Borrowed Symbols

                                                        

BORROWED SYMBOLS

Orpheus and Jesus, they are the epitome

Of religious assimilation, as anyone can see.

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Orpheus is a myth, of course, and from Ancient Greece he came.

He was considered beautiful and everyone knew his name.

He was a great musician who could tame the wildest beasts

And therefore he was worshipped with dancing and with feasts.

Eurydice was bitten by a snake and then she died!

Orpheus was devastated for she was his bride.

Down into the Underworld Eurydice was taken,

To sleep forever in the dark; nevermore to waken.

Orpheus went to the Underworld and sang his lovely songs

And Hades said 'Yes! Take your wife back to where she belongs.'

So his wife was resurrected, awakened from the dead,

And she returned to the living world, the bright world overhead.

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When Christianity appeared, then came assimilation.

Pictures of Orpheus were admired, objects of adoration.

These paintings gradually displayed Jesus in like manner

The people expressed their worship then by crying a loud 'Hosannah!'

The story of the Underworld and Eurydice's return,

Were woven into the Christian theme for everyone to learn.

The idea of resurrection was carried on as well,

And, too, the thought that, down below, was a dreadful place called Hell.

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Now further proof of the cross-over has recently been found;

A Talisman of Orpheus, that continues to astound.

This Talisman is ancient, pre-dating the Christian era,

And it makes assimilation theory, more reasoned and much clearer.

A cross is very clearly seen, a symbol of crucifixion,

And scholars have been studying this old pagan depiction.

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All around on every side are signs of assimilation,

Not much in life can prove to be a totally new creation.

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The strange Talisman