3757 – Statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe

Physical description:

Large colourful figure of the Virgin Mary surrounding by gold flames with a crown above her head. She is wearing a blue and gold cloak which is covered in stars and holding her hands in prayer. She is standing on a crescent moon held by a small human figure.

Museum classification:

Goddess, Christian Magic

Size:

58cm x 19cm x 13cm

Information:

This is a represention of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec who had adopted Christian beliefs, in two visions, on 9th and 12th December 1531, near Mexico City. The visions had enormous significance for the indignous peoples of Mexico, as it was seen as a sign that the Virgin condemned their persecution by the Spanish colonialists..The roses on the statue are her sacred flower. She is still a very important figure in Mexican identity.

 

This sort of figure is often said to be a representation of the Virgin Mary or the Madonna from the Christian Religion.  In the Chapter 12 of the Biblical Book Revelation, St John makes the following prophecy: "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (12:1) and much of this imagery can be seen in this statue.  She is called the Woman of Revelation or the Woman of the Apocalypse and much of her symbolism is derived from images of earlier Goddesses such as Isis (pictured below) and Selene with her crescent moon (bottom image).

The Virgin Mary is seen as one expression of the ancient earth Goddess. Popular devotion has constantly recognized Mary as worthy of what some Catholic theologians have called 'latria' or adoration normally associated with God alone. Officially Mary is given 'hyperdulia' or super-veneration - more than is officially accounted for saints but less than God. For some, this is seen as a means of reducing the role of women within Christian theology, and effectively desexualizing and dehumanizing Mary. But in addition, the widespread success of the cult of Mary has also been seen as preserving some of the best attributes of the Goddess.

See Janet & Steward Farrar, Eight Sabbats for Witches; Marina Warner, Alone of All Her Sex; Cheryl Straffon, The Earth Goddess: Celtic and Pagan Legacy of the Landscape.

 

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Plastic and paint

This is a represention of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec who had adopted Christian beliefs, in two visions, on 9th and 12th December 1531, near Mexico City. The visions had enormous significance for the indignous peoples of Mexico, as it was seen as a sign that the Virgin condemned their persecution by the Spanish colonialists..The roses on the statue are her sacred flower. She is still a very important figure in Mexican identity.

 

This sort of figure is often said to be a representation of the Virgin Mary or the Madonna from the Christian Religion.  In the Chapter 12 of the Biblical Book Revelation, St John makes the following prophecy: "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (12:1) and much of this imagery can be seen in this statue.  She is called the Woman of Revelation or the Woman of the Apocalypse and much of her symbolism is derived from images of earlier Goddesses such as Isis (pictured below) and Selene with her crescent moon (bottom image).

The Virgin Mary is seen as one expression of the ancient earth Goddess. Popular devotion has constantly recognized Mary as worthy of what some Catholic theologians have called 'latria' or adoration normally associated with God alone. Officially Mary is given 'hyperdulia' or super-veneration - more than is officially accounted for saints but less than God. For some, this is seen as a means of reducing the role of women within Christian theology, and effectively desexualizing and dehumanizing Mary. But in addition, the widespread success of the cult of Mary has also been seen as preserving some of the best attributes of the Goddess.

See Janet & Steward Farrar, Eight Sabbats for Witches; Marina Warner, Alone of All Her Sex; Cheryl Straffon, The Earth Goddess: Celtic and Pagan Legacy of the Landscape.