m&m's in V

[sims]

Representations of pigs (along with other domesticated animals) have 
been found in Neolithic temples
and are some of the finest artwork from the period.

The following link shows a  procession of animals which features a ram leading
followed by a pig and then sheep and/or goats. This neolithic artwork 
can be seen in the Museum
of Archaeology, Republic Street, Valletta, Malta. This street is 
parallel and one street
over from Strait Street btw   ;-)

http://web.infinito.it/utenti/m/malta_mega_temples/stattuet/animal/smlanpro.html


atb
sims

>Lots of pigs in Pynchon's writings, especially in GR.  The pig 
>represents many things, and we know (from Krissie's account) that 
>Pynchon  LIKES pigs.
>
>1.  In the ancient Greek world they were symbolic of fertility:
>
>"Thesmophoria:
>
>An annual three-day festival which was held in honour of Demeter 
>Thesmophoros, observed in various part of Greece. It is a festival 
>where the rites were carried out by women, and the purpose was to 
>ensure the fertility of the land, so that good crop would be 
>harvested. The women participating in the rituals had to fast and 
>observe their chastity for several days.
>
>The rite was supposed to symbolised the abduction of Kore 
>(Persephone), daughter of Demeter, and of the the time she must 
>spend on the surface and in the Underworld. So on the first day, 
>pigs was thrown into a pit or underground chamber. What remains that 
>are left and not eaten by snakes, and before it had time to rot, the 
>remains are then brought back up by women who had fasted. The pigs' 
>remains are then place on the altar, in the hope that there are good 
>crop this year. The second day involved with women fasting, in 
>remembrance to the time that Demeter was wandering and mourning over 
>the loss of her daughter. On the third day, the women spent the day 
>giving gifts to children and praying for blessing on family. They 
>also prayed for good crops. On this day, it was to commemorate 
>Demeter reunion with her daughter, ending the famine and failed 
>crops."
>
>2.  In GR pigs are directly associated with the "preterite," those 
>doomed ones, being taken to slaughter.
>
>Thus a preserved dead pig would not be a good thing to have about 
>the house.  It's fertility has been killed and it's slaughter 
>displayed as "art."  It is a symbol of stagnation.
>
>Ghetta
>
>
>>From: "Joseph Tracy" <brook7 at earthlink.net>
>>  Pig fetus is tacked to door( this ain't the innocent lambs blood 
>>that might ward off the Angelo of death, that host will be making 
>>his exodus in the nick of time.
>>
>>I would  like to hear a bit of discussion of the pig thing in P's writing.
>
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