Modern Footfalls in Ancient Tracks
Isis, Astarte, Inanna. Osiris, Bal, Cerne. The names of ancient deities once again ring loud and clear through the night air, called by modern pagans gathered in circles around the world. Primordial goddesses live again in the Craft names of modern Wiccans who look across the seas of time to find inspiration, strength and comfort. But how well do we know and understand the cultures who first worshipped these deities?
In what way did the people worship their gods, the gods whose names pass our lips today? What offerings were made? When were their sacred days? How were the gods depicted? Conceived of? Illustrated in art? How can this influence modern reverence? What do the myths surrounding the life cycles of the gods mean? How do these myths illustrate the trials and tribulations of ancient life? Of modern life? Why were some deities significant in only certain areas while others, like Isis, enjoyed cults throughout the known world? Which were personal deities, worshipped in the household with private shrines? What was life like for the common people who tended these shrines? Which were national deities with temples attended by priests and priestess who dedicated their lives to the service of the gods? What were the rigors and benefits of temple life?
Why are these questions, and so many others like them, important at all? Because in order to honor the gods of antiquity, to call their names and seek their aid, we must know them, not as archetypes of our own psyches but as entities unto themselves as they were originally conceived. Ancient humankind has left us clues in their art and architecture, in the ruins of sacred temples and in the rubble of their humble homes that will help us to better understand the deities we invoke today. While the fog of time clouds our interpretation of these clues, it would be insolent of us to ignore the signs that they have left, to think that with our modern facts we know more than they did, to call the names of the gods they first conceived without bothering to learn as much as we can about the people who first tread the paths that we endeavor to follow today.