Chthonia

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgBooks: https://chthonia.net/publicationsThis week's episode is on Serapis, a Graeco-Egyptian deity promoted by Ptolemy I Soter (Macedonian general who became ruler of Egypt) around the 200s BCE. Serapis is a male deity that combines elements of Hades/Pluto, Dionysus, Osiris, Apis, and Helios--and may have some connections to the Jesus myth. We certainly see how Emperor worship becomes folded into the mythology of this period, and its later influence on Christianity. As our current society is going through upheavals and changes in its worldviews, it is worth considering a syncretic deity that was worshipped at another time of upheaval.

*Look for current podcast information at https://chthonia.netThis is the re-edit of the 2019 podcast episode on the mythological stories of the Hanging Virgins. This centers around the myths of Erigone, Carya, and other girls who die by their own hand in the manner implied by the title, either because their father passes away and no one can arrange their marriage, or their parents do not approve of their marriage choice, among other reasons. There are some curious rites and songs around this danger. To read more about these stories, see:Iles-Johnston, Sarah. Restless Dead: Encounters Between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece. University of California Press, 1999. pp. 219-249.

Dive into the intriguing world of Hecate, focusing on her evolution as a triple goddess tied to life and death. Discover her role as a mediator between physical and spiritual realms and the philosophical underpinnings of sympathetic magic. The discussion highlights the urgent need for humanity to reconnect with nature and divinity amidst environmental challenges. Explore the delicate balance between personal aspirations and earthly relations, enriched by unique holistic practices. It's a captivating journey through mythology and contemporary relevance!

Website: https://chthonia.netPodcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chthonia--4909143Patreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThis week we look at Pope Joan, who is alleged to have served as the only female Pope either in the 9th century or the 11th century. We look at the facts, how scholars think her legend started, inconsistencies in the legend, and the Church's reaction to the idea of a Papess. If Joan existed, she was much smarter than her male contemporaries, secular and religious. So was her legend started as an anti-Pope narrative, is it supposed to be a critique of the various "Pope Johns" of the medieval period, or could there be some truth to the story?

Here is the original 2019 episode on Persephone, Queen of the Underworld with cleaned up sound editing. The original theme music and original infomation from 2019 still remain in this episode; current information about the podcast and Chthonia in general is at https://chthonia.net

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgHappy new year! Our first podcast of 2025 looks at Joan of Arc, also known as Jeanne D'Arc, and La Pucelle (the Maid). We discuss Joan's short life, having been burned at the stake at the age of 19 after being victorious in pushing the English out of France in the Hundred Years' War, and installing Charles VII on the throne. We focus on three things: her visions of Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret of Antioch and St. Catherine of Alexandria; the heresy charges leveled against her for wearing male attire; and finally the question that plagued me as I recorded this--who exactly WAS Joan that she would be sought out for this mission?

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThe last podcast of 2024 focuses on the grandmotherly figure of La Befana, a witch who appears on Epiphany Eve to bring gifts (or coal) and to sweep the house. Children may not look at her without suffering consequences. The origins of La Befana may lie in an Etruscan/Sabine goddess, and the paradoxical nature and perception of this witch figure may tell us something about the uneasy relationship of a patriarchal world with Nature.

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThis week we look at the Loireag, a "plaintative" tiny fairy associated with the traditional process of spinning and weaving cloth. The Loireag is considered to be a water spirit in the folklore of the Hebrides, as well as a spinster, making her full of apparent paradoxes when it comes to her associations as a feminine force. We look at the folklore that exists surrounding the Loireag, which also deals with singing, and the mythology of weaving and what it might represent. 

This week’s subject is Tlazolteotl, the Aztec goddess of filth, lust, and patroness of adulterers. Tlazolteotl is both the disease and the cure, being a goddess of debauchery, but also the one who can purify you from debauchery. We look at the idea of “Holy S**t”, how excrement was viewed as a divine and healing substance, and how this idea compares in other cultures. We also discuss how “filth” ends up being connected with the Feminine, and how this can affect our ideas abuot sex and sensual pleasure.

Dive into the enchanting lore of selkies, magical beings who transform between seals and women. Discover the captivating story of a selkie woman trapped in a fisherman’s world, grappling with themes of love, freedom, and gender dynamics. Explore the trickster nature of love and the importance of independence in relationships, echoed in myths like Persephone and Hades. The discussion emphasizes the dance of sovereignty, showcasing how healthy connections thrive on mutual respect and the balance of masculine and feminine energies.