Since today is the Autumnal Equinox, I thought I’d tell you a story…
During the time when the earth was forever fertile, and experienced eternal summer, the land was governed by two goddesses. Demeter, who was the mother goddess of all grain, and the Korie, which means Virgin, or Seed, was Demeter’s daughter.
Korie was gathering flowers on the plain of Nysa, when she spied a narcissus secretly planted by her own father, Zeus. When she clutched the stalk in her hand, the earth was rent open by the claws of two great wurms drawing a chariot. The driver of this chariot was none other than Pluto, Master of the Underworld and the unconscious realms. He seized Korie and forced her down into Hades. The great spiked wheels of the chariot threw great clods of earth and clay behind, sealing the route back to his Underworld realm.
A Violent Darkness
Demeter heard her daughter cry out, but did not see where she had gone. Of those who had seen, none would tell her, for none would speak against the Master of Death. Demeter, in tremendous grief over the senseless loss of her daughter, let nothing grow on the earth. All things on earth were dying, and Pluto’s realm—and power—were increasing rapidly.
Pluto was a pitiless god, and demanded Kore be happy in this harsh world of larvae and shades. He grew gems for her. He knew the location of all the veins of gold and precious metals. She would have none of it. Instead she planted a small garden which she watered with the tears of her grief. At first only lichens and mushrooms grew, then later mosses and ferns, and soon trees bearing fruit. He grew jealous of the gardens she lavished her attention upon. In a rage he entered her grove. He split open a pomegranate and smeared the seeds in her face.
Korie’s Rescue
Pluto’s brother Zeus, who was the Lord of the Olympian gods and had secretly plotted the abduction of the Korie, did not want to see his kingdom pass into the land of the dead. He sent Hermes the messenger to Hades, where he was to persuade Pluto to let Korie return to her mother and end the famine. Hermes, who knew Pluto well because of his role as the guide of souls to the Underworld, arrived and stayed Pluto’s hand. Pluto’s rage subsided, and he agreed to let Korie return to the upper world.
When Korie arrived the earth rejoiced. Plants and trees grew like never before, and bore fruit like none had ever seen. Birds sang, butterflies burst their cocoons, and the strongest, smartest, and best of every surviving species came forth to worship the virgin. But something had happened to her in her absence. Her father, Zeus, asked her, “Child, while you were abducted, did you eat of any food of the Underworld?”
“When Pluto forced me, I swallowed the seed of Hades.”
The Judgement of Zeus
“None can eat the food of the lower realms and leave without returning.” said Zeus. “And yet, we cannot have you leave the earth to eternal famine. So part of the year you will spend with your mother on the surface, and make all things increase, and the other part you must spend in Hades.”
The remainder of the year, the earth grew green and fertile, and Demeter taught Man the arts of the harvest, to prepare for the coming winter. And when Korie returned to Hades, the Underworld was in a state of rebellion. The embattled Pluto was powerful, but not more powerful than all the beings under the earth who had grown to love the Korie, and the gift of her garden. It was only at the side of Korie that Pluto would ever be able to regain control of his realm.
The garden was restored, and more were planted. The Elysian Fields were established for the souls not deserving the harsh afterworld Hades has previously provided. Pluto begged her forgiveness, and a proper wedding was held. So the young Korie rose to power as a goddess of two realms. She was given her new title: Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.
Copyright of this image lies solely with the proprietors of the Mercuriosity Shop
Some of you may remember the announcement I made here in the Mercuriosity Shop last July concerning the 3rd Annual Wildlife Mask Competition and Benefit Auction. John, who visits the Shop often, has created quite a mask, as you can see above. Meet Elvis, the South American Fruit Bat. John designed the wings to open and close over the face of the wearer. (If for some reason you didn’t see Elvis flapping, click here to see Elvis with wings unfolded, or try refreshing the screen.) Also, the eyes are very reflective, using some ingenius alchemy that John won’t disclose. And with a face like this, Elvis is every bit the charmer. The mask is made from papier mâchè using recycled grocery bags, dark purple colored art paper, a veil-like fabric for the wings, and two amber marbles.
I have verified that the mask did arrive at its intended destination in time for the competition, having been signed for by one S. Ates at 10:48 am. In other words, Elvis has left the building.
Please join me in wishing that Elvis not only raises a lot of money for the WWF and the victims of 9/11 during the auction on the 26th of September, but also that the judges award John with the top prize: the ergonomic Freedom Chair from Humanscale. Then he won’t have to sit on that awful kichen chair all night while he paints.
I had a marvelous time this afternoon listening to famed Chicago oral historian Studs Terkel, who spoke at a college nearby the Mercuriosity Shop. Like an impossible causeway to times unremembered, Studs revealed the previous century with recollections from his life, and spoke of his 90 years (and counting) in the Windy City. Listening to him is like listening to someone else’s grandfather, or great-grandfather, only strained through an old radio. His words make one nostalgic for great times not your own, and sentimental for people you wish you remembered. Behind his words are the click of footfalls on marble stairwells, the soot from the coalbin, the flashing neon of the flophouse.
To get the flavor of the great Studs, scroll down to book 1, chapters 5 and 6 and hear him read from his book, Talking To Myself.
with sincere apologies to Maurice Sendak
A couple of days ago I awoke with this image in my mind. I resolved to make a sketch of it. If the creatures look familiar, they do resemble characters from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.
As I awoke, I saw a painting left over from my dream, rendered in full Sendakian style, depicting two Wild Things who have come together at Ground Zero to rebuild the towers (in earnest, I felt) using children’s blocks.
Please understand, this entry should not be taken as flip or lighthearted, because I do not wish to present it as such. But I found the image interesting, and thought you might like to see it.
I think the Wild Things were represented in my dream because Sendak and his work are very much associated with New York. My friend McGryffin thinks that the Wild Things represent forces beyond our control (war, devastation, governments, loss of loved ones, etc.) who have come together to undo the wrong they have committed. He also thought the bird-like creature (two points for you if you thought he resembles Emil) might represent the U.S. eagle, and the other bearded creature (two points for Moishe) may represent the Islamic countries, both banding together to create instead of destroy. He may be right. It’s as good an interpretation as any. I think the image may contain characters from a children’s book because in the face of these large events we all become like children, frightened of a world we realize is bigger than we thought. We seek safety and solace in the arms of someone who loves us.
