Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
Online Book - Chapter 17, Page 327
Back to Online Book Mainpage / Next Page (Chapter 17, Page 328)
Medieval manuscripts are full of artistic surprises like images of dragons, devils, tortures and beheadings. These ancient pieces of Christian art really give us tremendous insight into the minds of the theologians and the seriousness which they bestowed in the biblical works. Margaret is portrayed being swallowed or regurgitated by the dragon (like Jonah and the whale), in Workshop of Agnolo Gaddi, c. 1369 -1396 AD (71a). Margaret is also seen emerging from the belly of the dragon & being beheaded, in the Queen Mary Psalter, c. 1300-1400 AD (71b), and she is being thrown into prison. Mushroom symbolism is most apparent where she is escaping from the belly of the dragon, from the Taymouth Hours in the early 14th century (71f). (71a) St. Margaret and the Dragon Workshop of Agnolo Gaddi c. 1369 -1396 AD  (71b) Detail of a bas-de-page scene of St Margaret emerging from the belly of the dragon & being beheaded From the Queen Mary Psalter c.1300-1400 AD  (71f) St Margaret being thrown into prison, and escaping from the belly of the dragon, from the Taymouth Hours Early 14th century |
The dragon becomes equated with the devil oftentimes in medieval art. The Book of Hours, France, c. 1460–1470 AD, depicts St Margaret emerging from the dragon with a mushroom veil on her head (71d), while a similar image from the Book of Hours from 1460, shows St. Michael battling Satan, depicted as a dragon. St. Michael holds a shield in his hand over the dragon’s face, which resembles the cap of a mushroom, while St. Michael’s arm completes the imagery of the stem (71e). Also, notice how the top portion of the images are separated or delineated from the bottom by color differences, such as the area above the red curtain (71d) and the blue sky, forming the shape of the mushroom cap (71e).   R: (71e) St Michael and Satan Book of Hours c.1460 The Human Sacrifice of the Templars In order to crush the Albigensians, Pope Innocent III gave power to papal emissaries to sue the heretics and enjoined all bishops legally to help with discovery and prosecution of them as well. Pope Innocent III also pushed for Papal sovereignty over the State by compelling King John of England to acknowledge his supremacy. The best way to remember Pope Innocent III is that he was probably the least “innocent” pope of all the popes who ever held power. In the years of 1202-1204 he instigated the fourth Crusade against the Albigensians and Cathars and pretty much exterminated them. He also instituted the Order of Dominicans. |
Go Back to Page 326