Dolphin Goddess Artist Stamps/ A Ceramic Sculpture With Earth Paints/ Atargatis

"ATARGATIS"

Empire of Amphora

2001

by EricWhollem

edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs

48 x 79 mm.

Copyright by the artist.

ATARGATIS THE STARWHALE

Atargatis, meaning "Starwhale," was a Neareastern Sea Goddess.

She ruled the Zodiac and the fertility of the crops. She was mother

of the dolphins and the whales. She is of major importance in world

mythology.

Her husband was lord of the crabs. He is also known as the Sea

Ram, and associated with the astrological sign Aries. His prototype

is Ea, the Mesopotamian merman.

Atargatis was worshipped at sacred pools in the desert of the ancient

Nabateans. She is related to Astarte and Tara, as well as the

Egyptian Hathor and the Carthaginian Tanit. Tanit was especially

noteworthy as a dolphin goddess.

THE SEA RAM

The ram horns on the head of the sculpture depicted on

this stamp represents the concept of the "Ram of the

Sea."  This refers to the white woolen appearance of

sea foam, the wool that is woven by the "weavers of the

sea," which are the Fates. The Fates were originally the

three aspects of the mermaid goddess Aphrodite. The

moon is the spindle of the weavers. The weavers of the

sea reappear in Celtic lore as the selkies.

Atargatis is related to the Empress of Tarot.

MY CERAMIC VERSION OF ATARGATIS

The sculpture seen on this stamp was made in

1992. I utilized earth pigments that I gathered in

nature to make the paints that colorize the piece.

The work is now in a private collection. See more

of my ceramic works on this blog.

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem.

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