 The famous bridge |
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 Church San Michele |
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 In the church there are many "Sirenes", an aspect
of the ancient Goddesses |
SAN MICHELE CHURCH
The Church of the Crusade |
 Together with a Green Man, Her lover/ protector |
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 Isn't She impressive? |
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 Just like these two Green Men |
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 Green Man with His predecessor: the Green Beast |
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 Very ancient Mermaid |
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 Sirene/Mermaid |
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 Man in nature: Green Man |
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 Green Cat, together with two beasts |
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 Ditto |
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 Saint crushing head of Green Man (or ancient God) while
trying to get rid of beasts |
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 Green Cat |
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 Man in nature: Green Man |
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From Sirenes (above, left), men in nature to
probably ancient Goddesses (below, left and right) with open vulvas e.g. covered with
foliage |
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 The crypt |
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The capitals are all decorated with Green
Cats. What is unique are the images of a Middle Eastern lilly ("Nile Lotus")
with corresponding leaves. It is proof that the carvers were informed about these plants
first hand e.g. got the information of the crusaders |
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The Green Cat is a Green Beast, inspired by the
Egyptian Cat God |
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Another proof of direct influence from the
Middle East are the various "Lady and Her Beasts". It symbolizes the Great
Mother as the Lady of nature in general, of the animals and in particular of Her
Sons/Lovers. Men identified themselves with the object of hunt or other aimals. Later the
Beasts were portrayed as they are: as Green Men |
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 The miracle is that the "Lady and Her Beasts"
(here with dragons) can e.g. be found in various cultures e.g. in India, Tibet, China and
Java..... |
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 Moreover She is an exact copy of Assyrian/Canaanite
Goddesses |
Crucial was the Second Crusade. King Louis VII,
together with his wife Eleonore of Aquitane (1122-1204) went to the Holy Land, accompanied
by...Frederick Barbarossa and his king Konrad III. The Crusade was a disaster, but the
inspiration they received priceless. Their way back was per boat, which allowed them to
transport a lot of "souvenirs". Later Frederick was crowned king of Italy
in....Pavia |
 Once again the same symbolism |
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 Sirene, Her face resembles almost exactly the
"baubo" (showing their vulva) Goddesses of Palestine |
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 Grail Vessel with birds, symbolizing the Cosmic Womb of
Abundance |
These pictures have been taken under extremely
difficult circumstances. |
 Lady and Her Beasts |
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 Green Man |
The fact that both Near Eastern Goddesses and
Gods (Green Men) are so manifold in the church of San Michele, apparently without much
objections of the clergy, indicates that "Pagan" belief was widespread in
Northern Italy of that time. And not only there. It doesn't surprise that especially
Eleonore of Aquitaine was a very "independent" women, introducing all kinds of
"questionable" practices e.g. the entire Troubadour Movement was inspired by
her. The former was later condemned by the Church, because....the danger to worship women
as goddesses..... |
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 Green Cats |
Pavia, a fascinating ancient gem, planted into
a "Christian" world, still to be admired. Unfortunately, many images have
suffered from erosion. I suspect that there aren't many people in charge, who realize the
uniqueness of these treasures |
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