Easter. The Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The story we are told is that Jesus of Nazareth, around the age of 33, went down to Jerusalem with his disciples during the Pesach Festival, also known as the Passover, which is a Jewish festival celebrated at the Spring Equinox, which according to tradition, occurs on the 14th of the Babylonian month of Nisan, which corresponds to the Athenian month of Elaphebolia, which also corresponds to the period of the Roman March 15th to April 15th, which means that the 14th of Nisan would fall on 28th of March to be exact, although since the Julian Calendar is Solar and the Babylonian and Attic Calendars are Lunar, the dates will vary from year to year. This is also why the dates of Easter and Passover are celebrated on different days of our modern Gregorian Calendars each year, and they mark the date of Easter & Pesach based on the Paschal Moon.
The Spring Equinox, also known as the Vernal Equinox, marks the moment in the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. This event occurs around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and around September 22nd or 23rd in the Southern Hemisphere, depending on the year. The term "equinox" comes from Latin words meaning "equal night," reflecting the approximately equal length of day and night that occurs everywhere on Earth during the equinoxes.
The Spring Equinox signifies the beginning of spring, a time of renewal and growth when daylight begins to increase, leading to longer days than nights. It is a period celebrated in various cultures with festivals and rituals that often symbolize rebirth, fertility, and new beginnings. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring Equinox is associated with the warming weather, melting snow, budding plants, and the return of foliage and blooming flowers, embodying the cycle of life, rejuvenation, and the Earth's fertility.
Ancient spring equinox festivals were significant cultural and religious events in many ancient societies, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring—a time of rebirth, renewal, and fertility. These festivals were often tied to agricultural cycles, reflecting the importance of planting seasons and the growth of new life.
“When, after three days and three nights, Inanna had not returned, Ninshubur set up a lament for her by the ruins. She beat the drum for her in the temple. She circled the houses of the gods. She tore at her eyes; she tore at her mouth; she tore at her thighs. She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar. Alone, she set out for Nippur and the temple of Enlil”
Ask her only for the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall. One of you will sprinkle the food of life on it. The other will sprinkle the water of life. Inanna will arise."
The kurgarra and the galatur heeded Enki's words. They set out for the underworld. Like flies, they slipped through the cracks of the gates. They entered the throne room of the Queen of the Underworld.
Ereshkigal said: "Speak then! What do you wish?" They answered: We wish only the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall." Ereshkigal said: "The corpse belongs to Inanna." They said: "Whether it belongs to our queen, Whether it belongs to our king, That is what we wish." The corpse was given to them. The kurgarra sprinkled the food of life on the corpse. The galatur sprinkled the water of life on the corpse. Inanna arose. .
(Descent of Inanna, Wolkstein and Kramer, 90)
The Hilaria of Attis was a “Holy Week” or the “Passion of Attis.” This was a Roman festival, celebrated in multiple cities in Rome during the same week, and in Egypt was celebrated for Osiris and Isis, without castration, and slightly celebrated differently, but still called Hilaria, which in latin means “Rejoicing”
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Start
00:01:55 - Paschal Moon
00:03:24 - Passover Lamb
00:04:35 - Christ Crucified
00:11:17 - Intro
00:14:39 - Vernal Equinox
00:17:10 - Akitu Festival
00:18:58 - Baal & Marduk
00:21:31 - Descent of Ishtar
00:35:11 - Esther
00:40:40 - Lent
00:44:22 - Zukru Festival
00:48:48 - Dagan of the Garden
00:54:21 - Nowruz Festival
00:56:40 - Ēostre
01:01:19 - Sham al-Nassim
01:05:58 - Osiris Resurrected
01:13:32 - Eshmun
01:23:14 - Theraputai
01:30:55 - Orphic Incubation
01:37:38 - Buddhist Monasticism
01:40:36 - Eshmun-Melqart
01:45:38 - Pyrgi Tablet & Adonis
01:53:42 - Hilaria
01:58:20 - Nasseene Hymn
02:00:53 - Mysteries of Iasios
02:02:13 - Dionysus
02:05:49 - Hyacinthus
02:08:47 - Orpheus' Descent
02:11:46 - Orphic Piety
02:15:14 - Katabasis & Anabasis
02:22:00 - Eleusinian Mysteries
02:25:17 - Earliest Apologists
02:30:33 - Outro