After a painting by W. Gentz.
]
From their country the so-called Vodoo-service, the worship of the
“Great Snake,” has been brought by slaves to the West Indies, where it
was handed down from generation to generation. It still prevails in
Hayti, “the black man’s republic.” Here it is, that the Vodoo priests
and their devout followers meet in silent forests, to pay homage to
their ugly god by sacrificing women as well as children.
Herodotus and other historians of classic times relate that every year
in Egypt, when the Nile began to rise, to which that country owes its
abundance, the priests persuaded a beautiful girl to become the bride of
the river-god. Adorned with jewels and flowers, and greeted by all the
people, this virgin was led to the flat roof of a temple overlooking the
mighty river. After prayers and invocations had been made, she was
tossed into the swirling floods, which swiftly carried her away.
Among the early Latin peoples similar sacrifices seem to have been
customary, as is indicated by the fact that in Rome on the 15th of May
in every year the Vestal virgins, in presence of all the priests,
municipal authorities and the people threw twenty-four life-size dolls,
the so-called Argeer, into the Tiber.
To calm the rage of the god of fire and earthquake, the priests of
ancient Japan also hurled beautiful virgins into the flaming crater of
Fuji Yama.
Humanity needed thousands of years to shake off such monstrous illusions
and customs, because nothing is so difficult as to eliminate ideas and
customs that are rooted in religious superstition, and, through being
handed down from generation to generation, become surrounded with a halo
of sacredness and solemnity.
To such institutions belonged also, what by some students of human
culture has been characterized as “hierarchical or sacred prostitution.”
As is generally known, there exist among almost all aboriginal tribes
crafty charlatans, who pretend to have influence over those supernatural
powers, which are believed to be the distributors of all blessings as
well as of all evils. These so-called sorcerers, healers, conjurors,
magicians, medicine-men, or shamans, the predecessors of the priests,
usurped among many tribes the privilege of deflouring all virgins before
their entrance into marriage. With the gradual evolution of priesthood
this practice was made a rite, which among various nations of antiquity
developed into the most voluptuous orgies known in history.
Women during the Ages of Antiquity.
[Illustration:
A NOBLEMAN AND HIS WIFE IN BABYLON
]