Art, Easter, Ostara, Eostre

Taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre

Eostre

Old English Ēostre (also Ēastre) and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a  Germanic goddess whose Anglo-Saxon month, Ēostur-monath, has given its name to the Christian festival of Easter. Eostre is attested only by Bede, in his 8th century work De temporum ratione, where he states that Ēostur-monath was the equivalent to the month of April, and that feasts held in her honor during Ēostur-monath had died out by the time of his writing, replaced by the "Paschal month."This goddess is responsible for the easter bunny and easter eggs, both related to spring, fertility and the changing seasons.
Above; Ostara (1884) by Johannes Gehrts. The goddess flies through the heavens surrounded by Roman-inspired putti, beams of light, and animals. Germanic people look up at the goddess from the realm below.
Above; Eástre (1909) by Jacques Reich. Directly derived from Gehrts' image (above), with the Germanic worshipers replaced by a picturesque landscape.
Taken from
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse (6 April 1849 — 10 February 1917) was an English Pre-Raphaelite painter  who is most famous for his paintings of female characters from Greek and Arthurian mythology. He paintings were also full of images of spring and celtic symbolism.

Waterhouse was one of the final Pre-Raphaelite artists, being most productive in the latter decades of the 19th century and early decades of the 20th, long after the era of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Because of this, he has been referred to as "the modern Pre-Raphaelite", and incorporated techniques borrowed from the French Impressionists into his work.And to finish, music that feels like spring, Jethrotull and Bouree , then and now; 

 

delete reply asolotraveler wrote on Apr 4, '10 interesting, informative and stimulating

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Apr 4, '10 lovely

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Apr 4, '10 hedgewitch9 said Hey what a great post! I have posted one too, do come over and compare notes :D Thanks Emma... on my way :-) mine was inspired by my granddaughter informing me that easter eggs are empty to symbolise the empty tomb of christ....... hmmmmm....... I don't think so said I

delete reply hedgewitch9 wrote on Apr 4, '10 Hey what a great post! I have posted one too, do come over and compare notes :D I love your addition of art, gorgeous pics, and I love Jethro Tull, so you have really impressed me with this blog! Thanks Loretta :)) http://hedgewitch9.multiply.com/journal/item/346/Eostre_and_a_Blessing

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Apr 3, '10 gileson said Wonderful cornucopia of sights and sounds. Thanks for sharing. ''cornucopia''...............niiiiice word, thanks :-)

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Apr 3, '10 Then and now they're both great renditions of marvellous music. I imagine a lot of us don't know the origin of the Easter bunny. I love those soft colours in Waterhouse's paintings.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Apr 3, '10 Really interesting stuff. I wasn't aware of the history of Eostre. Great music by Jethro Tull!!

delete reply gileson wrote on Apr 3, '10 Wonderful cornucopia of sights and sounds. Thanks for sharing.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Apr 3, '10 Wonderful background information, learned some things today. Also very much like the art work.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Apr 3, '10 perfect :)

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Apr 3, '10 always such a delight to read and see what you share with us, Loretta. eye candy for mind and spirit. thank you. have a marvelous holiday!

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Apr 3, '10 HAPPY EASTER :-)