Mary of Carmel

We are here yet again on the village Saint's day, Mary of Carmel. Oldest
of gods, Mistress of Animals and Waters, Phyrgian Cybele, Attic Artemis
. . .

In the island museum, in Skrip, oldest Illyrian village on the island,
is a broken white stone pillar dedicated to "M.M." - Magna Mater . .
.Cybele, Great Mother, Mother of Mysteries . . . worshiped here two
thousand years ago . . .

In the cooling evening of this white hot day she is carried around the
village on her gilt throne on the shoulders of priests and elders,
seeking her blessing . . . seeing how it's all gone, the yatchs and
tourists and cafe shops, does she wonder if she made a good deal, giving
up the rich bull's blood, giving up being Mother of the Gods, for being
Mother of a Young God?