Hieros Gamos, a greek term meaning 'Holy Marriage', has more than one inferential meaning. Historically, it indicates an ancient Sumerian ritual in which participants role-played the parts of Gods and Goddesses as a fertility rite to ensure the abundance and proliferation of both the land and its people.
The term has since come to encompass a more widespread theological construct, and was likely most popularized by the tenets within The DaVinci Code [Dan Brown, Anchor; 1st edition (March 28, 2006)] in which the protagonist discovers that the long sought for Holy Grail is revealed to be the womb of Mary Magdalene and her purported descendants as a result of the secret and sacred marriage, or Hieros Gamos, that had inferentially taken place between her and Jesus Christ.
The ensuing upset of Christians over this controversial idea further represents the depth and power of this archetype within our psyche and certainly deserves further consideration from a historical perspective.
The Sacred Marriage of Inanna and Dimuzi
One of the oldest historical ideas of a marriage of the divine can be found in the mythos of Inanna, the Sumerian Queen of Heaven and Dimuzi, the Shepherd King, whose death and subsequent resurrection sharply parallel those in the relationship and events that occurred between Jesus and Mary, including the anointing of the Bridegroom just prior to his death, and the awaiting of His return in the garden.
Other examples in religious theology that invoke the idea and essence of Hieros Gamos include:
- The Marriage Between Christ and the Church
- The Erotic Union Between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
- The Jungian Archetype
As well, in his book Psychology of the Transference [Princeton University Press, 1969], Jung goes into great detail regarding divine marriage and its implications on his archetypal theories as set forth in the alchemical text 'Rosarium Philosophorium', printed anonymously in 1550 .
Evidential Allusions to the Hieros Gamos of Mary Magdalene and Jesus
Although there is no reference in the bible regarding the marital status of Jesus of Nazareth contextually, scholars and thealogians have referenced several instances which allude to a marital conjoinment between Jesus and Mary based on key bible verses and the historicity of the time. These include the instance at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus and his mother were both present, and she makes a request of him to produce more wine for the guests - something which indicates her functioning more in the role of hostess than guest, and the servants are seen to comply to their orders.
This in and of itself offers no evidence of marriage nor any relationship to Mary Magdalene. However, when taken into context with other key events just prior to his crucifixion such as the anointing of his feet with Spikenard, waiting in the garden for his return - the parallels and archetypal similarities bear further investigation as to whether the evidence points to a subtle but obvious conclusion.
Further Links and References:
The Archetype of the Holy Wedding
DIscussions on the Hieros Gamos
The Role of the Sacred Feminine in the Gnostic Pantheon
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