THE BACCHANTE'S CUP/ 'The Ancient Matriarchal Order of Greece'/ Mythographic Art by Eric Whollem/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

THE BACCHANTE'S CUP

1986

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

6" x 9"

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE ANCIENT MATRIARCHAL ORDER OF GREECE

The Baccantes were the devotees of the rites of Dionysius

in ancient Greece. Dionysius was the god of wine, of the

Bacchanal, and represented the womb principle.

In Turkey at Catal Hayuk, there are remains of perhaps the

oldest expression of civilized culture on earth, predating the

Sumerians. In a temple there bull's heads are part of the

ornamentation. The womb, with it's fallopian tubes, looks

like a bull's head. See the link below to view these relics.

In Greece the Maenads would lead the Bacchantes' rites.

The cup of the Bacchantes is a wine cup.

Originally the Greeks were Matriarchal. Invasions of Achaens

brought the cult of Apollo and overturned the oracular center

of Delphi, which in the early days was ruled by the Maenads.

In later history, Orpheus is known for contesting the rites

of Dionysius, having brought the cult of Demeter out of

Egypt.

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Read more about the BACCHANTES:

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maenads

Learn about CATAL HAYUK:

http://www.smm.org/catal/top.php

See more of my ABSTRACT PAINTINGS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/earthpaint/AbstractArtByEricWhollem#

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

AMASIS

mixed media on paper

by Eric Whollem

See my posts on the GODDESS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/goddess

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

MINOAN GODDESS

ceramic sculpture

by Eric Whollem

THE VIDEO BELOW SHOWS MORE OF

MY GODDESS ART

AS INTERPRETED

GRAPHICALLY ON

FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS

CINDERELLA STAMPS FROM AMPHORA