Some of the Suebi sacrifice also to Isis. I cannot determine the reason and origin of this foreign cult, but her emblem, fashioned in the form of a Liburnian [or small/light] ship, proves that her worship came in from abroad. (Cornelius Tacitus, Germania)
USCGC
Some actually believed Tacitus’ statement verbatim to be the truth. Isis was worshipped in Rome and, apparently, had a maritime connection. Thus, in the Kalendarium Rusticum, the 5th of March was in Rome the day of the Isidis navigium. For example, we have Apuleius in his Metamorphoses Book 11 give this statement by Isis:
“The morrow that from the present night will have its birth is a day that eternal religion hath appointed as a holy festival, at a period when, the tempests of winter having subsided, the waves of the story sea abated, and the surface of the ocean become navigable, my priests dedicate to me a new ship, lade with the first-fruits of spring [!], at the opening of the navigation.” (see also Lactantius Instit. i. 27).
Jacob Grimm thought that the mysterious goddess Isis was the Germanic goddess Zise/Ziza who was apparently worshipped in the area of Augsburg (i.e., in Swabia) which was allegedly called Zisaris of old. We say allegedly because the sole reference for that is a 14th century poem by Küchlin for Peter Egen the new mayor of Augsburg. (Incidentally, the suggestion that Zisa, Cisa was a Germanic name (in the Nordic sense) is itself worthy of a polemic – note too below the reference to the Vindelici):
Further, the Chronicle of Rudolf of Saint Trond (Gesta Abbatum Trudonensium),relates that in 1133 at Inda (Vinda!? supposedly, Muenster!) a ship was secretly constructed in a forest and then wheeled to Aix and then onto Mastricht and further. The people engaged in this enterprise were apparently dancing and playing music (to the consternation of the priests).
The carrying of ships also occurred at Ulm (again in Swabia) and in Tuebingen. This is attested by the prohibitions against the practice issued by the local authorities in 1530 and 1584, respectively (in each case this was an event that occurred on Shrove Tuesday). A similar festival is attested at Mannheim on the Rhine and Brussels, Belgium (Ommegank). Whether these have anything to do with Isis is unclear.
However, another possibility presents itself.
If Isis was really Isaya or Yassa then a ship reference becomes tantalizingly suggestive. Remember that Johannes Georgius Stredowsky’s Sacra Moraviae Historia lists a deity by the name of Chasson sive Jassen. Theres should be little question that this is the same as Yassa, Yessa, Jessa. But what of the “n” at the end? Here, we suggest that the Czech Jassen or Polish Jas could be identified with a ship.
Which ship?
Argonaut Council meets
Why, the Argo, of course. The ship of Jason and the Argonauts. (We’ve, of course, already made this suggestion when discussing the legends of the name of Poland where Colchis – the location of the Golden Fleece – makes an appearance. The fact that Colchis included a province called Suania სვანეთი, aka Svaneti makes this suggestion even more delicious – for more on the same, see Menander the Guardsman).
For a similar line of thought (albeit without a Slavic connection) see George W. Cox’s “The Mythology of the Arian Nations”, (vol 2, p 119).
Regarding the Roman ship that was made an offering for Veleda, you can see here. If Lada was really the prior Veleda then the fact that she (he?) was a protector/guardian of Jassa gives further flavour to this reasoning – see “Alado gardzyna yesse“.
Copyright ©2015 jassa.org
I recently came upon a photo of a statue of ISIS, identified as having been found in the Gniezno region (see website). The dating is indefinite, but apparently was found in a settlement that pre-dated or coincided with Mieszko I. Very dramatic evidence of an ISIS cult in this area.
Pingback: The Indian (Armenian) Connection? | In Nomine Jassa
Pingback: Yes-Iris? | In Nomine Jassa
Pingback: On Długosz & Brückner | In Nomine Jassa
Isis was brought into Central Europe by Semitic Libu or other Smitic Mediterranean people. Wonder what is so surprising about both Semitic peasants as well as warring groups pouring into Europe? Is happening again right now.
The Libu (if you mean Libyans) are thought of as Berbers – not Semites – close but not the same. Also, never heard of them (or other Berbers or Semites) making their way into Central Europe if you exclude the Arab conquerors or the Jewish diaspora either of which is rather unlikely to have brought the worship of Isis (at least not in the commonly understood way). What is more likely is that Tacitus misunderstood Yassa as Isidi since he was familiar with Egyptian deities but probably not Germanic or Scythian. Incidentally, Isis as well Osiris are likely to have come to Egypt from Assyria. And where did they come from before that is uncertain though an Indo-European (perhaps Persian, perhaps Indian, perhaps something else) origin has been posited for these and similarly named Gods.