Swastika - The Symbol of the Buddha
| |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Italia - Villa of Mysteries, Pompeii
[01/06/2004] In the first century the Roman Empire contained many cities, but none in a more beautiful setting than the cities and towns lining the Bay of Naples. On the 24th of August, 79 A.D., volcanic ash spewed from Mt. Vesuvius. Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum disappeared from the face of the earth. Gradually grass and vines covered the land where the towns stood. The local people eventually forgot even the name of the buried towns.
The Wallpainting is spread across the whole room, a continuing swastika-pattern can be found above the wallpainting as decoration.
Herculaneum was rediscovered in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748. By the mid-eighteenth century, when scholars made the journey to Naples and reported on the findings, the imagination of Europe was ignited. Suddenly, the classical world was in vogue. Philosophy, art, architecture, literature, and even fashion drew upon the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum for inspiration; the Neoclassical movement was under way.
This villa, built around a central peristyle court and surrounded by terraces, is much like other large villas of Pompeii. However, it contains one very unusual feature; a room decorated with beautiful and strange scenes. This room, known to us as the "The Initiation Chamber," measures 15 by 25 feet and is located in the front right portion of the villa.
The term "mysteries" refers to secret initiation rites of the Classical world. The Greek word for "rite" means "to grow up". Initiation rites, then, were originally ceremonies to help individuals achieve adulthood. The rites are not celebrations for having passed certain milestones, such as our high school graduation, but promote psychological advancement through the stages of life. Often a drama was enacted in which the initiates performed a role. The drama may include a simulated death and rebirth; i.e., the dying of the old self and the birth of the new self. Occasionally the initiate was guided through the ritual by a priest or priestess and at the end of the ceremony the initiate was welcomed into the group.
The fresco images you will see in the Villa of Mysteries seem to be part of a ritual ceremony aimed at preparing privileged, protected girls for the psychological transition to life as married women. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us with the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for the women of Pompeii. But as there are few written records about mystery religions and initiation rites, any iconographic interpretation is bound to be flawed. In the end we are left with the wonderful frescoes and the mystery. Nevertheless, an interpretation is offered, see if you agree or disagree.
Link to more information:
Villa of Mysteries (Explanation)
Villa of Mysteries (Photo Gallery)
Herculaneum was rediscovered in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748. By the mid-eighteenth century, when scholars made the journey to Naples and reported on the findings, the imagination of Europe was ignited. Suddenly, the classical world was in vogue. Philosophy, art, architecture, literature, and even fashion drew upon the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum for inspiration; the Neoclassical movement was under way.
This villa, built around a central peristyle court and surrounded by terraces, is much like other large villas of Pompeii. However, it contains one very unusual feature; a room decorated with beautiful and strange scenes. This room, known to us as the "The Initiation Chamber," measures 15 by 25 feet and is located in the front right portion of the villa.
The term "mysteries" refers to secret initiation rites of the Classical world. The Greek word for "rite" means "to grow up". Initiation rites, then, were originally ceremonies to help individuals achieve adulthood. The rites are not celebrations for having passed certain milestones, such as our high school graduation, but promote psychological advancement through the stages of life. Often a drama was enacted in which the initiates performed a role. The drama may include a simulated death and rebirth; i.e., the dying of the old self and the birth of the new self. Occasionally the initiate was guided through the ritual by a priest or priestess and at the end of the ceremony the initiate was welcomed into the group.
The fresco images you will see in the Villa of Mysteries seem to be part of a ritual ceremony aimed at preparing privileged, protected girls for the psychological transition to life as married women. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us with the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for the women of Pompeii. But as there are few written records about mystery religions and initiation rites, any iconographic interpretation is bound to be flawed. In the end we are left with the wonderful frescoes and the mystery. Nevertheless, an interpretation is offered, see if you agree or disagree.
Link to more information:
Villa of Mysteries (Explanation)
Villa of Mysteries (Photo Gallery)
This sign is a cosmic religious sign and never and by no means a political symbol.
 |
| Iranian necklace with Swstika motifs |
 |
| Legalization of the Falun Symbol in Germany Is Significant |
 |
| Greece - Golden geometrical disc from Skyros |
 |
| Danmark - Vikin Fibel |
Copyright � by 2003-2005 Swastika-Info Team
Design by Rogott.de Recherche Igeawagu Team Gottschalg Family Biografiedienst Neusel