THE DESCENT OF PERSEPHONE/ The Eleusinian Mysteries/ INITIATION/ Mermaid Artist Stamps by Eric Whollem/ A sheet of cinderella stamps from the micronation of Undinia/ FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS FROM THE UNDINIAN PHILATELIC EXPOSITION/ Provisional Postage Cyberstamps by Eric Whollem

 

The Descent of Persephone

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Descent of Persephone

The Eleusinian Mysteries of ancient Greece have an allegorical

tale that tells the story of the initiation of Persephone.

Persephone descends into the Abyssos to cross the River Styx

where she encounters an image of Eros in the form of a flower.

Eros is one of the Initiators, or Hierophants of the Mysteries.

Apollo is the second Initiator.

Persephone legendarily mistakes the image of Eros for reality

and is condemned to rise each spring from her abode in Hades,

where she was designated as the bride of the God of the Dead

According to Barbara Vivino, Persephone was depicted as a

fishtailed mermaid by the Greek colonists of Calabria in

Southern Italy.

The Greek mermaids are of two orders: the Nereids, of the salt

sea and the Naiads of rivers and springs. It is in the Underworld,

exemplified by the River Styx, that salt water and fresh water

merge. Subterranean springs often are imbued with salts, albeit

salts of sulphur and other minerals.

The Abyssos or the Sea is said to be the abode of the dead.

 

The Descent of Persephone

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

REBIRTH

In rites of initiation, death is seen as a symbol of rebirth.

Persephone's story is a story of rebirth. As the Narcissus '

flower she is reincarnated every spring.

 

The Descent of Persephone

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Descent of Persephone

FAUX POSTAGE STAMPS

by Eric Whollem

 

The Descent of Persephone

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

 

A CYBERSTAMP SOUVENIR SHEET EDITION

THE ROYAL POST OFFICE

AND WHARFSIDE TELEGRAPH

Undinia

 

The Descent of Persephone

UNDINIA

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

__________________

See more of my stamps from Undinia on this link:

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

 

A mermaid video/STAMPS OF DELPHYS.                   

See more of my posts on MYTHOLOGY on this link:

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

THE VIDEO BELOW PRESENTS A

MYTHOGRAPHIC

VIEW OF THE

ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES, ETC.

PORTAL OF THE SEASKY by Eric Whollem                 

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art,

micronation stamps; virtual stamps. Digital art. Mermaid art.

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CERAMIC AMULETS/ Neoclassical Ceramic Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ CLAY PENDANTS/ Goddess Art/ Figurative Ceramic Sculpture

Erato

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Muses

The nine Apollonian Muses included Erato, the

Muse of Erotic Poetry.

The ceramic sculpture depicted here is an amulet

rendering my own modern version of Erato in

profile. 

The Centaur

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides on terracotta

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

 CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Centaurs

Greek mythology incorporated a variety of imaginary

beings, among which the Centaurs are well-known.

The amulet shown here depicts a Centaur's head with

a stylized helmet, featuring a rendition of a horse's mane.

  

Aurora

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides on terracotta

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Attic Art Revisited

Attic Art was one of the early phases of ancient

Greek art. The figures on Attic vases often are

shown with highly stylized faces, which often

included oversized triangular noses.

This modern ceramic sculpture recapitulates the

Attic phase of art, which was always highly geometric.

Clio

2006

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Clio

Clio was another of the Muses of Apollo.

She was the Muse of History.

The Griffin

2007

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

A Short History of the Griffin

The Griffin was a heraldic animal that originated in Crete.

The Griffin is part eagle and part lion.

The Griffin became popular in Central Asia much later. . .

in places such as Kazakhstan, Persia and Armenia.

It eventually entered into the symbolic language of heraldic

emblems and was utilized throughout Europe.

The image above is my own modern version of the Griffin,

designed as a pendant to be worn on a necklace.

_________________

Check out Wikipedia for more about GRIFFINS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffin

Those interested in the APPOLONIAN MUSES should see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses

See my posts of CERAMIC AMULETS on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/ceramic%20amulets

Ceramic Sea Horse Pendants and Wallpieces.                      

My general posts of CERAMIC SCULPTURES can be accessed here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/ceramic%20sculpture

Ceramic Sculpture Video.                                      

Some readers may want to see my posts on MYTHOLOGY:

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

Also of interest might be my posts on MYTHOGRAPHIC ART:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/mythographic%20art

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THE SEA NYMPH/ 'MERMAID MICRONATIONS'/ Mermaid and Sea Horse Cinderella Stamps by Eric Whollem/ Selkie Artistamps/ CYBERSTAMPS FROM THE JESSAMINE ISLE

The Sea Nymph

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

 CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Sea Nymph

Eric Whollem

2010

The Sea Nymph

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

A Mermaid Micronation

What is a micronation? It is a land that is totally fictional, an

artistic creation. Many hobbyists with a cultural bent develop

micronations, inventing flags, coats of arms, history, maps, as

well as stamps and coins.

I have developed a variety of aquatic micronations over the

years, mostly as an extension of my interest in faux postage

stamps.

The Jessamine Isle is my most recent imaginary mermaid

nation.

THE MYSTERY OF THE MERMAIDS

On the links at the bottom of this post you can find stamps from

mermaid nations such as Merreminde, Undinia, Amphitritonia,

Amphora, and Delphys. My book, 'The Mystery of the Mermaids:

Goddesses and Gods of the Sea'~now out of print~may explain

my interest in the theme.

See this Wikipedia article to get a more complete story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronations

The Sea Nymph

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem:::

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

_________________

The links below will take you to posts of stamps from more of my MERMAID MICRONATIONS:

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

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

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

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

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

THE GREAT CLAM

a stamp from Undinia

by Eric Whollem

My general posts of MERMAID ART may be of interest:

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

BELOW IS A SAMPLE

STAMP VIDEO

WHICH SHOWS

MERMAID

ARTISTAMPS

FROM

MERREMINDE

ERIC WHOLLEM                                

More stamps from the JESSAMINE ISLE may be accessed here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/jessamine%20isle

A VIDEO ABOUT

STAMPS OF THE JESSAMINE ISLE

MAKARI AND THE MYSTERIES OF THE MERMAIDS   

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ARTIST STAMPS

Artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps,

fantasy stamps, faux postage,

mail art, micronation stamps,

virtual stamps; digital art.

*

CERAMIC MASKS/ Shamanic Clay Sculpture by Eric Whollem/ 'The Lore of the Aquatic Shaman'/ MEDICINE ANIMALS/ 'The Divers'/ 'Woctolly'/ 'The Shaman's Mask'/ Figurative ceramic wallpieces

Moon Cat

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay~

flax cord

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Ceramic  Masks by Eric Whollem

Many readers, familiar with the ethnic arts of the Eskimos,

will notice design parallels with a number of the wall pieces

displayed on this blog post. The Eskimos are well-known for

a distinctive style of mask, which incorporates smaller fetishes

attached around the periphery of the piece.

I have attached clay fish and clay moons to a few of these works.

I utilize flax cord, which is a strong material, having been used

for centuries by sailors as a cord for patching canvas sails at

sea.

Feline Mask

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Animal Mask

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay~

flax cord

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Medicine Animals

Many cultures have the concept of the medicine animal.

Not just shamans, but normal individuals, may identify

with certain animals out of a feeling of harmony with the

habits and characteristics of the respective animal.

I designed the above animal masks when I had my studio

in the remote reaches of the forests of the Sierra Nevada

Mountains. My nearest neighbors were a quarter of a mile

away. And to the north of my cabin, there were forty miles

of unpopulated forest before one would emerge on the Lake

Almanor area.

Many animals would come near my studio. A bear trail

ran next to the north wall. I would hear and see bobcats

repeatedly. I once viewed a lynx. And I have seen mountain

lions~ twice~very close to my cabin; and I heard their calls

quite often in the woodlands nearby.

I had a cat, Keetah, who was very sensitive to the proximity

of the animals that would come close. She would run upstairs

and growl near the window, if she sensed any danger. In this

respect she was an excellent guard animal. Dogs, as you know,

often bark, attracting attention. The cat is more discreet. In

Thailand, Buddhist monks have used Siamese cats for centuries

to guard their temples.

Fish Man

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay~

flax cord

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Fish Man

THE LORE OF THE AQUATIC SHAMAN

This mask is a fanciful interpretation of the concept of the

merman shaman. Historically the first mershaman was Ea, who

was a fish man who rose from the waters of the Persian Gulf.

He was a teacher of ettiquette and civilization to the peoples

of Mesopotamia. Ea's name means 'wisdom.' 'Ea' is related

etymologically to the Sanskrit word, 'jnana,' which means

knowledge.

THE DIVERS

The Eskimo shaman is called Angakok, which designation

means 'diver,' as the shaman's powers are symbolized by the

diving duck. The duck can fly high, but also dive deep into the

water. This symbolizes the penetration into all dimensions.

The shamans of Central Asia are also called divers. The

Huttorarie is one such shaman from the remote reaches of

Asia. Ethnologists have long noted that the peoples of Central

Asia are the ancestors of the Native American peoples.

Odin from Scandinavian lore is an example of a diety whose

transformative powers include taking on the form of a fish.

Odin could easily be interpreted as a shamanic being.

WOCTOLLY

Woctolly is the name of a merman shaman from Northern

California. The Maidu and Cato Indians of the Sierra Nevadas

and the Coast Range have tales of Woctolly. See my links at the

end of this post for my account of the legend of Woctolly.

Shaman's Mask

2004

by Eric Whollem

oxides on white earthenware clay~

flax cord

Private collection

PHOTO COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Shaman's Mask

Mircea Eliade has one of the best accounts of the lore of the

shaman. His book, 'Shamanism,' is a classic and should not be

missed by those seeking an interesting and comprehensive

overview of the role of the shaman in world cultures.

Eliade made an excellent anthropologist, as he never deprecated

the cultures that he described. He was always respectful in his

observations.

The Central Asian Altai word, samana, is the basis of the English

word, shaman.

A video by Eric Whollem, 2011

___________________

My post about WOCTOLLY THE SALMON MERMAN can be found here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/2011/01/concow-maidu-legends-mask-of-woctolly.html

Readers interested in my CERAMIC SCULPTURE should see:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/ceramic%20sculpture

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE 

GREEN FISH

ceramic wallpiece

by Eric Whollem

MANCO PAPAC

ceramic sculpture

by Eric Whollem

This link will take you to my articles on SHAMANISM:

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

This link will take you to my posts on ANTHROPOLOGY:

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

Those who enjoy MYTHOLOGY may want to see:

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

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TWO SELKIES/ Mermaid cyberstamps from the Jessamine Isle/ Cinderella stamps by Eric Whollem/ VIRTUAL STAMPS/ Faux postage cyberstamps

Two Selkies

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Stamps From the Jessamine Isle

by Eric Whollem

2010

Two Selkies

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Two Selkies

Cinderella Stamps by Eric Whollem

Two Selkies

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Two Selkies

THE JESSAMINE ISLE

2010

by Eric Whollem

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Selkies

According to Celtic Mythology, a Selkie is a mermaid.

They are considered to be shape shifters. The term

'Selkie,' in fact means 'shifter.'

A Selkie can manifest as a deer, a rock, a tree, a wave,

or any natural object.

Shape shifting for a being such as a mermaid represents

her empowerment as a spirit being to manifest in a form

appropriate for her purposes. Mermaids are considered

to be angels in many cultures. Hungarian churches, for

example are filled with images of mermaids.

Mermaids, as the Fays of France, are protectors of the

wells and fields.

In India, many of the Gods and Goddesses are aquatic

beings. Matsya, the Merman, was the first incarnation

of Vishnu. He also manifested as a Turtle and a Lion

in other incarnations. These are examples of the shape

shifting characteristics of the mermaid or merman.

Each culture gives us a little different picture.

RABBIT MAN OF THE SEA

See my posts on Celtic Mythology for more stories about

the Selkies. I especially recommend my very first post for

Art Blog/Eric Whollem, entitled 'Rabbit Man of the Sea'

for an interesting account of my meeting up with a

spiritually realized Irishman who referred to himself as a

selkie. He related many points of great interest that are

not of common knowledge concerning the mysteries of

the mermaids.

Not only may selkies manifest as seals, but as hares

or other animals, according to traditional Irish lore.

The story of Liban from Ireland tells us of a salmon

mermaid who was a protector of wells.

The Irishman I talked to said that the hare manifests as a

protector of the people.

________________

See more of my stamps from the JESSAMINE ISLE on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com

A VIDEO ABOUT

STAMPS FROM THE

JESSAMINE ISLE

MAKARI AND THE MYSTERIES OF THE MERMAIDS    

My post entitled RABBIT MAN OF THE SEA is on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/2009/12/rabbit-man-of-sea.html

My posts about SELKIES can be found here:

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

Those interested in MERMAID ART should view:

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

Mermaid stamps from Merreminde.           

My posts on the subject of CELTIC MYTHOLOGY can be accessed here:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/celtic%20mythology

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ARTIST STAMPS

Artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps,

fantasy stamps, faux postage,

mail art, micronation stamps,

virtual stamps; digital art.

*