The Magalesia Mater April 4th

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TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK LONG CELEBRATION OF "MAGALESIA MATER" WHICH IS HELD IN HONOR OF THE GODDESS," CYBELE". SHE WAS CALLED THE "MAGNA MATER (GREAT MOTHER) "AND "MOTHER OF ALL THE GODS. " SHE WAS THE GODDESS OF THE SACRED CAVES. HER CULT ORIGINATED IN ANCIENT ANATOLIA, WHICH IS NOW TURKEY, AND WAS BROUGHT TO ROME DURING THE WAR WITH CARTHAGE. HER PRIESTS CASTRATED THEMSELVES IN HER HONOR; HENCE, SHE WAS REVILED BY THE EARLY CHRISTIANS.

SHE GOVERNED THE WHOLE OF NATURE, AND WAS, IN FACT, CONSIDERED THE PERSONIFICATION OF NATURE'S POWERS OF GROWTH. SHE IS THE EARTH ITSELF. "CYBELE" WAS GENERALLY REPRESENTED AS A ROBUST WOMAN, FAR ADVANCED IN PREGNANCY, TO INTIMATE THE FECUNDITY OF THE EARTH. SHE HELD KEYS IN HER HAND, AND HER HEAD WAS CROWNED WITH RISING TURRETS, AND SOMETIMES WITH THE LEAVES OF AN OAK. SHE SOMETIMES APPEARS RIDING IN A CHARIOT DRAWN BY TWO TAME LIONS. HER CONSORT, "ATTIS", FOLLOWS BY HER SIDE. SOMETIMES SHE IS REPRESENTED WITH A SCEPTRE IN HER HAND, AND HER HEAD COVERED WITH A TOWER WHICH IS A SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF A CITY WALL. SHE IS ALSO SEEN WITH MANY BREASTS AS SHE DRIVES A cHARIOT DRAWN BY LIONS AND WAS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH BEES.

THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL OF THE "MAGALESIA MATER" WAS HELD IN HER HONOR. A SACRED BLACK STONE WAS PLACED ON THE TEMPLE ON PALATINE HILL AND DEDICATED TO THE GODDESS AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL ON APRIL 10TH. THE FESTIVAL BEGAN WITH A CEREMONIAL OFFERING OF HERBS AT THE TEMPLE OF" MAGNA MATER" FOLLOWED BY HER PRIESTS CARRYING HER CULT STATUE THROUGH ROME, ACCOMPANIED BY TAMBOURINE AND CYMBAL PLAYERS. THE PRIESTS WERE BLOOD STAINED BY WOUNDS INFLICTED UPON THEMSELVES.

A FELLED PINE TREE WAS COVERED WITH VIOLETS AND CARRIED TO THE SHRINE OF" CYBELE" ON "MOUNT DINDYMUS." THERE, "ATTIS "WAS MOURNED FOR THREE DAYS UNTIL, IN RITUAL, HE WAS RESURRECTED BY THE LOVE OF "CYBELE", FOLLOWING WHICH THE DEVOTEES ENGAGED IN JOYOUS AND UNRESTRAINED CELEBRATION. DURING THE FESTIVAL THERE WERE GAMES, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, SACRIFICES, AND FEASTS. THE LAST DAY OF "MEGALESIA" FEATURED HORSE RACING.

-HYMN TO THE MOTHER GODDESS BY HOMER-

Mother of all the gods
the mother of mortals Sing of her
for me, Muse... She loves
the clatter of rattles
the din of kettle drums
and she loves
the wailing of flutes
and also she loves the howling of wolves
and the growling
of bright-eyed lions...

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Howard Phillips Lovecraft - The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward
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