Maria Lionza: An Indigenous Goddess of Venezuela (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780557079117)

Mar? Lionza is at once a native girl, born in the 16th century to an Indian chief in the Venezuelan region of Yaracuy, and a goddess of nature, peace and harmony to over eight million Venezuelans in the 21st century. Her name means "Mary of the boar," taken from her full name "Santa Mar? de la Onza Talavera del Prato de Nivar"-a title given by the Catholic Church in the attempt to Christianize her cult. This book is Mar?'s story, as much as can be told. Other than a few scholarly articles, the existence of Mar? Lionza and her following is unknown in Western literature. Gabriel Ernesto Andrade of La Universidad del Zulia in Maracaibo, Venezuela wrote "If I would have to find one word to describe the Mar? Lionza religion, it would be 'mysterious'." And so Mar?, as well as her origins and how she became regarded as the goddess of the people of Venezuela, remains a mystery in many ways. And that is as it should be.

Author: Gary R. Varner
ISBN-10: 055707911X
ISBN-13: 9780557079117
Publisher: Lulu.com
Language: English
Published: 11/30/2007
Pages: 86
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.30lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.21d