30"x24" copyright 2000 oil on linen	ASHERAH Asherah was the Canaanite Goddess of Fertility, Growth and Renewal in the cycle of life, widely worshipped in ancient Israel, and was also known as "She who walked the sea". She was often portrayed with a lion or ibex on either side as in the bottom register of the Canaanite ritual stand from Taanach, late 10th century BCE in the tree trunk on the right. A Tree of Life with 3 pairs of branches, an ibex and a lion on either side can be seen two registers above. Later, after patriarchal systems prevailed, her name came to mean grove or trees. As a goddess worshipped in her own right in the ancient Hebrew religion, she was associated with all that was symbolized by the Tree of Life. In making the first Menorah, the ancient Hebrews were instructed to have three branches coming out of either side of a central stand with an almond shaped cup and a flower at the end of each one, resembling an almond tree. Among the trees considered to be the Tree of Life, the almond tree was highly regarded as it was the first to flower in spring, even before leafing out. The progression from Asherah, to the Tree of Life to the Menorah is revealed in the 4th century CE Roman gold glass base in the tree branches depicting a Menorah with a lion on either side. Asherah is wearing a necklace from Deir el-Balah, 14th-13th century BCE with an ibex-headed pendant from Ashod, 4th century BCE.

	DIANA As the ancient Roman goddess of the moon, Diana's sanctuary could be found on the shore of Lake Nemi, Italy, in the midst of a grove. Shrines to the moon were usually found in forests and near water. A sacred flame, representing the power of the moon to fertilize, was kept burning there. In later times, when she merged with Artemis, she became a three-fold goddess: virgin (waxing moon), mother/nurturer/protector (full moon) and crone (waning moon). She protected women, children and animals and came to the aid of women and animals during birthing with healing herbs from the woods. The statue of Diana in the background is from Ephesus, 175 CE; Roman necklace and earring, 1st - 2nd century CE.
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	GAIA & DAPHNE Gaia was the ancient Mother Earth of the Greeks, "the Deep-Breasted One". Born from Chaos, she existed long before time and created her consort as well as their children, one of whom was Rhea. Rhea created Python who coiled around the omphalos (navel) at Delphi, guarding the sacred divinatory Castalian spring and sharing oracular knowledge with Gaia's priestesses there, the Pythia. When one of her priestesses, Daphne, was being pursued by Apollo, Gaia changed her into a laurel tree so she could escape from him. This myth, as well as that of Apollo slaying Python, tells the story of the patriarchal takeover of the Oracle at Delphi which was once sacred to Gaia but, in later years, was claimed by Apollo. The laurel wreath was once considered a magical charm against evil but, after patriarchy, was used as a victory symbol to crown warriors and artists and was also worn by Apollo. The spirit figure emerging from the spirit earth in the upper right corner is Gaia, after her depiction on the Pergamon Altar, Greek, 165-156 BCE. Her gesture is part of the spirit energy changing Daphne into the laurel tree. Gaia's snake earring is after a Greek bracelet from Avola, 330-300 BCE.
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	HATHOR Hathor, the ancient Goddess of Creation and Nourishment of Life, was worshipped as a major deity in Egypt for over 3000 years. After she gave birth to the solar globe in her form as a Cow Goddess, she held it between her horns while swimming through the cosmic ocean. She is depicted in her Cow Goddess form in the sculpture on the tree trunk, 1390-1353 BCE; under it she is depicted as a human goddess with cow ears in the Hathor column, 380-342 BCE. As Lady of the Sycamore Fig Tree, she lived at the end of the earth where the sun rose each morning from her branches. She welcomed the dead and provided nourishment for the afterlife, pouring celestial milk from a container. In her right hand, she is holding a container with a wall painting depicting herself in this role from the Tomb of Sennedjem in Deir of Medineh, New Kingdom, 13th century BCE; in her left hand she pours out starry milk from a vase with a Hathor portrait on it from Tutankhamun's Tomb, 14th century BCE. She wears a Hathor bracelet from Jebel Barkal, Nubia, 1st century BCE and a collar with beads representing lotus petals, dates and cornflowers,1350 BCE.
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	HEL Hel was the Nordic Crone Goddess of the Afterlife whose abode was Niflheim. As Queen of the Underworld, it was said that she received the spirits of the dead, housing them in the elder tree until it was time for them to be reborn. In Denmark, she was worshipped as Hyldemoer, that is, Elder Mother. She was also seen as the Mountain Mother, dwelling in the earth where fire and ice meet. According to an Icelandic creation myth, in the beginning only a great chasm existed, called Ginnungagap, which was the opening to Hel's womb in the earth. On one side were the fiery volcanoes and on the other side, the ice and waters. Her name is at the root of the names of places such as Helsinki, Holland, Holstein, Helvetia and Holderness. As Nehellenia, meaning Nether Moon, numerous altars and artifacts have been found such as the one in the tree on the left found in Cologne, Germany, from the 2nd century CE. In this aspect, she was thought to give safe passage to seafarers. Hel is wearing a brooch after a dog on a weathervane in the 11th century Umes style.
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	KYBELE Kybele was the Phrygian Goddess of the Earth whose worship spread to Greece and then throughout the Roman Empire. Once a year, on March 22nd, a procession was held to celebrate the renewal of the earth. A pine tree, symbolizing Kybele's wounded consort, Attis, was cut down, bandaged, strung with violets and ribbons, and carried in the procession. The pine tree, an evergreen, symbolized everlasting life; violets were said to have sprung up where the blood of Attis touched the earth (Kybele). The death of Attis represented the end of the growing season. On April 3rd and 4th a great festival was held to celebrate the regenerative powers of Kybele as Great Mother, the earth. Roman statue of Kybele, 2nd century CE, on an Altar to Kybele showing a frame drum and cymbals hanging from a pine tree, c. 2nd - 3rd century CE; necklace from Capua, Italy, 4th-3rd century BCE.
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	LADY OF WILD CREATURES Goddess as Lifegiver: Throughout Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures, the link between the Goddess and Her creatures was more than a bond: the animals were considered a manifestation of the Goddess Herself. She ruled the creation, growth and nurturance, death and regeneration of plants, animals and people. Her widespread iconography can be found in many forms: on sacred and everyday objects as well as on cave walls, pottery and jewelry. She is wearing a Scythian necklace and holding a staff with a finial from c. 4th century BCE Ukraine. The carving on the purple stone is from a 16th century BCE seal from Knossos, Crete; the gold winged goddess with animals is after the decoration on a hydria from Italy, 570 BCE. They are sitting on a rock with a carving of the Goddess of Canaan, from Israel or Lebanon, 1200 BCE; the drawing of the deer on the rock is after a Cro-Magnon cave drawing from Lascaux, France. The gingko is the oldest tree and the only surviving tree from the vast forests that covered the earth millions of years ago.
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	PADMA-LAKSHMI Padma Lakshmi, from India, is the Hindu Goddess of happiness, health, fertility, prosperity, good fortune and beauty. As Padma, or lotus, her roots can be found in the Indus Valley Mother Goddess. The cosmic lotus, as the door to the womb of the universe, was referred to as "The Goddess Moisture" or "The Goddess Earth". The leaf of the lotus symbolizes the fertile earth; the flower represents the mother's lap and eternal renewal. Elephants, cousins of the clouds, attract rain. Lakshmi's lower right hand is in the abhaya mudra (gesture), giving blessings and protection. The carved figure of Padma is from the stupa at Bharhut, 2nd-1st century BCE; the bracelet on her right upper arm and the bottom necklace are from 16th-18th century India, her earrings are after the Kronos earrings, 1st century BCE, India.
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	RHEA In ancient Crete, Rhea was worshipped in fervent processional celebrations as the Goddess of all Creation. It was said that she was so ancient, she inhabited the oak forests of Arcadia before the moon's creation. As the Great Mountain Mother, her mythology merged with that of Kybele. In later, post-patriarchal myth, she was said to be the daughter of Gaia and mother of the Olympian goddesses and gods. In Orphic myth, she sat outside the cave of black-winged Night playing her drum to alert everyone to listen to the oracles of the Goddess. She stands in front of a frieze of herself on a lion from the Pergamon Altar, Greek, 165-156 BCE, found in present day Bergama, Turkey; her necklace with acorn pendant is from Tharros, c. 7th-6th century BCE; gold oak leaf diadem from Tarento, c. 4th-2nd century BCE; bee earring from a pendant from Crete, 1700-1550 BCE.
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30"x24" copyright 2000 oil on linen	SARASVATI: GODDESS OF LEARNING & THE ARTS In the early Vedic mythology of India, Sarasvati was connected with the sacredness of the river that purified and brought fertility to the dry lands. In the Vedas, because of her purification powers, she is regarded as a healing goddess. In the spiritual tradition, a seeker is said to pass from the world of ignorance through the purifying waters and onto the opposite shore of enlightenment. It was believed that the Sarasvati River originated in the heavens and continued flowing to the earth. In later Hindu tradition Sarasvati, as the embodiment of culture, brings to the world the gifts of learning and knowledge as well as speech and the arts, especially music. She is known by many titles including Pratibha (she who is intelligence); Kalpanasakti (the power of formation of ideas); Jnanasakti (power of knowledge); and Sarvasastravasini (who lives in all books). She is usually depicted with four hands, holding a book symbolizing learning; a vina (lute) symbolizing the arts; and a water pot and prayer beads symbolizing spiritual realms and religious rites. The swan and the white paste made from the sandalwood tree symbolize her purity. The roundel behind her is from the dome of a ceiling of Mandapa, Vimala Vasahi (Adinatha Temple), Dilwara, Mt. Abu, South Rajasthan, 12th century; The vina (lute) she is playing is from 20th century India and it is resting on a section from the East gate of the Great Stupa, Sanchi, 1st century BCE.

	SEKHMET Sekhmet was the fierce lion-headed Goddess of healing and retribution, from ancient Egypt, who wore the solar globe surrounded by a uraeus (fire-spitting cobra) on her head. Her great power as both healer and destroyer paralleled that of the desert sun and her breath produced the hot desert winds. She was a Goddess more ancient than the myths that told her story, described by 4000 different names. She also ruled over the Tablets of Destiny, holding everyone's fate in her hands. She stands in front of the Sacred Lake at Karnak and holds an ankh, symbolizing life, with a scarab beetle, symbolizing the sun, from Tutankhamun's Tomb, Valley of the Kings, 14th century BCE; she is also holding a papyrus plant, the symbol of Lower Egypt, and is wearing a necklace after one from Tutankhamun's Tomb with an inset from a pectoral depicting herself, same location, c. 1330 BCE. The statue behind her is from Karnak.
30"x24" copyright 2000 oil on linen

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