Pagan Roots in the South

[icymist]

“Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Bride, and by many other names…”

This opening passage from the Charge of the Goddess used by Wiccans around the world is familiar to many, but how many realize that this introductory statement was inspired by the ancient cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis? A remarkably similar statement is found in “The Golden Ass, or The Metamorphoses” by the classical writer Lucius Apuleius, who lived between 123 and 170 CE. Scholars believe that Apuleius was an initiate of the Isis cult and used his novel to document at least some of the teachings of his beloved goddess. Here’s the relevant passage from book eleven, chapter forty-seven of the 1566 English translation of the book by W. Adlington:

“…my name, my divinity is adored throughout all the world in divers manners, in variable customes and in many names, for the Phrygians call me the mother of the Gods: the Athenians, Minerva: the Cyprians, Venus: the Candians, Diana: the Sicilians Proserpina: the Eleusians, Ceres: some Juno, other Bellona, other Hecate: and principally the æthiopians which dwell in the Orient, and the ægyptians which are excellent in all kind of ancient doctrine, and by their proper ceremonies accustome to worship mee, doe call mee Queene Isis.”

Adlington’s translation was reprinted in new annotated and updated editions in 1915 and 1924, and Robert Graves produced a new English translation from the Latin original in 1950. The book’s popularity has certainly withstood the test of time as it is still being read almost two thousand years after its author lived.

http://www.onlinepagans.com/?p=1039

[LiberalEsto]

1. Didn't Doreen Valiente write the Charge?

I'm sure she borrowed heavily from Apuleius and other sources.

[icymist]

2. There was two, one written by Valiente, the other by Crowley...

The Witchvox article Where Did Aleister Crowley's Influence On Wicca Go? helps to explain:

<snip>
As Gardner’s most well-known book Witchcraft Today came to rise, his popularity grew and lectures and classes were demanded of him. He saw a great chance for the rise of Witchcraft and the ‘Old Religion’ (despite how new it was) in the modern world. It was Valiente who spoke with Gardner about her concerns that the cult would never go beyond what Crowley accomplished if the work relied so heavily on Crowley’s rituals, to which Gardner responded, “Well, if you think you can do any better, go ahead.” That was enough for Valiente. She took up the task and rewrote the original Book of Shadows removing everything she spotted of Crowley that she deemed unnecessary and obvious (Valiente 2008, 60-61) . This was the first major change of Gardner’s cult, resulting in the transformation of heavy ceremonial-based rituals to that which is considered today to simulate more of an ‘old’ format in reconstructionist fashion.

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usne&c=words&id=15552

and <snip>
The Charge of the Goddess first began appearing in publications by Gerald Gardner in the late 1940's or early '50's. He claimed it was an ancient text originating in the Roman era. Shortly after Gardner's publication of The Charge, variations of it by Doreen Valiente and Alister Crowley began circulating.

http://www.awhitewitchsbookofshadows.com/Charge-Goddess.html

It seems to me that Valiente wanted to get the references and rituals away from Crowley, the O.T.O., and the G.D. as far as possible in the early years. I believe that she borrowed heavily from the writings of Lucius Apuleius in The Golden Ass for the Charge.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Interesting. Thanks, icymist.

You've been doing heroic work for years, educating folks on DU about paganism and the Craft.

[icymist]

4. Thank you for your kind words.

I have found this to be an education for myself as well. Wading through all the crap out there in the cyber-pagan world to find a few golden nuggets has indeed opened my eyes. I like this new smilie: