THE INTERSECTION OF CULTS OF APHRODITE OURANIA AND HODEGETRIA “PANAGIA MYRTIDIŌTISSA” IN THE ISLAND OF KYTHERA

Year 2024, Issue: 35, 199 - 210, 30.12.2024

Settar Tarman

https://doi.org/10.22520/tubaar.1538116

Abstract

Within the scope of this study, it is analyzed in which elements the cult of Aphrodite, a Pagan goddess born in Island of Kythera, was transferred to the Virgin Mary, one of the most important religious figures of Christianity, in the same geography. Among the epithets of Aphrodite, Ourania, which is identified with the Island of Kythera, is similar to Hodegetria-Myrtidiōtissa Mary in some aspects. In addition, the myrtle, one of the most well-known attribute of the goddess Aphrodite and the plant she patronized, was transferred to the Virgin Mary in the same cult area. Virgin Mary performed a miracle to find her lost icon in the myrtle bushes. As a result of this miracle and the cult transferred to Mary on the Island of Kythera with the icon attributed sanctity, the epithet Myrtidiōtissa, which is almost never mentioned in the sources, emerged. Just as the Temple of Aphrodite Ourania, a sanctuary was built for Virgin Mary on Island of Kythera called Church of Panagia Myrtidiōtissa and the tradition was transferred to Christianity with all its elements.

Keywords

Island of Kythera, Aphrodite Ourania, Virgin Mary, Hodegetria, Myrtidiōtissa, myrtle, Christianity

APHRODITE OURANIA VE HODEGETRIA “PANAGIA MYRTIDIŌTISSA” KÜLTLERİNİN KYTHERA ADASI’NDA KESİŞİMİ

Abstract

Bu çalışma kapsamında Pagan tanrıçası Aphrodite’nin Kythera Adası’nda doğan kültünün, yine aynı coğrafyada Hristiyanlığın en önemli dini figürlerinden Bakire Meryem’e hangi ögeler doğrultusunda aktarıldığı incelenmiştir. Aphrodite’nin epithetleri arasından Kythera Adası ile özdeşleyen Ourania, bazı yönleriyle Hodegetria-Myrtidiōtissa Meryem ile benzerlikler göstermektedir. Bunun yanı sıra tanrıça Aphrodite’nin en bilindik sembollerinden ve himayesine aldığı bitki olan mersin, yine aynı kült alanında Bakire Meryem’e aktarılmıştır. Meryem, kayıp ikonasının mersin çalılıklarında bulunması için bir mucize gerçekleştirmiştir. Bu mucize ve kutsallık atfedilen ikona ile Kythera Adası’nda Meryem’e aktarılan kült sonucunda, kaynaklarda neredeyse hiç değinilmeyen Myrtidiōtissa epitheti ortaya çıkmıştır. Tıpkı Kythera Adası’ndaki Aphrodite Ourania Tapınağı gibi yine aynı lokasyonda Panagia Myrtidiōtissa Kilisesi adında Meryem’e adanmış bir mabet yapılarak gelenek Hristiyanlığa aktarılmıştır.

Keywords

Kythera Adası, Aphrodite Ourania, Meryem, Hodegetria, Myrtidiōtissa, mersin bitkisi, Hristiyanlık

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