Cult of Herodias: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[Aradia]] |
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The '''Cult of Herodias''' is a supposed Medieval witch-cult in Italy, centering on devotion to the pagan Roman goddess [[Diana]] and the Biblical figure [[Herodias]], who came to be identified as an anti-Christian goddess. The cult is mentioned in several Medieval sources, but its real existence has been questioned by both Medieval and modern commentators. The nineteenth century folklorist [[Charles Godfrey Leland]] claimed to have evidence that the cult still existed among marginalised groups in Italy. Leland's writings provided the basis for the revival of the supposed cult by modern [[neo-paganism|neo-pagans]]. |
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==Medieval sources== |
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The 10th century a fragment of text called the ''[[Canon Episcopi]]'' (attributed to an otherwise-unknown Council of Anquira) made mention of a cult of the Roman goddess [[Diana]] as ''a perversion of the mind originated by Satan''. It described accounts of flying women accompanied by Diana to be a ''fantasy experienced while dreaming''.<ref>''Canon Episcopi'', translated by Geoffrey G. Koziol.</ref> |
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[[John of Salisbury]], 12th century Bishop of [[Chartres]] mentions such a cult in ''Policraticus'', stating that devotees are supposed to worship the goddesses Herodias and [[Noctiluca (goddess)|Noctiluca]], the "queen of the night". He mentioned the supposed participation of women and men in these meetings. He too considered the existence of this cult to be a fable at best. |
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==Modern views== |
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Among some modern [[Wicca]]ns, a similar figure is worshipped, called [[Aradia (goddess)|Aradia]], adopted from [[Charles Godfrey Leland|C.G. Leland]]'s book ''[[Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches]]'' (1899), which claims to be the traditional lore of a 19th century Italian society of witches. Leland argued that "Aradia" was a corruption of the name "Herodias".<ref>[[Sabina Magliocco|Magliocco, Sabina]] (2002). "Who Was Aradia? The History and Development of a Legend" ''Pomegranate: the Journal of Pagan Studies'', Vol. 18</ref> A similar figure from [[Romania]] (patron of the [[Căluşari]]) is [[Doamna Zînelor]], also called ''Irodiada'' or ''Arada''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ginzburg |first=Carlo |authorlink=Carlo Ginzburg |title=Ecstasies: Deciphering the witches' sabbath |year=1990 |location=London |publisher=Hutchinson Radius |isbn=0-09-174024-X |pages=103}}</ref> |
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[[Carlo Ginzburg]] supposes that the nocturnal goddess was originally ''[[Hera]]-Diana'' or ''Herodiana'', and was later [[Conflation|conflated]] with the biblical character of ''[[Herodias]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ginzburg |first=Carlo |authorlink=Carlo Ginzburg |year=1990 |title=Ecstasies: Deciphering the witches' sabbath |publisher=Hutchinson Radius |location=London |isbn=0-09-174024-X |pages=104}}</ref> |
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==Evangelical usage== |
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In 2010 a popular sermon by Tom Gordon, an American Anglican priest, used the expression "Mystical Cult of Herodias" to refer to those people who allegedly have an inexplicable anger or murderous rage toward those persons or groups who "bear God's name or testimony." The term in this case refers to the Biblical Herodias' anger at the testimony of [[John the Baptist]], which led to John's death at the insistence of Herodias' daughter [[Salome]].<ref>[http://charlotteanglican.podbean.com/2010/08/29/mystical-cult-of-herodias/ Text of Sermon]</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Sexual orientation and Wicca]] |
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*[[Witch-cult hypothesis]] |
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*[[Skyclad (Neopaganism)|Skyclad]] |
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*[[History of Wicca]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.constitution.org/salisbury/policrat123.htm John of Salisbury's Policraticus] |
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* [http://charlotteanglican.podbean.com/2010/08/29/mystical-cult-of-herodias/ The Mystical Cult of Herodias] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cult Of Herodias}} |
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[[Category:Fictional religions]] |
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[[Category:Medieval legends]] |
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[[Category:Wicca]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:38, 22 November 2011
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