OUR LADY MARY OF ZION: AFRICAN DEPICTIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER OF GOD Rachel Heiderscheidt 11 December 2015 ART 311 Riep The Catholic cult of the Virgin has spread its influence throughout the world over the centuries. In this paper, I will compare Marian imagery from three different African cultures: ancient Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Kongo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a typical example of Western Marian iconography in order to explore the ways in which each culture has taken existing icon types and expanded upon them, bringing their own unique cultural identity to the table. In this way, we can see not only the unique stylistic elements of each culture, but the depth of devotion the figure of Mary, and mother …show more content…
2), an icon type present in and around Egypt as early as the eighth century BCE. This type portrays the mother goddess nursing her divine son Horus from her left breast. This example from the ruins of Karanis represents the type of devotional image an Isis cult worshiper would have used for private meditation, as it is a wall mural found in a person’s home. Isis was particularly popular among young women as a protector of girls and women and a role model of how they should live their lives. In this example, deviating a bit from the usual, Horus does not nurse from the breast Isis offers, but instead gestures to his mouth, referencing his role in opening the mouths of the dead for passage of the soul. He stares directly at the viewer, contemplating them with wisdom beyond his age. Meanwhile, Isis smiles kindly at the viewer, emphasizing her ideal motherly qualities. In this and other examples of the Isis lactans, Isis is not just seated on a throne, but the shape of her body forms a throne for her son. Isis was commonly associated with thrones, and not only was her hieroglyphic depiction a throne, but the name “Isis” is thought to have meant “throne” as