DeConick A.D

213
HELL WALKS AND STAR TREKS
Figure 7.3 Cast of an Ophian amulet originally described by Bonner (1949), catalog number
D188. The whereabouts of the original jasper gem is unknown. These are new photos of the
cast of the gem housed in the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor. Published with permission.
in the coming of Jesus of Nazareth. Justin assesses stories and characters
in biblical scripture as if they were Greek gods and heroes, warp and weft
of the same fabric.
According to Justin’s Book of Baruch , there exist from eternity three
unbegotten, primordial gods. The first is the Father, the Good. Since the
Good Father is ultimately responsible for the design of everything that
exists, he is known and worshipped throughout the Mediterranean world
as the Greek fertility god Priapus (figure 7.4). The second is Elohim, the
father of everything that is begotten. He is the Creator God YHWH in
the Jewish scriptures, lord of the skies. The third is Eden, the female earth
goddess, the personification of the biblical garden of paradise.
Elohim and Eden are attracted to each other and marry. They are happy
newlyweds. From their erotic lovemaking are born the divinities that populate
the skies and underworld. Out of their love they also create the human
being, both male and female. Eden imparts to them the soul, Elohim
the spirit. The first human couple follows the example of Eden and Elohim.
They marry, become lovers, and bear children to populate the earth.
Problems arise in paradise when Elohim realizes that it is his nature to
ascend. He is, in fact, the sky. Eden, however, cannot follow him, because