A fertility deity is a god or goddess in mythology associated with fertility, pregnancy, and birth. In some cases these deities are directly associated with sex, and in others they simply embody related attributes.
Sao Goncalo Pastries. Erotic pastry from Portugal claimed to have originated with Celtic fertility rites
Fertility rites are religious rituals that reenact sexual acts actually or symbolically. They may include sacrifices of animals and at times humans.[1]
Demeter was the central deity in fertility rites held in classical Greece. Her rites included celebrating the change of seasons.[2] Most women's festivals related in some way to woman's proper function as a fertile being (believed to allow women to promote the fertility of crops).[3] Because of his link to the grape harvest, however, it is not surprising to see Dionysus associated with Demeter and Kore in the Eleusinian Mysteries.[4]
In Ancient Phoenicia, a special sacrifice was conducted in the harvest season to reawaken the spirit of the vine; while another winter fertility rite was performed to restore the spirit of the withering vine. The sacrifice included cooking a kid in the milk of its mother, a Canaanite custom which Mosaic law condemned and formally forbade.[5]
According to Ibn Ishaq, the Kaaba was formerly worshipped as a female deity.[6] Circumambulation was often performed naked by male and sometimes female pilgrims,[7] and worship associated with fertility goddesses.[8] Some have noted the apparent similarity of the Black Stone and its silver frame to the external female genitalia.[9][10]
Fertility symbols were generally considered to have been used since Prehistoric times for encouraging fertility in women, although it is also used to show creation in some cultures.
Wedding cakes are a form of fertility symbols. In Ancient Rome, the custom was for the groom to break a cakes over the bride’s head to symbolize the end of the bride’s virginal state, ensure fertility, and the beginning of her husband’s power over her.
Fertility symbols were used by Native Americans, the most common being a supernatural figure called Kokopelli, a fertility deity usually depicted as a hunchback, dancing flute player carrying a sack also shown with a large phallus. The deity presides over childbirth and agriculture.[11]
In Hinduism, Lingam is the most powerful fertility symbol, showing the critical union of Shiva and Shakti. Shiva is depicted with River Ganges and moon on his head. He wears garlands of snakes called Naga. The Ganga, moon and snakes are fertility symbols, and associated with fertility rituals in Hinduism.[12]
In the Judeo-Christian bible, the Song of Songs emphasizes the navel as an important element of a woman's beauty.[13][14] It contains imagery similar to that in the love songs of ancient Egyptian literature.[13] Song of Songs 7:2 states: "Your navel is a rounded bowl."[15] The verse preceding the line mentioning the navel (Song of Songs 7:1) states, "your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand",[15] ) and the verse following states, "Your belly is a heap of wheat."[15] Thus the treatment of the navel appears placed textually in between the description of the curves of a woman through thigh and the stomach or midriff.[14] "Belly" also suggests the womb, and the combination of the imagery of the womb with that of wheat suggests the link between romance, eroticism and fertility through the imagery of the navel and curvaceous thighs.[14] These passages also celebrate a curvaceous stomach and midriff and plumpness as aspects of female physical attractiveness.[14]
Bible states that the purpose of sex is to fertilize a woman, and God, for example, punishes Onan, who wastes his semen, with death. [16]
The religious discourse, in particular Christians, Muslim and Jew values the virginity of the young girl before the marriage and associates the deflowering with the idea of fertility. On the wedding night, is the first time that the bride and groom have sex with each other. The young couple is advised and even ordered to have sex on the first night after marriage.
References
^Max Weber, The Sociology of Religion (London 1965) p. 236
^M. I. Finley, The World of Odysseus (Penguin 1967) p. 158
^J. Boardman et al eds., The Oxford History of the Classical World (Oxford 1991) p. 269-70
^F. Guirand ed., The New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology (1968) p. 160
^Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah – The Life of Muhammad Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 85 footnote 2. ISBN9780196360331.
^Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah - The Life of Muhammad Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 88–9. ISBN9780196360331.
^Rice, Edward (May 1978). Eastern Definitions: A Short Encyclopedia of Religions of the Orient. New York: Doubleday. p. 433. ISBN9780385085632.
^Tate, Karen (January 1, 2006). Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations. San Francisco: Consortium of Collective Consciousness Publishing. p. 165. ISBN9781888729115.
^Camphausen, Rufus (1996). The Yoni, Sacred Symbol of Female Creative Power. Vermont: Inner Traditions. Bear & Company. p. 134. ISBN9780892815623.
^Young, John V. (1990). Kokopelli: Casanova of the Cliff Dwellers; The hunchbacked flute player. Filter Press. p. 18. ISBN978-0-86541-026-8.
^William McCormack, in A. K. Ramanujan, Speaking of Śiva (Penguin 1979) p. 181
^ abMurphy Ronald E (1992) "Song of songs, Book of", in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol 6. p. 151
^ abcdDobbs-Allsopp F. W. (2001) Annotation and commentary on "Song of Solomon" in 'The New Oxford Annotated Bible' (with the Apocrypha. Third Edition (Ed) Coogan, M.D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. page 966 from pages 959–968
^ abcThe New Oxford Annotated Bible. New Revised Standard Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2001.
^ Tuovinen, Liisa (Sexuality in Different Cultures, 2008), p. 15.
February 26, 2023
fertility, religion, fertility, often, mentioned, many, mythological, tales, mythology, fertility, deities, exist, different, belief, systems, religions, demeter, greek, goddess, fertility, contents, fertility, deities, fertility, rites, fertility, symbols, re. Fertility was often mentioned in many mythological tales In mythology fertility deities exist in different belief systems or religions Demeter the greek goddess of fertility Contents 1 Fertility deities 2 Fertility rites 3 Fertility symbols 4 ReferencesFertility deities EditA fertility deity is a god or goddess in mythology associated with fertility pregnancy and birth In some cases these deities are directly associated with sex and in others they simply embody related attributes Fertility rites EditMain article Fertility rite Sao Goncalo Pastries Erotic pastry from Portugal claimed to have originated with Celtic fertility rites Fertility rites are religious rituals that reenact sexual acts actually or symbolically They may include sacrifices of animals and at times humans 1 Demeter was the central deity in fertility rites held in classical Greece Her rites included celebrating the change of seasons 2 Most women s festivals related in some way to woman s proper function as a fertile being believed to allow women to promote the fertility of crops 3 Because of his link to the grape harvest however it is not surprising to see Dionysus associated with Demeter and Kore in the Eleusinian Mysteries 4 In Ancient Phoenicia a special sacrifice was conducted in the harvest season to reawaken the spirit of the vine while another winter fertility rite was performed to restore the spirit of the withering vine The sacrifice included cooking a kid in the milk of its mother a Canaanite custom which Mosaic law condemned and formally forbade 5 According to Ibn Ishaq the Kaaba was formerly worshipped as a female deity 6 Circumambulation was often performed naked by male and sometimes female pilgrims 7 and worship associated with fertility goddesses 8 Some have noted the apparent similarity of the Black Stone and its silver frame to the external female genitalia 9 10 Fertility symbols Edit A typical Shiva lingam Fertility symbols were generally considered to have been used since Prehistoric times for encouraging fertility in women although it is also used to show creation in some cultures Wedding cakes are a form of fertility symbols In Ancient Rome the custom was for the groom to break a cakes over the bride s head to symbolize the end of the bride s virginal state ensure fertility and the beginning of her husband s power over her Fertility symbols were used by Native Americans the most common being a supernatural figure called Kokopelli a fertility deity usually depicted as a hunchback dancing flute player carrying a sack also shown with a large phallus The deity presides over childbirth and agriculture 11 In Hinduism Lingam is the most powerful fertility symbol showing the critical union of Shiva and Shakti Shiva is depicted with River Ganges and moon on his head He wears garlands of snakes called Naga The Ganga moon and snakes are fertility symbols and associated with fertility rituals in Hinduism 12 In the Judeo Christian bible the Song of Songs emphasizes the navel as an important element of a woman s beauty 13 14 It contains imagery similar to that in the love songs of ancient Egyptian literature 13 Song of Songs 7 2 states Your navel is a rounded bowl 15 The verse preceding the line mentioning the navel Song of Songs 7 1 states your rounded thighs are like jewels the work of a master hand 15 and the verse following states Your belly is a heap of wheat 15 Thus the treatment of the navel appears placed textually in between the description of the curves of a woman through thigh and the stomach or midriff 14 Belly also suggests the womb and the combination of the imagery of the womb with that of wheat suggests the link between romance eroticism and fertility through the imagery of the navel and curvaceous thighs 14 These passages also celebrate a curvaceous stomach and midriff and plumpness as aspects of female physical attractiveness 14 Bible states that the purpose of sex is to fertilize a woman and God for example punishes Onan who wastes his semen with death 16 The religious discourse in particular Christians Muslim and Jew values the virginity of the young girl before the marriage and associates the deflowering with the idea of fertility On the wedding night is the first time that the bride and groom have sex with each other The young couple is advised and even ordered to have sex on the first night after marriage References Edit Max Weber The Sociology of Religion London 1965 p 236 M I Finley The World of Odysseus Penguin 1967 p 158 J Boardman et al eds The Oxford History of the Classical World Oxford 1991 p 269 70 F Guirand ed The New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology 1968 p 160 Guirand p 77 9 Ibn Ishaq Muhammad 1955 Ibn Ishaq s Sirat Rasul Allah The Life of Muhammad Translated by A Guillaume Oxford Oxford University Press p 85 footnote 2 ISBN 9780196360331 Ibn Ishaq Muhammad 1955 Ibn Ishaq s Sirat Rasul Allah The Life of Muhammad Translated by A Guillaume Oxford Oxford University Press pp 88 9 ISBN 9780196360331 Rice Edward May 1978 Eastern Definitions A Short Encyclopedia of Religions of the Orient New York Doubleday p 433 ISBN 9780385085632 Tate Karen January 1 2006 Sacred Places of Goddess 108 Destinations San Francisco Consortium of Collective Consciousness Publishing p 165 ISBN 9781888729115 Camphausen Rufus 1996 The Yoni Sacred Symbol of Female Creative Power Vermont Inner Traditions Bear amp Company p 134 ISBN 9780892815623 Young John V 1990 Kokopelli Casanova of the Cliff Dwellers The hunchbacked flute player Filter Press p 18 ISBN 978 0 86541 026 8 William McCormack in A K Ramanujan Speaking of Siva Penguin 1979 p 181 a b Murphy Ronald E 1992 Song of songs Book of in The Anchor Bible Dictionary vol 6 p 151 a b c d Dobbs Allsopp F W 2001 Annotation and commentary on Song of Solomon in The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha Third Edition Ed Coogan M D Oxford Oxford University Press 2001 page 966 from pages 959 968 a b c The New Oxford Annotated Bible New Revised Standard Version Oxford Oxford University Press 2001 Tuovinen Liisa Sexuality in Different Cultures 2008 p 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fertility and religion amp oldid 1082026611 Fertility symbols, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
