Symbol Dictionary O
Obelisk: Also called benben-stone or begetter-stone. An Egyptian obelisk is a giant phallus-shaped stone. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains, “Usually the obelisk was regarded as an erection of the earth god Geb in his perpetual eagerness to mate with the Goddess of Heaven.”
Octopus: See Animals.
Odor of Sanctity: The Odor of Sanctity is the Christian belief that entombed saints smell sweet, instead of the decaying flesh of sinners. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains, “According to the conventional phrase, every true saint died ‘in the odor of sanctity,’ for the sweet smell was taken as a symbolic assurance of undecaying immortality, tied to the church’s doctrine of resurrection of the flesh.” This belief has earlier ties to the Egyptian practice of using fragrant oils and spices for mummification with so the deceased would smell pleasing and be accepted by the gods.
Oil: Oil has been used to anoint priests, kings, and holy objects as it is believed to invoke God and purify the soul. Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), explains, “Used in lights, olive oil became synonymous with illumination; used in the eternal lights of synagogues, it became a symbol of spiritual power and illumination, and—from the more fragrant oils—of a life of sweetness and devotion.” Olive oil was used for cleaning the body and promoting youthfulness in the Ancient Mediterranean, in Cameroon palm-tree oil was used with red camwood to likewise symbolize youth and fertility, and palm-wood oil is associated with life, health, and wealth in the Kongo.
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Om: Logos is the idea that a supreme being can call into existence anything they want if they know the name or word, known as the Word of Power. Originating in the Orient, the religious songs called Mantras are repetitive chants of these Words of Power. The Mother of Mantras is known as Om, and is believed to be the original word that created the universe, spoken by Kali, it represents her pregnant belly. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains Om is the “Universal ‘Word of Creation’ spoken by the Oriental Great Goddess upon her bringing forth the world of material existences; an invocation of her own pregnant belly.” |
Kali’s Om is not specific to Egypt and appears in the name of many goddesses like the Celtic Moon-mother Omh (She Who Is); Sheban Moon-temple of Marib Aum (Belly of the World); Lydian called their Goddess-queen Omphale; Greeks called their temples omphalos; the Greeks honored Om as the last letter of their alphabet, Omega (meaning “Great Om”). See Logos and Name.
Omophagia: The Omophagia was the Greek religious custom of consuming the flesh of their human and animal sacrifices. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), explains, “According to the primitive tradition, worshippers were expected to tear apart the victim with bare hands and teeth, devouring him raw, as in the earliest cults of Dionysus, Orpheus, Zagreus, and other gods torn to pieces in their myths.” Translating as Eating-into-the-Belly, Omophagia is similar to the idea of Holy Communion, although the Christian version has been diluted to the consuming of symbolic bread and wine. See Transubstantiation.
One: See Numbers.
One Hundred Eight: See Numbers.
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One Hundred Thousand: See Numbers.
Otter: See Animals.