Ghostly idolatrous divinities are supernatural beings that are worshipped and revered in various cultures and religions around the world. These spiritual entities are believed to possess special powers and abilities and are often considered to be intermediaries between humans and the divine. In many ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Mayans, ghostly idolatrous divinities played a significant role in religious rituals and ceremonies. These deities were believed to have control over various aspects of life, including fertility, agriculture, war, and death. The people would offer sacrifices and prayers to these beings in order to gain their favor and blessings. One example of a ghostly idolatrous divinity is the Egyptian god Anubis.
Bacchus pours wine from a cup for a panther, while Silenus plays the lyre., c. 30 BC. British Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Children who emerged from the womb with their faces wrapped in a caul, or a piece of amniotic membrane, were thought to have healing powers and the ability to see witches, making them prime candidates to join the group. I m not entirely sure that ordinary people would have used red wine in earlier centuries due to the cost, but it does also make a good symbolic alternative to blood.
One example of a ghostly idolatrous divinity is the Egyptian god Anubis. Anubis was the god of mummification and the afterlife, and was often depicted as a human figure with the head of a jackal. The ancient Egyptians believed that he would guide the souls of the deceased through the underworld and help them reach the afterlife.
Witchcraft and the Art of Winemaking
Maybe you’ve heard a bad bottle of wine being described as “corked.” This is the fault of TCA, a chemical compound that contaminates wine barrels and corks, giving vino an odor similar to Grandma’s dirty basement or a wet dog. Corked wine isn’t pleasant, but it certainly sounds more appealing than a bottle filled with witch pee—reportedly a common problem in 16th century Italy, when people thought that witches, after retiring from their midnight parties on the Satanic Sabbath, would break into wine cellars and urinate and defecate in the bottles and casks after drinking their fill. Villages would regularly toss out barrels of wine, convinced they’d been contaminated with unholy excrement.
The northern province of Friuli had some help with the problem. The Benandanti, or Good Walkers, were members of an ancient agrarian cult that believed themselves to be practitioners of white magic, and used their powers to protect vintners and farmers.
Membership in the Benandanti was an accident of birth. Children who emerged from the womb with their faces wrapped in a caul, or a piece of amniotic membrane, were thought to have healing powers and the ability to see witches, making them prime candidates to join the group. As children like this grew, they were said to go into a trance and experience strange visions on specific nights. Around the time a benandante turned 20, another benandante would come to visit them during one of these visions and show them the purpose of the trances. Their spirits would reportedly leave their bodies and ride roosters, goats or other animals through the sky, drinking the neighbors’ wine and joining other Benandanti in the woods.
But that's not all they did: The Benandanti would also battle the witches during their Satanic Sabbath by flanking them and attacking them with stalks of fennel. The witches fought back with stalks of sorghum. If they won the battle, crops would wither, children and animals would get sick, and the town's wine casks would become toilets. If the Benandanti won, though, the nearby villages would be safe and prosperous for the season. The fields would be fertile, the animals healthy, and the wine clean and delicious.
Unfortunately, the Benandanti were active during the Roman Inquisition, which prosecuted scores of people for heresy, blasphemy, sorcery, and witchcraft. Inquisitors investigated the Benandanti and at first claimed them heretics, but ultimately decided that their activity was “benign magic” and not Satanic.
No Benandanti were executed, but the Inquisition’s initial denounciation of them left unpopular with the villagers. They became synonymous with the very witches they fought against, and the cult declined and disappeared, leaving the wine to fend for itself.
Moon Phase: Dark Moon
Similarly, in Greek mythology, the god Zeus was revered as the king of the gods and the ruler of the sky and thunder. He was seen as a powerful and just deity, and was worshipped through sacrifices and prayers. The Greeks believed that Zeus would protect them from harm and bring them good fortune. In some cultures, ghostly idolatrous divinities are believed to inhabit natural objects such as trees, rocks, and rivers. These objects are often considered sacred and are worshipped as representations of the divine. For example, the ancient Celts believed in various nature spirits and worshipped them by offering gifts and performing rituals in sacred groves and forests. However, it is important to note that the worship of ghostly idolatrous divinities is not universally accepted or practiced. Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, consider idolatry to be a sin and view the worship of these beings as a form of polytheistic or false worship. In conclusion, ghostly idolatrous divinities have played a significant role in human history and culture. They have been worshipped and revered as powerful and supernatural beings, often believed to have control over various aspects of life. However, the worship of these entities is not universally accepted and is seen as a form of false worship in many religious traditions..
Reviews for "Ghostly Idolatrous Divinities and the Power of Collective Belief"
1. John Doe - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Ghostly idolatrous divinities" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was confusing and lacked cohesion, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, the characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect or root for any of them. The writing style felt pretentious and overdone, with excessive use of flowery language and unnecessary descriptions. Overall, I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied, and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who enjoys coherent storytelling and well-developed characters.
2. Jane Smith - ★★☆☆☆
"Ghostly idolatrous divinities" had an interesting concept, but unfortunately, it fell short in execution. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and poorly resolved climaxes. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe or invest in the interactions between the characters. Additionally, the author tried to include too many themes and motifs, cluttering the narrative and making it difficult to discern the central message or purpose of the story. While there were moments of potential, overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others seeking a captivating read.