Sol Invictus and his Temple Virgins

These Tall Daylilies (Hemerocallis altissima) really worship the Sun. Their name "hermerocallis") is taken from Greek and means "beauty" and "day". The Unconquered Sun "rises" in the east each morning to call the virgins to their homage. Day by day new virgins open their pedals in the morning-as in an orans position-- to gather all the light they can and attract the pollinators, and then close them again in the evening after the sun sets--forever. That is right--never again to open as though they had made their final complete sacrifice to the sun. Inside their protective shroud they have pulled about themselves, a miracle is occurring as they protect and nurture the seed within. By and by their beauty wilts and they fall to the ground to begin another new life in God's amazing ordered creation. In their midst, here at home, is this terra cotta crowned sun mask-- reminiscent of Sol Invictus in his Roman temple where tall priestesses stood about his image --as do these fiery lilies here.
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