ATARGATIS/ The Starwhale: Goddess of Dolphins/ A Figurative Ceramic Sculpture Painted With Natural Earth Paints

                

                                          

                                                      

                                                           Atargatis

                                                           1992

                                                           by Eric Whollem

                                                           earth paints on terracotta

                                                           Private collection.

                                                          14"

                                                              Photo copyright by the artist.

THE MOTHER OF THE ZODIAC

"The Mother of the Zodiac" was just one designation of Atargatis, the

ancient goddess of the Near East.

Her name means literally Star Whale. Derceto is her Babylonian

prototype. She also relates to Tara of Tibet and India.

The Greeks called the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Goats; these "goats"

were, in fact, the dolphins, the goats of the sea--playful beings.

The Babylonian god Ea, was anciently depicted with a goat's body

and a fish tail. He was a prototypical dolphin spirit. Interestingly

enough in Chinese astrology the sign Capricorn is the Dolphin.

I gave my sculpture of Atargatis goat's horns to symbolize her

connection to the Sea Ram, her husband, also known as Dagon,

the merman. This sculpture is painted with earth paints that I

gathered myself.

Atargatis was associated with the dolphins, and also was worshipped

at shrines with fish pools in the arid deserts of what became Palestine

in later times.

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CERAMIC FIGURINES

by Eric Whollem

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Mythology, anthropology, mermaids, Star Whale.