Sunday, November 6, 2011

ORPHIC INITIATION by Eric Whollem/ Mythographic Art: the Ancient Mysteries/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Notes on the Eleusinian Mysteries




ORPHIC INITIATION
1981
by Eric Whollem
wax emulsion on paper
10" x 8"
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

MYTHOGRAPHIC ART
The Ancient Mysteries

Orpheus is said to have brought the rites of the Egyptian mystery religion to
ancient Greece. He brought the cult of Demeter, the Mother Goddess from the
realm of the Nile north to Greece, where at the time the cult of Dionysius was
in full sway.

The image above depictss the Abaton, or Pit of Initiation. The Hierophant with
his rod of initiation ministers to an inititate, who envisions the Goddess as part
of the initiatory process.

The Eleusinian Mysteries were just one of a number of mystery schools that
developed in Greece over the years. The Eleusinian Mysteries, from their
center in Delphi, were famous for their oracle to which people from all across
the Mediterranean world came for insight.


ORPHIC NEOPHYTE

An earlier post of mine, 'Orphic Neophyte' gives a good account of the
Eleusinian Mysteries. Below is the lead image for this post:


ORPHIC NEOPHYTE
1983
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
Collection of the artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

See my post:

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See my posts on INITIATION for more insight into the ancient mysteries:

THE VIDEO BELOW
PRESENTS MORE OF MY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS

Figurative Paintings by Eric Whollem                       

See more of my posts of ABSTRACT ART:

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