticatedPrecious #met #metmuseum #LivesOfGods #ues #museumexhibition #exhibit #mayan #maya #uesnyc #newyorkcity @metmuseum @metancient @metmembers https://www.instagram.com/p/ClxNlWMuA8C/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hyperallergic]

At a recent preview of The Met’s “Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art,” visitors marveled quietly at large relief stoneworks and painted ceramic vessels excavated from lost cities abandoned during the Classic Maya collapse. The galleries were softly lit if not totally dark — opening the floor for the centuries-old works to speak for themselves.

With both the natural decay and intentional destruction of almost all Maya texts, ancient Maya spirituality is deciphered and analyzed primarily through these precious objects. 

[spinallyspiraling]

The Serpent which forms the figure of a circle, in that Gnostic trance of devouring its own tail, is an extraordinary synthesis of that marvellous message of Lord Quetzalcoatl. In the vertical position it illustrates the Maya or Nahuatl idea of the Divine Viper devouring the Soul and Spirit of man, or finally the sexual flames consuming the animal ego, and annihilated it reducing it to ashes.The Serpent is unquestionably the esoteric symbol of wisdom and occult knowledge. The Serpent has been related with the God of Wisdom since ancient times. The Serpent is the sacred symbol of Thoth, and of all the other Holy Gods such as Hermes, Serapis, Jesus, Quetzalcoatl, Buddha, Tlaloc, Dante, Zoroaster, Bochica etc., etc., etc.Any Adept of the Universal White Fraternity may correctly be represented by the “Great Serpent”; that which occupies such a prominent position amongst the symbols of the Gods which appear upon the black stones of the buildings of Babylon. AEsculapius, Pluto, Esmun, Kneph, are all, according to Dupuis, deities with theattributes of the serpent. All are healers, givers of spiritual and physical health and of illumination. The Brahmins obtained their cosmogony, science and cultural arts from the famous “Naga-Maya” who were later called “Danavas”. The “Naga” and the Brahmin used the sacred symbol of the Plumed Serpent, an in disputably Mexican and Mayan emblem. The Upanishads contain a treatise on the Science of Serpents, or, that which is the same, the Science of occult knowledge. The “Nagas” (Serpents) of esoteric Buddhism are Real Men, perfect, Self-Realised, by virtue of their occult knowledge and protectorship of the law of Buddha by means of which they correctly interpret his metaphysi cal doctrine. The Great Kabir Jesus of Nazareth would never have advised his disci pies that they should be wise like the Serpent if it had been a symbol of evil. We would do well to remember the Ophites, the Gnostic Egyptian sages of the “Fraternity of the Serpent”. In their ceremonies they would never have made a live snake an object of adoration, being the emblem of Wisdom, Divine Sophia, if that reptile had been associated with the powers of evil. The Sacred Serpent or Saviour Logos sleeps coiled within the depths of the Ark, mystically lying in wait; awaiting the instant of being awakened. Kundalini, the Igneous Serpent of our Magical Powers, coiled within the magnetic centre of the coccyx (the base of the spinal column) shines like a bolt of lightning.

[artlimited]

Collective Exhibition | Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art https://www.artlimited.net/agenda/collective-exhibition-lives-of-the-gods-divinity-in-maya-art-met-new-york/en/7584946

[gabriulio]

Persona World’s Demon Encyclopedia - Days 7-10

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Twitter thread

All entries can be found in my blog, tagged as “demonic compendium.”

Sorry for not posting anything in the past few days. Real Life™ has been hectic, but here’s all the profiles that should have been posted if everything went according to plan. Since I missed four days it should’ve meant 12 profiles, but 3 of those are stuff I’ve already translated in the past so they don’t count. Which means here’s a whooping FIFTEEN profiles in total. Enjoy!

Ah Puch

Mayan death god. He looks like a white skeletal figure with protruding ribs and patches of decayed skin. He wears bells all throughout his body and is accompanied by a dog and an owl.

Ah Puch is the leader of the Bolontiku, a group of nine gods who govern Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. He also presides over Mitnal, the lowermost layer of Xibalba.

Abe no Seimei

An onmyōji who lived in Japan during the Heian (794-1185) period. It is speculated that he’s a descendant of Abe no Musaki, but his mother’s identity is unknown, though some believe that his mother was the fox spirit Kuzunoha.

Seimei’s name has also been recorded in multiple manuscripts, some of them depicting legends that stray from reality. In the Konjaku Monogatari, Seimei was a pupil of Kamo no Tadayuki and learned the secret arts from him. It was also said that he had outstanding abilities, such as being able to divine the cause of the Emperor’s illness, and also employ a total of twelve shikigami.

Seimei’s arch nemesis was Ashiya Douman. The two of them once competed to see who was superior and Seimei won. In retaliation, Douman assassinated Seimei’s father, but Seimei was able to revive him using his power.

Nowadays, the Seimei ward of Kyoto houses the Seimei Shrine, which celebrates the anniversary of Seimei’s death every year with a festival on September 26.

Apep

Egyptian snake god born from the primordial sea. He embodies chaos itself, and is also called “The Great Serpent.” He’s also associated with Ouroboros, the giant serpent from Greek mythology that surrounds the world.

As his name suggests, Apep’s body is gigantic. Every day, the sun god Ra carries the sky from West to East, and Apep attempts to swallow it. As a result of Apep’s actions, the day-night cycle exists.

Apollo

A Greek god. He and his twin sister Artemis were born from Zeus and the goddess Leto. He was fed nectar and ambrosia, the drink and food of the gods, and thus grew into an adult in only a few days. He performed many heroic deeds, such as slaying the giant snake Python and the giant Tityos.

Apollo was a young and beautiful god, and so there are many legends that talk about his love life. However, he was repeatedly deceived and betrayed, and so his love was never returned.

Amatsu Mikaboshi

Also known as Ame no Kakaseo or Hoshi no Kakaseo, he is the Japanese god of stars.

In the Nihon Shoki, the gods Take-Mikazuchi and Futsunushi tried to subjugate Ashihara no Nakatsu Kuni during the Tenson Kōrin, but Amatsu Mikaboshi resisted them until the very end, granting him the epithet of "disobedient fierce god." However, in the end he was defeated by Shitsuri and Take-Hazuchi.

Maihime Amano

An original character appearing in Eternal Punishment.

She is a daughter from one of Kiyotada Sumaru’s branch families and Maya Amano’s ancestor. She and her lover Tatsunoshin Suou assassinated Kiyotada Sumaru, the tyrant who wanted to take over all of Japan. Even after Kiyotada’s death, her mummified remains keep watch over the city of Sumaru.

When summoned as a Persona, she has the appearance of a red-haired woman sporting two horns and wearing long-sleeved clothes.

Ameretat

One of the seven archangels from Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spenta. She’s a daughter of the chief god Ahura Mazda and her name means “Immortality.” She’s the guardian angel of plants and responsible for governing the spiritual power of the sacred tree Haoma.

She often appears in conjunction with the god Haurvatat, whose name means “wholeness” and “satisfaction,” as the two of them are associated with water and plants. By uniting their powers, the two of them are capable of sending forth rain. Flowers are given as offerings in rituals that worship Ameretat.

Ame no Uzume

Japanese goddess of kagura and performing arts. When the goddess Amaterasu hid herself inside a cave known as Ama no Iwato and darkness fell over the world, Ame no Uzume danced in front of it with her breasts and crotch exposed, attracting Amaterasu’s attention and drawing her out of the cave.

“Uzume” means traditional Japanese hair ornaments, also known as kanzashi, which she wears when performing a kagura. It’s also believed that Ame no Uzume was originally a mortal woman who became deified.

Amon-Ra

The chief god of ancient Egypt. His name means "he who is hidden," and he's commonly depicted in murals as a person wearing a large feather hat.

Originally, Amon and Ra were two separate gods, but once the capital was moved to Thebes during the Middle Kingdom, the two gods were merged into one. They became Amon-Ra, sun god and supreme deity of Egypt. He's also the guardian deity of the pharaohs, and according to legend the pharaohs are his descendants.

Pride

An original demon from Ibunroku with the shape of a mask. It represents the human emotion of believing oneself to be superior and looking down on others. Other names for this emotion include: arrogance, haughtiness, and insolence.

Alastor

From Greek mythology, he’s the official in charge of performing executions in Hell. Alastor is also known as “the executioner” in Zoroastrianism.

He was originally the son of the sea god Nereus, but Alastor had his wife stolen by his step-father, which prompted him to take revenge. Ever since the Middle Ages, Alastor came to be seen as an executioner who follows the orders of the devil. Because of this, the name “Alastor” itself means “avenger.”

Arianrhod

A Welsh goddess worshiped as the guardian deity of the Corona Borealis. She’s the daughter of the mother goddess Don and sister of Gwydion. Her role is to keep the silver wheels representing time turning for all eternity. Aside from turning the wheels of time, Arianrhod is also responsible for ferrying those who die in combat to the afterlife in a large boat. She’s also called the mother of the Aryan race and believed to be the same entity as the Greek Ariadne.

Alice

A mysterious girl. Her name and features resemble the protagonist of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

She's an original demon in the Megami Tensei series, first appearing in Shin Megami Tensei. Afterwards, she kept appearing in other games of the franchise as a rare demon.

Arachne

Greek goddess of wisdom, crafts, and weaving. She was the daughter of the famous dyer Idmon and possessed exceptional skill at weaving. However, Arachne’s pride grew too big, which made her challenge the gods to a weaving contest. In the contest, she weaved various depictions of scandals committed by the gods in a tapestry, which drew their ire. As punishment, the goddess Athena transformed her into a spider.

Artemis

One of the twelve Olympians from Greek mythology. She is the goddess of the moon and hunting. She can always be found running in the woods, carrying bow and arrows and accompanied by a group of nymphs and hunting dogs.

Artemis is fastidious and merciless. She once transformed Actaeon, a hunter who caught a glimpse of her naked body, into a stag and then had his own hunting dogs kill him. She also transformed a woman who broke her vow of chastity and got pregnant into a bear.

Her Roman counterpart is the moon goddess Selene.

Wow, this was a lot!

TOMORROW: Alecto, Ares, and Aonbharr.

[citylifeorg]

The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Unveil Great Hall Display of Powerful Ancient Maya Stone Monuments from the Republic of Guatemala

The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Unveil Great Hall Display of Powerful Ancient Maya Stone Monuments from the Republic of Guatemala

Met Fifth Ave. Photo: Kate Glicksberg On view starting September 2, the installation of long-term loans celebrates the upcoming exhibition Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art, opening at The Met in fall 2022 The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today that it will unveil a new installation of two eighth-century Maya stone monuments, known as stelae, in its iconic Great Hall on September…