AllatRa by Anastasia Novykh 2 www.allatra.org

AllatRa by Anastasia Novykh
Obviously, different legends are connected with it, including the one about its origin
from Korsun (an Old Russian name of the city of Chersonesus where prince Vladimir of
Kiev – father to Yaroslav the Wise – was baptised). Now the remnants of this city are
located in the vicinity of Sevastopol city in Ukraine. But it is difficult not to see the
symbol of the crescent with its horns pointing up.
Rigden: Many of these images of Virgin Mary with a crescent with its horns pointing up
began to appear in the West as the Knights Templar (the 12th-13th centuries) emerged
and became stronger. Generally speaking, it must be noted that in the previous period,
also Goddesses from other cultures were depicted with such symbols as the divine
feminine principle. For instance, the Iranian Goddess Ardvi Sura Anahita (translated
from the Avestian language, it literally means “mighty, faultless Ardvi) – the goddess of
water and fertility, to whom a separate hymn “Ardvisur Yasht” (“Yasht 5) is dedicated
in the holy book “Avesta”. By the way, the original meaning of the word Ardvi was that
of the source of the world’s water flowing from the divine realm of Light and giving rise
to all life (the prototype of Allat).
Figure 87. Ardvi Sura Anakhita being raised by the holy bird.
Image fragment on a silver cup (the 6th century, Iran (Persia); it is now in Hermitage
Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia).
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