Friday 27 September 2019

Pagan Eye: Little Gods and Goddesses of London


I took this picture in the European room at the British Museum and it shows a variety of tiny statuettes of deities, mythological beings and creatures that where honoured in Roman times in London and other parts of England. As the figurines are so small, they might have been used by individuals - perhaps carried around - to help them get through their busy days and deal with the problems they faced. Alternatively, they might have been left as offerings - some of the figures were found in the Thames.

In the picture are:
  • Hermaphrodite, a mythological being who displays both male and female features, found in the Thames
  • Apollo, god of music, poetry, prophecy and light, found in the Thames
  • A lar (household god) from Sussex
  • A snake, thought to be a symbol of good fortune, from Sydenham, south London
  • Two statuettes of Mercury, god of commerce, found in the Thames
  • A goat and a cockerel, both animals associated with Mercury, found in the Thames
  • Venus, from Colchester
  • A goose or swan, associated with Venus, found in the Thames
One of my resolutions this year was to blog about Gods and Goddesses of London. So far, I have blogged about major sites associated with pagan deities, or large depictions of them. This is a look at the little gods - or at least little representations of them - that were honoured by our ancestors in their daily lives.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/08/london-gods-goddesses-diana-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/01/looking-back-at-gods-and-goddesses-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/09/london-gods-neptune-at-secret-rivers.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/04/pagan-eye-occult-art-at-plymouth.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/09/pagan-eye-reremembering-offering-to.html

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