#native goddess

[thesilicontribesman]

Larger Roman Romano-Celtic Style Relief of the Three Mother Goddesses found in Ashcroft, Cirencester, Corinium Museum, Cirencester

Note the more stern facial expressions and upright positions on the Romano-Celtic version. This is made from oolitic limestone and probably adorned a local temple to the Mother Goddesses.

[elhoimleafar]

THE HISTORY OF MARÍA LIONZA

María Lionza was an indigenous woman and a princess of her tribe; she was the daughter of Chief Yaracuy, the granddaughter of Chief Chilúa, and the great-granddaughter of Chief Yare, all of whom were great warriors and statesmen. María Lionza’s birth likely occurred around 1535 in the state that today bears her father's name. There are two prevailing theories regarding María Lionza’s true name: one attributes to her the name "Yara," which is unlikely, given that the word means "water," while the other attributes to her the name "Yurubí," a slightly more credible claim, as it means "swift-flowing water." In both instances, water serves as the common thread in Yurubí’s life; indeed, it is water that ultimately defines her existence. To her tribe, having light-colored eyes was viewed with suspicion, considered a bad omen. Because Yurubí was born with light eyes, her father forbade her from gazing into the water; consequently, she was permitted to bathe or approach the water only at night, a practice that must have held a deeply erotic allure for the men of her tribe: a young, beautiful woman bathing alone under the cover of night. On one occasion, an anaconda, captivated by the young woman's beauty, deceived Yurubí, luring her to gaze at her own reflection in a river pool.

The indigenous maiden thus beheld her own beauty and the unusual color of her eyes, for the very first time in her life. The serpent, the guardian spirit of the river, was seized and punished for its deceit; however, swelling with rage and heartbreak, the creature managed to drain the entire pool, thereby flooding the village, before finally bursting apart and dying. In this manner, the young and beautiful princess became the rightful guardian of the pool, the river, and all the waters, evolving into the protector of the fish, and subsequently, of all the flora and fauna of the land. It is from this legend that the Yurubí River and the national park that bears its name derive their name. Yurubí’s home was called “Quibayo”, a place that still exists today on the mountain, which a Catalan geographer would later describe on his maps as the *Montagne de la Bonne Sorte* (Mountain of Good Fortune), or simply the “Mountain of Sorte.”

Yurubí’s story is inextricably linked to that of her father, Yaracuy. As it happens, Yaracuy commanded an empire comprising over 500 indigenous settlements, known as Guadabacoa. At the time of the Spanish arrival, this vast central empire comprised tribes such as the Tarananas, Yaritaguas, Achariguas, Torondoyes, and Zararas. Other tribes, among them the Macaures and the Caripes, allied themselves with the Spanish to confront Yaracuy. The conquistador Diego García de Paredes, together with Captain Juan de Vargas, attempted to secure a foothold on the mainland and establish themselves in the stronghold of El Tocuyo; however, Yaracuy defeated them in the Battle of Cuyucutúa in 1552. Later, Yaracuy was captured and sentenced to death; yet, he managed to disarm and incapacitate several soldiers before finally succumbing to the fire of their arquebuses. Here unfolds one of the most emblematic scenes in Venezuelan history: the unwavering resolve of a Venezuelan not to be trifled with. In the morning, the soldiers came to his cell to escort him to the gallows for execution. Two guards entered. Yaracuy, who had remained remarkably calm and silent throughout the night, approached one of them from behind, seized him by the neck, and snapped his spine. In doing so, he revealed to the other soldier that he spoke Spanish, as the guard heard him say, “I go, but not alone.” The soldier’s astonishment was such that Yaracuy was able to escape his cell, thereby managing to kill several other soldiers who were waiting for him outside. All of this took place at what are today the ruins of San Felipe el Fuerte, located in the city of San Felipe, the capital of the state that now bears his name: Yaracuy. (The full name of the city of San Felipe is San Felipe, el Fuerte.) For this, some time later, the men, women, and children of Venezuela’s only fully walled city would pay a heavy price. Members of the Yaracuy tribe stormed the fort and slaughtered every living thing, humans and animals alike, before proceeding to burn and destroy the entire city, a task that was ultimately completed by the earthquake of 1812. For this reason, all that remains of the fort today amid the ruins are the floor slabs and a few scattered walls, the last vestiges of what was once a complete city.

Upon Yaracuy’s death, Yurubí assumed the chieftainship of her tribe, a pattern common among many Venezuelan women who were compelled to become *caciques* due to the scarcity of men left in the wake of the war against the invading conquistadors. As chieftain, Yurubí proved to be a magnificent military strategist; the Spanish continued to suffer heavy casualties in their ranks, just as they had when Yaracuy was still alive, though now at the hands of his daughter. Consequently, it became necessary to issue an order for Yurubí’s capture. Catholic priests were the first to make contact with Yurubí; they attempted to Christianize her and even bestowed upon her the Christian name María del Prado. However, their efforts were in vain; Yurubí refused to submit to the worship of a God-man, one who, though good, had nonetheless been slain.

Grab your copy of "Pagan Portals - Maria Lionza: Folklore & Rituals of the Queen of Witches, Faeries, and Animas" in this link: https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Folklore-Rituals-Witches/dp/1917991037