[Editor’s Note: This and the ensuing sequels are a revised version of the discussion that has taken place in The Mago Circle, Facebook group, since September 24, 2017 to the present. Themes are introduced and interwoven in a somewhat random manner, as different discussants lead the discussion. The topic of the number nine is key to Magoism, primarily manifested as Nine Magos or the Nine Mago Creatrix. Mago Academy hosts a virtual and actual event, Nine Day Mago Celebration, annually.]
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang One of many images from Japan, a male hero slaying the eight-headed snake/dragon. This follows the footstep of ancient China’s depiction of slaying the nine-headed snake.
Lizzy Bluebell Thanks for this enlightenment. The information opens a lot of windows in my mind, Helen. It makes much sense of things. This ancient battle was enacted in the Sky as well as the Earth, and I sense now that it spread out globally from its source in Korea as you determine.
There are several snakes recorded in the Constellations, including the missing 13th astrological house, known as Ophiuchus the Snake Handler. Beyond the Greco-Roman myths of Hercules/Heracles, Gorgon/Medusa, Hydra/Leviathan, and so forth, there’s also the Egyptian worship of the snake as the symbol of language itself (cerastes) to consider; as well as St. Patrick’s ‘chasing out all the snakes from Ireland’ which is metaphoric, I believe, for chasing out the Egyptian Pharoah Scota, who gave her name to Scotland, and possibly to the Faroe Isles.
I do sense that you are unravelling a very great mystery for us; your work is mindblowing in its revelations! In the image below, The hero is wearing a ‘scarf’ attached to his head and his phallic member while he dispatches the multi-headed creature (Gorgon). The ‘scarf’ was emblematic of Okeanus/Oceania, whose waters and rivers ‘scarfed’ the Earth.
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Now compare this (nine-snake headed Medusa/Gorgon) with the nine-headed snakes, slain by the male heros (click to see the image in point). Also see the face relief of Medusa in light of Chiu’s face roof tile included above:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa…
The Medusa’s head central to a mosaic floor in a tepidarium of the Roman era. Museum of Sousse, Tunisia
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Here is Ambika leading eight Matrikas in battle (click the link to see the specific image that I mean) in alignment with the theme of Chiu leading her eight giant sister alliances:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrikas…
Judy E Foster All these wonderful images flow like the strong winds which herald the coming storm…Matrikas, Medusa , the nine-headed snake woman…nine-headed cauldrons…the approaching New Year…I send good wishes to all….
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Very happy to hear that, Judy! It is the 21st century social media phenomenon is under our wings, we Goddess feminist researchers cannot dig out those deep old icons and data. It is our time’s gift to us, Sisters and Brothers.
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang This is about the battle between Chiu against Huangdi. Of course, below is written from the perspective of ancient China (Huangdi) to be reversed and corrected by the Chiu account of Danguk:
“In prehistoric China, the tribes of Yellow Emperor rose to power on the plains of Guanzhong and merged with Yan Emperor’s tribes following the battle of Banquan. The Yanhuang tribes, as the merged tribes were known, spread along the Yellow River towards the East China Sea. The Jiuli (Chinese: 九黎, “the nine Lis”) tribes, led by Chiyou, had developed near the present-day borders of Shandong, Hebei, and Henan, and expanded towards the west. The Yanhuang and Jiuli tribes were in conflict over the fertile land in the Yellow River valley, and thus they fought in the plains of Zhuolu. Chi You’s tribes were fierce in war and skilled at making weapons; allying themselves with the Kua Fu tribe and the Sanmiao (Chinese: 三苗, “the three Miaos”) tribe, they first attacked the Yan Emperor’s tribe, driving them into the lands of the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor was angered by this, and went to war with Chi You.
The battle
The details of the battle are mostly seen as mythical by historians, but if such a battle did occur, these are the events said to have happened:
It was said that Chi You led 72 to 81 tribes against the Yanhuang tribes in a thick fog. The Yellow Emperor sent tribes under the totems of the Bear, Pi (羆), Wolf, Leopard, and others in retaliation, but due to the fog, they initially suffered several defeats. To counter the fog, the Yellow Emperor brought forth the south-pointing chariot, a geared mechanism able to point in one constant direction designed by himself and built for him by the craftsman Fang Bo. In addition, the Xuannü (玄女) tribe helped the Yanhuang forces by blowing horns and hitting drums, thus frightening the enemy. The Yanhuang forces were ultimately victorious, killing Chi You in Hebei.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Zhuolu
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang I have the account that Goma, the shaman founder of the nine state Danguk confederacy, appointed queens of the bear clan to (nine) state rulers. See my article on Goma.
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Naga Buddha belongs here, the cross-cultural theme of nine-snake-headed Goddess. With Hazel Bowden.
Luan Danaan What an incredible image.
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang https://4465bj.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/9-headed-naga/
Hazel Bowden Fascinating!
Hazel Bowden I love the way these themes cross-pollinate geographically through the cultures.
Jumpot Tippayamontre http://www.blackspace555.org/…/jatukham-rammathep…
Judy E Foster It is a coincidence that I am just beginning to re-read the story of Odysseus (Circe) as re-translated from the original by Madeline Miller, (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018). It promises to be fascinating and full of symbolism.
Susan Hawthorne Circe turns nine of Odysseus’ companions into pigs. There are usually 20 men on the boats. Half go with Odysseus and I am pretty sure there are nine. Those nine men are turned into pigs by Circe. The translation is terrific and she makes the murderous side of Odysseus clear. I tried to check this rereading the chapter, but my memory of it like Judy E Foster’s is of nine.
Judy E Foster Helen, the above discussion is a book in its self!!!
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Ancient patriarchy exposes where the eight- or nine-headed snake is slain by a male hero across cultures:
“Yamata no Orochi 八岐大蛇 “8-branched giant snake” was an 8-headed and 8-tailed dragon slain by the god of wind and sea Susanoo, who discovered the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (legendary sword of the Imperial Regalia of Japan) in one of its tails.
Watatsumi 海神 “sea god” or Ryūjin 龍神 “dragon god” was the ruler of seas and oceans, and described as a dragon capable of changing into human form. He lived in the undersea Ryūgū-jō 龍宮城 “dragon palace castle”, where he kept the magical tide jewels.
Toyotama-hime 豊玉姫 “Luminous Pearl Princess” was Ryūjin’s daughter. She purportedly was an ancestress of Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s legendary first emperor.
Wani 鰐 was a sea monster that is translated as both “shark” and “crocodile”. Kuma-wani 熊鰐 “bear (i.e., giant or strong) shark/crocodile” are mentioned in two ancient legends. One says the sea god Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami transformed into an “8-fathom kuma-wani” and fathered Toyotama-hime, the other says a kuma-wani piloted the ships of Emperor Chūai and his Empress Jingū.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dragon
Glenys Livingstone I am reminded of Loch Ness “Monster” – a dragon of Old to be sure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_Monster
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang “The word “monster” was reportedly applied for the first time to the creature on 2 May 1933 by Alex Campbell, water bailiff for Loch Ness and a part-time journalist, in an Inverness Courier report.[5][6][7] On 4 August 1933 the Courier published a report by Londoner George Spicer that several weeks earlier, while they were driving around the loch, he and his wife saw “the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life” trundling across the road toward the loch with “an animal” in its mouth.[8] Letters began appearing in the Courier, often anonymously, claiming land or water sightings by the writer, their family or acquaintances or remembered stories.[9] The accounts reached the media, which described a “monster fish”, “sea serpent”, or “dragon”[10] and eventually settled on “Loch Ness monster”.[11]”
Helen Hye-Sook Hwang Below added July 6, 2020. The image is much like Chiu, wearing the headgear and carrying weapons, described in Korean and Chinese texts. The dating for the Ishta’s seal appears to be 4-6 centuries after the enthronement of Chiu in 2707 BCE.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inanna
(To be continued)
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The Ishtar image is also conflated with thoroughly demonized Lilith, most recently popularized by pop astrology, while still hiding her true ‘nature’.