Spirituallity Through the Ages

The theme of this blog is the expansion and diversity of spirituallity, religions, and rituals throughout human history.

Mayan Maize God

The legend of the maize god was he is decapitated at harvest time and reborn ar the new growing season. This was to explain the cycles of the harvest and return of the maize crop. As in many cultures, as agriculture expanded, gods were used as an explaination of the changes. Maize was the most important food source to the Mayan people.

Parthenon: Centaurs and Lapiths

The Greek myth of the centaurs massacre of the lapiths is depicted on this piece of the relief around the Parthenon. This was a representation of Greek fear of barbarian, Persian takeover. This was a tie between the real history of the Greek people and their strong spirituallity, which was always entertwining.

Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel

Used to offer food to dead ancestor spirits. The offer was to ensure survival and the success of those that made the offer. Respect for ancestors had been a staple of Chinese culture for thousands of years.

North American Otter Pipe

Used to smoke tobacco by a Native American shaman. Probably for the evocation of an otter spirit as a representitive of his clan. Maybe to call a spirit guide to accompany the chaman on a spiritual journey.

Ceremonial Ballgame Belt

This was used in ritual ceremonies tied to the Ballgame of Mesoamerica, it was too heavy to wear during the actual game which was much like volleyball. The losers would often be sacrificed to the gods. Associated with death in Mesoamerican mythology; it is carved with a cane frog, a symbol of the underworld.

Seated Buddah from Gandhara

This is am image of the Buddah in his enloghtened state. His hand positions indicate he is revealing dharma, the "way". Pilgrams would contemplate the Buddhas' teachings at this statue before seeing his relics.

Korean Roof Tile

The glaring face is to scare off evil spirits. It resembles a dragon of the water to protect the wooden house from fire. Often atop the Buddhist temples, a tradtion that immigrated from China to Korea.

Statue of Tara

The statue was a combination of the spiritual and the sensual. Mainly used in the temple to focus meditation on mercy and compassion, the attributes of the goddess Tara. Placed alongside her male counter part, bodhisattva Avalskiteshevara.

Borobudur Buddha Head

Borobudur was one of the largest buddhist monuments in the world. It was built to replicate a mandala, a wheel-shaped symbol of the comos. Walking up the monument is to resemble reaching enlightenment.

Holy Roman Reliquary

Built to hold a piece of the crown of thorns worn by jesus, was a great relic of medieval Christianity. Christian relics were usually a physical rememnant of the saint. Associated with miraculous healing powers, relics were used to get closer to the saint or Christ. Pilgrams would travel hundreds of miles to seel them, and wars would be waged to secure them.

Taino Ritual Seat

Carved, by pre-european caribbean Taino people, into the shape of the ancestor spirit cemi. KNown as the duho, the seat was used to commune with the spirit world. The chief would sit, sniff pschedelic cohoba tree snuff, and ask the spirits for advice.

Reformation Centenary BroadSheet

A commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation of the Catholic Church. Shows Luther nailing his thesis to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral while piercing the head of a lion, and knocking the hat off the pope's head. This signifies the split from, and opposition to, the Catholic Church.