Table of Contents
Etymology and Mythological Roots
The presentation explores the connection between Christian symbols and ancient African, Latin, and indigenous traditions, especially matriarchal traditions. It argues that certain elements considered taboo today have foundational links to Christian belief and practice.
The term Mar in Spanish means sea or ocean, derived from Latin Maris or Marice. These terms connect with Mary, Maria, and marine. The Hebrew equivalent of Mary is Miriam, a name sharing roots with the Igbo term niri (mermaid or water spirit), and mei, meaning water.
Miriam also appears as the sister of Moses. Moses, or Musa in Arabic, means “drawn out of water.” These linguistic and mythological patterns link back to Isis, an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with motherhood and water.
Symbols and Deities Across Cultures
Isis, also known as Aset, is credited with a virgin conception of her son Horus (Haru) after the death and dismemberment of her husband Osiris. This theme parallels Mary’s story in Christian theology.
In Yoruba cosmology, Isis is related to Yemoja or Yaya, the queen of the Mami Wata pantheon. Christianity retains water-based rites such as baptism, which echo this mythological background. The Virgin Mary has historically been represented holding Poseidon’s staff and depicted as a mermaid in some Mediterranean Christian communities.
In modern Greece, the Virgin Mary is known as Panagia Gorgona, patroness of fishermen, and is depicted with maritime symbolism. In Kefalonia, the annual arrival of snakes associated with the Virgin Mary is considered a sign of blessing; their absence is viewed as a bad omen. These snakes are thought to reflect the serpent symbolism connected to Mami Wata spirits.
Rebirth, Water, and Womanhood
Christian rites such as baptism symbolically replicate birth, using the motif of water and the vesica piscis—a symbol of the sacred feminine. The vesica piscis is also tied to the structure of ancient monuments and feminine divinity. In Canaanite and Hebrew traditions, the mountain god El Shaddai (often read as “the breasted one”) is rooted in maternal imagery.
The female sphinx, tied to Isis and lion symbolism, appears across various cultures, including depictions of Ishtar (sitting atop lions). These motifs recur across African and Mediterranean traditions.
Syncretism in African and Diasporic Religions
In Afro-Cuban traditions, particularly in Palo Mayombe and Lukumi practices, goddesses such as Kalunga and Oshun are versions of Mami Wata. Kalunga is associated with Santa Maria. Oshun is linked to Mary Magdalene and known as the goddess of love and sweet water. These two Marys—Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene—are interpreted as twin aspects of the divine feminine and water spirits, called Dos Aguas (Two Waters).
In Hindu cosmology, Oshun is mirrored by Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, who is also associated with foot-washing, a motif found in Christian and pre-Christian texts.
Reflection and Cultural Impact
The narrative asserts that the demonization of Mami Wata and related figures resulted from the fall of matriarchal systems and the rise of patriarchy, leading to generational and social consequences. It proposes reevaluating the etymology, mythology, and symbolism from a broader cultural and historical perspective, including ancient Greek and precolonial African sources.
Event Announcement
An event titled Daughters of the Water Retreat is scheduled from July 12th to July 14th. Additional references and credits are provided in the description box of the original video.