Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

PRIAPUS

Priapas

Greco-Roman god of fertiliy and nature, son of Dionysos and Aphrodite, also called Lutinus by the Romans. He was seen as the guardian of vineyards, gardens and cultivated fields. The Romans also revered him as a Patron of sailors and fishermen. His symbols were a drinking cup and a spear.

Carved images and statues of Priapus, with a large erect phallus, were placed in fields and gardens to ensure fruitfulness and protection. The Romans portrayed him as wearing wearing a long dress, with his genitals uncovered.

The Romans gave offerings to him, such as the produce of the fields, hone, milk, and occasionally donkeys. The Priapea, a collection of 85 poems, sometimes funny but usually obscene, were written in his honour. His symbol in Roman belief was the pruning knife. Priapus originally appeared as a fertility god from Asia Minor, especially in Lampsacus on the Hellespont, where he was the most important god of the local pantheon.

He was introduced in Greece around 400 BC, but never reached the popularity that he did the Roman belief.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc