Goddesses in the Dirt - Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
Unearthing the Divine Feminine, one archetype at a time...
Issue #7: Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
To this day in Argentina there is a mystery that remains unsolved:
To this day in Argentina there is a mystery that remains unsolved:
Where are the tens of thousands of people who were 'disappeared' in the years between 1976 and 1983?
During the military dictatorship in Argentina, tens of thousands of young Argentines who opposed the government were kidnapped during a time now known as the 'dirty war.'
Over the past 3 decades, the mothers of these young Argentines have fought for the return of their children, who were kidnapped for opposing the military regime that followed the Peronist era.
The mothers met regularly to support each other in trying to retrieve their lost sons and daughters. On April 30, 1977, a group of 14 women started an official public protest in front of the government headquarters in Buenos Aires known as the Plaza de Mayo. The women took to wearing white scarves embroidered with their childrens' names, to symbolize the blankets in which they would have wrapped their children as infants.
Sadly, over time, some members of the mothers' group were disappeared as well, suffering the same fate of their children, many who were tortured and then killed.
In spite of the dangers, the mothers worked tirelessly for the return of their children and identified 256 'disappeared' youth, who had ultimately been adopted by others. The majority were not recovered, but the mother's group morphed into a powerful political movement that still exists today. For decades, the group marched in a circle around the Plaza de Mayo in protest every Thursday. On January 26, 2006, they made their final official march of protest, but the Thursday marches continue in support of other causes.
The goddess Demeter, whose daughter, Persephone, was abducted by the god of hell, Hades, would not rest until her daughter was returned to her. These women personify Demeter and the eternal protective power of the Mother figure who will do whatever it takes - including going into hell - to protect her offspring.
The cause of the Mothers is immortalized today by a series of white scarves, painted onto the bricks surrounding the Plaza de Mayo in downtown Buenos Aires.
Anyone who sees them will never forget the men and women who were abducted and the fearless efforts of the mothers who never stopped searching for their lost children.
Top three photos courtesy of Google images
During the military dictatorship in Argentina, tens of thousands of young Argentines who opposed the government were kidnapped during a time now known as the 'dirty war.'
Over the past 3 decades, the mothers of these young Argentines have fought for the return of their children, who were kidnapped for opposing the military regime that followed the Peronist era.
The mothers met regularly to support each other in trying to retrieve their lost sons and daughters. On April 30, 1977, a group of 14 women started an official public protest in front of the government headquarters in Buenos Aires known as the Plaza de Mayo. The women took to wearing white scarves embroidered with their childrens' names, to symbolize the blankets in which they would have wrapped their children as infants.
Sadly, over time, some members of the mothers' group were disappeared as well, suffering the same fate of their children, many who were tortured and then killed.
In spite of the dangers, the mothers worked tirelessly for the return of their children and identified 256 'disappeared' youth, who had ultimately been adopted by others. The majority were not recovered, but the mother's group morphed into a powerful political movement that still exists today. For decades, the group marched in a circle around the Plaza de Mayo in protest every Thursday. On January 26, 2006, they made their final official march of protest, but the Thursday marches continue in support of other causes.
The goddess Demeter, whose daughter, Persephone, was abducted by the god of hell, Hades, would not rest until her daughter was returned to her. These women personify Demeter and the eternal protective power of the Mother figure who will do whatever it takes - including going into hell - to protect her offspring.
Anyone who sees them will never forget the men and women who were abducted and the fearless efforts of the mothers who never stopped searching for their lost children.
Top three photos courtesy of Google images
