Staircase of the greek goddesses

The light coral wall colour of the Greek side staircase creates a warm atmosphere. This shade of colour symbolizes a shelter from the hardships of life, a lagoon, where you can rest your soul and open yourself up to the relationships with the people you are close. The coral colour heals the stresses, disappointments in love. It helps to understand your role and the role of your partner in the partnership and, if necessary, to encourage the freedom from the symbiotic, dependent relationships.

There is a galery of pictures hanging on the wall of this staircase illustrating the ancient Greek mythology and archetypes. The exposition begins from the work “Priestess of Delphi” of the British artist John Maler Collier (1850-1934), master of classicism and the Pre-Raphaelite style.  In the picture, there is Pythia portrayed – the priestess and oracle at the temple of Apollo at Delphi. She sits on a high three-legged stool, called tripod, holding a laurel branch is her hand – Apollo's sacred plant – and a bowl with water of Kassotis well, looking at which she answers to the carefully prepared questions of the visitors announcing God's will.

From the gap in the ground steams Pneuma – a vaporing holy source, by inhaling which the priestess is put into a trance. Though thouroughly painted priestess's body shows that this is a young and beautiful woman, the red veil hides her face in the shadow, protecting her anonymity. Serving in the temple of Apollo, Pythia refused her secular identity, she broke off a contact with her family and friends and became a guardian of the temple, a medium of Apollo. As for the villa, “Priestess of Delphi” symbolizes devotion to the supreme will, reminds of eternal values and the archetypal wisdom. This reproduction came from Germany to the villa.

Rising up the stairs, you will be greeted by the works of U.S. painter, illustrator and connoisseur of archetypes’ art, Hrana Janto, painted in 1996. These reproductions with original signatures of the author came from the United States to the villa. Seven ancient Greek goddesses will witness your trip in colorful space.

On the ground floor of the staircase, villa is guarded by Hecate, the goddess of healing and magic. This Pre-Hellenic goddess was worshiped in ancient Greece during the night without the moon on the remote crossroads, where three roads meet. Her holy animals were dogs. Like most of the archaic goddesses, Hecate was called the three-faced, and sometimes she was depicted with three heads – of snake, horse and dog – looking to the past, present and future. She symbolizes maturity and old age wisdom, that comes with the cognition of life and death. Hecate was one of the few mythological creatures, which had a special privilege to travel to the Underworld and back when desired. The ancient inhabitants offered her the gifts, asking to protect their homes from ghosts, and the travelers – to protect them against evil spirits. Along with the goddesses Artemis and Selene, Hecate was regarded as the goddess of the moon phases: Artemis was associated with the new moon, Selene – with the full moon, and Hecate – the wane and dark moon. Along with the goddesses Persephone and Demeter, Hecate makes the holy triad, symbolizing a woman's life stages: Persephone embodies innocence and youth, Demeter – fertility and middle age, and Hecate – menopause and old age. This Greek goddess was especially revered by the Greek women and considered her to be the queen of birth, healing and death.

Between the ground and the first floors you will see the Greek goddess of love and beauty – Aphrodite. Born from the sea foam, Aphrodite first stepped ashore on the island of Cyprus. From that moment, she is always accompanied by two primordial passions Eros and Himeros. Aphrodite’s symbols are pigeons – birds of love, sweet fruits – apples, symbolizing knowledge as well, and red roses, the fragrant flowers. The Greeks called Aphrodite the golden, because to them this epithet meant a special beauty and luxury. Charm of the goddess fascinated the gods and the mortal men, inspired the artists to create immortal works. The poets glorified the beauty of Aphrodite’s body, her golden laughter, her ability to awaken creative powers hidden in the human soul. This archetype embodies creativity, art, communication skills, bodily pleasures and mastery to enjoy the life.

Another goddess in the staircase zone is Athena. Called Minerva by the Romans, this goddess was especially respected in the ancient world as the beloved daughter of Zeus. She is the patron of culture, civilization, and the founder of the cities. The city of Athens is built in her honor. High from the Acropolis hill the goddess watched at her patronized city, guarding it against the enemies. Athena is considered to be the guide of the military forces – she advised her guarded heroes in strategy and tactical issues. Athena curated medicine and manufacturing – textiles, clothing, goldsmith, has taught the people to build the ships, the carriages, to harness the animals. In art Athena is depicted with a spear and a shield in hands. The spear symbolizes rational mind, high intelligence of the goddess, the ability to discern the essence. The shield with Medusa the Gorgon emblem protects the feminine body and heart of Athena from injury in the battle – Athena embodies a career-devoted woman, a professional working together with the influential and powerful men. Winged horse Pegasus – a symbol of synchronicity and creativity – emerged from Perseus’ (Athena’s mentee) blood, when cutting down Medusa the Gorgon's head.

Climbing to the second floor, on the landing of the staircase you will meet Demeter – a picture of the family patron and the goddess of fertility. For more than two thousand years the Eleusinian Mysteries, presented by Demeter to humanity, were the most important Greek religion. The confessors of this cult were initiated in the sacred knowledge, learning to live in fullness and die without fear. In mythology, Demeter is known as the mother of virgin Persephone and the fourth wife of Zeus. This is the archetype of motherhood, dedicating oneself for the loved ones, fertility and the cycles of nature.

Rising up, you will see Artemis – the wildlife and hunting goddess. Artemis embodies free, independent woman's nature, a woman’s connection with nature and lunar cycles. Portrayed surrounded by the wild animals, Artemis protects the children and the cubs, the women and nature from the threats, danger and violence. Artemis' silver bow and arrows symbolize her objectives, the ability to focus on important goals, a dedication to the chosen way of life. When this archetype is dominant in personality of a woman, she will focus on ecology, natural lifestyle, travel, she will be emancipated and independent from the opinion of people around, she will take care of women's rights and equal status in society – Artemis embodies the principles of democracy and the spirit of feminism, as in ancient times, so in the modern world.

Rising upwards to the second floor of the villa, you will be met by Hestia – the goddess of home and the guardian of temple altar, the goddess of wisdom and the inner concentration. The oldest of all the Olympian gods, and very rare in the works of art, Hestia was worshiped in home rituals and in the temple rituals of fire in ancient Greece. Her symbols – an altar, a fireplace, a circle, a mandala – mean the connection among people, the One, eternity, constant values. Hestia’s archetype embodies spirituality, peace, meditative consciousness, the ability to discover one’s inner center, a calm look at the changing life, staying faithful to the true values. This archetype stabilizes and harmonizes a person of any mental condition.

On the second floor of the villa, next to the terrace door you will see the Snake goddess of the Minoan era. The prototypes of this figure are the ceramic sculptures of the great goddess, dating back to the years of 1600 BC are reserved in Crete, in the archaeological museum in Heraklion. From the matriarchal era the snakes are considered as the symbols of feminine strength, wisdom, vitality, intuition and connection with nature. Gently but firmly the Cretan goddess holds these powers in her hands. Her naked breast reflects the fashion of the time – in ancient Egypt and Greece, a woman's breast was regarded as the most beautiful centerpiece of her body, and was not associated with the taboos. The breasts of the goddess remind about the feminine power of feeding in different levels: physical, psychological and spiritual. A cat, as a decoration on the head of the goddess, symbolises fertility, playfulness, agility, creativity and grace.