Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
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Medieval art is full of depictions of the devil or the fires of hell consuming people, torturing them with pitchforks, and causing human suffering. This is commonly known but what is not commonly known are the depictions of the devil either as the mushroom or as a part of the direct symbolism. This devil/mushroom imagery is rare, but when it is found, it tells us something very revealing. In Secreta Secretorum by Pseudo-Aristotle, from Florence, c. 1425, Zoroaster is pictured with two demons and there is something laying on the ground, which does not appear to belong there; a giant mushroom-like object (71c). The mushroom is obviously out of place, in this imagery, but it serves to show there is a connection between the devil and the mushroom and the Catholic Church understood this very well. (71c) Zoroaster and two demons by Pseudo-Aristotle Secreta Secretorum. Florence c. 1425 The next image examined is dated from 1360-1375, showing an astrologer looking at the sky with a demon inside a circle. The circle has red ridges with white dots all around it, symbolizing the cap and gills of the mushroom (70d). Yet another image has the devil’s mouth full of flames like a furnace and people in his mouth are being roasted in the flames. This image is taken from The Hours of Catherine of Cleves. Monday Hours of the Dead, dated from 1435-60 AD. The mushroom in this image is the nose which looks also like the Ace of Spades (69e).  (69e) The Hours of Catherine of Cleves Monday Hours of the Dead c. 1435-60 AD |
In a Jena Codex, dating to the late 14th century Prague, there is an image of the devil’s mouth with a body being fed into the flaming fire which is his mouth. The fire in the mouth is colored red, depicting the mushroom cap and is distinguished from the color of the body being fed into the fire, which represents the mushroom stem (70c). (70c) Jena Codex. Prague. Late 1400's  (70d) An astrologer looking at the sky with a demon inside a circle. London, British Library c. 1360-1375 AD Depicted on an Islamic art piece c. 1460-89, there is a devil shown who is wearing what is clearly a mushroom necklace (97i)   (97i) Islamic Manuscripts, Garrett no. 82G 1460-1489 - According to Moghadam, illustrations and binding probably from 18th century India. |
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