Maryann’s Statue: The “Bird Lady?”
*Possible Spoiler Alert* If you haven’t watched Season 2′s episodes, I wouldn’t suggest you read this.
In the season premiere of True Blood, the mystery of Maryann became more intriguing as we saw Sam’s memories of his past. When he goes to Maryann’s home in present time, special attention is paid to a certain statue on her table and it is now speculated that it is based on a real statue from the Predynastic Period known as the “Bird Lady.”
The Brooklyn museum has blogged about the similarities between the statue in True Blood and the “Bird Lady,” but the meaning of this statue appears to be as mysterious as Maryann.
The symbolism, function, and identity of the figure are not certain. However, similar female figures painted on Predynastic vessels appear to be goddesses, because they are always larger than the male “priests” shown with them.
Maryann’s thoughts were foreign to Sookie and have been speculated to be Ancient Greek, plus she also spoke about how the Greeks viewed the Gods. Is this the show’s way of hinting to us that Maryann is a goddess of some sort? Who or what do you think Maryann is?
More True Blood...
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- Book Spoiler-The maenad
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i think she’s the maenad from the books… maenads are from Greek mythology so it makes sense
I think she is some sort of Demon if not then Possibly Mother Nature which explains her control over everyone maybe through pharamones
The origins of the statue are Egyptian. Its meaning is open to interpretation, just a perfect prop for Maryann’s place.
I think Maryann is open to interpreation, too. Alan Ball might choose to deviate from the books. Will all the hints so far, I belive she is a direct descendant rom a mythical god set to create a small army of minions or devotees.
The language she spoke did sound ancient. With words ending with -us I’d guess Latin. It’s been years since I studied Latin and I couldn’t understand a single word. That doesn’t give me a clue as my Latin is rather rudimentary these days. My second guess would be that it was a jinx to keep Sookie at bay.
Oh I never thought about that I can’t figure out what Maryann is supposed to be its very possible that she is the maenad because in the books the maenad always had a boar with her and Maryann had one when Tara saw her in the road, but something in me refuses to believe that that is what she is. This may jsut be my crazy brain making connections where there aren’t any but did anyone else notice that when Maryann was having sex with young Sam that she put her hands above her head just like the statues? I never considered her being a goddess though good idea.
The statue does very much so look like a goddess. Maybe from the Pagan religion, I could be really wrong but it would be rad if she turned out to be a goddess.
I can’t wait to find out. The statue could be a representation of a pagean godess but also just a devotee. My guess for Maryann is that she is something in between a godess and a human.
Now I am not total clueless when it comes when it come to Greek mythology, but I have never heard that term Maenad before.
After doing some research I think she could very well be such a creature:
“The first Maenads were the nymphs who had nursed the infant Dionysus. When he grew older he was able to convince these nymphs to join in a type of divine madness. Later he was able to convert women to this madness with ecstatic revelry and wine. The goal of this activity was not promiscuity and drunkenness, but rather insight and prophesy. Not everyone was capable of the goal and some fell into promiscuity and drunkenness because of their weakness.”
Whatever may be the truth, I have the impression Maryann is evil.
That sounds just like Maryann but i dont think shes evil. But i dont like that shes all obsessed with Tara and that other guy hooking up. I just hope Tara doesnt get to hurt.
I definately think she is the Maenad form the books because in the books maenads are attracted to bars and torward the end of the seccond episode Maryann was in a bar and she caused the whole bar to start dancing and partying.
Maenad, she is using the town’s people to help worship D
= the black eyes, sex drive, and partying
and maryann fruits and flowers and weed and boar
Found this on Wiki, thought it connected well.
In Greek mythology, Maenads were the female followers of Dionysus, the most significant members of the Thiasus, the retinue of Dionysus. Their name literally translates as “raving ones”. Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by him into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication.[1] In this state, they would lose all self control, begin shouting excitedly, engage in uncontrolled sexual behavior, and ritualistically hunt down and tear animals (and sometimes men and children) to pieces, devouring the raw flesh.
I do not think she is a maenad. Perhaps a succubus? But even that seems unlikely. The most likely theory I have been able to think of is that she is a Nymph of some sort. Her way of talking about Pan, her eating/drinking / frolicking, toss in her (for lack of a better term) bi-polar personality and obvious magikal nature it all seem to point to “Nymph”.
Just my opinion though.
i agree with the maenad theory… i also see traces of a siren ,who were beings,that appeared as beautiful women that lured men to their deaths by way of their songs and actions as well..i remember when the 3 of them were sitting at maryanns pool and they were looking at the relief of pan and a human copulating and maryann said it was breathtaking,, as to the origins of maryann , theres much speculation on a number of things thatare going on with her,.. besides being who or what is she, she has a past with sam, and he is horrified of her, that shuddering she does, the pig,her passion for an abundance of food and fruit and expensive drink, which could be daily offerings as well.. ancient temples in many cultures had daily offerings of food and animals, expensive items placed everyday in the temples… her influence on those around her is very hypnotic. the times she is in anyones presence ,she has the ability to sooth and calm, very hypnotic, yet she also can get everyone going with the music, drink, and her ability to have everyone leave there inhibitions behind, the black eyes are bizarre tho…. it reminds me of ancient rome, especially with their debauchery,ecstasy , open sexuality orgie and wild lifestyles.. her thoughts that sookie couldnt make out, the language i think it may be older that rome or greece,i am think it may be babylonian or Assyrian.,,and with the goddess statue,that is a ancient female deity that embraces the moon and the sun and draws the energies down to the earth for power and healing. the statue embraces the essence of womens power, drawn from the moon and the sun and all natural resources as well.many of our daily practices come from the time when societies, for centuries, were matriacal..we have many practices leftover from those ancient cultures,that people may not see,but we still use today.the main one is we have the calendar for one..original calendars were not only generated by the seasons and the stars to record time and days, calendars were created along with the moon cycles and by womens monthly cycles. with every full or new moon every woman bleeds during the month of one of those 2 moon cycles . this is originally how calendars were created.as still to what maryann is i guess we will have to wait but i dont see it as good..
So… I googled True Blood Characters and I got like 37,400,000 results.
I clicked on a link [which was a wiki link] and i clicked on Maryanne Forrester and this is what it said:
“Maryann Forrester is a wealthy, mysterious “social worker”, who is also a maenad. She had a one-night stand with Sam Merlotte when he was 17. She currently has Tara and Benedict staying in her mansion as guests.”
Here is the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_True_Blood_characters#Maryann_Forrester
I dunno.. It sounds like her but then…. different… I dunno.. Her character kind of reminds me of Neferet from the House of Night series. She’s like… all nice on the outside [and to strangers] but those who know her [like Zoey in the House of Night Series to Neferet and Sam to Maryanne in True Blood] know that she is actually evil and is hiding a big secret that she wouldn’t want anyone to know…
Oh Oh Oh… So I googled Maryann Forrester and i found this link: http://bestfantasystories.com/true-blood-mystery-what-the-heck-is-a-maenad/
So Maryann in the series was a Maenad… hmmm… This is very interesting.
I can’t wait to find out more..
So is a Maenad evil or good,i really wish we could find out like now what she is pluss maybe daphne is there to stop maryann from doing harm to ppl
Maryanne is the creature. In the first or second episode in this season, Tara is sitting by the pool looking at a painting of the god Pan. Maryanne came out and talked to her about it. I think Maryanne is the god Pan. Pan is a fawn with goat legs and horns. A bull’s horns don’t curl like the creatures did. These horns are more characteristic of a goat or ram. Also,if you factor in how she takes sex and booze everywhere, Pan is famous for his sexual powers, and the Greek gods where not shy on booze either.
I agree with the Maenad thing, and also suspected that MaryAnn was the creature because the 1st new element on second show was her, and in the presentation of Second Series appears the animal.
MaryAnn = Persephone (or the being once known as Persephone) – Greek Goddess of the Underworld.
Evidence:
-She’s too powerful to just be another low level being (like a Maenad – witch)
-Bird Lady statue (Goddess representation)
-Everything she does is in excess – eat, etc (like a God/Goddess would be)
-Her influence and pseudo control over all of the beings on the show
-Minotaur
She is the mother of everything dark – either literally or by her influence (her match making)
My theory is that these are all her creatures – originally at least – and she is back to impose her rule and dominance over them – knowing they will resist because they are all too young to know her as their mother.
Thoughts?
I think she is of the greek god Dionysus which is the god of wine and parties because that is why she is going after everybody who owns bars so obviously she has to be if u think about it lol i read the books so that is what she is if it follows correctly
I insist, witches use to adorate all kind of pagan gods(such as Dionysus)and goddess(reference to the Bird Lady statue), making rituals with an usual use of gluttony and adultery as well as partys in the nigth.
Besides I`d associate the black eyes sintom with magical enchanment.
What do you think about this?
At first I was convinced that she was a succubus now after reading some of the other entries and looking the character up I think that maybe she is Pan
She is the Greek Goddess Demeter, the fruit and sex symbolizes this. “Demeter was the goddess of the earth and more especially of the earth as producing fruit, the gift of Demeter. Her blessings extended to that of fertility in general, of lovers and of marriage. The Goddess lived on earth among men, giving many presents and blessings wherever she was kindly received, and severely punishing those who repulsed her or did not receive her gifts with proper reverence. (sound familiar)
BTW, She was impregnated by her brother Zeus, and became the mother of daughter Persephone and son Dionysus, (who you may remember, was the god of wine, agriculture, and fertility of nature and of mystery religions, such as: ecstasy, personal delivery from the daily world through physical or spiritual intoxication, and initiation into secret rites). All the makings of an orgy in the woods
P.S. Frenzied female followers of Dionysus were called the maenad. Definitely Not Maryann – she is too much in control
Sidebar notes: Pan could be close guess but he is also male, “the god of woods and fields, of flocks and shepherds, Pan is known as “The Pasturer,” “the Feeder of Flocks.” God of herds, fertility and male sexuality, Pan amuses himself with the chase or in leading the dances of the nymphs. Pan has the horns and legs of a goat and plays a syrinx, a pipe with seven reeds. An ancient god, he has no moral or social aspect whatsoever, and is simply the embodiment of pure, basic instinct. Like Dionysus, Pan’s followers were SATYRS, half-man half-beast nature spirits that haunted the woods and mountains.
A Succubus another interesting guess, they are female demons which come to men, especially monks, in their dreams to seduce them and have sexual intercourse with them, drawing energy from the men to sustain themselves, often until the point of exhaustion or death… a sexual vampire of sorts … hmmmm
Ok well for those you maybe *haven’t* heard, the actress who plays Maryann actually confirmed in an interview “what” Maryann actually is. I don’t want to spoil it for those who don’t want to know, and frankly even knowing still leaves lots of questions.
http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/408064_tvgif13.html