Art, Spirit, and Wonder: Finding the Sacred Through Art​

Art History tells the story of humanity. Here we'll look at how Paganism has been viewed in art through the ages; into the ancient past, the Renaissance and other eras, and how artists are exploring Paganism today.

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May the Peace of the Goddess Be Upon You: A Goddess for These Times

Posted by on in Studies Blogs

The Goddess I have decided to discuss this week is the Roman Goddess Pax. As you can see in my contemporary rendering of her, she is often depicted with an olive branch, a cornucopia (peace brings abundance), and a dove. In this time of fear and panic, we especially need her now to remind us that even if the world around us is filled with hate and rage, we can look within for peace, and we have someone upon whom we can call for that peace.

In Roman times, the term "Pax Roman" referred to the 'peace' brought by Roman colonization. In 19 BC, the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) was dedicated by the Emperor Augustus to celebrate his return from Hispania, and reflects the Augustan religion in Roman culture. 

b2ap3_thumbnail_Ara-Pacis.jpg

Although this monument was created to glorify Augustus and his family and his vision of peace, it is now possible to take other lessons from the Goddess Pax and the imagery that was associated with her. As the daughter of Jupiter and Lustizia, the god of plenty and the goddess of justice, Pax represents the kind of beauty and plenty that comes from living in a free society.

There is not a great deal written from ancient times about this Goddess, but I would encourage modern practitioners to seek her out and ask her for help in these troubled times. Let us call upon her to assist us in our strivings for social justice and the many protests that are mounting through out the land. May we be able to work in civil disobedience peacefully, modeling ourselves after Martin Luther King, Jr, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela. 

 

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Helena Domenic has been an art history nerd for her entire life, having toured the Sistine Chapel at the age of eighteen months. She never quite recovered from that experience (thankfully) and has been seeking out the sacred and profane in art ever since. She's even a real-life art history professor at a Pennsylvania university. She is also a Tarot nerd, having created her own Tarot deck, the Fellowship of the Fool.

Comments

  • Catharine Clarenbach
    Catharine Clarenbach Saturday, 11 February 2017

    Hello, Helena! Qira Clarenbach (originally from Four Quarters) -- so delicious to find you here. I hope to read much and much more of you!

    Blessings!
    Qira

  • Helena
    http:// ​Helena Monday, 20 February 2017

    Thanks so much!!! Awesome to see you too!!

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