TheBookofEarths

by EdnaKenton [1928]

PLATE36.MapoftheWorld,byPetrusApianus.printed1530.FromtheoriginalintheBritish Museum.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
WITHOUTTHEROUSEDINTERESTandcordialcooperationofmanypeoplethiscollection ofrepresentationsoftheEarthanditsrelationtotheUniversewouldhavebeenimpossible. ForpermissiontousecopyrightmaterialIamindebtedtoD.AppletonandCompany,the ClarendonPress,theCambridgeUniversityPress,Cassell&Co.,Ltd.,GallandInglis,the GuidingStarPublishingHouse,theKosmonPress,Luzac&Co.,MarshallJonesCompany, Macmillan&Co.,Ltd.,PopularAstronomy,FrederickA.StokesCompany,EdwardStanford, Ltd.,andtheNewYorkWorld;andalsotoCol.JamesChurchward,Dr.E.A.WallisBudge,Dr. WilliamFairfieldWarren,Mr.MarshallB.Gardner,MissMaryElizabethLitchfield,Mrs. RichardFolkard,andMrs.DanielG.Brinton.ForassistanceintracingmaterialIowethanksto variousmembersofthestaffsoftheMetropolitanMuseum,theMuseumoftheAmerican Indian,HeyeFoundation,theMuseumoftheHispanicSocietyofAmerica,theMuseumofthe UniversityofPennsylvania,theAmericanGeographicalSociety,theSwedenborgLibraryof theChurchoftheNewJerusalem,Brooklyn,theNewYorkSocietyLibrary,andtheNewYork PublicLibrary.InvarioustranslationsIwasaidedbyDr.ArthurLivingstonofColumbia University,andbyanunknownmemberofthestaffoftheBibliotecaNacionaldeHabana.Mr. AndrewDasberggavevaluablesuggestionsinthechoiceandarrangementofvariousfigures andplates.SpecialthanksaredueMrs.MabelReberwithoutwhoseresearchesthrough numberlessvolumesthisbookwouldhavelackedmanyoftherepresentationsitcontains. SpecialthanksarealsoduemanymembersofthestaffoftheNewYorkPublicLibraryin whichmostofthesefiguresofEarthandtheUniversewerecollected. EDNAKENTON September,1928 NewYork

CONTENTS
1Man'sQuestinSpace 2FiguresofEarth 3TheCreationoftheWorld 4UpholdersoftheWorld 5ThePrimvalEarth 6TheBabylonianUniverse 7TheEgyptianUniverse 8TheEarthMoonCatastrophe 9TheDeluge 10TheLostAtlantis 11TheLostLandoftheWest 12TreesoftheWorld 13MountainsoftheWorld 14TheWheelofLife 15EarththeMundaneEgg 16SystemsoftheUniverse 17TheSquareEarthofCosmasIndicopleutes 18ThePeruvianUniverse 19TheAztecUniverse 20TartarMongolWorlds 21MapsoftheEarth 22TheEarthofColumbus 23Dante'sUniverse 24EarththeHeartoftheCosmos 25St.Hildegard'sUniverse 26TheEarthsintheUniverse 27WheelsuponWheels 28TheWorldOctaves 29EarthaHollowSphere 30TheTetrahedralEarth BIBLIOGRAPHY 4 7 15 26 34 36 42 45 49 52 55 59 77 84 92 102 114 117 120 123 126 131 133 136 138 144 145 149 153 165 168

1Man'sQuestinSpace
THISBOOKOFEARTHSbeganyearsago,withasinglelittlefigureofEarthtakenfromwhat oldbookIdonotknow.Foralongtimeitlaybyitself;thenanother,comeuponbychance, waslaidbesideit;andstillothersasIhappenedonthem,alwaysbychance.Oldoddmaps joinedthecasualcollectionmapsoftheEarth,theMoon,theheavens.Itwasnevera collectionintheusualsenseoftheword,becauseitwassocasual;but,suchasitwas,itis theoriginofthisbook.Foritoccurredtome,notlongago,thatitwouldbe"fun"toputthemall together,andmanyotherswiththem,chosentofillinthegapsoftheoriginalgroup. Luckilyforthefunofit,thesearchabouttobeginwouldnotbelimitedtowhatweknowabout theEarth,elseitwouldhaveendedbeforeitbegan;forweliveinauniverseofwhichwe knowlittle,andonaplanetofwhichweknowperhapsless.Itwouldincludenotonlywhatwe know,orthinktodayweknow,butalsoanythingthathasbeenbelievedorfeltornomore than"guessed"tobethepictureoftheEarthanditsplaceintheuniverse.Itwouldincludenot onlyscience,modernandancient,buttradition,theolderthebetter;diagramsorpictures basedonlittlemorethanfolklore;cosmogoniesofreligionsgreatandsmall;cosmogoniesof philosophers,ofpoets,andofsavages.Itwouldgathertogetherpicturedtheories,guesses, hypotheses,ormerelyflightsofpureimagination,whether"true"or"false"today;since historyteachesusnothingifitdoesnotteachusthatonecentury'sfalsedoctrineisanother century'struth,andthatthemistakesofanyageorracearequiteasilluminatingasany "truth"bywhichitlived. Thiscollectionofpictures,therefore,wouldnotbe"scientific,"not"selected"toproveone thingortodisproveanother,notprejudgedbyanystandardbutthatofarecordtoldinpictures anddiagramsofwhatmanhasguessedthisEarthtobeeversincehefirstbegantowonder whatthefigureofthebodywasonwhichhelived.Itwouldbefreeplaythroughsources,once thosesourceswerediscovered;playunhamperedbyanynecessityforjudgmentorcriticism, sincewhatwassoughtwastherecordonly. Andsothesearchbegan,andthestoryofthesearchispersonallyasinterestingaswhatit uncovered.Itwouldbeendlessthatwasclearfromthebeginning,andsoitmustbemade deliberatelybrief.Itcouldnotincludeeverything,evenif"everything"camepromptlytothe surface.Buttherewerehighlightsintherecord,andthesebegantoshowdimlyfromthefirst. Therestwasamatterofblazinganunpathedtrailthatwouldleadtothegoaltherecord;but thatmustallowfortwistsandturns,bypaths,nowandthenblindalleysinwhichoften,asit proved,lurkedthe"tip"thathadbeenlackingwhenoneturnedintothem. Moreandmore,asthesearchwenton,andonefigureofEarthwasaddedtoanother,it seemedworthwhiletobringalargenumberofthemtogether.Inevitably,insuchacollection ofman'sattemptstodrawtheplanetonwhichweliveanditsrelationstotheheavenlybodies bywhichitissurrounded,therewouldbesurprisingsimilitudes,identifications,recognitions, evenaqueerunity.Therewouldbe,too,insuchacollection,enormousdifferences, 5

opportunityforendlesscomparisonandendlesswonderingoverthefiguresimagedbythose supremelycourageousmen,thequestionersofSpace. Theyarethemenanywhere,atanytimewhohavelookedupattheunansweringheavens, andasked,"Whatandwhenceandwhyarethoselightsinthesky?"whohavelookeddownat theunansweringEarth,andasked,"Whatisthislandthatforevergiveseverythingevento memylife,andforevertakeseverythingevenfrommemylife?Whatarethesewaters arounditthatsustainitslifeandmine?thisfirewithinitthatpoursthroughitsmountaintops andheatsitsboilingsprings,whosesparkliesstillwithintherockandwoodfromwhichmy father'sfathersfirststruckouttheirownfirstfire?WhatisthisairIbreathethatisaroundthe Earthandwithinit,initssecretcaves?WhatisEarth?AndwhatamI?" Theyarethemenwhohavequestionednotidlybutunceasingly;knowingallthewhilethatto thetinyquestionerbelowthereisnogreatAnswererabove;thatanyanswertothequestions bornofthespeckinspacethatisman,mustbeborninitsturnofjusthisquestions;nothing morebutnothingless.Thereisnoequipmentforthislonelyquest;thereisonlymanthe questionerandtheuniversetheGreatQuestion;theanswerlieswithinmanhimself.Ifever weoncerealizethis,wecannevercallthemanythingbutsupremeadventurersthosemen curiousenoughtowonderenoughtoquestionenoughtoguessatlastboldlyenoughtosay, "Perhapsitislikethis,"andsetdowntheimage,eventhoughitisnomorethanasmall triangularpeakoflandrisingfromawaterywaste,withthearchoftheheavensaboveit,and betweenitandheaventheSunandMoonandstars. Forguessworkisthebeginningandtheendofknowledgeman'sownanswerstohisown questions.Theymayberightorwrong,buttheyarehis.Todaywegivescientific"guesses"a stateliertitle;wecallthemhypotheses;theyarenothingmorethanguessesshotintostillun answeringSpace.The"hypothesis,"forinstance,thattheEarthisanisland,plain,mountain, orwhatever,wasfirstadvancedwhenthefirstmanofthefirstracedrewthefirstfigureof Earth.The"guess"onlythatthatthefigureofEarthisanoblatespheroidisofourownera. Ourhypothesesarecontinuallychanging;onesupplantsanother,andisinitsturndiscarded foraneworanoldone;andthishasbeenthehistoryofknowledgeeversincethatremote andnotabledaywhenthefirstbrain,bysheerpressureofquestioning,focusedinapointthat explodedintoa"guess."Itistheprocessofinducedthinkingthathascarriedmanon;the heavensandtheEarthhavecontinuedtorevolvewhetherhisanswersarerightorwrong. MancouldnotequiphimselfforthisquestinSpace.Buthehadbeenequipped,aftera fashion.Hehadafewresources,afewmeans. Firstofall,longbeforesciencetoldhimthathehadwithinhisbodyvestigesofallthelife strataoftheworld,hehadavagueknowledgethatheisanintegralpartoftheuniverse.And, becauseheisapartoftheuniverse,hehadavagueknowledgeoftruth,orofsegmentsof truth.Hehadnumbers,hehadsigns,hehadcharacters,hehadsymbols,allofthesedrawn intheheavensbeforehedrewthemonEarth.Hehadwords.Hehadthecapacitytobe 6

curious,thecapacitytowonder,thecapacitytodrawanalogiesbetweenseeminglyunrelated things.Fromthisscanthandfulofmeans,hisfacultyforguessworkdeveloped.Thisisthe wholestoryofallhisperceptionsoftheuniverseandofhisplanet.Forhehascontinuously daredthegreatadventure,andhasreturnedsometimeswithpuregold.

2FiguresofEarth
FIGURE1: TheStupa. (FromFoekoue ki,byFaheen.)

THEBELIEFTHATTHEUNIVERSEiscomposedoffiveGreatElementsis untraceablyold.Eventhesavageknowsverywellfouroftheseelements, Water,Air,Fire,andEarth,andhasavaguesenseofthefifth,Ether,or Space.Fromvaryingcombinationsofthesefiveelementalsubstances,the ancientsbelieved,allofthephenomenaofNaturewereformed.Earthitself wascomposed,inthelastanalysis,ofthesefive.Manalso,theybelieved, wasauniquecompoundoftheseelements,andwas,atdeath,resolved backintothem.Eachofthesegreat"Creatures,"astheywerecalled,was symbolisedbyacertainshape,andthetotalfigureofthefivedifferentforms,superimposed ononeanotherinaregularorder,isthestupaofChinaandIndia,thesotobaorgorinof Japan,the"Fivecircle"or"Fivezone"or"Fiveblossom"funeralstonetobefoundeverywhere intheOrient.ThecuberepresentstheEarthorstablefoundationonwhichallbuilds;the sphererepresentswater;thepyramidortriangulartongue,fireortheelementsinmotion;the crescentorinvertedvaultofthesky,airorwind;theacuminatedsphereorbodypyriform, ethertaperingintoSpace. Ofcoursetheoldphilosophersassignedparticularplacesorgradesto thesefiveelements.Platogavethefirstplacetofire,thesecondtoether, thenfollowedair,water,andlastlyEarth.ButAristotleplacedetherfirst, "asthatwhichisimpassable,itbeingakindoffifthbody,"andafterithe placedthoseelements"thatarepassable,"intheorderof fire,air,water,andEarth. Sitdownwithpencilandpaper,or,asthefirst mathematiciansdid,sitdownontheseashoreanddraw withashellonthesandsthesimpleorthecomplex geometricalfigures,whateveryouwill.Itwillbearatherremarkable accidentifyouhappentoputdownasinglefigurethathisnotatsome timerepresentedeitherthefigureofEarthdirectly,oradirectrelationof theEarthtotheuniverse. Takethefiveregularsolids,forinstance:thetetrahedron, 1,theoctahedron,2theicosahedron,3thecube,4and thedodecahedron,5.TheEarthhasbeenatetrahedron, andithasbeen,many,manytimes,acube.Ithasbeenconceivedofasaneightsidedfigure oneoftheSiberiantribesbelievestodaythattheoctahedronisthetruefigureofEarth.It wasbywayofthe"fiveregularsolids,""thefivemathematicalbodies,"thatKepler,asweshall seelateron,soughttosolvethemysteryof"distances"intheheavens.Seekingforsome fixedrelationofdistancesbetweenthesixplanetsandtheSun,hefound,orbelievedhe 8

found,thatthefiveregularsolidsfittedbetweenthesixspheresinaverycuriousorder,and heelaboratedonthenatureofthesesolidsandtheirrelationtooursolarsystemallofhislife. The"nature"ofthetetrahedronwasoffire.Thenatureoftheoctahedronwasof"flyingbirds." Thenatureoftheicosahedronwasofwater.ThenatureofthecubewasofEarth,even thoughitfittedintoplacebetweenSaturnandJupiter,andthenatureofthedodecahedron wasthatofthecelestialvault,orether. Earthhasbeengiven,also,atonetimeor anotherandinonewayoranother,allofthe pyramidalforms.Ithasbeenfiguredasa threesidedandasafoursidedpyramid,and likewiseasacone.Ithasbeenacylinder, filledwithcompressedairandbalancedin thecentreoftheuniverse.Ithasbeen,atone time,a"ryggeforme,""athreecornered forme,"saysRecorde'sTheCastleof Knowledge(1556),"liketheryggeofan housewhereonesydelyethflatte,andthe othertwoleaneaslope.Andthysformethey judgedbetterfortwoocauses.Firstethey thoughtthatitwasmoresteddythanacube forme,becauseithathabroaderfoote,anda lessertoppe;andsecondlyforthatthey thoughtitamoreapteformetowalkeonand moreagreeabletothenatureoftheearthe, wheresometimesthererisythhighehill,and sometimesagainmenmayseegreatevales descendyng....Againetheythinkethis Ryggeformemeetestforthestandingofthe seaandfortherunningofrivers,forinthe firstforme[acube]iftheseashouldreston theoutermostplaine,thenwoldeitoverrunneallthatplaine,andsoflowoveralltheearthe; whereasinthissecondeformeitmighterresteaboutthefooteoftheearthe,andyetthe sloperisyngwyllnotpermitittooverrunalltheearthe.Andsoforriversifthereisno slopenes(asinacubethereisnone)thencannottheriversrunnewell." FIGURE7.A"ryggeforme"orthreesidedtablet. FIGURE11.Foursidedpyramid. FIGURE12.Sphere. FIGURE13.Cylinder. FIGURE8.Fivesidedtablet. FIGURE9.Cone. FIGURE10.Threesidedpyramid.

Alreadyinthesedozengeometricalfigureswehavecollectedtwogroups,oneofwhich,the 9

fiveregularsolids,hasbeennoted.Theotheroneisthatgroupfromwhichalltheknown crystallinemineralformsexceptradiumandheliumcanbeconstructed"theeightbasic elementalgeometricalmagnitudes,"witheightdefiniteboundingsurfacesthatcomposea perfectseries. Thefirstisthespherewithitsoneandonlysurface. Thesecondistheconewithitstwosurfaces. Thethirdisthecylinderwithitsthreesurfaces. Thefourthisthetetrahedronwithitsfoursurfaces. Thefifthisthethreesidedtabletwithitsfivesurfaces. Thesixthisthecubewithitssixsurfaces. Theseventhisthefivesidedtabletwithitssevensurfaces. Theeighthistheoctahedronwithitseightsurfaces. AndthenagaintheEarthhasbeen representedbyafigurequiteoutsidethe angularfigures.Thesphere,forinstance,asa figureofEarth,appearstobeasoldasanyof theothers,and,likealltheothers,has undergonethetestofrecurrence.Butaneven morecuriousformhasbeenascribedtothis stillmysteriousplanetofoursaspiral.The beginning,ortheend,thatis,ofaspiralform, likethevine,orlikeawatchspring,which, stretched,orsprung,mayreachfromEarthto Heaven,alongwhichallthatlivesinthe universemaydescendandascendasortof Jacob'sladderwithoutrungs.Beforemanhad thewatchspring,hisowncreation,hehad beforehimthevineNature'shandiwork,and heusedittosymbolisethatforwhichhewas alwaysseeking,theconnectinglink,thepath ofcommunicationbetweenEarthandHeaven. OfthespiralformsgiveninFig.14(atleft)the twosmallonesinthecentrearemoderndrawingsofradiumandheliumatoms,buttheir 10

duplicatesaretobefoundintheoldest,crudestpictographsofthecosmosman'sattemptto representbyalineeitherEarth'screativepowerandstrengthandenergy,orthemysterious, potentforceofNatureitself.Thelowerspiralistheordinaryrighthanded(ordextral)curve foundeverywhereinNature.Theupperlefthanded(orsinistral)spiralwithitsflyingbirdsin oppositionisacuriouslittledrawingtakenfromPhysiologiaKircherianaExperimentalis (1680),perhapssuggestedbyLeonardodaVinci'sNotebookon"TheFlightofBirds,"written nearlytwocenturiesearlier,whilehewasmakinghismarvellousstudiesofspiralformations. Forthegreatstruggleofoneelementagainstanother,suggestedinthissinistralspiral,was itselftoLeonardotheverysecretofthemysteriousforcewhichshapesthestructureofwaves, ofreeds,ofanimals,ofman,ofshellsandhornsandflowersandclimbingvines.Theforce itselfhecouldnotdefine,butitsmovementhecouldtrace;anditspathwasnotalineora closedcirclebutaspiral"twist,"whichmighttaketherighthandedortherarerlefthanded way.Therecametohimwhatmightbecalledarevelationofspirality;andhefoundthecoilof aworm,thecurveofthehumblestshell,thewreathingsmokeofacandle,thetinywhirlof streetdust,thebuddingofafernoracyclamen,ofanonionorarose,justassignificantas thespirallikeflightofbirdsorthespiralformationsofwater.Butthousandsofyearsbefore him,ancienttemplesandtombsandsacredrockshadbeenengravedwithsignificant "studies"inspiralformsmanyofthoseoftheEasternworldbasedbeyondalldoubtonthe struggleofthelotuswiththeelementsandontheanalogyofthelotustotheEarthevento thecosmositself.TheancientStupa(Fig.1)wasnotonlyasymbolofthefivegreatelements, butitwasalso,fortheOrient,analmostliteraldrawingofthelotusplant,rootedinEarth, climbingthroughwater,bygraceofitsinnerfire,toair,liftingthereitsacuminatedspherical bud,andblossomingwithaspiraltwistintoSpace.Totheancientmindthesecretpathof Nature'simmortalforcewasalwaysmostsignificantlysymbolisedbyaspiralline,anditwas suggestedinathousandways. Asphereorahemispheremaybeasolidbody,oritmaybemerelyashell andEarthhasbeenagainmanytimesimaginedasahalfshell,swimming likeanupturnedbasketorboat,onthesurfaceoflimitlesswaters,not sinkingbecauseitsconcavitywasfilledwithairwhich,pressingonthe water,balancedthehollowshell.Or,again,Earthhasbeen,andisstill todaybelievedbysometobe,"aplayneFlatte.""Theyfantasied,"wrote oldRecorde,"thatitwoldrestemoststeddily,andsoitwasveryeasyto walkeon.Weare,"headds,"morebeholdyngetothosemen,fordevisingoureasywalkynge, thanweareboundtothemfortheirwisedoctrine.Thefourthesecte,fearyngleastbythis opiniontheyshouldloosetheseaandallotherwaters,imaginedtheformeoftheearthemore aptetoholdwater,anddevisedithollowlykeabolle." ItwasalwaysaproblemfortheearlydesignersofthefigureofEarthto accountforthesupportoftheheavens,andthisideaofthehabitableEarth "hollowlykeabolle,"wasmuchmoreclearlyandgenerallyexpressedby figuringtheEarthasaflatdiscorplainsurroundedbyacontinuousmountain 11

wallonwhichtheheavensrested.Onlyfourteenhundredyearsago,withthetheoryofthe sphericalEarththeprevailingscientificone,butwithallitsvexingbyproblemsunsolvednot onlythatofanunsupportedsky,butofmenforcedtowalklikefliesontheoppositeceilingof theEarth,onecosmogonist,CosmasIndicopleustes,disposedofthewholematterbysimply enclosingtheentirevisibleuniverseinahollowrectangularboxandshuttingdownthelid. Manlivedinsidehisbox,likeasquirrelinacage. TheCosmasianideawasasimplerschemeofworldmakingthanthemodel offeredinFig.19(atright),butithappensthatthissimplegeometricfigureis verysimilartotheBabylonianconceptionoftheuniverseEarthasaseries of"stages"orsteps,pyramidalinstructure,enclosedwithinaseriesofconcentricspheres. FortheideathatHeavenisroundandthatEarthissquareisveryold,asoldperhapsasthe squareandthecirclethe foundationofmeasure."Heavenis roundlikeanopenedumbrella,"say theChinese;"Earthissquarelikea chessboard."Or,"Earthissquare likeabox;heavenisroundlikethe awningofacarriage." Yetonwhat,iftheEarthissquare, maythedomeofHeavenrest,not onlythatitmayhavefirmsupport, butalsothatitmaybetightlyjoined totheEarth?Fortheancients greatlyfearedthatHeaven,illy supported,mightcollapseand destroyitsfoundation;theyfeared alsothat,ifHeavenandEarthwere nothermeticallycementedorglued together,untoldhorrorsmightcreep intothisuniversefromsome fabulous"outside."Forinstance, thecircularedgeoftheheavenlydomemightfindsupportfirmenoughbyrestingonthefour quartersofthesquareEarth,inspiteoftheinterveningarcsofwateritmustspan.Butthere wouldbetheopenquarters;andunknownandunimaginablemonstersmightsucceedin swimmingthroughthedepthsofwaterunderHeaven'sunguardededge,andsoinsinuate themselvesintotheEarthwaters,withtheveryprobableresultofthedestructionoftheworld. Therefore,saidsome,Heaven'sedgemightverywellbeginasasquarejoinedtightlytothe Earthsquare,andthenmeltinsensiblyintotheroundedfirmament.But,saidothers,Heaven isimmeasurablyhigh,Earthimmeasurablydeep;eachcoverstheother,andbothfittightly together.Whethersquareorround,bothmustbeoneortheother.

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A"sixfacedtetrahedron," (righttop)asolidgiving themaximumofsurface fortheminimumof volume,represents, accordingtoonetheory, thefigureofEarth.This particulartheoryatheory,bytheway,of thelatternineteenthcenturywouldseem toarguefortheexistenceofan "economical"universe,withtheEarth modelledonaplandesignedtoproducethe greatestpossiblesurfacefromtheleast possiblesubstance. AndEarth isalsothe Mundane Egg,oran Ovalform. "Thereis another thinginAntiquity,"wroteThomasBurnetin hisTheTheoryoftheEarth(1697),"relating totheformandconstructionoftheEarth,whichisveryremarkable,andhathobtained throughoutalllearnedNationsandAges.Andthatisthecomparisonorresemblenceofthe EarthtoanEgg...thisnotionoftheMundaneEgg,orthattheWorldwasOviform,hathbeen thesenceandLanguageofallAntiquity,Latins,Greeks,Persians,Egyptians,andothers." Burnetdidnotoverstatehiscase,forthiswashistheory also.TheconceptoftheEarthastheMundaneEggorof theuniverseastheCosmicEggisoneoftheancientof ancientfiguresofEarth.Itappearseverywhere,inthe mythologies,cosmogonies,traditions,andfolkloreofallracesandofalltimes.Heaven enclosestheEarthfromwithoutastheshellenclosestheyolk.OrtheEarth'scrustistheshell oftheMundaneEgg;Burnet'swholetheoryoftheEarthwasbuiltonthisidea.Thereisno endtotheanalogybetweentheeggandtheuniverse,ortotheconceptoftheEarthasthe EggoftheWorld. ThesearesomeofthegeometricalfiguresbywhichtheEarthandtheuniversehavebeen represented.But"shapes"alsohavebeenusedtodescribeit.Shapesareirregularthings 13

comparedwithgeometricalfigures,buttheymaybeaccuratenevertheless."Pearshaped,"for instance,isfordescriptivepurposesjustasexactas"triangular"or"round."AndsotheEarth hasbeendescribedanddrawn,notonlyas"pearshaped,"butas"boatshaped,"as"heart shaped,"as"eggshaped,"as"tomatoshaped,"as"turnipshaped,""gourdshaped,""onion shaped,""lotusshaped,""roseshaped."Ithasbeenmanytimesatree;agreatislandleaf withroots;aflower;amountain;anoctaveinthecosmicseries,oranoteinthecosmicscale; orthelivingbodyofthe"GodofHeaven,"the"UniversalMan,"spanningthespacebetween thehighestheavenandthelowestEarth. Andforthelastfewhundredyearsithasbeenan"oblate spheroid." Butasksciencetoday,WhatisthefigureofEarth?and sciencewillreplynotwiththegeometricalfigureofan oblatespheroid,norwithanydefinite"shape"drawnforthe eyetosee,butwithaword: Earthisageoid. Ask,Whatisageoid?andsciencewillreply: AnEarthshapedbody. Ask,WhatisanEarthshapedbody?andsciencewillanswer: Ageoid.Ashape,thatis,expressedbyaword,butnotyetbyanimage.Themysterious figureoftheEarth,theshapepeculiartoitself,hasnotyetbeendetermined,withallofman's questioningsandguesses.

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3CreationoftheWorld
Andyethehastriedtodetermineit,withthathandfulofworkingmeanslefthimwhenthe godsdeparted;hisvagueknowledgeoftruthwhichhasservedhimbetterfordetermining whatisnottruththanwhatistruth;hisnumbers,hissigns,hischaracters,hissymbols,his words,hiscapacitytobecurious,towonder,andtodrawanalogiesbetweenstrangethings. ThiswashisequipmentwhenhefirstbegantoquestionSpace,andfromthistinyhandfulof resourcesalltheCreationstoriesoftheworldarose.Theiroutlinesareremarkablythesame. FirstofallaprimordialsubstanceandaFormertomouldittheysometimescalledthesetwo firstforcestheMakerandtheMoulder,eachcontainedwithintheother,butatrest.Thenout ofstillnesscamemotion;outofmotionlight,outoflightallcreatedthings;afterCreation,evil; and,afterevil,thedeluge;outofthedelugethemountaintop;andoutoftheruinsoftheOld Earth,theNew.ManyoftheCreationstoriesarefamiliar,butherearetwowhicharealmost unknowntothewesternworld,thoughoneofthemisofthatveryworlditself. ThefirstcomesfromAsia,landoftheoldestrecordedthoughtwehaveatleastnothingolder isrecognisedascomingfromanyothersource.ThesecondisofAmerica,youngest historicallyofallthecontinents,withallherprehistoricpastpracticallystrippedofrecords.The firstisinwords,oneofman'smostmagnificentguessesattheoriginalcombiningoftheGreat ElementswhichproducedtheEarth.Thesecondistoldinglyphsorpictographs.Thefirstis takenfromtheSanscritMahabharata;thesecondfromtheWalamOlumoftheLenapeor DelawareIndians,abranchofthegreatAlgonkinstockwhichroamedfromeasttowestand westtoeastinNorthAmerica,andstyleditselftheSacredPeople,""theMoundBuilders." Bhrgu,intheSanscritepic,isansweringthequestion,"Bywhomwasthisworldwithits oceans,itsfirmament,itsmountains,itsclouds,itslands,itsfire,anditswindscreated?He repliesthat,firstofall,thePrimvalBeingManasacreatedaDivineBeingMahat. MahatcreatedConsciousness. ThatDivineBeingcreatedSpace. FromSpacewasbornWater,andfromWaterwerebornFireandWind. ThroughtheunionofFireandWindwasborntheEarth. ThenfollowsasongtoMahat: TheMountainsareHisbones. TheEarthisHisfatandflesh.p.24 TheOceansareHisblood. SpaceisHisstomach. TheWindisHisbreath. 15

FireisHisenergy. TheRiversareHisarteriesandveins. AgniandSoma,otherwisetheSunandtheMoon,arecalledHiseyes. ThefirmamentaboveisHishead. TheEarthisHistwofeet. TheCardinalandsubsidiarypointsofthehorizonareHisarms. WithoutdoubtHeisincapableofbeingknownandHisSoulisinconceivable. Oftheextentofthefirmament,ofthesurfaceoftheEarth,andoftheWind: Bhrgusaid:TheSkythouseestaboveisinfinite. TheSunandtheMooncannotsee,aboveorbelow,beyondtherangeoftheirownrays. TherewheretheraysoftheSunandtheMooncannotreachareluminarieswhichareself effulgentandwhichpossesssplendourlikethatoftheSunorofFire. ThisSpacewhichtheverygodscannotmeasureisfullofmanyblazingandselfluminous worldseachabovetheother. Beyondthelimitsoflandareoceansofwater.Beyondwaterisdarkness. Beyonddarknessiswateragain,andbeyondthelastisfire. Downwards,beyondthenetherregions,iswater.Beyondwateristheregionbelongingtothe greatsnakes. Beyondthatisskyoncemore,andbeyondtheskyiswateragain. Everthusthereiswaterandskyalternatelywithoutend.... FormerlytherewasonlyInfiniteSpace,perfectlymotionlessandimmovable.Withoutsun, moon,stars,andwind,itseemedtobeasleep. ThenWatersprangintoexistence,likesomethingdarkerwithindarkness. ThenfromthepressureofWateraroseWind.Aswhenanemptyvesselwithoutahole appearsatfirsttobewithoutanysound,butwhenfilledwithWater,Airappearsandmakesa greatnoise,evensowhenInfiniteSpacewasfilledwithWater,theWindarosewithagreat noise,penetratingthroughtheWater. ThatWind,thusgeneratedbythepressureoftheOceanofWater,stillmoveth.Cominginto unobstructedSpace,itsmotionisneverstopped.

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Then,inconsequenceofthefrictionofWindandWater,Firepossessedofgreatmightand blazingenergysprangintoexistencewithflamesdirectedupwards. ThatFiredispelledthedarknessthatcoveredSpace. AssistedbytheWind,FiredrewSpaceandWatertogether. Indeed,combiningwiththeWind,Firebecamesolidified. WhilefallingfromtheSky,theliquidportionofFiresolidifiedagain,andbecamewhatis knownastheEarth. TheEarthorland,inwhicheverythingisborn,istheoriginofallkindsoftaste,ofallkindsof scent,ofallkindsofliquids,andofallkindsofanimals. TheWalamOlum(or"RedScore")oftheLenape.1 1.Atfirst,inthatplace,atalltimes,abovetheearth,

2.Ontheearth,[was]anextendedfog,andtherethegreatManitowas.

3.Atfirst,forever,lostinspace,everywhere,thegreatManitowas.

4.Hemadetheextendedlandandthesky.

5.Hemadethesun,themoon,thestars.
1 ThisCreationandDelugestoryoftheLenapeorDelawareIndiansistakenfromDr.DanielG.Brinton'sThe LenapeandTheirLegends(TheLibraryofAboriginalAmericanLiterature,Vol.V,1885).Since"walam" means"painted,"particularly"paintedred,"and"olum"signifiesthescoresormarksornotchesorfigures usedontallysticksorrecordboards,thesenseofWalamOlumisvariouslyrenderedby"RedScore"(Dr. Brinton'schoice),"PaintedengravedTradition"(thetranslationleftbyConstantineRafinesque,originalcopyist oftheseAlgonkinpictographs),or"PaintedBarkRecord."Thepictographsorglyphsorsignswere"notches" designedtokeepthelongchantinmemory.TheverybeautifultranslationisDr.Brinton's.

17

6.Hemadethemalltomoveevenly.

7.Thenthewindblewviolently,anditcleared,andthewaterflowedofffar andstrong. 8.Andgroupsofislandsgrewnewly,andthereremained. 9.AnewspokethegreatManito,amanitotomanitos, 10.Tobeings,mortals,soulsandall,

11.Andeverafterhewasamanitotomen,andtheirgrandfather

12.Hegavethefirstmother,themotherofbeings.

13.Hegavethefish,hegavetheturtles,hegavethebeasts,hegavethe birds.

14.ButanevilManitomadeevilbeingsonly,monsters,

18

15.Hemadetheflies,hemadethegnats.

16.Allbeingswerethenfriendly.

17.Trulythemanitoswereactiveandkindly

18.Tothoseveryfirstmen,andtothosefirstmothers,fetchedthemwives,

19.Andfetchedthemfood,whenfirsttheydesiredit.

20.Allhadcheerfulknowledge,allhadleisure,allthoughtingladness.

21.Butverysecretlyanevilbeing,amightymagician,cameonearth,

22.Andwithhimbroughtbadness,quarreling,unhappiness,

23.Broughtbadweather,broughtsickness,broughtdeath. 24.Allthistookplaceofoldontheearth,beyondthegreattide water,atthefirst.

19

2
1.Longagotherewasamightysnakeandbeingseviltomen.

2.Thismightysnakehatedthosewhowerethere(and)greatlydisquieted thosewhomhehated.

3.Theybothdidharm,theybothinjuredeachother,bothwerenotin peace.

4.Drivenfromtheirhomestheyfoughtwiththismurderer.

5.Themightysnakefirmlyresolvedtoharmthemen.

6.Hebroughtthreepersons,hebroughtamonster,hebroughtarushing water. 7.Betweenthehillsthewaterrushedandrushed,dashingthroughand through,destroyingmuch.

8.Nanabush,theStrongWhiteOne,grandfatherofbeings,grandfatherofmen, wasontheTurtleIsland.

9.Therehewaswalkingandcreating,ashepassedbyandcreatedtheturtle.

20

10.Beingsandmenallgoforth,theywalkinthefloodsandshallowwaters, downstreamthithertotheTurtleIsland. 11.Thereweremanymonsterfishes,whichatesomeofthem. 12.TheManitodaughter,coming,helpedwithhercanoe,helpedall,asthey cameandcame. 13.[Andalso]Nanabush,Nanabush,thegrandfatherofall,thegrandfather ofbeings,thegrandfatherofmen,thegrandfatheroftheturtle. 14.Thementhenweretogetherontheturtle,liketoturtles.

15.Frightenedontheturtle,theyprayedontheturtlethatwhatwasspoiled shouldberestored. 16.Thewaterranoff,theearthdried,thelakeswereatrest,allwassilent, andthemightysnakedeparted. LetusextractseveraloftheseprimitiveworldpicturesfromtheWalamOlumandsetthem sidebysideforcomparison.Quiteapartfromanymeaningattachedtotheminthelegendof theLenape,thesethreesignsillustrateverywellindeedwhatwereprobablythefirsttwo worldconceptsofman;eitherthattheEarthwasanislandinawaterywasteonwhosewaves theskyrestedasbestitmight,orthatitwasavastplainoverarchedbythesolidvaultof heavenandtightlyenclosedwithinit.Thefirstofthethreeneedsonlyawrithingseaserpent inscribedbeneathittoillustratethatheavyfearofprimitiveman,thatportentousmonsters, slippingthroughthedeepestdepthoftheocean,mightcreepundertheedgeofthefirmament toworkevilonEarth.SolittlehaseverbeendonewiththeseLenapepictographs,asDr. Brintonhimselfadmits,thatitisimpossibletospeakwithcertaintyabouttherealmeaningof anyofthem;anditisonlyahazardousguesstosuggestthatFig.29,thelast"sign"ofthe Delugestory"Thewaterranoff,theearthdried,thelakeswereatrest,allwassilent,and themightysnakedeparted"mayrepresenttheoceansurroundingtheEarthasbarred, perhapsforever,againstthe"mightysnake"whichhadwroughtsuchdesolation.Theoblique lineswouldservehere,insteadofanEarthsurroundingmountainwall,oracircular continentalringbeyondthe"RiverOcean,"toguardtheEarthagainstinvasionfromwithout. 21

Inanycase,hereareprimitiverepresentationsof"mountainsoftheworld"the"firstEarth" beforeandthe"firstEarth"aftertheDelugeandofthatother"first"conceptoftheEarthasa vastplain,overarchedbythesolidvaultofheaven. ThereisanotherCreationstorythatwemightglanceathere, becauseitcontainssomanynotionsofthebeginningsof thingsthatareextraordinarilysimilartootherideasweshall meetlateron.ItistheCreationstoryoftheMaidus,an IndiantribeofnorthernCalifornia.Fig.29 "Whenthisworldwasfilledwithwater,"soDixontranslatesthetradition,2EarthMakerfloated uponit,keptfloatingabout.Nowhereintheworldcouldheseeevenatinybitofearth.No personsofanykindflewabout.Hewentaboutinthisworld,theworlditselfbeinginvisible, transparentlikethesky. "Hewastroubled.'Iwonderhow,Iwonderwhere,Iwonderinwhatplace,inwhatcountry,we shallfindaworld!'hesaid.Youareaverystrongman,tobethinkingofthisworld,'said Coyote.'Iamguessinginwhatdirectiontheworldis,thentothatdistantlandletusfloat!'said EarthMaker. "Inthisworldtheykeptfloatingalong,keptfloatingalong,hungry,havingnothingtoeat.You willdieofhunger,'saidCoyote.Thenhethought.No,Icannotthinkofanything,'hesaid. 'Well,'saidEarthMaker,theworldislarge,agreatworld.IfsomewhereIfindatinyworld,I canfixitup.' "Thenhesang,'Where,littleworld,artthou?'Itissaidhesang,keptsinging,sangallthe time.'Enough!'hesaid,andstoppedsinging.Well,Idon'tknowmanysongs,'hesaid.Then Coyotesangagain,keptsinging,askingfortheworld,singing,'Where,Oworld,artthou?'He sang,keptsinging;then'Enough!'hesaid.'Iamtired.Youtryagain.' "SoEarthMakersang.'Whereareyou,mygreatmountains,myworldmountains?'hesaid. Hesang,andallthetimekeptsaying,'Whereareyou?'Hestoppedsinging.'Enough!'he said.'Youtryalso.'Coyotetried,keptsinging.'Myfoggymountains,whereonegoesabout,' hesaid.'Well,weshallseenothingatall.Iguessthereneverwasaworldanywhere,'saidhe. 'Ithink,ifwefindalittleworld,Icanfixitverywell,'saidEarthMaker. "Astheyfloatedalong,theysawsomethinglikeabird'snest.'Well,thatisverysmall,'said EarthMaker.'Itissmall.IfitwerelargerIcouldfixit.Butitistoosmall,'hesaid.'Iwonderhow Icanstretchitalittle.'Hekeptsaying,'Whatisthebestway!HowshallImakeitlarger!'So saying,hepreparedit.Heextendedaropetotheeast,tothesouthheextendedarope,tothe west,tothenorthwest,andtothenorthheextendedropes.
2 MaiduTexts:RolandB.Dixon.Leyden,1912.

22

"Whenallwerestretched,hesaid,'Well,sing,youwhowerethefinderofthisearth,thismud! "Inthelong,longago,RobinManmadetheworld,stuckearthtogether,makingthisworld." Thusmortalmanshallsayofyou,inmythtelling.'ThenRobinsang,andhisworldmaking songsoundedsweet.Aftertheropeswereallstretched,hekeptsinging;then,afteratime,he ceased. "ThenEarthMakerspoketoCoyotealso.'Doyousing,too,'hesaid.Sohesang,singing,'My worldwhereonetravelsbythevalleyedge;myworldofmanyfoggymountains;myworld whereonegoeszigzagginghitherandthither;rangeafterrange,'hesaid,'Isingofthe countryIshalltravelin.InsuchaworldIshallwander,'hesaid. "ThenEarthMakersangsangoftheworldhehadmade,keptsinging,untilbyandbyhe ceased.'Now,'hesaid,itwouldbewelliftheworldwerealittlelarger.Letusstretchit.' 'Stop!'saidCoyote.'Ispeakwisely.Thisworldoughttobepaintedwithsomethingsothatit maylookpretty.Whatdoyetwothink?' "ThenRobinMansaid,'Iamonewhoknowsnothing.Yetwoareclevermen,makingthis world,talkingitover;ifyefindanythingevil,yewillmakeitgood.''Verywell,'saidCoyote,'I willpaintitwithblood.Thereshallbebloodintheworld;andpeopleshallbebornthere, havingblood.Thereshallbebirdsbornwhoshallhaveblood.Everythingdeer,allkindsof game,allsortsofmenwithoutanyexceptionallthingsshallhavebloodthataretobe createdinthisworld.Andinanotherplace,makingitred,thereshallberedrocks.Itwillbeas ifbloodweremixedupwiththeworld,andthustheworldwillbebeautiful,'hesaid.'Whatdo youthinkaboutit?'Yourwordsaregood,'hesaid,'Iknownothing.'SoRobinManwentoff.As hewent,hesaid,'Ishallbeapersonwhotravelsonlyinthisway,'andheflewaway." OnlyafterallthiswasaccomplisheddidEarthMaker,commandingCoyotetoliedownonhis face,begintostretchtheworld.Withhisfootheextendedittotheeast,tothesouth,tothe west,tothenorthwest,andtothenorth.Andyetagain,sayingtoCoyote,"Donotlookup.You mustnot,"hestretcheditagain,asfarasitwouldgointhefivedirections.ThenCoyote, rising,begantowalktotheeastwardside,andEarthMaker,afterdescribingtheentirecircuit oftheworld,returnedtothespotfromwhencehehadsetout,andbegantopreparethings. Hemademen,ofdifferentcolours,twoofeachkindonly,andashemadetheminpairs,he countedthem."Thenhecountedallthecountries,and,ashecountedthem,assignedthem, gavethemtothecountries.'Youareacountryhavingthisname,youshallhavethispeople,' hesaid.Thissortofpeople,namingyou,shallownthecountry.Thesepeopleshallgrow, shallkeepongrowingthroughmanywinters,throughmanydawns.Theyshallcontinueto growuntil,theirappointedwintersbeingpast,theirdawnsbeingover,thispeoplehaving finishedgrowing,shallbeborn,'hesaid." SoEarthMakercreated,toeachcountryanameandapeoplewithanameandspeech,each different;untilhearrivedatthemiddleoftheworld,wherehemadetwoothersandleftthem, saying,"'Yehere,growingsteadily,whensomanywintersshallhavepassed,verymany 23

winters,manydays,yeshallbefullygrown,'hesaid.'Thenyeshallbemortalmen,yeshallbe bornfullgrown....Yeshallnotbebornsoon,'hesaid." Continuingonhiswaytotheuttermostlimitwheremortalmenweretolive,hestopped,and created,firsttwo,whomhelaiddown,andtwomore,andstillanotherpair."'Yeshallremain here,'hesaid,'andyourcountryshallhaveaname.Althoughlivinginasmallcountry,inone thatisnotlarge,itshallbesufficientforyou.ThisIleave;andgrowingcontinually...ye, beingfullygrown,shallbeborn,'hesaid.'Thenyourfoodwillgrowdifferentsortsoffood,all kindsoffood;andye,beingbornwithsufficientintelligence,willsurvive,'saidhe.Thenhe pushedthemdownunderagopherhill. "Hespokeagain.'Ye,too,shallpossessasmallcountry."Comenow,leavethiscountry!"(this yemustnotsaytootherswishingtotakethisland).Yeshallbepeoplewhowillnotdrive othersaway,drivingthemofftoanothercountry.Yeshallbedifferent,yeshallnameyour country.'" Tostillanotherpairhespoke,saying,"'Yeshallhavechildren,andwhenyourchildrenshall havegrownlarger,then,lookingalloverthiscountry,yemusttellthemaboutit,teachthem aboutit,namingthecountryandplaces,showingthemandnamingthemtoyourchildren. "Thatissuchandsuchaplace,andthatissuchandsuchamountain."Sowhenyehave causedthemtolearnthis,teachingthem,theyshallunderstandevenasyedoyourselves.' Then,placingthembetweenhisthumbandfinger,hesnappedthemaway. "Andwhenhehadgivencountriesthustoallthathehadcountedout,therewasonepairleft. 'Ye,also,yeshallbeapeoplespeakingdifferently.Therewillbealittletoomanyofyoufor youtohavethesamesortofacountryalso.Soyeshallhavethatkindofacountry,agreat country,'hesaid. "'Now,whereverIhavepassedalong,thereshallneverbealackofanything,'hesaid,and mademotionsinalldirections.'ThecountrywhereIhavebeenshallbeonewherenothingis everlacking.Ihavefinishedtalkingtoyou,andIsaytoyouthatyeshallremainwhereyeare tobeborn.Yearethelastpeople;andwhileyearetoremainwhereyearecreated,Ishall returnandstaythere.Whenthisworldbecomesbad,Iwillmakeitoveragain;andafterI makeit,yeshallbeborn,'hesaid.LongagoCoyotesuspectedthis,theysay. "'Thisworldwillshake,'hesaid.'Thisworldisspreadoutflat,theworldisnotstable.Afterthis worldisallmade,byandby,afteralongtime,Iwillpullthisropealittle,thentheworldshall befirm.I,pullingonmyrope,shallmakeitshake.Andnow,'hesaid,'thereshallbesongs, theyshallnotbelacking,yeshallhavethem.'Andhesang,andkeptonsinginguntilhe ceasedsinging.'Yemortalmenshallhavethissong,'hesaid,andthenhesanganother;and singingmanydifferentsongs,hewalkedalong,keptwalkinguntilhereachedthemiddleofthe world;andthere,sittingdownoveracrossfromit,heremained.

24

"Butinmakingtheworld,RobinMansangthatwhichwaspleasanttohear.He,theysay,was thefirstcreatedpersonamanwhosesongpassedacrossthevalleys,amanwhofoundthe world,amanwhointheoldentimesangverybeautifullysoundingsongs.AndEarthMaker, goingalong,andhavingpassedbythemiddleoftheworld,madeahouseforhimself,and remainedthere.Thatisasfarashewent.Thatisall,theysay."

STAGESOFCREATION Fromrighttoleft:I.Chaos:DivisionofLightfromDarkness:SeparationofEarthandWater. Vegetation.II.Sun,Moon,andStars:FishesandBirds:AnimalsandMan;SabbathRest. (FromHaggadahvonSarajevoofthe14thcentury)

25

4UpholdersoftheWorld

TheEarthFloating. (FromFlammarion'sAstronomicalMyths,1877.)

FLAMMARION'SOLDDRAWINGofTheEarthFloatingisapeculiarlydesolaterenderingof theancientideathattheEarthwasnothingmorethananislandinasea.Thisideawouldof coursehaveitsprobableoriginamongraceslivingneargreatseasoroceanswhoseother sidetheyhadtriedinvaintoreach.Themindofmenlikessymmetry;ifwaterstretching endlesslyawayboundedonesideoftheir"island,"eventhoughthatislandwereacontinent whoseotheredgetheydidnotknow,watermustliealsoonitsothersides.IftheSunrose fromtheireasternwaters,say,atdawn,itmustsinkinsomeunknownwesternwavesatnight, iffornootherreasonthan,byswimmingthroughthem,toarriveagainbythenextdawn,inthe easternsky.Wemaysmileatthischildishnotionifwewill,butitmayverywellbethatno great"system"oftheharmoniousorbitsofSunandMoonandEarthexplainthemysteryof the"risingandthesettingoftheSun"anymoreoranybetterthantheprimitiveideathat darknesscamewhentheSunwassubmergedinthesea,andthatlightcamewhentheSun sprangoutofthesea.Perhapsallthatweknowtodayreallyknowisthatinthehourof dawntheSunappears,andinthehouroftwilighttheSunhasvanished. TheprecisenatureoftheelementinwhichtheEarthislandfloatedcametobeamatterof concernandmuchspeculation.Atfirstitwasassumedtobesimplywater;lateritwasdefined as"waterorsomeotherliquid,"andfinallyitwasbelievedtobealiquidnotunlikethe compositionofthewatersdirectlyunderthefirmamentorlowerheaven,whichweresupposed tobeacrystalline,congealedwater,speciallycombinedtoresisttheflameoftheSun,Moon, andgalaxyofstars,tobeitselffulloffire,andyetnottoburn.Itwaswater,yetnotwater,air yetnotair,fire,yetnotfire.Probablythiswasanattempttodescribethemediuminwhichthe IslandMoonfloated,allsustaining,yetclear.

26

Fig.31EarthWithRoots

DoubtlesstootheroundnessoftheSunandMoon, theirdiscssobroad,yetthinenoughtofloatinspace, oraetherealwaters,hadasmuchtodowithgiving mentheideathattheEarth'sshapemightalsobeflat andround,asthecirculardefininglineofthehorizon. Again,iftheMoonwaslikealeaf,floatinginthe heavenlywater,theEarth,likealeaf,floatedonthe worldwater,andlikealeafinwaterwoulddevelop roots.Agesago,aswehavealreadynoted(p.11), theancientworld,India,China,Egypt,madethelotus thewaterflowerthatsymbolisesEarthandHeaven andallthatliesbetween.Forasatree,rootedinthe Earth,isapartofit,soEarth,rootedintheuniversalwaters,mustbeapartoftheuniverse fromwhichitderiveslifeandnourishment.Andagain,thoughtherootsofanEarthisland mightnotbeasfirmastherootsofagreatEarthtreemight,thatis,beassuppleandflexible asthoseofwaterplants,neverthelessitwasananchorageoftheEarthtosomethingoutside itself. NaturallyevolvingfromthiswouldriseanEarthsetonsolidpillars,anestablished,firmly foundeddisc.Fig.32isanoldpictureofjustsuchanEarth"theEarthoftheVedicpriests." Itsuppersideisitsonlyhabitableside;itsundersiderestsontwelvecolumns,thesecolumns restinginturnontheTwelveGreatSacrificesoftheVirtuous,theaimfuldeeds,thatis,of menawareofduty.Withoutthissubterraneanfoundation,saidtheancientpriests,thepillars oftheEarthwoulddryup,andtheEarthwouldfalldown.Thesepillars,saysFlammarion, accountedmorereasonablyfortherisingandthe settingoftheSun,thantheratherlazyguessthatit swamthroughwaterfromwesttoeasteverynight; thoughtherewasanotherspeculationthatitmight reachtheeasternheavensbytraversinga complicatedsystemoftunnels,likegreatconnecting caves,whichpiercedtheEarthdiscfromoccidentto orient. Butthetwelvepillars,quiteaslittleastherootsofthe Earthislandleaf,failedtosatisfyman'swonderings overtheproblemofwhatsupportedtheEarth,oron whattheEarthrested.Oneoftheoldfamiliarfigures ofEarthisthathemisphericalEarthoftheHindusFig.32TheEarthoftheVedicPriests. (Plate2,C)supportedonthebacksoffourelephants,whichstandonthehemisphericalshell ofagigantictortoisefloatingonthesurfaceoftheworldwaters.Sometimes,inadditionto thesethreesupports,thereisafourth,thecoiledringofthegreatworldserpentonwhichthe tortoiserestsfourfoundationsforEarth,andfiveforHeavenwhichmustrestontheEarth. 27

PLATE2 A.QuetzalcoatlupholdingtheHeavens. FromanoriginalMexicanpainting preservedintheImperialLibraryat Vienna. (FromKingsborough's MexicanAntiquities.1831,Vol.II) B.AtlasupholdingtheEarth. (FromEngravingsafter Stoddard:acollectioninTheNewYork PublicLibrary) C.AHinduEarth. (FromFlammarion's AstronomicalMyths,1877)

Buttheelephant,thetortoise andtheserpentareonlythreeof thegreatanimalswhichfolklore andtraditionsaymaysupport thisplanet.TheAltaicpeopleof NorthernSiberiaaffirmthattheir mightyUlgencreatedtheEarth onthewaters,andplacedunderitsdisc,tosupportit,threegreatfish,oneinthecentreand oneoneitherside.Theheadofthemiddlefishbeingplacedtowardsthenorth,floodsoccur therewhenitpressesitsheaddown;and,shoulditeversinktoolow,thewholeEarthwillbe delugedagain.Theybelievethatthesefishareattachedtoheavenbyaropethroughtheir gills,wherebytheirheadscanbeloweredorraised,andthatatthethreepostsofheavento whichtheseropesaretied,theBodhisattaMandishire,orguardianofEarth,alwayswatches. Accordingtoanothertradition,onlyonegreatfishsupportstheEarth;whenhechangeshis positionearthquakesoccur.InHebrewmyths,thismightyanimalisthe"fishshaped Leviathan."Wheretheturtleorthetortoiseisunknown,asinfarnorthernlands,the"world supportingFrog"willtakeitsplace;ifitsfingerevermoves,theEarthshivers.AmongTartars andmanyofthetribesofAsiaEurope,theEarthisbelievedtobesupportedbyagreatbull; sometimestheEarthrestsonitsback,sometimesitisheldaloftonthehorns.Or,another variation,intheworldoceanthereisagreatfish,and,uponthefish,abullwhichbearsthe Earth.Oragain,intheworldoceanthereisagiantcrabwhichgivessupporttotheEarth bearingbull.SomesaythattheterribleweightoftheEarthhasalreadybrokenoneofthe greathorns,andthatwhentheotherbreakstheworldwillcometoanend.Anotherofthe TartartribessaysthataftertheGreatMammothwascreated,itwasfoundthattheEarthwas 28

notstrongenoughtobearitsweight,andso,toavoidawasteofcreationintheuniverse,the GreatRulersolvedthedifficultybycommandingtheGreatMammothtobeartheEarth. OnwhatdidtheEarthrest?Notonlyonliteralwater,andgreatbeasts.Onawhirlwind,said Empedocles;onrootsrootedintheInfinite,saidXenophanes;onaSouloftheWorld,said Platoandhisschool;onTwelvePillars,saidtheVedicpriests,whichmusthavefortheir foundationthe"sacrificesofthevirtuous."Earth,thatis,dependedultimatelyonmanforits support.Andsoonerorlater,inallcosmologiesandmythologies,wecomeuponsomelurking ordevelopedconceptthattheburdenofsupportingbothEarthandHeavenrestsonthe shouldersofman.IncountriesaswidelyseparatedbyraceandbyoceansasGreeceand Mexico,wefindan"AtlasoftheWorld,"asustaineroftheuniverse(Plate2,AandB).In GreeceitisAtlasthe"Endurer,"brotherofPrometheustherebelbringeroffire,whosupports theglobe.SonofPoseidon,heknewthedepthsofthewholeOceanworld;itwashistaskto guardthepillarswhichheldHeavenandEarthapart.Accordingtoonestory,itwasbecause hehadattemptedtostormtheheavensthathewascondemnedtocarryitsvaultonhishead andhands.Accordingtoanotherversion,itwasonlyafterthelossofhisgreatIslandrealm Atlantis,thathewasforcedtobecomethesustainerofthesky. Mexicoappearstohavehadfouratleastheavenbearinggods,andeachoftheseappears tohaveexercisedanumberoffunctionsotherthanthesufficientlyonerousoneofsupporting theuniverse.Quetzalcoatl,althoughaSun godandanearthquakegod,wasalso,like Atlas,awatergod.IfAtlas,interpreted,means theEndurer,Quetzalcoatl,interpreted,means HeartoftheSea.GodoftheSun,ofthe earthquake,andthewater,healsoupheldthe heavensoftheMexicans.Intheeasternworld andinthewestern,thousandsofyearsago, thesedifferentracesbelievedalikethatsome greatforcenevertobeunderstoodandnever tobeovercomehadwrenchedtheheavens fromtheEarth,butthat,atthesametimeit separatedthem,itunitedthembyanother force,whicheachracerepresentedbya humanfigure,agreatmangod.Explainitas wewill,callitnaveorarrogant,itexpressed oneofman'sfewentirelyadmirablequalities, hislonelynecessitytoshare,ortobelievethat hesharedintheworkofcarryingonthe universe.Anditfoundexpressionincountless ways.

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AcuriousolddrawingoftheMiddleAges(Plate3above)showshowtheAtlasmythpersisted evenintomoderntime.TheEarthstilloccupiesthecentreoftheuniverse,withalltheother heavenlybodiesrevolvingaboutit.Frompoletopoleofthefirmamenthisheadmarkingthe "PolusArctic"andhistwofeetthe"PolusAntarctic,"stretchesAtlas,ortheMacrocosm,orthe GreatMan,orAdamKadmon,whicheveryouwill.TomedivalEuropeAtlasrepresentedthe Macrocosm,orthelonggreatworld,incontrasttotheMicrocosmormanlittle,butthe epitomeofallthathadcombinedtoproducehim.Veryoften,insuchcirculardesigns,thetwo lowercornerswillbefilled eachwithatoilingfigure,the burdenbearerman,withhis shouldersbenttothewheel. Onlybyhismicrocosmic, microscopiceffort,theyseem tosayoverandoveragain, maytheWheelofLifebekept revolving.Notonlydoesthe EarththepillaredEarthof theVedicpriestsrestonthe sacrificesofman,but,since Heavenitselfleansonthe Earth,withoutman'saidthe wholeuniversemustcollapse. Itiseasytoseehowthis ancientimageoftheGreat Manrosebeforetheeyesof the"littlemen"oftheEarth. Thiswasabeinginfinitely stronger,infinitelybetter, almostyetnotquiteagod becausehewasMan,who somehowstoodormoved betweenthetwoworldsand keptthemintouchwithone another.Hecametobecalled bymanynames,tobe picturedundermany disguises.HewastheBeing praisedintheCreationchant oftheMahabharata;hewas the"manitoutomenandtheirAverycleardemonstrationofthethreekindsofvisionintheMicrocosm(orsoulof grandfather"oftheLenapeCreationstory.HewasthecosmicP'anKuoftheChinese,who cameintobeing"inthemidstofthecosmicegg,"whoseverynameP'anmeans"theshellof 30
Man)ofthelocationoftheirobjects,andofthemannerofdiscerningthem.

anegg,"andwhowashatchedoutofthecosmos.Hecreatedinthemiddle,outofthepure elements,Heaven;outofthemixedelements,Earth.EverydayHeavengrewtenfeethigher, Earthtenfeetdeeperandhetenfeettaller,for18,000years.Whenhedied,hisbreath becamewind,hisvoicethunder,hisfourlimbsthefourdirections,hisfiveextremitiesthefive sacredmountains,hislefteyethesun,hisrighteyethemoon,hisbloodtherivers,hisbeard thestars,hishairthetreesandplants,hisfleshthesoil,histeethmetals,hisbonesrocks,his marrowpreciousstones,hisperspirationrain,andhisparasitesmen.TheoldChaldeans drewaGreatManacrosstheskyinsuchawaythatthesignsoftheirzodiaccorrespondedto thepartsofhisbody.And,proofonceagainthattheancientpeoplesseparatedbytheEarth's diameterfromeachotherwereinexplicablyoneinmanyoftheirfancies,theTewaIndians regardedOpatheworld,theuniverseasalivingbeing,andworshippeditasthe"Universal Man,"whosebackbone,theysaid,istheMilkyWay.AndtheoldNorsesagashaveintheir giantYmiralmostthefacsimileoritmaybetheoriginal,whomaysay?oftheChineseP'an Ku;forfromYmir'sbodywasmadetheworld,fromhisfleshtheEarth,fromhisbloodthe riversandoceans,fromhisbonesthemountains,fromhiseyebrowsthe"encompassing"of MitgardtheEarth.FromhisskullwasshapedHeaven,andhisbrainswerechangedinto floatingcloudsandfogs. Whatisinterestingaboutallthisisthefactthat primitivemanarrivedwithouttheaidof scienceatthetremendousideathatdefinite figureisanattributeoftheheavens.Itwasthe ideathatsofascinatedHerschel,discovererof Uranus,andcuriousinquirerintothemysteries oftheMilkyWay.Hewaspossessedbythe "guess"thatnotonlyisourgalaxyastratumor confinedbedofstars,butthatthisstratumis measurable,andthatbycomparisonofhis gaugingorsoundinglines,hemightactually drawachartofit.He"guessed"againthatin themainandthisguesswaswrongthe starsarescatteredequablythroughoutour immediateSpace,whichwouldmeanthat, seeingasfarinonedirectionasanother,the figureoftheheavenswouldtendtowardsa circularform.Inanoldbookof1848,Thoughts onSomeImportantPointsRelatingtothe SystemoftheWorld,byJohnNichol,thereis averyodd"FigureoftheUniverse,"basedon Herschel'sgaugingsystem,whichillustrates aswellasanyotherthemethodemployed (Fig.33).
Fig.33FigureoftheUniverse

31

If,saysNichol,wewereinthecentreofacirculargroup,itwouldmeanthatwhetherwe lookedthroughthelineCAorthelineCB,thenumberofstarsthatcouldbecountedwould bethesame.Butifthegroupwereanirregularone,thenumberofstarsinthedirectionofCA wouldbemuchlessthanthatalongthelineCB,andtheproportionsoftheirnumberswould givetheproportionsofthetwolinesCAandCB.SupposingS(lowerfigure)theplaceofour Sun,"or,"saysNichol,"whatisthesamething,oftheEarth,onwhichtheobservationsare recorded,"letanumberoflinesbedrawnansweringindirectiontothepositionofHerschel's telescope,andinlengthtothenumberofstarsrevealedinthatdirection.Then,ifthe extremitiesoftheselineswerejoined,theresultwouldbe"afigurewhich,howeverstrange, mustapproximatetoasectionofourvastanddazzlingvault."Hegoesontoimagineonewith thepowertodepartfromEarth,proceedingthroughSpacetowardstheMilkyWay,leaving behindtheconstellationswhichweknow,cominguponnewconfigurations,passingeven throughtheMilkyWay,until,lookingback,heseesthisuniversesodwindledawayasto presenttheappearanceofnothingbutaspeckinSpace,shiningwithafaint,irregularly diffusedilluminationcorrespondinginitsraystotheoutlinedfigure.

NATURALLYMOSTOFTHEEARLYSTORIESofthe"GreatMan"oftheheavensareodd mixturesofperceptionandfancy,ofclumsyliteralnessandrealimagination.Alltoooftenthis OpaBeingwasmoreearthlythanheavenly,muchmoremanthangod,but,whateverhis guiseordisguise,hewasalwaysmuchmorethanman,andinsomeofhisincarnationshe wasveryclosetodivine.AsAdamKadmonhehasmeantnotonlytheFirstMancreatedin thetrueimageofGod,butsomethingmore,"thedivinemanformingpower"capableof transformingaquestioninglittlemancutofffromwisdomintoadiviningGreatManwhocould know.PreciselysuchaconceptionofAdamKadmonhasbeenlyinginRobertFludd's MicrocosmiHistoriasince1619(),"Averycleardemonstrationofthethreekindsofvisionin theMicrocosm(orsoulofman);ofthelocationoftheirobjects,andofthemannerof discerningthem."Surelynofigureof"Earth"waseverdrawnbeforeorsincesolightlypoised, soaethereallysupported. UnlessitisthetinyfigureofEarthastheendandthebeginningoftheSpiralWorld(PlateV) whichimmediatelyfollowsintheMicrocosmiHistoria:"Anotherdemonstrationshowinghow thesoulrisesinaspiralascentfromthesensiblethingsoftheworldtounity,throughtwenty twostages,beginningwiththeEarth,andascendingupwardstoGod;thatis,frommultiplicity tounity."Thisisdrawnintwentytwowhorlsor"grades,"beginning,bynumbers,with"Terra" andendingwith"Deus."Or,bytheorderoftheHebrewalphabet,beginningwith"Deus"and endingin"Terra."Thesespiralgradesorstageshaveeachfoursignstomarkthem;first,the lettersoftheHebrewalphabet,beginningwiththeouterwhorlandwindingcontinuously inwardtothecentre.(TheHebrewalphabet,accordingtotheKabbala,isbasedonthe primitivealphabetinwhichGodswereLetters,LetterswereIdeas,IdeaswereNumbers,and NumberswereperfectSigns.)Second,thenamesoftheprocessionofgrades,fromthefirst 32

manifestationoftheGodhead,MensorMind,toitsfinalexpressioninTerraorEarth.Third, numbers,from1to22.Fourth,thetinywingedheadscommontoeachcompletedwhorl.The spiral,reachingfromHeaventoEarth,isshownhereaslyinginaflatcoil,likeaspring.Butit maybereimagedasthewindinglinedescribedaboutaspherethattapersirresistiblyouttoa point.Itisjustthatline,saysthisfigure,describedbyapointmovinginspace,beginningin HeavenandendinginEarth,whichatonceseparatesandunitesthem.BeyondEarththereis nothing.ButinEarththereiseverythingeventhepowertomakethedescendingspiralan ascendingone.Itcanbereimagedasanascendingvine,climbingbackbywayofthegreat Worldtree.Forlife,saidtheancients,flowsneverinoneway.RootedinHeaven,itdescends toEarth,androotedinEarthitmayascendtoHeaven.

PLATE5Anotherdemonstrationshowinghowthesoulrisesinaspiralascentfromthesensiblethingsofthe worldtoUnity.

33

5ThePrimvalEarth
"BECAUSEITPLEASETHmore andmakesagreaterimpression uponus,"wrotetheoldEnglish PlatonistThomasBurnet,"tosee thingsrepresentedtotheEye,than toreadtheirdescriptioninwords, wehaveventuredtogiveamodelof thePrimvalEarth,withitsZones orgreaterClimates,andthegeneral orderandtractsofitsRivers.Not thatwebelievethingstohavebeen intheverysameformashere exhibited,butthismayserveasa generalIdeaofthatEarth,which maybewroughtintomore exactness,accordingasweareable toenlargeorcorrectourthoughts hereafter....TheRiversofthat Earth,yousee,wereinmost respectsdifferent,andinsome respectscontrarytoours,andifyou Fig.34ThePrimvalEarth,withitsZonesorgreaterClimates,
andthegeneralorderandtractsofitsRivers.

couldturnourRiversbackwards,to runfromtheSeatowardstheirFountainheads,theywouldmoreresemblethecourseof theseAntediluvianRivers;fortheyweregreatestattheirfirstsettingout;andtheCurrent thereafter,whenitwasmoreweak,andtheChanelmoreshallow,wasdividedintomany branches,andlittleRivers,liketheArteriesinourBody,thatcarrytheBlood,theyaregreatest atfirst,andthefurthertheygofromtheHeart,theirSource,thelesstheygrowanddivideinto amultitudeoflittlebranches,whichlosethemselvesinsensiblyinthehabitofthefleshas theselittleFloodsdidintheSandsoftheEarthe."Thisisavery curiousconceptionofthecountercourseof"primval"rivers;itis exactlyasifweconceivedoftheMissouriMississippisystem,for instance,asrisingintheGulfofMexicoandflowingnorthuntilit beginstodivideandsubdivideintodozensoflesserstreams,allof whichfinallydwindleawayintotheEarthinsteadofrisingfromit. WhatwasthestateoftheprimvalEarthbeforemanappeared,andwithhim,trouble?Allthe Creationstoriesgiveacommonanswerharmony;harmonyofallthespheres.Itisinthe songtoMahat,withitsorderedaccountoftheseparationofthefivegreatElementsfrom 34

Chaos,andtheirrecombiningsintothebodiesoftheuniverse."Hemadethemalltomove evenly,"saystheCreationlegendoftheLenape,aftertheGreatManitohadformedlandand skyandmoonandstars;andinthepictographtheevenmovementisaspiralline.In SebastienMuenster'sCosmographiaUniversalis(1559),atthebeginningofthechapteron "ThecreationanddisposingoftheprimordialEarthandSea,"isanolddrawingevidently intendedtoshowtheparadisaicalstateofterrestrialaffairsattheendoftheFifthDayof Creation,withthegreatstagebuiltandthegreatscenesetandlightedfortheentranceof manandthebeginningofhisdrama(Plate6nextchapter).Itisapictureinsuccessive planesoftheGenesisstory,withacharmingadditiontheboatwithsails,floatinginthe foreground;and,onit,alittlethreestoriedhousetheArk,perhaps,whosepartinthecoming dramahadbeenalreadyforeseenbytheCreator,andwhichwastobecome,ofallthe vanishedtreasuresofadrownedandbrokenEarth,man'ssinglepreciouspossession.

35

6TheBabylonianUniverse
Plate6Theprimordialearth&sea

WHATPEOPLEATWHAT TIMEfirstimaginedtheEarth asahollowhemisphericalshell floatingontheworldwaterswe cannotknow.Butitisanother ofthe"oldestfiguresofEarth." ThisideaoftheEarthas"boat shaped"haditsoriginprobably inthealmostuniversalmythof theDeluge;thetransitionfrom anArkfloatingrightsideup,to theEarth,itselfaboat,floating upsidedown,isaneasyone. But"boatshaped"isaword which,thankstoourmodernpatterns,haslostitsearlysignificance.Theancientworldhad, however,amongacertainpeople,aboatbuiltonexactlysuchanhemisphericalmodel.To day,ontheEuphratesRiver,thesesamekufasfloattheroundboatsoftheancient Chaldeans,madeofskins,stretchedandsewedintoahollowhemisphere.Andtoday, likewise,onthesameriver,fishermenrideateaseonthesameinflatedcushionsorairboats ofskinthatwereinusethousandsofyearsago.Nothingskimmedthewatersmoreswiftly thanthesecircularboats,andnothingfloatedmoresafelythanthesehollowhemispheresof stretchedskinupturnedonthewaters. ThereisacuriousrelationbetweentheancientboatsandtheAssyrianstoryoftheCreation.If theseboatswerehemispheresofstretchedskin,soweretheHeavensandtheEarth. Merodach,theworldmakerofthislegend,layforalongtimehelplessliketheothergods undertheblindruleofChaosTiamat,fromwhomsprangeverythingandwhocreated unceasingly,butwhohadyetcreatedneitherHeavennorEarth.Fromherissued spontaneouslymonstrousanimalsandfigures,menwithtwowingsandotherswithfour,with twofacesorfour,withgoats'legsandhorns,orwiththehindpartsofahorseandtheforeparts ofaman;animalswithhumanheadsorfishes'tails;otherformsinwhicheverysortofanimal shapewasunitedinconfusion,andthisconfusionofcreationrunmadneverceased. ButfinallyMerodacharose,aloneofallthegods,tomeether,andthenitwasthatSpace witnesseditsmostterrificcombat.Hefinallyslewher,butmatterswerehardlybettered,for Tiamat'sgreatdeadbodystretchedthroughoutallSpace."Heplacedhisfootuponher,"reads theAssyrianstory,"andwithhisunerringknifehecutintotheupperpartofher;thenhecut thebloodvessels,andcausedthebloodtobecarriedbythenorthwindtothehiddenplaces. ...Hecontemplatedthegreatcorpse,raiseditandwroughtmarvels.Hesplititintwoasone 36

doesafishfordrying;thenhehunguponeofthehalvesonhigh,whichbecamethe heavens."TheotherhalfhespreadoutunderhisfeettoformtheEarth,andimmediatelyall thecreaturesthatwereinherdisappeared.Merodachagainsurveyedtheemptyworld;then hecutoffhisownhead,and,havingkneadedthebloodflowingfromitwiththeEarth,formed men,whowerethusendowedwithasurvivingparticleofunderstandingandwithasurviving particleofdivinethought. Thisoddconceptionoftheheavensasmadeof"skin"isfoundoverandoveramongprimitive races.TheYakutssaythattheskyismadeofseveralskins,tightlystretchedandoverlapping. TheBuriatscalltheMilkyWaya"stitchedseam"inthesky,andtheyspeakwithaweofa "certainbeing"whomurmursfromtimetotime,"Long,longago,whenIwasyoung,Isewed theskytogether." Thepictureofthekufa(Plate7Aleft)isgiven tomakeclearerwhatmostofthewritersonthe oldAkkadiancosmogonymeanwhentheysay, "TheAkkadiansorChaldeansconsideredthe Earthtobehollowandboatshaped."For "boatshaped"meanttothemnoelongated ovalfigure,butdistinctlyahollowhemisphere, aroundshell,evena"stretchedskin."Plate7 B(nextpage)showsMyer'sconstructionof theirworldonjustthismodel,andhisinterpretationisfollowedbelow.3 Briefly,EistheconvexsideofthehollowEarthshell.FromCtoEstretchestheLower Firmament,orzoneoftheatmospherewinds,stormsandclouds;thiszonerestsfirmlyupon theconvexEarthshell.FromCtoAistheUpperFirmament,dividedintotwolayers;fromAto Bisthezoneofthespiritoftheheavens;andfromBtoCisthezoneoftheplanets"sheep," or"wanderers,"or"watchers."Thisisthezonealsooflightningandofthunder.A,inthis diagram,representstheZodiac,whichis"inSpaceandtheGreatCelestialOcean,"called alsothe"Deep"andthe"Abyss."T'hom,theGreatDragonofthisGreatSea,wasalsocalled Tiemat,anditwasreallylookeduponasthePrimordialAbyssoutofwhicheverythinginthe Universe,includingHeavenandEarth,came.Thearrangementofthesevenplanets,between BandC,are,accordingtoMyer,a.Saturn,b.Jupiter,c.Mars,d.Sun,e.Venus,f.Mercury,g. Moon,andEarththecentre.

3 Qabbalah;IsaacMyer,1888,pp.448450.

37

FFistheconcavesideoftheEarthshell,withsevenzonesdescribed,"answering,"says

Plate7bConstructionoftheAkkadian,ChaldeanandBabylonianUniverse.

Myer,"asshadows,totheorbitsofthesevenplanets."Thiswastherealmofthekingofthe ghostworld,thekingofthedead.Curiouslyenough,itwasbelievedtohavebeenruledover atonetimebyEa,deityofWisdom.GwastheNadir,andIwasthemountainoftheEast,or themountainoftheworld,whichsupportedtheUpperFirmamentandtheGreatCelestial Ocean.IIistheGreatChaoticCrystallineSea,extendingtoanunknowndistancebeyondthe Zodiacalzone.IIIisthepivotoftheStarzone,onthetopoftheWorldmountain,uponwhich thefirmamentrevolves.IVaretheguardedgatestotheUnderworld,abodeofthedead,or homeofthedarkspirits,oraplaceforpunishment.Yetinitareconcealedthewatersoflife, andthroughthisregionoftheUnderworldthenightlyjourneyoftheSuntakesplace,from westtoeast. Disregardinganynumberofmerelytechnicaldifferencesbetweenthem,thisdiagramof Myer'swillserveasafairpictureofanycosmogonybasedontheideathattheEarthisa hollowhemispherewithanunderworld.Butthereissharpdisagreementoverwhetherafterall theancientAssyrianpeoplecertainlytheChaldeansandBabyloniansbelievedthatthe Earthwasahemisphericalshell,orwhethertheybelievedthatitwassomethingquiteother thanthat.

38

Babylonwasmighty,anditperishedutterly.Ofallitswisdom,onlybatteredfragmentsoftexts remain;whichpresentdayscholarshaveworkedforyearstointerpret.Withinaperiodofjust twentyyears,from1888to1908,eightdifferentdiagramsofthesupposedfigureofthis BabylonianUniversewereofferedbyeightdifferentmen,ofwhichMyer'sdiagramwasthe first.ThelastoftheseisDr.WilliamFairfieldWarren's,firstpublishedinTheJournalofthe RoyalAsiaticSociety,1908.Ashepointsout,notwooftheothersevenagree;certainlyno oneoftheothersevenbearsanylikenesstothisbeautifulconstructionofeightcrystalline spheressurroundingacubical, pyramidal,antipodalEarthfigure (Plate8atleft). "Forthereconstructionofthe Babylonianuniverse,"hesays,"we havenolessthantwelvemost valuabledataderivedfromthe studyofancientBabyloniantexts." Followingisanabstractofthe twelvedataonwhichhemodelled thistranslucentuniverse.4 1.IntheBabylonianconceptionof theuniversetheearthoccupiedthe centralplace.Itwastheaccepted centreoftheirplanetarysystem. 2.Thenorthernhalfoftheearth wascalledtheupper,associated withlifeandlight.Thesouthernhalf wascalledtheunder,associatedwithdarknessanddeath.TheSouthandtheUnderworldare identical. 3.Theupperornorthernhalfoftheearthwasregardedasconsistingofsevenstages (tupukati),rangedoneabovetheotherintheformofastagedpyramid.ThestagedTempleof Nippur,accordingtoSayce,wasamodeloftheEarthaccordingtothebeliefofthosewho builtit. 4.Correspondingly,theantarcticorunderhalfoftheEarthwassupposedtoconsistofseven similarstages.Theseventupukatioftheunderworldareafacsimileoftheseventupukatiof theoverworld. 5.Likethequadrilateraltemplemodelledafterit,theEarthoftheBabylonianswasfour cornered.InthisparticularitagreedwiththeconceptionascribedtotheancientEgyptians,
4 JournalRoyalAsiaticSocietyofGreatBritainandIreland,1908,pp.977983.

39

Hebrews,Chinese,andtotheIndoAryansoftheRigVedaperiod. 6.InBabylonianthoughtthereweresevenheavensandsevenhells.Thisbeliefisoneof untraceableantiquity. 7.Abovetheseventhheavenwasanother,the"highestheaven,"thatofthefixedstars,called bytheBabyloniansthe"heavenofAnu,"afterthenameofoneoftheiroldestandhighest gods. 8.ThiseighthheavenwasdividedbytheZodiacintotwocorrespondingportions,anupper,or Arctic,andanunder,orAntarctic.AttheupperpoleAnuhadhispalaceandthrone. 9.InBabylonianthought,thenorthpoleoftheheavenswasthetruezenithofthecosmic system,andtheaxisofthesystemupright;consequentlythediurnalmovementsofthesun andmoonwereregardedasoccurringinahorizontalplane. 10.ProceedingoutwardfromthecentralEarth,theorderofthesevenknownplanetswasas follows:Moon,Sun,Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn.Thattheirrespectivedistances fromtheEarthwerenotuniformwasalreadyknown. 11.InordertopassfromtheupperhalfoftheEarthtoitsunderhalf,thatis,fromtheabodeof livingmentotheabodeofthedead,itwasnecessarytocrossabodyofwaterwhichonevery sideseparatedthetwoabodes. 12.AccordingtoDiodorusSiculus,theBabyloniansconsideredthatthetwelvedesignated starssouthoftheZodiacstoodinthesamerelationtothedeadasdothetwelve correspondingstarsnorthoftheZodiactomeninthelandoftheliving.Thisrepresentation clearlymakesthelivingandthedeadtheresidentsrespectivelyofantipodalsurfacesofone andthesameheavenenclosedEarth.AccordingtotheBabylonianCreationTablets(V,line8) AnuandEaareantipodallylocatedgods,Anubeingenthronedatthenorthpoleofthe heavens,andEaatthesouthpole. Thesetwelvepropositions,saysDr.Warren,arethefundamentalfeaturesoftheancient Babylonianworldconcept,andeachofthetwelverequirementsismetbythisfigure.The uprightcentrallinerepresentsthepolaraxisoftheheavensandEarthinperpendicular position.ThetwocentralsevenstagedpyramidsrepresenttheupperandlowerhalvesofE KUR,theEarth;theupperistheabodeoflivingmen,thelowertheabodeofthedead.The separatingwatersarethefourseas.ThesevendottedhalfcirclesabovetheEarthrepresent the"sevenheavens,"andthecorrespondingsevenhemispheresbelowtheearth,the"seven hells."TheseveninnerconcentricspheresarerespectivelythedomainsandabodesofSin, Shamash,Nabu,Ishtar,Nergal,Marduk,andNinib,eachbeinga"worldruler"inhisown planetarysphere.(TheorderofthesesphereshasbeengivenaboveasMoon,Sun,Mercury, Venus,Mars,Jupiter,andSaturn.)Theoutermostsphere(withitsupperhalfcutaway,asare 40

theuppersevenheavens,toshowbettertheinteriorofthesystem)isthesphereofthe antipodalgods,AnuandEa,andtheheavenofthefixedstars.Itistobenotedfurther,Dr. Warrenexplains,thatthespacesbetweenthesphereswidenrapidlyateachremovefromthe Earth,sorapidlythatinaworldviewthesizeofthis,theycannotberepresentedotherthanas inthisplate. Dr.'Warrencallsthis"TheBabylonianUniverse"principallybecauseBabyloniaisalmostthe limitofourbackwardreachtothewisdomofthepast,andourretracingofthepersistent recurrencesofsomanyoftheseprinciplesthe"fourcorneredEarth,"orthecubicalEarth, the"sevenheavens,""EarthandcounterEarth,"the"crystallinespheres,"the"mountainsof theworld,"andsoonmustendthere.Butitsorigin,hesays,wasamongapeopleantedating theBabylonians."AtruernamethereforeforthesystemwouldbethePreBabylonian.The EastSemitesreceiveditfromtheirpredecessorsinthepossessionoftheEuphrateanvalley, theAkkadoSumarians.Atleastsuchistheopinionandtheteachingofourhighestexperts. DidthesystemoriginateamongthosenonSemiticpredecessorsinthevalley?Thishasbeen assumed,butnomancanpretendtoknow."

Fig.35
Babylonian''MappaMundi''inscribedona Babyloniangeographicaltabletinthe BritishMuseum,No.92,687.Showingthe oceansurroundingtheworld,andmarking thepositionofBabylonontheEuphrates asitscentre.Itshowsalsothemountains atthesourceoftheriver,thelandof Assyria,BitIakinu,andtheswampsatthe mouthoftheEuphrates. (FromCuneiformTextsfromBabylonian Tablets,etc.,intheBritishMuseum,1906: PartXXII,Plate48.Thereadingistaken fromTheBabylonianLegendsofthe Creation.Brit.Mus.Pubs.,1921,p.3.)

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7TheEgyptianUniverse
INTHEMETROPOLITANMUSEUMoftheCityofNewYork,reststhegreydiorite sarcophagusofUreshNofer,onetimepriestofthe"watery"goddessMut,inEgypt.Onthe upperhalfofthesarcophaguslidisengravedthefigureoftheSkygoddessNut"bendingover theEarth,"amarvellouspictureoftheEgyptianUniverse.
Plate9SkyGoddessNutBendingOvertheEarth.

"TheSkyGoddessNutbending overtheEarth,"andthe succeedingPlate,"TheGoddess NutrepresentedDouble,"(seep. 45,plate10b)bringupsoclearly thefirstofthemajortraditional catastrophesoftheEarth,thatit wouldbetimelyjustnowto considerthembriefly.Therehave beenfive,onesodimlyrelatedthat itshallbelefttillthelast.Butthere arefourgreattimelesstraditionsof greatdisasters.Thefirstisthe violentseparationofEarthfrom Heaven.Thesecondisthe appallingEarthMooncatastrophe. ThethirdistheDeluge,andthe fourthisthesinkingofAtlantis.Or, itmaybe,thethirdinpointof"time" isthesinkingofAtlantis,andthe fourthistheDeluge.Or,again,it maybethatthesetwo catastrophes,thoughindividual, werecoincidentwitheachother. Traditionhoweveris,happily,not logic,andso,eveninadisorderly order,wemaytakeupthe outstandingafflictionsoftheplanet wecallEarth. First,then,theviolentseparationofEarthfromHeaven,whichtheseEgyptianworldpictures illustratesobeautifully. Nutwasgoddessofthestarrysky.Sometimessheisrepresentedaspowderedwithstars; sometimes,ashere,withbutalineofthemalongherspine;onceatleast,onthe sarcophaguslidofUreshNofer,withthethreediscsorspheresofuniversalsignificance 42

body,spirit,soulconnectedbyeightstarsandbysix.Sometimesthebandofstarswas accompaniedbyabandofwaterflowingoverherspinethecelestialNile,astheEgyptians calledthemysteriousheavenlywatersthatcoveredtheworld.Sometimesthepathofthe celestialNileiscalledthepathoftheMilkyWay;andoftenthepathoftheMilkyWayiscalled thepathofsouls."Throughherhusband,Seb,shegavebirthtotheSun,whichwaseverafter reborneachmorning:dailyitmadeitsjourneyfromeasttowestbeneathherbodyuntil, sinkingbelowthewesternhorizon,itpassedintothemouthofNut,traversedherbodyduring thenight,tobebornagainatdawn.NutalsogavebirthtotheMoon,whichcameforthfrom herbreastsasmilk.Andtocountlessotherheavenlybodiesaswellwhosegenealogywould takeustoofar. ThisisthestoryofNutorHeavenandofSeborEarth. InthebeginningthatstirlessrestinwhichallmythsoftheoriginalCreationbeginHeaven andEarthweretogether,weddedgods,fromwhomwastospringallthathasbeen,is,and shalleverbe.Timewasnotyet,singsoneoftheoldworldhymns,norUniversalMind,nor Thought,norWord.Blisswasnot.Miserywasnot.DarknessalonefilledtheboundlessAll,for FatherMotherSonwereoncemoreone,andtheSonhadnotyetawakenedforthenew WheelandhisnewPilgrimage.TheUniversewasstillconcealedintheDivineThoughtand theDivineBosom. ButthedayofCreationcame,andanewgod,Shu,godofAirorofSunlight,sprangoutofthe primordialwaters.Heslippedbetweenthetwo,andtearingNutwithforcefromthebodyof Sebherhusband,raisedhertothesky.Herstarspangledbodymarkedtheextentofthe firmament;andherhandsandfeethangingdownwerethefourpillarsofthefirmamentand thefourquartersoftheEarth.Thereeversinceshehasremained,bendingovertheEarth, eternallywatchingtheEarthandthechildrenofEarth. OfSebtheEarthitisrelatedthathedidnotenduretheviolentseparationfromNutwithouta struggle.Hesoughttorise,thathemightfightandovercomethenewlycreatedgod.Butashe struggled,justrousedfromdeepdreamlesssleep,hewasarrestedandheldinthecurious positionhehaseversincemaintained(Plate10,Binnextchapter),withoutpowertochange it.Hehasbeenveiledeachspringwithplantsandherbsandgrasses;andwinterhas wrappedhiminiceannow;whilealonghisbackhaspassedtheendlesspanoramaofthe generationsofanimalsandmen.Throughhimisgiventothemalltheyhave;hegivesand theyungratefullytake,neveraskingifhehasaneedtheymightsupply,asorrowtheymight soothe.Oftenhesleeps,and,sleeping,dreamsofNut,forgettingforatimehisgriefandpain; forgettingforatimethatbetweenhimandhismate,foreverseparatingthem,standsShu,god ofAirorofSunlight.Buthemayneveragainsinkintodreamlesssleep;soonerorlaterthe circleofhisdreamsroundsonitself,andheisrousedbypaintohisstateofsufferingagain. ThisiswhyEartheternallyquestionsHeavenuntil,weariedwithwaitingforanswersthat nevercome,hesinksagainintoslumber.SomesaythatHeavenanswersEarthwhenhe dreams,butbecausethepathofhisdreamingisacircle,hehasforgottenmostofHeaven's 43

answerswhenheawakes. AndsomehavequiteanotherstoryofSebtheEarth;namely,thatSebisconcealedunderthe formofacolossalgander,whosematelaidtheSunEgg,andperhapsstilllaysiteveryday.Or againthereisanotherstoryofShu,whichisthatasthedivineSon,hehadlaterinhisturn begottenSebandNut,thetwodeitieshehadseparated. Suchthenisthefirstcatastropheeveryreligionhasrecognisedit;thattheEarthiscutoff, disinherited,atroubled,troublesome,perturbed,perturbating,turbulent,stormswept,dream sodden,staggering,breathless,complainingplanet;andthatallofitschildrenhaveinherited itsqualities.

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8EarthMoonCatastrophe
Plate10BTheSkyGoddessNutrepresenteddouble.

Plate10ATheHeavenlyGoose

ThesecondcatastrophetoafflicttheEarthinthe beginningofthingswastheEarthMoon catastrophe; andthis,bytheway,isnotonlyoneofthemostancientof traditions,butitisalsoamoderntheoryofcauseswith whichsciencehasbeenflirtingforhalfacentury.So difficultisittofindanythingnew,evenanewtheory,which cannotbetracedbackalongsomeoldtangledthreadof folklore.Itisdifficult,however,tofindanythingolderin man'sconsciousnessthantheriddleoftheMoon.Whatis it,thatchangeless,everchanging,flatfaceddiscinthe sky,foreverturningabouttheEarth,yetneverturningits otherfacetotheEarth?Whatmysteriousotherworld, underworld,over
Fig.36LunarandSolarEclipses. world,deadoralive, liesonitssecretside?WhatistherelationoftheMoon

totheEarthandtoman?whattherelationofthehidden lifeoftheEarthandofmantotheMoon?Traditionhad doubledthesetwobodiesasapairacteduponbythe Sun,longbeforeastronomershadgivenustheimageof EarthMoonasabeautifuldoubleplanetmovingamong thestars;longbeforemathematicianshadconstructedFig37LunarNodes fromtheinterrelated"pull"ofSunandMoonandEarththebaffling"problemofthreebodies," beforewhichmanyawisemanhasfallen. HereistheancientstoryofthegenesisoftheMoon. 45

LongaftertheseparationofHeavenand Earth,andwhileEarthwasstillinprocessof beingmadereadyforhumanlife,butbefore manhadbeenyetcreated,itchancedthatthe lineofitscourseintheheavenswascrossed bythatofagreatComet,andthatbysomeheavenlyaccident,thetwoenormousbodies collided.TheterrificimpactresultedinthecrackingoftheEarth'shardshell,andahuge fragmentsometraditionssaytwowastornawayasviolentlyasNutwastorn,inthe Egyptianmyth,fromthebodyofSeb.ThisfragmentofEarthpromptlywentintospace,and becameknownastheMoon;andeversincethattimeEarthandMoon,MotherandDaughter, havebeenfollowingeachotherthroughtheheavens.Astowhichisthepursued,whichthe pursuer,oldaccountsvary.ButthereisalwaysthestablemythofCeresandProserpinatofall backon. VerysoonafterGalileomadethefirstdrawingoftheMoon,in1610,JohnWilkins,LordBishop ofChester,devisedahighlycuriouslittlebook,entitledTheDiscoveryofaNewWorldinthe Moone,or,ADiscoursetendingtoProvethat'tisprobabletheremaybeanotherhabitable WorldinthatPlanet.Wilkinsbulwarkshis "guess"withsimilaronesoftheancients: "Pythagoreansingeneraldidaffirm,"he says,"thattheMoonealsowasTerrestrial, andthatshewasinhabitedasthislower World.TothisopinionofPythagorasdid Platoalsoassent...wemayreadoftenin himandhisfollowersofantheraterra andalunarespopuliantherealEarth andInhabitantsintheMoone."Astheir worldisourMoon,soourworldistheir Moon,hedeclares,andquotesothersof antiquity,whoseHeavensandElysian Fieldswerethere,wheretheairismostquietandpure.Inthefrontispiecetohisbook,he attemptstoshowjustthisrelationbetweenthem.HegoesbacktotheoldGreekmythofthe Earth,andcallsthetwoCeresandProserpina."BythefableofCeres,"hesays,"continually wanderinginsearchofherdaughterProserpina,itmeantnothingelsebutthelongingdesire ofMen,wholiveuponCeres,Earth,toattainaPlaceinProserpina,theMoonorHeaven," andheheldthat"'tispossibleforsomeofourPosteritytofindoutaConveyancetothisother World;and,iftherebeinhabitantsthere,tohaveCommercewiththem."

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Plate11OMNIAPERIPSUMFACTASUNT Matterinmotion,figure,rest:addeGrade. ThisistheverysommeofAllGodmade: Attfirstofnoughtby'spowerinsixdayesspace. Nownatureactsit'spart;hereafterGrace.

Buffonseemstohavebeenthefirstof modernscientiststovoicethemodern theoryofthegenesisoftheMoonfromthis thenmoonlessplanet.Hefollowedthepush oftraditionandmadeaCometresponsible forthesplit.Thiswasintheeighteenth century.Butin1879,GeorgeH.Darwinlifted traditiontothedignityofanhypothetical guess,andsuggested,asapartofhis theoryofTidalEvolutions,thattheMoonwasformerlyapartoftheEarth;thatitwasoriginally muchnearertheEarththanitisatpresent,andisnowslowlyrecedingfromit;thatatthetime oftheseparationoftheEarthintoEarthandMoon,theplanetwashardlylargerthanitisto day;thatitwashot,solid,ellipsoidical,withaninteriormoreorlessliquid,revolvingonitsaxis onceeveryfourorfivehours,itsdensityincreasinganditsvolumediminishingasitcooled; that,asitsvolumelessened,itsspeedofrotationincreased,untilbycentrifugalforce,the Moonwasborn,carryingwithit,initsflightintoSpace,threequartersoftheEarth'scrust. Agooddealofinterestingdiscussionfollowedthisnew typeofDarwiniantheory,andanumberofscientists begantospeculateonthepreciseplaceoftheoriginof theMoon,grantedthatDarwinwasright.Ofcourse andhereagaintraditionguidedthemorhadatleast precededthemtheychosethePacificOceanbasinthat holdsapartthescarredcoastlinesofwesternNorthand SouthAmerica,andeasternAsia,theEastIndies,New Zealand,andtheAntarctics.Oneofthesespeculators amusedhimselftogoodpurpose:Plate12atright, showsGeorgeD.Swazey'sextraordinarilyimaginative "quarterEarth"whichremainedaftertheMoonhadflown,crackedbygreatlinesofcleavage thatweretoslowlysplittheplasticfloatingcrustintotwomajorcontinentalmasses.

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AmongtheolddrawingsoftheMoon,itisdifficulttochoosetheyareallsobeautiful.One drawing,however,mustalwaysstandforanexampleofthemiraclesmanhaswroughtinthis questofhisthefirstdrawingoftheMoon(Fig.39below),madein1610byGalileothrough his"Glasse."Thattinylens,comparedtothegigantictelescopesoftoday,amountedto considerablylessthanachild'stoy.But itmagnifiedasurfacethreetimes,and withitGalileoessayedtoproveor disproveAristotle'stheorythat"theform andimagesoftheOceanappearinthe MoonasinaMirror.""Leavingaside theseterrestrialthings,"hesaid,"Ihave directedmyresearchestowardsthe. heavens,beginningwiththeMoon."He decidedveryquicklythattheMoonhad nomirrorlikesurface,forhediscovered mountains,circularhollows,andmany brightspotswhichhecomparedtothe eyesinapeacock'stail.Beforehedied, hehadsucceededinmakingaglass whichmagnifiedsurfacesthirtytwo times,anditwasnotlongbeforethe surfaceoftheMoonwasmappedoutandnamed.Itwasaworldsosimilarinmanyofits formationstothoseoftheEarth,thatitsfirstmapmaker,Hevelius,simplytransferredtothe MoonthenamesofthecitiesandseasandmountainsoftheEarth.ButRiccioli,in1651, renameditsmountainsandcratersandsupposedlakesandseas,notafterplacesofthe Earth,butafterthelearnedmenoftheEarth,choosingrathertoplacetheirnamesinthesky. InsteadoflunarAlpsorApennines,therearoseontheMoongreatmountainranges,or plains,orcratersbearingthenamesofPlato,Ptolemy,Copernicus,Kepler,Tycho;insteadof lunarseascalledCaspian,Mediterranean,andthelike,therewereinsteadtheSeasof Storms,ofClouds,ofRains:theSeasofTranquillity,ofSerenity,andtheLakeofDreams enchantingnameswhichlingertothisday.

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9TheDeluge
ThethirdandfourthcatastrophesoftheEartharetheDeluge,andthesinkingofAtlantis Atlantisthefabulouscontinent,notthelittleIslandremnant.Theirtimesequenceintheold traditionsisalittlemixed,notthatitmatters.SupposewetakefirsttheDeluge.
Plate13OneoftheoldestdrawingsoftheMoon.byPereCapucinMariedeRheita(1645).AtthetopTychois seeninfullview,withitsdivergingrays.

unlockedthe"watersofthedeep."

TheComet,thatblazingterroroftheskies,that erraticwandereroftheheavens,hasalways beengivenmorethanitsprobableshareof blameforterrestrialbadluck.Ithasbeencalled thecauseofthebirthoftheMoon;ithasalso beenheldresponsiblefortheuniversalDeluge. Thisisanotherofthoseuntraceablyold traditions,butwebeginwiththeCometof1680, andtheremarkableegglaidatRomeon December4oftheCometyear;becausethis Cometandthiseggareresponsiblefortwo "TheoriesofEarth"writtenwithinthenext twentyyears,bothbyEnglishmen.William Whistonworkedoutacompletetheoryofa deluged,becauseCometriven,Earth,and ThomasBurnetdevelopedhistheoryofEarth astheMundaneEggwhosebrokenshell

TheevidenceinthecaseisathandintheshapeoftheelaboratefrontispiecetoLettred'un gentilhommedeprovinceunedamedequalitsurlesujetdelaComete,abrieflittlelabour ofinformativelovepublishedanonymouslyin1681,butknownnowtohavebeenwrittenby ClaudeFranoisManestrier."Anextraordinaryfreakofnature,"itreads,"occurredinRome,at thetimeoftheappearanceoftheComet,inthePalaceoftheMaximi,whichwasseenbyHis Holiness,bytheQueenofSweden,andbyallpersonsofthefirstrankinRome.Thedesignof itwassenttoParis,asanentirelynewthing,byapersongreatlyinterestedandworthyof confidence.Onthe4thofDecember,1680,inthePalaceoftheMaximi,ahenlaidanegg,on whichcouldbediscernedthefigureoftheComet,accompaniedbyothermarkingssuchas arehererepresented.AllthemostskillednaturalistsofRomesawandexaminedit,andfound ittobeafreakofnatureuniqueandunparalleled.ItislefttothecuriousgentlemenofParisto makeprofitableuseofitandtoseekthecause."

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Nowithasalwaysbeenextremelydifficultfortheextremelyexactamongthetheoriststo accountforthesourcesofwatersgreatenoughtobringaboutauniversalDeluge.Norainsof fortydaysandnightsexplainit,evenwhentheserainsfromheavenareunitedwithallthe externalwatersoftheEarth.Therewere,tobesure,the"fountainsofthegreatdeep,"but howweretheytobebrokenup!AnditissaidthattheCometEggofthisCometyeargave goodWillWhistontheideaheneededforsolvingthemysteryoftheDeluge.Hepublished,in 1690,ANewTheoryofEarth,in whichhesetforth"theothermain CauseoftheDeluge,thebreaking upofthefountainsofthegreat deep,"bythedeadlyweightofthe watersinthetailofaCometactive intheheavenswhileNoahwas buildingtheArk."Forwhenthe nearapproachoftheComettothe EarthhadrenderedtheShapeof thatinternaldenseFluid,onwhich itsupperCrustrested,sovery oblongandoval,anditsSurface somuchlargerthanbefore,asto occasiontheopeningofits perpendicularFissures,whichare visibleatthisday,...thevast weightoftheadditionalWaters fromtheCometwouldattemptto pressthisupperEarthdeeperinto thedenseFluidbelow...andso jointhesubterraneoustothe cometicalwaters,forthesupplyof aQuantitysufficientforsovasta Purposeasthatofauniversal Deluge."(Fig.41atleft:The Cometof1680andthemarvellous Egg.) Whistonwentevenfartherinhis "cometical"theory;hesupposed theEarthtohavebeenoriginallya Comet;tohavehadalopsided formwithoutbeautyorproportion; subjecttoallthemisfortunesof Comets,"sometimesathousand timeshotterthanmeltediron;at 50

othertimesathousandtimescolderthanice."Thesealternationsofhotandcoldwere "Chaos,"adensethoughfluidatmospherewhichsurroundedthesolidcontentsoftheEarth, andwhichwasinastateofcontinuousagitationandshockfromitsunharmoniouslymingled substances.ItwastheComet'satmosphereortail,filledwithwater,which"struck"theEarth andbrokeitssurface;andWhistondescribesminutelyjusthowtheantediluvianComet involvedtheantediluvianEarthinitstail,untilallofEarth,eventhemountainoftheworld,was submerged. Burnet'stheoryoftheEarthastheMundaneEggwillcomefartheron,butnobetterplace couldbefoundinthiscollectionofworldpicturesthanjusthere,foroneofhisbeautiful drawingsoftheDeluge,thesecondChaos,when,"uponthisChaosridthedistrestArkthat borethesmallremainsofMankind,"ashipwhosecargowasnolessthanawholeworld (Plate14atright).ItisatonceapictureoftheDelugeafterthedovewassentforthfromthe Ark,anda"RougheGlobe";adelicatetraceryofthebrokenEarthseenthroughwater,asone looksdownintoaclearlake.Therearevagueglintinghintsoflostorsunkencontinentsthat neveremergedwhentheEarthdriedandthewatersranoff;amistyfigurationofthenew Earth,itspatterndefinedlongbeforetheArkofNoahcametorestonArarat;withsomelost Lemuria,somesunkAtlantis,someshatteredPanorMustilllingeringalongthedeclining edgesofthecontinentsabouttobe.Manyofthemodern"maps"oftheAtlanteanand LemurianlandsresembleverymuchthisdrawingofBurnet's,wherecontinentseemsto overlaycontinentuntiltheoceans seemlittlemorethanspringfloods inmountainvalleys.Burnetspeaks ofPlato,who"supposethhis Atlantistohavebeengreaterthan AsiaandAfricatogether,andyet tohavesunkallintotheSea,"and heconcludesthatgreatalterations inthefaceofthelandandthesea wouldtakeplaceforalongtime aftertheDeluge;thatmanyofthe fragmentsoflandwouldchange theirposture,andthattherewould beasuccessionofsinkingsand eruptionsandlesserfloodsuntilall becamepoisedandsettledonce again.

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10TheLostAtlantis

Plate15SituationoftheIslandofAtlantis,accordingtotheideasoftheancientEgyptiansandthedescriptionof Plato.

ThefourthorthethirdcatastropheoftheworldtraditionisthesinkingofAtlantis,thegreat prehistoriccontinent.Agenerationagoscientistswouldhavesmiledattheideaoftakingthis particulartraditionseriously.Buttheydonotsmiletoday;theygivethetheorytheScotch verdict"notproven."Eventhatconservativestorehouseoffactualknowledge,the EncyclopdiaBritannica,saysofthistradition,"Itisimpossibletodecidehowfarthislegend isduetoPlato'sinvention,andhowfaritisbasedonfactsofwhichnorecordremains." Fortunatelyforus,however,worldpicturesarenotbasedonprovenfacts,ortheywouldnever havebeendrawn,andPlato'sstoryofthelostAtlantis,evenifeventuallyproved"true,"will alwaysremainoneofthemostcharmingoffantasies.Ifyouhavenotreadit,intheTimaeus andtheCritias,readithisstoryofagoldenworld,whenmenweresonsofgodsandhadnot losttheirheritage;ofacivilisationthatsoaredtoheightsofknowledgeourshasneverknown andsank.AfewescapedthiscontinentalDelugeAtlasescaped,saystheoldstory,to supportHeavenandEarth,inorderthattheUniversemightnotsinkalso. EveryonehasseensomewhereKircher'sdrawingoftheIslandofAtlantisthiswasthelast remnantofthecontinent,whichtraditionsayssank12,000yearsagobutitisdoubtfulthat anyonehaseverseenitreproducedasitappearedinhisMundusSubterraneusof1678 (Plate15).Itisalwaysreversed,relettered,andmadetoconformtotherightgeography.The shipintheupperrighthandcorneristurnedbottomsideup,andmadetolieatanchorinthe 52

lowerlefthandcorner.Lettheoldmistakestand,ifmistakeitwasandmistakeitwassurely. Turningitupsidedownwillputeverythingintorightrelationwithmoderngeography.Onlythe shipwillbewrong,likeamirageinthewaters.Plate16below,isKircher'saccompanying illustrationof"Oceanmountains,"whosehighestpeaksmaybeislandremnantsofsunken continents,alittlegroundplanoftheoceanfloor.

Plate16TheSubterraneanBridge

Kircher,whosebold"guesses"onthingshe couldnotprovebroughthimlessfamethan blame,guessedagainonthecombined problemsoftheDelugeandlostcontinents,and inhisArcaNo,1665,presented,inaworld map,a"conjecturalgeographyoftheEarth's translationaftertheFlood,fromtheopinionsof variousgeographers,towhichtheauthor subscribes"(Plate17attheendofthischapter).Thisisaveryoddmap,bytheway,andone evidentlylittleknowntomoderngeographers.ImaginealittleGermanscholar,sittinginRome undertheshadowofSt.Peter'sduringtheThirtyYears'War,andguessingsimply,notonlyat theformandextentofthethendiscoveredbutbynomeansexploredAmericas,andnotonly attheformandextentofthestillunknownArcticandAntarctic"continents,"butalsoatthe conformationandextentofthe"oceanmountains,"andofthesunkenantediluviancontinents. Tosayheguessedwrongistosayalittlelessthannothing.Thismaprepresentsmoreclearly thanhislittledrawingofAtlantis,histhennoveltheorythattheLostIslandhadbeensituated westofGibraltar,andthattheCanariesandtheAzoresaretodayitsonlyremnants.Butwhat itreallydoes,ofcourse,istosendtheconjecturalAtlanteancontinentstraightwestintothe Americas,andalmostacrossthem.Whoknows?Wearestillguessing,andtheMayan excavationsarefurnishinggoldenmaterialforfurtherguesses.Itmayverywellbethathalfa centuryfromnowthisold"guessmap"ofKircher'swillbeevenmoreinterestingthanitisto day. AccordingtothebeautifulmapsofW.ScottElliot5Kircher'smapmayserveasaguidefor ScottElliot'sslightlydifferenttheorytheAtlanteancontinentextendedfromapointafew degreeseastofIcelandto,approximately,thesiteofRiodeJaneiroinSouthAmerica,and acrosstheoceantotheAfricanGoldCoast.IttookinTexas,andtheGulfofMexico,the southernandeasternStatesofAmericauptoandincludingLabrador,andstretchedacross theAtlantictotheBritishIsles,embracingScotland,Ireland,andpartofnorthernEngland. Atlantisis,bythisassumption,theparentlandofAmericaagreatcontinentsurroundedby wateratatimesofarawayasthatinwhichtheSaharaDesertwasanoceanfloor.

5 TheStoryofAtlantisandtheLostLemuria:W.ScottElliot.1925.

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Plate17AConjecturalGeographyoftheTranslationoftheEarthaftertheDeluge.1665

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11TheLostLandoftheWest
Butthereisanotherobscuretraditionofafifthcatastrophewhichseemstohaveantedated thesinkingofAtlantis.ThisconcernsanotherlostcontinentinthePacificOcean,agreat catastropheinthewesternwaters.Oldrecordsareriddledwithallusionstovanished"Lands andpeoplesoftheWest."OldAztecandMayanrecords,thatis;theAsiaticrecordsspeakof thevanishedlandsandpeoples"oftheEast."Thisoldtraditionappearedfirstinmoderntimes throughtheassumptionofSclater,anEnglishmanseekingforsome"lostlinks,"thatlong, longagoagreatsoutherncontinentlaystretchedabouttheSouthPoleverymuchasthe continentallandtodaysurroundsthearcticzone.HenamedthiscontinentLemuria,tofix morefirmlytherebyhissuppositionthatonsuchacontinentanimalsoftheLemuroidtype musthavebeendeveloped.ItisacuriousinstanceinscientifichistorythatwhenErnst Haeckel,mostmaterialofmaterialisticscientists,cameuponthisLemurianhypothesis,he promptlyincorporateditintohisownworkingscheme,andinhisTheHistoryofCreationand TheEvolutionofManhespeaksofLemuriancreaturesandLemuriantracesasifthe existenceofsuchalandhadbeenalreadyscientificallyproved.Hisexplanation,whichfailed tosatisfyallscientists,wasthattheLemuriantimecyclewastheonlysupposablethingthat explainedcertainotherwiseinexplicablegapsintheevolutionarytheory.

Fig.42OutlinemapshowingthelocalityofPan,thesubmergedcontinent. (FromOahspe,ANewBibleintheWordsofJehovih;JohnBallouNewbrough,1891,Plate62.)

Thisprehistoric,preAtlanteancontinent,existingifitexistedhundredsofthousandsof yearsago,hasalsobeencalledtheContinentofPan.InOahspe,ANewBibleintheWords ofJehovih,publishedbyJohnBallouNewbroughin1882,thereisaworldmapshowingthe locationofthislostPaninthePacificOcean.Oahspemakesitssinkingcoincidentwiththe Deluge.ThesacredpeopleofPan,theI'hinsotherwisetheAlgonkinshadbeenwarnedof thecomingflood,andwerebuildingshipsinwhichtoescape138ArksoftheDelugesetout fromthisContinentofPan."...inthesamedaythegatesofheavenandEarthwereopened. 55

AndtheEarthrockedtoandfro,asashipatsea,andtherainsfellintorrents,andloud thunderingscameupfrombeneaththeflooroftheworld....AndthevortexoftheEarth closedinfromtheextreme,andlo,theEarthwasbroken!Amightycontinentwascutloose fromitsfastenings,andthefiresoftheEarthcameforthinflamesandcloudswithloud roarings.Andthelandrockedtoandfrolikeashipatsea.AndagainthevortexoftheEarth closedinaboutonallsides,andbythepressurethelandsankdownbeneaththewater,to risenomore."TheAlgonkins,oddlyenough,haveafascinatingwordwithafascinating meaningforjustsuchshadowyfablesasthese."ItisonlyNitatahakau,"theysay;whichisto say,"Irelateafable.Iamtellinganoldstoryinventedforamusement." ThisdimcontinenthasalsobeencalledtheContinentofMu.Andby"thisdimcontinent"Ido notmeantosaythatLemuriaandPanandMu,oreventhatconjectural"westerncrust"ofthe EarthfromwhichtheMoonhypotheticallysprang,areidenticalexceptinthisway;thattheyall hangtogetheronthesamethreadoftradition,thatsomethingatsomefardistanttime happenedinthecentreofthespacethatisnowcalledthePacificbasin.Wehavealready seenthataseriousmodernscientifictheoryassignstheoriginoftheMoontothisplanet,and thatasupplementarytheorysuggeststhePacificbasinastheplaceofthesplit.Wehave seentoothatasoutherncontinent,antipodaltoAtlantis,hasbeenassumedbyevolutionists becausesomethinglikeithadtobeassumed.Col.JamesChurchward'srecentbookonThe LostContinentofMuisauniqueandseriousstudyofthistraditionalcatastropheinthe westernwaters,carriedonoveraperiodoffiftyyears,duringwhichtimehecollectedallthe collectableevidenceonthistheme,thatonceuponatimeinthewesternoceanagreat continentwentdowntorisenomore.

Fig.43ThegeographicalpositionofMu. (FromTheLostContinentofMu;JamesChurchward,1926.)

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Hismaterialisveryinteresting.LongforgottensacredtabletsofIndiadescribe,hesays, amongotherthings,thecreationofmaninthelandofMu,themothercountryofhumanity whichlandwasnotthelandofAsia.Recordsoflaterdatedescribethedestructionoftheland, "whentheearth'scrustwasbrokenupbyearthquakes,andthensankintoafieryabyss.Then thewatersofthePacificrolledinoverher,leavingonlywaterwhereamightycivilisationhad existed."HefindsthelandofMumentionedbyPlato;hefinds"theLandofMu,"or"Landsof theWest"intheTroanoManuscript,anancientMayanbook,andintheCodexCortesianus, anotherMayanbook;hefindsitintheLhasarecord,andinhundredsofotherwritingsinall partsoftheworld,includingIndia,Egypt,Greece,CentralAmerica,andMexico. Hesaysthatthiscontinentwasavastone,extendingfromthenorthofHawaiidowntowards thesouth.AlinebetweenEasterIslandwithitsmassivesculpturedstonesforwhichnoman haseveraccountedandtheFijisformeditssouthernboundary.Itmeasuredover5,000 milesfromeasttowest,andover3,000milesfromnorthtosouth.Thecontinentconsistedof threeareasofland,separatedfromeachotherbynarrowseasorchannels,andonitdwelt 64,000,000peopledividedinto"tentribes"or"peoples."Itwascalledthe"EmpireoftheSun," anditwasthecentreofthewholeEarth'scivilisation,ofitslearning,itsart,anditscommerce. Itsgreatcitieswereseven,anditspeople,beingskillednavigators,hadsentoutcoloniststo allpartsoftheEarth. ButthefinaloneofaseriesofearthquakescametoMu,andCol.Churchwardquotesfrom oldrecords:"'Thewholecontinentheavedandrolledliketheocean'swaves.Theland trembledandshookliketheleavesofatreeinastorm.Templesandpalacescamecrashing tothegroundandmonumentsandstatueswereoverturned.Thecitiesbecameheapsof ruins.'Asthelandroseandfell,quiveredandshook,thefiresoftheunderneathburstforth, piercingthecloudsinroaringflamesthreemilesindiameter.Theretheyweremetbylightning shaftswhichfilledtheheavens.Athickblackpallofsmokeovershadowedtheland.'Huge cataclysmicwavesrolledinovertheshoresandextendedthemselvesovertheplains.'Cities andallthingslivingwentdowntodestructionbeforethem.'Agonizingcriesofthemultitude filledtheair.Thepeoplesoughtrefugeintheirtemplesandcitadelsonlytobedrivenoutby fireandsmoke,andthewomenandthemenintheirshininggarmentsandpreciousstones cried:"Mu,saveus!"'...'Duringthenight'thelandwastornasunderandrenttopieces.With thunderousroaringsthedoomedlandsank.Down,down,downshewent,intothemouthof hell,'atankoffire.'Asthebrokenlandfellintothatgreatabyssoffire,'flamesshotuparound andenvelopedher.'Thefiresclaimedtheirvictim.'Muandher64,000,000peoplewere sacrificed.'"6 ThesearethefivegreattraditionalcatastrophesoftheEarth.Aftereachoneofthem, accordingtotradition,thegenerationofmanbeganagain.Againhebegantorebuildhis world;againbeganthequestfortheknowledgeevenforthecraftsthathehadlost.Almost likethefirstmenofEarth,hequestionedthesilentheavens,withnoknowledgeorwisdomof hisowntoaidhiminhisquestionsortheiranswersnothingbutvagueoldtalesofsomething
6 TheLostContinentofMu:JamesChurchward,1926,pp.2930.

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thathadhappenedinarecordlesspastwhichhadrobbedhisfathersofaheritage,andhad puthimwherehewas,ignorantandalone.What?andhow?andwhy?

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12TreesoftheWorld
THEREARETWOUNIVERSAL WORLDFIGURES,found everywhere,amongallracesthe WorldTree,andtheWorld Mountain.Formancoulddraw analogieshistraditionsproveit almostbetterthanhiswritten records.Heknewthathehadbeen born,thathewasliving,thathe mustdie;yetofbirthhe rememberednothing,anddeathhe wouldnotknowuntiltoolate.Butin theanimalworldaboveallinthe vegetableworld,hecouldwatchthe recurrentmiraclesoflifeanddeath, rebirthandgrowth,sleepingand wakingstatesmoreeasilythanhe couldnotethesamemiraclesinhis ownsphere.Andsohecamevery earlyandeasilytoseea correspondencebetweenhumanity, greatestoftheanimalworld,and theTree,mightiestofitskingdom.It istruethatineverygreat cosmologicalsystemandingreat andlessercosmogonies,there standsthefigureoftheWorldTree, withitsseed,itsroots,itstrunk,its restingperches,itsknittingknots, itspith,itsmainbranch,itsleaves, itsflowersandtheirsweetsmell,its Plate18Yggdrasil,theWorldTreeoftheNorsemen. refreshingshade,itsimmortalsap, andthespotwhereitgrows,allbroughtintocloseandexquisiteanalogywithmanandhis universe. "Withoutdoubt,"singsoneofthegreatestoftheVedicpoets,"thoughpossessedofdensity, treeshavespacewithinthem.Theputtingforthofflowersandfruitsisalwaystakingplacein them.Theyhaveheatwithintheminconsequenceofwhichleaf,bark,fruitandflowerare seentodroop.Theysickenanddryup.Thatshowstheyhaveperceptionoftouch.Through soundofwindandfireandthunder,theirfruitsandflowersdropdown.Soundisperceived throughtheear.Treeshave,therefore,ears,anddohear.Acreeperwindsroundatreeand 59

goesallaboutitssides.Ablindthingcannotfinditsway.Forthisreasonitisevidentthattrees havevision.Thenagaintreesrecovervigourandputforthflowersinconsequenceofodours goodandbad,ofthesacredperfumeofvariouskindsofdhupas.Itisplainthattreeshave scent.Theydrinkwaterbytheirroots.Theycatchdiseasesofdiverskinds.Thosediseases againarecuredbydifferentoperations.Fromthisitisevidentthattreeshaveperceptionof taste.Asonecansuckupwaterthroughabentlotusstalk,treesalso,withtheaidofthewind, drinkthroughtheirroots.Theyaresusceptibleofpleasureorpain,andgrowwhencutor loppedoff.FromthesecircumstancesIseethattreeshavelife.Theyarenotinanimate.Fire andwindcausethewaterthussuckeduptobedigested.Accordinglyagain,tothequantityof watertakenup,thetreeadvancesingrowthandbecomeshumid.Inthebodiesofallsubtile thingsthefiveelementsoccur.Ineachtheproportionsaredifferent." Accordingagaintotheracesofmen,thetypeoftheWorldTreevaried.TheDatepalmwas thesacredAsherahoftheAssyrians.TotheGreeks,andtotheNorsemen,thecosmicAsh wastheWorldTree.ButalsototheGreeks,andtotheGermans,theOakwasthelifegiver andthelifesustainer.AndtheGreeksmadethevinethe"sacredtree"ofDionysos.Persian legendscentreaboutthehaomatree,andtheEgyptianshadamythicalgoldengembearing treeoftheheavens,wheretheSkygoddessNuthadherabode.TheJapanesebelievedthat agreatmetalpinegrewfartothenorthatthecentreoftheworld,andtheRussianshavea legendofanIronTreewhoseroot"isthepowerofGod,"andwhoseheadsustainsthethree worldstheheavenlyoceanofair,theEarth,andHellwithitsburningfire.Tothebranchesof theJambuorRoseAppletree,theHindudeadclungandclimbedtoimmortality.Indiahas alsoherincrediblebanyantree,declaredtobemorelikemanthanmanhimself.Unlikeplants, mancanmoveatwilloverthesurfaceoftheEarth,butthissacredIndianFigTreebearsthe nameoftheTreeofManyFeet,becauseitsseed,rarelyrootingintheground,ordinarily sendsdownitshanginggardenofrootsfromitsnestinthecrownofpalms,whereithasbeen depositedbybirds.Theseaerialroots,touchingtheEarth,sinkintoit,glidethroughitand fromitspringupwardagaintosenddownotherdroopingbranchesthatrootthemselves,and so,overandover,untiltheprodigiousgrovemyriadpartsofasingletreesprungfromone airnestedseedeventuallydestroysthePalmthatcradledit. CountlessbookshavebeenwrittenabouttheoriginofthemythoftheCosmicTree,butthe gistofthemallcanbestatedverybriefly.Firstofall,HeavenandEarthareseparated.They mustbe,therefore,atoneandthesametimeheldapartlesttheheavensfalldownand crushtheEarthandtheymustbealsounitedbysomesubtlepathofcommunication,some bridgeoverthemonstrousinterval.Ifamushroom,delicateasabutterfly,canworkamiracle inanightandraisearock,atreerootedintheEarthmaysupportthesky.ButnotreeofEarth couldreachtoheavenunlessitwereitselfdivine,bornsomehowofthegods;andsowefinda hostofliteral"parenttrees,"saidtobeproducedfromthebodymoistureofdeities,and capabletherefore,intheirturn,ofproducingman.Initsmoredevelopedform,thisparenttree becametheTreeofLife,theTreeofKnowledge,offeringmenimmortalityandthewisdomof thegods.ThereisaTibetantreecalledTarayanaortheWayofSafetywhichgrowsbythe sideofthegreatriverseparatingtheworlds,andonlybygraceofitsoverhangingbranches 60

maymenpassfromthemortaltotheimmortalbank. TheoldestWorldTree?whoshallsay?Wheninsearchofthe"oldest"wealwaysthinkofthe ancientEast;butnoonecanassertandprovethatYggdrasil,theCosmicAsh,theWorld TreeoftheNorsemen,haditsoriginintheOrient,howeverremarkablyitsideascoincidewith thesacredtreesofAsia.LetusbeginforachangewiththeOccidentandYggdrasil. "Thechiefandmostholyseatofthe gods,"saytheEddas,"isbytheAsh Yggdrasil.Therethegodsmeetin councileveryday.Itisthegreatest andbestofalltrees.Itsbranches spreadovertheworldandreach aboveheaven.Threerootssustain thetreeandstandwideapart;one iswithAsa;thesecondiswiththe Frostgiants;thethirdreachesinto Niflheim,andunderitis Hvergelmar,whereNidhuggnaws therootsfrombelow.Butunderthe secondroot,whichextendstothe Frostgiants,isthewellofMimir, whereinknowledgeandwisdomare concealed.ThethirdrootoftheAsh isinHeaven,andbeneathitisthe mostsacredfountainofUrd.Here thegodshavetheirdoomstead.The Asaridethithereverydayoverthe Bifrost,whichisalsocalledAsa Fig.44Yggdrasil,theCosmicAsh(FromFinnMagnusen's''Eddalren.'')bridge.Therestandsabeautifulhall nearthefountainbeneaththeAsh.Outofitcomethreemaids.Thesemaidsshapethelives ofmen,andwecallthemtheNorns.OntheboughsoftheAshsitsaneagle,whoknows manythings.Betweenhiseyes,sitsthehawk,calledVedfolner.Asquirrel,bynameRatatsk, springsupanddownthetreeandbearswordsofhatebetweentheeagleandNidhug.Four stagsleapaboutinthebranchesoftheAshandbitethebuds.TheNornsthatdwellbythe fountainofUrdeverydaytakewaterfromthefountain,andclaythatliesaroundthefountain, andsprinkletherewiththeAsh,inorderthatitsbranchesmaynotwitherordecay."7 Thereareanumberofinterestingthingstonotehere,becauseoftheirconstantrecurrencein otherworldconceptswidelyseparatedintimeandrace.Oneisthecloseassociationofthe WorldTreewiththeWorldMountain;onespringsfromtheother,taketheminwhatorderwe will.AnotheristhedivisionoftheUniverseintonineworlds.Another,forthesakeof
7 TheProseofYoungerEdda,translatedbyG.W.Dasent,p.16.

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comparisonwithaMayanWorldTreefartheron,isthesquirrelRatatsk.AnotheristheBi frostorAsabridge. Inthebeginningofallthings,saystheNorsestoryoftheCreation,thereweretwoworlds, Niflheim,theworldoficeinthenorth,andMuspelheim,theworldoffireinthesouth,withall thespacebetweenanemptyabyss,calledGinungagap.ThefierceflamesinMuspelheim blewconstantlyoverintotheabyssmanysparkswhichconfrontedonlynothingness,until, fromtheiceboundNiflheim,agreatspringopenedandsentdowntwelverivers,someof whichflowedintotheabyssandformedgreatlayersoffrozenvapour.Atlastthesparksoffire metthefrozenair,andYmirthegiantwascreated,andthen,inturn, FromYmir'sflesh theearthwasformed, andfromhisbonesthehills, theheavenfromtheskull ofthaticecoldgiant andfromhisbloodthesea. OfthenineworldsAsgardwasthehighestandwastheworldofthegods.Belowitwas MitgardorEarth,theworldofmen,aflatdiscsurroundedbytheRiverOcean.Beyondthe RiverOcean,butsurroundingMitgard,wasJtunheim,theuppergiantworld,and,beneath theEarthplane,wasthegreatunderworlddividedintofourworlds.IntheNorthwasthelower giantworldofNiflheim;attheSouthUrdandhertwosistersruledoverthekingdomofthe dead,andbetweenNorthandSouthwasMimir'sland,wheredweltthewisestofthegods, and,withhim,Day,Night,DawnandtheSunandMoon.BelowNiflheimagainwastheworld oftorture,andbelowUrd'srealmofthedead,thelandofsubterraneanfire.

Fig.45DiagramoftheNineWorlds,supportedbytheWorldTreeYggdrasil.

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Justtwothingsboundtheseworldstogether,thetreeYggdrasil,andtheAsabridge,orBi frost.Andathirdthespiritofheaven,thegreatEnergiser,passingevertoandfro,guiding, controllingalltheuniverse,fromthefirstworldtotheninth;athomeeverywhere,abidingno where,stirlesswhenmovingandmovingwhenstill;thatwithoutwhichtherewouldbenothing hereshownasmerelyatinytimidnimblesquirrel. Butwhatwasthebindingandtheseparatingbridge,theBifrost? Again,whoknows?ItsarchwasoverAsgard,worldofthegods;itsnortherntiprestingupon themountainsoftheicegirtNiflheim;itssouthernendintherealmofthedead,whereUrd andhersistersruled.SomesaytheMilkyWayistheoriginalofBifrostortheTrembling Bridge,assomesaytheMilkyWayistheverytrunkoftheCelestialTree.Othersbelievethat theRainbowistheprototypeforBifrostandallthe"bridgesoftheworld."FortheWorld bridgesareasuniversalasthe"trees"and"mountains"oftheworld.Earthwascutofffrom Heavenyetsomewhere,ifmancouldonlyfindit,therewasapaththatmightleadback home.TheBifrostatitsnorthernendwasinviolatelyguardedbythegreatHeimdall,"World Judge"or"WorldDivider,""whoseearsweresogoodthathecouldhearthegrasspushingup throughtheground,andthewoolgrowingonthebacksofsheep,andheneededlesssleep thanabird."Thegodscrossediteverydayontheirwaytothejudgmenthallintherealmof Urd,butthewaywasbarredagainstallothers,lestsomethiefinthenightshouldfindhisway intoHeaven.Yetitwasthebridgealsoonwhichthesoulsofallthedeadbegantheirpassage tothelandofUrd.
DiagramofScandinavianCosmos: 1SpringHvergelmir,inNiflhelorNiflheim, underYggdrasil'snorthernroot. 2WellofWisdominMimir'sRealm,under Yggdrasil'smiddleroot. 3Urd'sWellinherRealm,underYggdrasil's southernroot. 4HomeoftheVanir. 5HomeoftheElvesinMimir'sRealm. 6CastlewhereBaldurdweltwiththe Asmgir. 7NorthernEndofBifrst,guardedby Heimdall. 8SouthernEndofBifrst,nearUrd'sWell.

ThePersianshadtheirChinvat bridge,whichistosayalso,the BridgeoftheJudge,overwhichall souls,goodandevil,passed"thatbridge,"saysoneoftheirsacredbooks,"likeabeamof manysides,ofwhoseedgestherearesomewhicharebroad,andtherearesomewhichare thinandsharp;itsbroadsidesaresolargethatitswidthisoftwentysevenreeds,andits sharpsidesaresocontractedthatinthinnessitisjustliketheedgeofarazor."Mohammed tooplacedawayoverthemiddleofhell,"whichissharperthanaswordandfinerthanahair, 63

overwhichallmustpass." CertainlytheNorthAmericanIndiansconsideredtheMilkyWaytobethe"bridge"totheLand ofSoulsagreatvillagesituated"wheretheSunsets.""TheycallthemilkywayTchipai meskenau,thepathofsouls,becausetheythinkthatthesoulsraisethemselvesthroughthis wayingoingtothatgreatvillage,"wrotePaulLeJeunein1634oftheMontagnais.One hundredyearslaterPierreAulneauwroteoftheCreesofupperLakeSuperior,thatthey believedinaparadiseoffeastsandgreathuntsfortheimmortalsoulsofthedead."But, beforereachingit,thereisaspotofextremeperilthesoulshavetocrossawideditch.One sideofthewayitisfullofmuddywater,offensivetothesmellandcoveredwithscum;while ontheotherthepitisfilledwithfire,whichrisesinfiercetonguesofflame.Theonlymeansof crossingitisonafirtree,theendsofwhichrest.oneitherbank.Itsbarkiseverfreshly moistenedandbesmearedwithasubstancewhichmakesitasslipperyasice.Ifthesouls whowishtocrosstotheenchantingplainshavethemisfortunetofallatthisdangerous passage,thereisnohelpleft;theyaredoomedforevertodrinkofthefoulstagnantwaterorto burnintheflames,accordingtothesideonwhichtheyfall."Sometimesthe"bridgebuilding fiend"madethebridgingsparasnakeoraswinginglog. A"SketchoftheWorld,"byaThompsonRiverIndian,illustratesthis exactly.TheybelievethattheEarthissquare,levelinthecentre andrisingtowardsthenorthfromwhencecomesthecold,thatit risesalsoingreatmountainrangesaboutitsborders,andthat thesemountainsorlandsaretoppedbymountainsofairthe cloudsandmistsrisingfromtheencirclinglakeoftheworld.Allthe riversoftheworldriseinthenorthandflowsouth. ThistrailtothesoulworldhasbeenminutelydescribedbyJames TeitinhisTheThompsonRiverIndiansofBritishColumbia.8 Accordingtohim,thecountryofsoulsisunderneathus,towardsthe sunset,anditspathisoneofperils,storms,narrowbridges,and gapingchasms.Thetrailleadsthroughadimtwilight;alongitare alwaysvisiblethetracksofthepeoplewholastwentoverit,and alsothetracksoftheirdogs,iftheyhadanywiththem.Itwinds alonguntilitmeetsanotherroad,whichtheshamans,ormedicine men(theirnearestapproachtopriests)useasashortcutwhen

Fig.47SketchoftheWorld, byaThompsonRiverIndian. a.Trailleadingfromtheearthtothelandoftheghosts,withtracksofthesouls;b.Riverandlogonwhichthe soulscross;c.Landoftheghostsanddancingsouls;d.Lakesurroundingtheearth;e.Earth,withriversand villages;N.S.E.W.pointsofthecompass.

8 MemoirsoftheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory,Vol.II,1900,pp.34243.

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tryingtointerceptasoul.Fromhereon,thetrailismuchsmootherandstraighter,andis paintedredwithochre.Fartheronitwindstothewestward,descendsalonggentleslope, andendsatawideshallowstreamofveryclearmirrorlikewater.Thisstreamisspannedbya longslenderlog,onwhichthetracksofsoulsmaybeseenagain.Aftercrossingthe"bridge," ifthetravellerisfortunateenoughtoholdhisfootingontheslipperyedgebetweentheworlds, hefindshimselfagainonthetrail,whichisnowanascendingone.Atacertainheightis heapedagreatpileofclothes;thismarksthespotonthejourneywherethesoulsmustleave behindthemallthattheyhavebroughtfromtheotherworld.Andfromhereonthetrailnot onlyseemslevel,butlittlebylittlethedimnessandtwilightconfusiondisappear. Threeguardiansarestationedalongthetrailofthesoulsoneoneachsideoftheriverthat mustbecrossed,andthethirdattheveryendofthetrailoftheghosts. Thefirstofthese,onthehithersideofthestream,hasbuiltforhimselfasweathousewhere hespendsmostofhistime.Itisthedutyofallthreetosendbacktothelandofthelivingany soulnotyetreadytoenterthelandofthedead,eventhoughhemayhavebysomemiracleof accidentcrossedthebridge.Forsometimesithappensthatasoulsucceedsinpassingthe firsttwoguardians,onlytobeturnedbackbythethird,whoisthechiefofthethree,andwho nowandthen,beingagreatorator,sendsbackmessagestotheworldofthelivingthrough themediumofsoulswho,havingsurvivedallothertestsofcourageandmerit,failinthefinal testofbeingjudgedworthybytheguardianofthegateoflifetopassthrough. But,havingbeenpermittedbyhimtopass,thesoulatlastreachesalargelodgeattheendof thetrail.Itismadeofahardwhitematerial,likelimestoneorwhiteclay.Itextendsalong distancefromeasttowest,andismuchshorterfromnorthtosouth.Itstopis"likearound moundoranthill."Thedoorstothiswhitelodgeareattheeastandwest,andthetrailleads uptotheeasterndoor,whichisverysmall,barelylargeenoughtoletasoulpassthrough.But thewesterndoor,throughwhichthesoulpassestothelandofghosts,ismuchhigherand wider.Throughtheentirelengthofthelodgethereisadoublerowoffires,forwhenthe deceasedfriendsofapersonexpecthissoultoarrive,theygoinabodytothislodgetotalk abouthisdeathandpreparetowelcomehim.Asthenewlyarrivedsoulreachestheentrance tothelodgeofthedead,hefindssomeonestandingatthedoortogreethimandcallhimby name,whileotherssing,dance,andbeatupondrums.Theairisalwayspleasantandstill, anditisalwayslightandwarm.Therearesweetsmellsofflowers,anabundanceofgrass, andberrybushesladenwithripefruit.Therestishunting,feasting,anddancingthrough eternity,forthedancing,orimmortal,souls. TheWakwakTreeisafabuloustreegrowingonafabulousislandsomewhereintheSouthern OceanorsomewherenearJapan,ornearthewestern(ortheeastern)coastofAfricaitall dependsonthetravellerwhotellsthelegend.Itappearstohavehadnothingtodowith AmericaortheAmericanIndians;yethereisacuriousbitofSiouxlore,which,inconnection withoneofthelegendsofthelostcontinentofthePacific,hasanoddinteresthere.

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TheSiouxIndianshaveaspecialreverenceforwhattheycallthewakadacedar.Wakada, accordingtoW.J.McGee,1whohasmadeaspecialstudyofthewordinhisTheSiouan Indians,isaverycuriouswordindeed.Ithas,hesays,asmanyconnotationsastheSanscrit wordKarma,and,likeKarma,isnottobetranslatedbyanysingleEnglishword.TheSun,for instance,isnot"the"or"a"wakada,butsimplywakada.Soisthunder,soislightning,the stars,thewinds,andespeciallywakadacedar,bywhichtheymeanpreciselythestateof beingwhichmakesacedarhumanandmorethanhuman.Evenamanmightbewakada. Theterm,hesays,maybetranslatedby"mystery"moresatisfactorilythanbyanyothersingle Englishword;nevertheless,withitsvagueimplicationsof"power,""sacred,""ancient," "grandeur,""animate,""immortal,""notevenanEnglishsentenceofordinarylengthcould quiteconveythesumtotaloftheaboriginalideaexpressedbythetermwakada."Perhapsall itsmeaningisconveyedwhen,appliedtothecedar,theysayitisthatstateofbeingwhich makesacedarhumanandmore thanhuman. NowoftheWakwaktreewhichbore humanfruit,Turkey,Arabia,Persia, andIndiaallhadatradition;thatin theSouthernOceanorsomeother unexploredwasteofwaterswasan islandcalledWakwakoragreat mountaincalledWakwakbecause onitgrewatreewhichproduced fruitwithahumanhead,orfruitin theformofahumanbody,orevenin theformofanimals,andthese beings,atdawnandatsunset,cried aloud,sothatallmightknowthe passageoftheSun,"Wak!wak!" Theislandandthemountainare mentionedinTheThousandand OneNightsHasanalBasriwent theretofindhiswifeandchildren. Thetreeisdescribedwithoutbeing namedbyFriarOdoricoof Pordenonewhointhefourteenth centuryleftItalytomakethegrand touroftheEast.ArrivedatMalabar, hewrotethus:"AndhereIheardtell thattherebetreeswhichbearmen andwomenlikefruituponthem. Theyareaboutacubitin
Plate19TheWakWakTree

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measurement,andarefixedinthetreeuptothenavel,andtheretheybe;andwhenthewind blowstheybefresh,butwhenitdoesnotblowtheyarealldriedup.ThisIsawnotinsooth, butIheardittoldbypeoplewhohadseenit."Plate19givesadrawingoftheWakwaktree, takenfromanoldTurkishHistoryofWesternIndiaandItsWonders,publishedat Constantinoplein1729.Itrepresentsthefruitofthisfabuloustreenotbyhumanheadsbutby sevenpendentbodies.Thetwogreatbirdsatthefootofthetreeareasfabulousastherestof it. Sometimesthesesoulswere imaginedassuspendedwiththeir headsdownwards,alive,but clingingandclimbingona reversedpathbacktoheaven.In anoldHindulegenditisrelated thatGaruda,lordofallbirds, coursingonedaytowardsa giganticbanyantree,withthe fleetnessofthemind,tosit thereonand"eattheelephantand the

tortoise,"inalightingbrokeoneofthebranches.Asitbrokehe caughtitandsawtohiswonderthatatribeofRishiscalled Valikhilyaswerehangingfromitheaddownwards,engagedin "asceticpenances."Andgatheringtogetherallofhisstrength,the lordofbirdssoaredhighintotheheavenswithhisburdenof hangingmen,andsavedthem.Sometimes,whentheairisquiet, treeswillmoveandtheirleavesrustlethisverycommon phenomenonhadfortheancientsamysticmeaning;atsuchtimes theinvisiblesoulsweretalkingtoeachotheroftheirtrialsand triumphsonthejourneybacktoheaven. Intheir"SketchoftheWorld,"theThompsonRiverIndians incorporatedoneformoftheWorldTree,inthebridgebetween theworlds,literally,"thepathoflife."TheOsageIndians,intheir chartoftheuniverse,haveanother.Fewworldpicturescanbe foundmoresimplyandbeautifullydrawnthanthisbyRedCorn, withitsEarthplane,its"stages"orheavens,anditsTreeofLife. LiketheLenapepictograph,itisthe"score"ofatraditionchanted bymembersofasecretsocietyofhistribe.
Fig.49OsageChartoftheUniverse,drawnbyRedCorn

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ItisexplainedbyJ.OwenDorseyasfollows:9
Thetreeatthetoprepresentsthetreeoflife.Bythisflowsariver.Thetreeandtheriveraredescribedlaterinthe degrees.Whenawomanisinitiated,sheisrequiredbytheheadofhergenstotakefoursipsofwater (symbolisingtheriver),thenherubscedaronthepalmsofhishands,withwhichherubsherfromheadtofoot.If shebelongstoagensontheleftsideofatribalcircle,herchiefbeginsontheleftsideofherhead,makingthree passes,andpronouncingthesacrednamethreetimes.Thenherepeatstheprocessfromherforeheaddown; thenontherightsideofherhead;thenatthebackofherhead;fourtimesthreetimes,ortwelvepassesinall. Beneaththeriverarethefollowingobjects: 1.TheWatsetuka,maleslayinganimal(?),ormorningstar,whichisaredstar. 2.Sixstarscalledthe"Elmrod"bythewhitepeopleintheIndianTerritory. 3.Theeveningstar. 4.Thelittlestar. Beneaththisarethemoon,sevenstars,andsun.Underthesevenstarsarethepeacepipeandwarhatchet;the latterisclosetothesun,andtheformerandthemoonareonthesamesideofthechart.Fourparallellines extendingacrossthechartrepresentfourheavensorupperworldsthroughwhichtheancestorsoftheTsicu peoplepassedbeforetheycametothisearth.Thelowestheavenrestsonanoaktree;theendsoftheothers appeartobesupportedbypillarsorladders.Thetraditionbeginsbelowthelowestheaven,ontheleftsideofthe chart,underthepeacepipe.Eachspaceonthepillarcorrespondswithalineofthechant;andeachstanza(at theopeningofthetradition)containsfourlines.Thefirststanzaprecedesthearrivalofthefirstheaven,pointing toatimewhenthechildrenofthe"formerend"oftheracewerewithouthumanbodiesaswellashumansouls. Thebirdhoveringoverthearchdenotesanadvanceintheconditionofthepeople;thentheyhadhumansoulsin thebodiesofbirds.Thenfollowedtheprogressfromthefourthtothefirstheaven,followedbythedescentto earth.Theascenttoourheaven,andthedescenttothree,makesupthenumberseven. Whentheyalighted,itwasonabeautifulday,whentheearthwascoveredwithluxuriantvegetation.Fromthat timethepathsoftheOsagesseparated;somemarchedtotheright,beingthewargentes,whilethoseontheleft werepeacegentes,includingtheTsicuwhosechartthisis. ThentheTsicumettheblackbear,calledinthetraditionKxewhsan'(Crowbonewhite),inthedistance.He offeredtobecometheirmessenger,sotheysenthimtothedifferentstarsforaid.Accordingtothechart,hewent totheminthefollowingorder:Morningstar,sun,moon,sevenstars,eveningstar,littlestar. ThentheblackbearwenttotheWacikacutse,afemaleredbirdsittingonhernest.Thisgrandmothergranted hisrequest.Shegavethemhumanbodies,makingthemoutofherownbody. TheearthlodgeattheendofthechartdenotesthevillageofHakautakantsi,whowereaverywarlikepeople. Buffaloskullswereonthetopsofthelodges,andthebonesoftheanimalsonwhichtheysubsistedwhitenedon theground.Theveryairwasrenderedoffensivebythedecayingbodiesandoffal. Thewholeofthechartwasusedmnemonically.Partsofit,suchasthefourheavens,andthefourladders,were tattooedonthethroatandchestofthemenbelongingtotheorder.

AnotherSiouantribe,theSiaIndiansofNewMexico,believethatineachofthesixregionsof theworldtheynametheseasthefourquarters,zenithandnadirtherewasagiant mountainbearingagianttree,atwhosefootwasaspring,inwhichdweltoneofthe"cloud rulers,"eachattendedbyoneofthesixprimalpriestessesoftheSia,whointerceded constantlywiththesixcloudrulerstosendraintotheSia.ThesixvarietiesoftheirWorld

9 PictureWritingoftheAmericanIndians:GarrickMallery,1894,pp.251252.

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Treeswerethespruce,thepine,theaspen,thecedar,andtwovarietiesoftheoak. Itwouldbeabrave,nottosayarecklessscientist,whowouldsaytodayhowyoungorhow oldtheMayancivilisationis.Thirtyyearsago,answerswouldhavecomeeasilyenough;but thatwasbeforetheexcavationsofthegreatburiedcitiesinCentralAmericabegan,which mayverywellresultintheuncoveringofrecordswhichantedatetheoldestwehave.Already weknowthatAmerica,youngestofthecontinentshistorically,isolderprehistoricallythanwe yetdaretosay.And,althoughweneverknewmorethanalittleabouttheMayasandtheir beliefs,weknowtodayhowfragmentaryandisolatedthosebitsofknowledgeare,andhow untrustworthytheconclusionswehavedrawnfromthem. Nevertheless,underthedateof 1640,therehascomedowntousa pictureoftheMayanUniverse, copiedbyFatherCogolludofrom thecentraldesignoftheChilam Balam,orSacredBook,ofMani, andinsertedinhisHistoriade Yucathan,writtenattheendof twentyoneyearsspentamongthe Mayas(Plate20atleftTheWorld TreeoftheMaya). Atthebottomofthe"universe"lies acube,whichhaslongbeen recognisedasrepresentinginthe MayancosmogonytheEarth. AbovetheEarthcube,restingon fourlegswhichrestinturnonthe fourquartersoftheEarth,isthe heavenlyvase,Cum,whichholds thecelestialwatersthetreasures ofthesnowandofthehail,ofthe rainsandtheshowers,onwhichall life,vegetable,animalandhuman, depends.Abovethisvasehangthe rainclouds,andwithinitgrowsthe Yaxche,theGreenTreeortheTreeofLife,itsupperbranchesbearingontheirtipsthe flowersorfruitsoflifeonEarth,oloryol;thatistosay,thesoulorimmortalprincipleofman. UndertheGreenTreeYaxche,thesoulswhohavepassedthroughMitnaortheunderworld, dwellinhappiness,whiletheotherssinkintoaregionwheretheysuffereternalcoldand hunger.InBrinton'sPrimerofMayanHieroglyphics,theinnerfigureofthecube,thevase,the cloudsandthetree,isreproduced,letteredaccordingtoreadingsfromotheroftheSacred 69

Books.TheEarthcubeinthatpictureisnotletteredIUM,Earth,buttem,theAltar."TheEarth signifiesthegreatAltarofthegods,andtheofferinguponitisLife." ThethirteenheadssurroundingtheWorldTreesignify,accordingtoBrinton,thethirteenahau katuna,orgreatercyclesofyears.Theyalsomaysignifythethirteenpossibledirectionsof Space.Thatis,thecompleteterrestrialglobeissymbolisedbythefourcardinalpoints,zenith, andnadir,withmaninthecentremakingtheseventh,andthecompletecelestialsphereis symbolisedbyaddingthesixdirections,withman,thefocalpoint,remainingthesame."The bordertherefore,"saysBrinton,"expressesthetotalityofTimeandSpace,andthedesign itselfsymbolisesLifewithinTimeandSpace." AnotherMayanworldpictureis showninFig.50atleft,whichis thecentraldesignoftheTableau oftheBacabs.Insteadofthe thirteenahaukatunaorgreater cyclesofyears,thisdesignis surroundedby"thesignsofthe twentydays,"whichextendinthe originaldesign,beyondthefigure heregiven,tothefourcardinal pointsandtothegodsandtime cyclesconnectedwiththem. "Again,"saysBrinton,"itisLife withinTimeandSpace." Here,sittingbeneaththeshadeof theGreenTree,atitsroot,arethe divineFirstPair,Cuculcan,the featheredorwingedserpentgod, andXmucanehisspouse,"theCreatorandtheFormer,"saysthePopolVuh,"Grandfather andGrandmotheroftherace...twofoldgrandmother,twofoldgrandfather...theMaker, theFormer,theRuler,theSerpentclothedinfeathers,theywhobeget,theywhoimpartlife, theyrestuponthewaterslikeaglowinglight,theyareclothedincolourgreenandblue, thereforetheirnameisGucumatz,'FeatheredSerpent.'" TheresemblancesbetweenthedivisionsofthisMayantreeandtheNorsetreeYggdrasilare obvious,buthereisacorrespondenceinideasthatisverycurious.BetweenthenineNorse worlds,itwillberecalled,fromtherootsofthetreetoitstopmostbranch,ranRatatsk, scampererbetweenmenandgods,matterandspirit,SpaceandTimethegreatEnergiser undertheguiseofatinysquirrel.Itisratherinterestingtodiscoverthatunderthegreen cosmictreeYaxcheofYucatansitsafigurewhosename,Cuculcan,isderivedfromaMayan verb,cucul,meaningto"revolve,""tomoveroundandround,"astheymovedtheirgreat 70

calendarwheelstoaccomplishtherotationoftime;andthatthisrotationitselfiscalledcuceb, "thesquirrel,"deriveddirectlyfromthesameverbcucul,"torevolve,tomoveroundand round." OnemoreMayanTreeofLife,toobeautifulnottobeincludedin anygroupof"CosmicTrees,"particularlyasitshowsthe mysteryofmetamorphosisalmostintheactoftransmutation fromoneformtoanotherisgiveninFig.51atright.Inthe originaldrawingthegodofthenorthstarrestsuponit,asit risesfromtheheavenlyvasethatholdstheheavenlywaters. And,toshowthatEgyptand Yucatanwerenotseparatedin fancyatleastbyoceansAtlanticorPacific,hereisalittle drawingatleftoftheSacredTreeoftheEgyptians,with Heaven,ortheSkygoddessNut,bestowingknowledgeon manandhissoul. "THEWHOLEWORLD,"saysanoldHebrewwriting,"islikea gigantictreefullofbranchesandleaves,therootofwhichis thespiritualworldoftheSph'roth;oritislikeafirmlyunitedchainthelastlinkofwhichis attachedtotheupperworld;orlikeanimmensesea,whichisconstantlyfilledbyaspring, everlastinglygushingforthitsstreams." WhenwetakeuptheKabbala,tointerpretanythinginit,wetouchabookonwhichliterally thousandsofinterpretativebookshavebeenwritten.TheArberSephirothecaisperhapsits keystonefigure,andtheinterpretationsoftherelationandmeaningofthetenSephirothwhich composethe"tree"differsothatanysummaryofthemisnotonlyhopelessbutuselesshere. Itispossible,however,tosketchlargelyandwithnodetail,ageneralexplanationofthis HebrewWorldTree. Firstofall,whatarethetenSephiroth?Firstofallthen,theyareindicatedbythefirstten lettersoftheprimitivealphabetinwhich,aswehavenotedbefore,GodswereLetters,Letters wereIdeas,IdeaswereNumbers,andNumberswereperfectSigns.Theymaymeaneither "tocount"(thatis,theymaymean"numbers"),or"brilliance"or"spheres."Ortheymaymean "qualities,"standingfortheseveralgradesorstagesofwisdom.Ortheymaymean "emanations."

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TheArberSephirotheca(Plate21atleft)showstheHebrewschemeofCreationtheesoteric sideoftheGenesisstory,beginningwiththeassumptionthatCreationbegan,notfromtheact ofGod,butfromtheemanationofGod,duetohisvoluntaryselfwithdrawalinorderthatthe universemightbecreated."Whenthe HolyAged,theconcealedofall concealed,"saystheZohar,"assumeda form,heproducedeverythingintheform ofmaleandfemale,forWisdom expanded,andIntelligence,thethird Sephirah,proceededfromit,andthus wereobtainedmaleandfemale,viz., Wisdomthefather,andIntelligencethe mother,fromwhoseunionotherpairsof Sephirothsuccessivelyemanated."The firstTriad,then,whichisrepresented,is HochmaorWisdom,Binah,or Intelligence,andChetertheCrownorthe equilibrisingforce.Thesethreeinoneare theBalanceofforces,otherwisethe ReasonoftheUniverse.ThisReasonis notrepresentedseparately.Itisheldtobe inherentintherelationexistingbetween andinthefirstgroupofthree. Then,fromthisfirstgroupofthreeforces, oritsresult,Reason,camethesecond groupofthree,ChesedorMercy,the father,GeburahorJustice,themother, whichtogetherproduceTipherets,or Beauty.Thissixthagainrepresents Balanceorequilibriuminformsaboutto bematerialised,themediatorbetween theCrownorCreatorandtheKingdomor Creation. ThethirdtriadconsistsofNetzethor Victory,thefather(explainedsometimesastheeternaltriumphofIntelligenceandJustice,the twomothers),HodorGlory,themother,fromwhichtwospringsIesod,theFoundation,the Absolute. Thethreetriads,threeformseachoftheintellectual,thespiritual,andthematerialqualities, combinetoformthetenthSephirah,MalcuthortheKingdomorSovereigntyoverthe Kingdomoruniverse,manifestedinthetenbranchingleaves.Thesebranchingleaves 72

manifest,inturn,thedirectrelationexistingbetweenthetenSephirothandAdamKadmon, theprimordial,heavenly,incorruptibleman,createdinthiswayonly"intheimageofGod." AdamKadmonisthebranchingfruitoftheTreeofKnowledge,andholdsthemiddleplace betweentheEnSophorAllinAllandthetenemanations;holds,thatis,thepointofBalance orequilibrium.InthissenseAdamKadmonhere,asinPlate4,isregardedasthesupporter andupholderoftheuniverse.Nothingcouldbeatfirstsightmoreunlikethanthesetwo imagesofthethreeworlds,butthereareenormouslikenessesbetweenthem. Anotherwayofexpressingthisinterrelationbetweenthetenemanationsisthatthefirst Sephirah,byvirtueofitsequilibrisingpower,unitesthesecondandthirdWisdomand Intelligence;thatthesixthSephirah,Beauty,bythesamevirtue,unitesthefourthandfifth MercyandJustice;thattheninthSephirah,FoundationorAbsolute,unitestheseventhand eighthVictoryandGlory,andbyunionwithall,sendsforththetenthSephirah,theKingdom ortheUniverse.Again,thefirstthreeSephirothformtheworldofReason;thesecondthree, theworldofSpirit;thelastfour,theworldoftheBody.
Plate22DIONYSOSINTHESHIP

Atreemusthaveasoilinwhichto grow;soulandspiritmusthavea body;movingenergymusttakea form.Andaverybeautifuland subtleinterpretationoftheWorld Treemythmaybefoundinanold blackfiguredkylixbyExekias, datingfromthesixthcenturyB.C.It iscalled"DionysosintheShip,"and itsreadingdependsentirelyonan understandingofwhatthestoryof DionysosmeanttotheGreeksand allthepeopleswhocameunder theirinfluence(Plate22).

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ThestoryofDionysosisalwaysthestoryofDionysosandApollo.Thereisnotsuchathingas evenhalfofthisstory;onewithouttheotherdoesnotexist.Itveiledoneofthegreatestofthe Greekmysteries,thisconflictbetweenthesetwogods,andthefinalreconcilingoftheir struggle.Itsymbolisedtheconflictbetweenlightanddarkness,betweenspiritandformquite literally,theconflictbetweenspiritandbody.Itwasamythologicaldramabasedontheoldcry ofman,"Ifeeltwonaturesstrugglingwithinme."Thefirstimpulseofantagonismistodefeat, eventodestroy;itseldomoccurstotwoopponentsthatthereisamiddlepoint,anequilibrium orbalance,wherepeaceabides.ThestoryofDionysosApolloisnotoneofdestruction,butof finalreconcilementbetweentwoopposingforces.Neitherwastoberightlyjudgedonthe basisof"good"orof"evil,"butonthebasisofincompletenessonly.Eachneededthe complementaryforceoftheother;withouttheotherneitherwaswhole.ItwasnotDionysos alone,norApolloalone,butthetworeconciledandunitedthatsolvedthestruggle.Inthis kylix,DionysosApollofloatsontheaetherealocean.Thebodyorboatagreatfishcarries theunifiedgod.Thetwoareone,andfromthemunitedspringtwogreatvinesladenwithfruit andleaves.Aboutthelivingboatsevendolphins,"spiesofthesea,"keepguardtoforecast stormsandtowarn thepilot.Inthis Dionysianvinepicture themythcycleofthe WorldTreerounds uponitself.TheTree, givenbythegodsto mortalman,isitself rebornthroughman reconciledandmade immortal,andisgiven backtoheavenasa celestialvine. DionysosApollohad escapedtheWheelof Fate,andcould forevermediate betweentheremnants ofmanstillboundto it,andtheOlympian gods. Themysteryofthe relationbetween DarknessandLight, whichisthemystery ofDionysosApollo, hadanother 74

representationintheseventeenthcentury,whenRobertFluddbasedthewholeschemeof Creationuponit(Plate23previouspage).Itwillbeinterestingtocomparethisdrawingwith someChineseconceptionsoftheprimalcausalcosmicstrugglebetweenLightandDarkness. "Atthetopofthefigure,"saysFludd,"isexpressedtheHead,ortheRoot,ofallthings,bothin thesimplicityofHisunityandthedualityofHisuniversalattributes,namely,OneGod,One SupremeBeing,OneEssenceorDivineMind,whetherwillingornonwilling.Inthenegative aspectitwithdrawswithinitself,andrefrainsfromsendingItselfforthfromItself. "B.istheeffectofthedivinepotency,ornonwilling,inwhichstateallthingswereformless andinpotencyonly,beforethebeginningoftheworld.B.,inotherwords,isahieroglyphic ImageofGodthusfaraltogethernonwilling;inwhichstageGodisinHistrueEssence, shiningwithinHimself,butnotsendingHimselfforthfromHimself.Suchwastheprimal Chaos,fromthebowelsofwhichthematerialsoftheUniversewereoriginallydrawnforth. "JustasB.wasthehieroglyphofthelatentGod,soC.istherepresentationofHisglorious EmanationfortheCreationoftheWorld.ThisEmanationistheWordofGod. "FromtheunionofthesetwocomesoneWorld[D.E.]intheImageofOneWhoparticipates initbothinHispositiveandnegativeaspects.Thatistosay,fromthetwooppositestheWorld isbornintheImageofitsCreator.TheWorldisinGod,whichmeansthattheWorldispartly createdandpartlyuncreated.Created,ifweconsiderthematerialWorld,butuncreatedifwe consideritsMaker. "AccordingtothemysticaltheologyofOrpheus,Hesiod,Euripides,andschylus(who involvedthedivinemysteriesinallegory),theSunistakeninArchetype,asthatdivinesource fromwhichallornamentandbeauty,embracingamultipleharmonyoflife,isderived.InHis righthandispityandbenevolence,inHisleft,severityandpunishment[F.G.]." OneaspectofthisdivinemysteryoftheSunvisibleandtheSuninvisible,theyconcealed,he says,underthenameofApollo,godofDayandofLight,theotherunderthenameof Dionysos,godofNightandofDarkness.Eachwasbuthalfoftheother;onlythetwoareone; yeteachone,thoughseparate,hadwithinhimtheseedsofDarknessandLight.Hence,they arguedthatGodisbothdestructionandcreation,corruptionandgeneration,authorandactor; that"justashecomposesbythenumber7,sohedestroysbythenumber7,forthesacred number7isattributedtotheGodoflife."Nightinitsdarkness,orDionysos,symbolisedGod inHisnegativeaspectofwithdrawalwithinHimself,andDayinitslight,orApollo,symbolised Godinhispositiveaspectofgivingforthbyemanationfromhimself.

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THEFAMOUSROSETREEoftheRosicrucianshasaDionysianconnection,fortheRoseas wellastheVinewassacredtothis god.IthasalsoaPeruvian connection;thePeruvianEve thereisanativedrawingofherlater onsinnednotbyeatingtheapple, butbypickingroses,whichwere,in thePeruviantradition,thefruitof theTree."Thebeeisalmostas muchapartofthisdrawing(Plate 24atright)astheRoseTreehere areafewoddmythsofthis marvellousbeing.Accordingto Porphyrios,theMoonwascalleda bee;accordingtoVirgil,thebee aloneofallanimatethings descendedfromParadise,isapart ofthemindofGod,neverperishes, andaloneofallanimatethings, ascendsaliveintoheaven. DionysosissometimesidentifiedwiththeMoon,andissaidinsometraditionstohavebeen bornagainasabee.Again,thewaxofbeesproduceslight,hencebeesarethosethatfeed onfire.Asfortherose,itsbudresemblestheacuminatedorpointedspherethatsymbolises etherintheancientStupa(Fig.1inchapter1),andtheopenedrose,totheRosicrucians, symbolisedtheUniversespreadoutlikeabook,whichhewhocouldmightread. Thisrepresentationoftheuniversebyaroseappearstobealaterdevelopmentofavery ancientfigurationoftheuniversebyanonionalsoaplantsacredtotheoldgods.Rather,the universewasrepresentedbythelayersoftheoniontheEgyptiansandtheHebrewsandthe Tibetanshaveusedthisoverandoveragain.Thecore,towhichthelayerscling,maybethe axisoftheworld,orthepolarmountainoftheworld.IntheTibetanuniversetheonion'score isMountMeru,surroundedbyfifteenopaque,semitransparentlayersofoceansand mountainsandoceansagainuntiltheouterskinisreached,whichisthewallofironaboutthe universe.Andalltheheavensareoneabovetheother,likethelayersofanonion,"saysthe Kabbala."...AndourcompanionswholiveintheSouth,haveseenintheFirstBookandin theBookofAdam,thatalltheseearthswhichareBelow,arelikethefirmamentsAbove,that uponthat,andthisuponthis,andbetweeneachearth,aheaven(firmament)isspreadout betweeneachother(likethefineskinofthelayersontheonion)."

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13MountainsoftheWorld
INMANYOFTHESEWORLDTREEPICTURESwehave seemWorldMountainsaswell,butnorthernonesmostly.Yet theconceptoftheantipodalpolarmountainsofEarthisvery old.TheystandopposedtoeachotherintheBabylonian Universe(Plate8,p.39).Theyareinherentintheveryideaof anUnderworldtothisOverworld,whethertheideaiscarriedto itslogicalconclusionornot.Asabove,sobelow.IftheWorld MountainoftheNorthwastheabodeofgods,theabodeof demonswastheWorldMountainoftheSouth.Fig.53atright illustratesnotonlytheantipodalmountainsofasphericalEarth, butalsothe"fourquartersoftheEarth,"theabodeofgods,of livingmen,ofdeadmen,andofdemons,beginningwiththe northernmountainanddescendingtothesouth. ItmaybeitisonlybecausethepopularconceptofthefigureofEarthswungmoreorless uniformlytothatofasphereafterthewesternworldwasdiscovered,andallthecontinentsof theEarthweremappedout,thatweareapttothinkthesphericalconceptisamodernone. AsamatterofhistoricalfacttheGreeksestablisheditinthemindsofphilosophersbyatleast 500B.C.,anditiscertainthattheideadidnotoriginatewiththem.Itsorigin,liketheoriginof mostoftheseconcepts,istrackless,iffornootherreasonthanthattheconceptofEarthas theMundaneEggaspheroidformgoesbackintountraceableantiquity.Moreandmoreit seemsthat,inordertoexplainanyoftheserecurrences,wemusttakealmostliterally Fechner'sconceptionofagreatreservoirinwhichliepooledthememoriesofalloftheEarth's vanishedinhabitants,whichnowandthen"opens,"toletalittlespilloutintothemindsofa fewlivingmen.Formoreandmoreitbeginstoappearasifalways,somewhereontheEarth, allofthesefiguresofEarthhaveexistedinthemindsofsomeofitspeople.Perhapsitmay meanthattheEarthhasbeenallofthesethings,atdifferentstagesofitsdevelopment,thatit isconstantlychanging,neverthesame;thatitschangesareitslife,andthat,farfrombeinga disintegrating,dyingplanet,itisacontinuouslyevolvingone,alwaysundergoingthe mysteriousprocessofcreation.Butthisisonlyaguess. Certainly,thankstothesymmetricalspeculationsofthePythagoreanandPlatonianGreeks, thetheoryoftheantipodalregionandtheantipodalraceofbeingswassomuchapartofthe scienceoftheday,thatitseemednecessarytoSt.Augustine,athousandyearslater(fifth centuryA.D.)toestablishsomesortofatheoryofthefigureoftheEarth,which,although retainingitssupposedsphericalform,shouldneverthelesscastthetheoryoftheantipodes intoeverlastingdisrepute.

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Thetheoryoftwocentres,"(asillustratedatleft)orthetheory thattheEarthwascomposedoftwospheres,oneofland,and oneofwater,containedonewithintheother,butnotconcentric, solvedtheproblemexactlyofretainingthesphereandrejecting theantipodes.Theterrestrialgloberosealittlefromthewatery sphere,anditwas,ofcourse,thenorthernpartoftheEarth whichsorose.Whenitwasobjectedto,bysome,onthe groundthatonlylighterelementsrisetothesurfaceofwater, andthedenserirresistiblysink,thetwocentretheorists promptlyrepliedthattheterrestrialsphereroseonlyalittlefrom thewater,asanegg,plungedintoawaterfilledbasin,would risealittletothesurface;andtheyassertedfartherthatthese twospheressignifiedthetruemeaningofthe"separation"oflandfromwater.ButStrabo, severalhundredyearsbefore,facingtheproblemofthedensityoftheelements,accounted foritmuchmoresimply.Itwastrue,hesaid,thatbynaturethewaterwashigherinsituation thantheEarth,andinthebeginningofthingscompasseditallaboutlikeasphere.Butsince Providencedesignedtocreateanimalsandchieflyman,acreaturenotbelongingtothewater, Godtherefore"raisedtheEarth,"andcausedittodwellindiverseplaces;andinothershe sunkitandmadeithollow,thatthewatersmightliehid,andthatdrylandmightappearoverit andthusaffordaseatformanandotheranimalsoftheland. WhatmadetheEarlyChurchcombattheideaofasouthernhabitablehemispherewasnotso muchthedifficultyofexplaininghowmencouldstand"feettofeet,"asthedifficultyof explainingwhyracesofmen,allsonsofAdam,shouldbeutterlycutoffandseparatedfrom eachotherbytheimpassablebeltoffirethatcircledtheEarth.Thereseemednoreasonor purposeinthisthatcouldbecalleddivine;thiswastheheresy.Butitwasalsotruethatthe literalmechanicsofaninhabitedantipodalregion,withouttheconvenienttheoryofgravitation toexplaineverything,wastoomuchforreasonablemantoacceptwithoutanadmirable struggle. "Whatarethey,"saidLactantius,afourthcenturyFatherof theAfricanChurch,"thatthinkthereareAntipodes,suchas walkwiththeirFeetagainstours?dotheyspeakwithany likelihood;oristhereanyonesofoolishastobelievethat thereareMenwhoseHeelsarehigherthantheirHeads?that thingswhichwithusdolieontheGround,dohangthere? thatthePlantsandTreesgrowdownwards,thattheHail,and Rain,andSnowfallupwardstotheEarth?anddoweadmire thehangingOrchardsamongtheSevenWonders;whereas herethePhilosophershavemadetheFieldsandSeas,the CitiesandMountainshanging?Whatshallwethink,thatMendoclingtothatPlacelike Worms,orhangbytheirClawsasCats?orifwesupposeaManalittlebeyondtheCenter,to bediggingwithaSpade,isitlikely(asitmustbeaccordingtothisOpinion)thattheEarth 78

whichheloosened,shouldofitselfascendupwards?OrelsesupposetwoMenwiththeir MiddlesabouttheCenter,theFeetofonebeingplacedwheretheHeadoftheotheris,andso twootherMencrossthem,yetalltheseMenthussituated,accordingtothisOpinionshould standupright;andmanyothergrossConsequenceswouldfollow,whichafalseImaginationis notabletofancyaspossible."

INTHEUniverseoftheLamas(Plate25nextpage)wecomeupontheverygreatestofthe MountainsoftheWorld,MountMeru,theuniversalhub,thesupportofalltheworlds.Meruis alsothe"GardenoftheTreeofLife,"fortheJambuorRoseAppleWorldTreespringsfromit. ThisTibetanUniverseisnotonlyabeautifulbutacomplexuniverseaswell,anditisgoingto bedifficulttodescribeitsmanydivisionssimplyanddirectly.10 Butfirstofall,saytheLamasofTibet,thisworldofoursismerelyoneofaseries,whichall togetherformauniverseorChiliocosmofwhichagaintherearemany.Eachuniverseisset likeajewelinillimitablespace,uponawarporwoofof"blueair"orwind.Crossedthunder boltsarethesymbolsofthis"blueair,"whichishardandindestructible,likeadiamond.Upon this"warp"or"woof"isset"thebodyofthewaters,"anduponthisisafoundationofpuregold, onwhichissettheEarth.FromtheEarth'saxissoarsMountMeru,crownoftheworld,which risestoaheightof84,000milesbeforeitissurroundedbytheheavens.Itislikenedto"the handleofamillstone,"andhalfwayupitssouthernsideistheJambu,orRoseAppleTree, theobjectofcombatbetweenthegodsandtheTitans.Fromitsrootfourinexhaustiblerivers taketheirsource.Itbearsanimmortalfruit,likegold,whichfallsintotherivers,andfromits scatteredpipscomesthegoldenseedwhichiscarrieddowntothesea,andis,sometimes, washedupagainonitsshores. IntheoceanaboutMountMeruliethefourcontinents,eachwithtwoattending"satellites," andallwithbasesofsolidgoldintheformofatortoise.Butthecontinentsareseparatedfrom thesacredMerubyseven"stages"orgoldenmountains,betweenwhichflowsevenoceansof sevensubstances:fragrantmilkwhichischurnedbythegods,curds,butter,bloodorsugar canejuice,poisonsorwine,freshwater,andsaltwater.Encirclingallthesedivisionsisa doubleironwallwhichshutsoffthelightoftheSunandtheMoonofeachuniversefromall thespacewhichintervenesbetweenitandthesucceedinguniverse.Norayoflightillumines thevoidbetweenthe"thousandthousand"universes.Thisisthe"outerdarkness."

10 L.AustineWaddell'sreadingofthispictureisfollowedhere,asgiveninhisBuddhism,orTheLamasofTibet, pp.77121.

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80

The orbit of the Sun or "glazed fire," and of the Moon or "glazed water," is the summit of the innermost ring of mountains, called "The Yoke." Between these two heavenly bodies hang the jewelled umbrella of the kings and the banner of Victory - these are shown in the figure. In their realm of air, on this same plane, live the eight angelic "mothers." The"fourcontinents"areplacedexactlyineachofthefourdirections,andtheyareoffour differentshapes,correspondingtothefourformsofthefourelements(Fig.1,p.8).Tothe northliesthecubeorearthshapedbody;tothewestthesphereorwatershapedbody;tothe souththetriangleorfireshapedbody,andtotheeastthecrescentorairshapedbody.Ofthe fourcontinents,theysaythatallexceptJambudvipa(F)arefabulous,buttheyaredescribed asfollows: "OntheEastisVideha,or'vastbody'(P).Thisisshapedlikethecrescentmoon,andiswhite incolour.Itis9,000milesindiameter,andtheinhabitantsaredescribedastranquilandmild, andofexcellentconduct,andwithfacesofthesameshapeasthiscontinent,i.e.,crescentic, likethemoon. "OntheSouthisJambudvipa(F),orourownworld,anditscentreistheBodhitreeatBudh Gaya.Itisshapedliketheshoulderbladeofasheep...isblueincolour;anditisthe smallestofall,beingonly7,000milesindiameter.Hereaboundrichesandsinaswellas virtue.Theinhabitantshavefacesofsimilarshapetothatoftheircontinent,i.e.,somewhat triangular. "OntheWestisGodhanya,or'wealthofoxen'(I),whichinshapeislikethesunandredin colour.Itis8,000milesindiameter.Itsinhabitantsareextremelypowerfuland(asthename literallymeanscow+ox+action)theyarebelievedtobespeciallyaddictedtoeatingcattle, andtheirfacesareroundlikethesun. "OntheNorthisUttaraKuru,or'northernKuru'tribe(M),ofsquareshapeandgreenin colour,andthelargestofallthecontinents,being10,000milesindiameter.Itsinhabitantsare extremelyfierceandnoisy.Theyhavesquarefaceslikehorses;andliveontrees,which supplyalltheirwants.Theybecometreespiritsontheirdeath;andthesetreesafterwards emit'badsounds.' "Thesatellitecontinentsresembletheirparentcontinentinshape,andeachishalfitssize. TheleftsatelliteofJambudvip,namely,'Theoxtailwhiskcontinent,'isthefabulouscontinent oftheRakshas,towhichPadmasambhavaisbelievedtohavegoneandtobestillreigning there.AndeachofthelatterpresentstowardsMountMeruoneofthefollowingdivineobjects respectively,viz.,ontheeast(?south)themountainofjewels,namedAmolikha,shapedlike anelephant'shead,andonthesouth,thewishgrantingtree,onthewestthewishgranting cow,andonthenorththeselfsprungcrops." AsforMountMerusomesaythatthesefourgiftsoftheleftsatellitesaresituatedonthe 81

sidesofMeruitselfwhichhassquaresidesofgoldandofjewels.Itseasternfaceiscrystal orsilver,likethecolouroftheeasterncontinent.Thesouthernfaceissapphireorlapislazuli. Thewestsideisofruby,andthenorthsideisgold.MountMeruisalwayscoveredwith fragrantflowersandherbs. Ithasfourlowercompartmentsundertheheavens.ThelowestisinhabitedbytheYaksha geniiholdingwoodenplates.Abovelivethe"wreathholders."Abovethesedwellthe"Eternally exaltedones,"andabovethemtheTitans,theraceofbeingswhocontendalwayswiththe godsfortheJambuorRoseAppleTree.Originallygods,theTitanswere,likeSatan,thrown outofheaven,andtheirplaceintheTibetansystemisintermediatebetweenheavenand Earth. AbovetheTitans,atadistanceof168,000miles,aretherealmsofthegods.Inthelowest compartmentarethe"fourgreatguardiankingsofthequarters,"thewhiteguardianofthe East,thegreenguardianoftheSouth,theredguardianoftheWest,andtheyellowguardian oftheNorth,whoforeverguardtheheavensagainstattacksofouterdemons.Theeightgreat classesofsupernaturalbeingsaresubjectsofthesekings,andtheseguardiansofthefour quartersareaidedbythetenLokpalswhowatchthetendirections,thatis,theeightpointsof thecompass,andabove,andbelow. AKalmuckWorldpicture(Fig.56atright)isquiteworth comparingwiththis.UniverseoftheLamas,forthe Kalmucks,nowofRussia,primitivelyinhabitedChina.They arrivedontheshoresoftheCaspianSeaabout1600,but theybroughtwiththemtheirownconceptionoftheworld, withitscoloursandshapes.ThisdrawingshowsMountSu meruinthecentreoftheworld,throughwhosecentrethe WorldTreesprings.Sometimestheywillsaythateachofthe fourmountainsidesbearsatree.Sumeruisshaped,they believe,likeatruncatedpyramid,andarounditareseven mountainsandsevenseasnotrepresentedinthisdrawing. Theneareramountainringistothecentralmountain,thehigheritis,theybelieve;andthe higherthemountainrings,thefarthertheyarefromeachother.TheKalmuckssayalsothat thedistanceofeachfromthecentralmountainisthesameasitsheight. ThecoloursofthefoursidesofthetruncatedSumeruarelikethoseoftheTibetanMeru,and theKalmucksalsoplacefourcontinentsinthefourquarters,eachofadifferentshape,and eachaccompaniedbytwosmaller"islands"oflikeshape;sothatagainthetotalnumberof islandssurroundingthecentreoftheworldisthezodiacaltwelve.TheTibetanJambudvip thesoutherncontinentwhichwas"shapedliketheshoulderbladeofasheep,"andwhose inhabitantshadfacesshapedsimilarly,"somewhattriangular,"isslightlymodifiedinthe Kalmuckpicturetoanovalcontinentinhabitedbyanovalor"eggfaced"race.Butitisalmost thesame;an"oval"suchasthisishardlymorethananexpandedorexpandingtriangleand 82

theeggshapedislandsandfacesmaybecalledwithafairaccuracy"somewhattriangular." Noclaimforparticularbeauty andcertainlynoclaimforany antiquityismadefortheChinese hemisphereshowninFig.57at left,drawn,saysDr.DuBose,by amonkinSoochow,who perceivedthattimeswere changing,thatthenew geographywasofaspherical Earthandnotofa"World Mountain,"butwhorealisedthat theNorthPoleispermanentif anythingis.Hethereforedrewa conventionalmodernhemisphere withitslinesoflatitudeand longitude,overwhichhetraced EuropeAsiaAfrica;andthen, uponthetopoftheworld,raised hisWorldMountain,peerlessSumeru,spineandmarrowof"thethirtythreeheavens,"and situatedintheverycentreoftheworld.Itsshapeisordinarilythatofaninvertedcone,whose mediallineiscutbytheEarth'ssurface,whosebaseisabove,andwhoseapexpenetrates theEarthtoadistanceequallingthedistanceofitsbasefromtheEarth.Or,astheChinese explainit,"Itsdepthintheseaisequaltoitsaltitude(intheair)."Intheunderseadivisionare thecountlesshells.TheunknownmonkofSoochowmadehisSacredMountainresemblea pagodamorethanaconewhenhecompromisedwithanewage,butasimpleprojectionof thepagodalineswillresultinafigurequiteconelike.

14TheWheelofLife
83

CLOSELYASSOCIATEDwiththeWorldMountainsarethemanyWheelsofLife,bywhichthe ancientssoughttopicturetherelationsofpartsoftheuniversetoeachotherandtothewhole. ThereisahintofthisintheTibetanworldpicture,withMountMerutheaxisorhubofthe worldaboutwhichareplacedlikespokesinawheelthefourquartersoftheEarth,withtheir threeislandseach,makingthesumoftwelveradiifromthecentre.TheWheeloftheZodiac wasofcoursethegreatoriginalforallsuchfigures,particularlyfortheWheelsofLife.For uncountedcenturiesmanknewthegeographyoftheheavensbetterthanthegeographyof theEarth,andwhateverlifeonEarthmeanttohim,theunfailingprocessionofthegreatstar groupsoftheZodiacmeantcertainty,law,order.Therewerezoneswrittenintheheavens longbeforemanstretchedhisimaginarylinesoftheterrestrialzonesovertheEarth"The circlecalledtheZodiac,"saidPlutarch,"isplacedunderthethreethatareinthemidst,and liesobliquely,gentlytouchingthemall."Anditisnothardtoseehowthisgreatcirclecameto seemtomanamirroroftheEarth,astorehouseofitshistory,itsconstantWatcherinthesky, andtheunerringprophetofitsfuture.TheGreeksnamedthisobliqueringofstargroupsjust behindtheSunwhenitsetsorjustbeforeitwhenitrises,theZodiacorPathofAnimals, becausethenamesandconfigurationsofthegroupsweremostlythoseofanimals,andby thatnameweknowit.ButnooneknowshowlongbeforethedaysoftheGreeksfarearlier astronomersfirstlinkedthesinglegroupsofstarsintothetwelvegreatsignsoftheStar bearingCircle.

Plate26 PhysicaSacraisanearlyeighteenthcenturyBibleillustratedalmosttextfortext,andPlate26 (previouspage)isitsfirstillustration,forthefirstverseofthefirstchapterofthefirstbook:"In 84

thebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheEarth."OutsidetheZodiacalWheelareclouds uponcloudsbearingamultitudeofspheres,and,inaddition,sevennumbereddiagrams.Fig. IinthisPlateillustratesthesystemofthe"elevenheavens,"withtheEarththecentreofthe universe.Fig.IIistheTychoniansystem;Fig.III,whatisknownasthesemiTychonian system;FigIV,theblazingandeffulgentSun,containingwithinhimselfhissevenchildren, EarthandMoonandthefivegreatplanets;Fig.V,agroupoftheheavenlybodies;Fig.VI,an armillarysphere;Fig.VII,anAstrolabe,whichisalmosttosay,"thehandleofthestars,"and whichwascalledbytheoldastronomers"theMathematicaljewel." TheNorthernandSouthern hemispheresoftheheavens(Figs.58 atrightand59nextpage)aremerely supplementarytoScheuchzer's CreatioUniversi.Theyaretakenfrom anArabiccelestialglobe,madeof brass,in1275A.D.,whichwas depositedintheMuseumoftheRoyal AsiaticSocietyofGreatBritainand Ireland.NeartheSouthPoleisan inscriptioninCuficcharacters,stating thatitwas"Madebythemosthumble inthesupremeGod,Mohammedben Helah,theastronomerofMonsul,in theyearoftheHegira674."The ZodiacwasknowntotheArabs,notas ThePathofAnimals,"butasThe GirdleoftheCastles,"andcontained,Fig.58AnancientArabicCelestialSphere.Northern
Hemisphere.

withoneortwovariationsinname,thesamesignswehavetoday:Aries,TaurusandGemini, Cancer,Leo,Virgo(thistheArabscalledtheEar),BalanceorLibra,Scorpio,Sagittarius, Capricornus,Aquarius,andPisces. Therearealtogether,includingthesignsoftheZodiac,fortysevenconstellationsonthese Arabiccelestialhemispheres.TheonesinscribedontheNorthernhemisphereare:Little Bear;GreaterBear;TheDragon;Cepheus;Botes;theNorthernCrown;TheKneeling Hercules;TheLyre;TheHen,orSwan;TheLadyinherChair,orCassiopeia;TheBearerof Medusa'sHead,i.e.,Perseus;TheCharioteer;TheCharmerofSerpents,orSerpentarius; TheArrow,orSagittarius;TheFlyingEagle,orAquila;TheDolphin;PartoftheHorse(the horse'shead);TheGreaterHorse,Pegasus;TheChain,orAndromeda;TheTriangle. TheconstellationsinscribedontheSouthernhemisphereare:Ketos,theWhale;TheGiant,or Orion;TheRiver,orAcarnar;TheHare,orLepus;theGreaterDog,orCanis;TheDog,or Procyon;TheShip,orArgo;TheHydra;TheFlaggon,orCrater;TheCrow,orCorvus;The 85

Centaur,orCentaurus;TheBeast,orFera;TheCenser;TheSouthernCrown;TheSouthern Fish.

Fig.59AnancientArabicCelestialSphere.SouthernHemisphere.

OFTHETWOWHEELSOFLIFE(orFateorLaw)tobegivenhere,webeginwiththeone thatseemsthesimpler.ThisChineseWheel(Plate27)isalmostaZodiacor"pathof animals,"ofitself.(TheChineseZodiac,or"YellowPathoftheSun,"differedmateriallyinits signsfromtheGreekArabiconejustgiven;itcontainedtwelveanimals:theMouse,theCow, theTiger,theRabbit,theDragon,theSerpent,theHorse,theRam,theApe,theHen,the Dog,andthePig.)Sixofthetwelvedivisionsareseparatingpathsorcurrents,throughorover whichthetravellerpassestothenextstage.Fouroftheremainingdivisionsaretheabodesof 86

beasts,ofinsects,offish,andofbirds.
Plate27TheWheelofLife

Theothertwo,separatedfromeach otherbyoneofthespirallikerivers, areinhabitedbyPoorMenandRich Men,orbyMandarinsandTillersof theSoil. Thesecondofthesewheelsisthe oneelaboratelydevelopedinthe TibetanWheelofLife(Plate28on nextpage)towhichisanalmost necessaryKey.ItisaTibetan versionofanIndianpaintinginone oftheabandonedcavetemplesof Ajanta,whichL.AustineWaddell holdstobe"acompleteauthentic accountofhumanlifefromthe absolutestandpointoftheearliest Buddhistphilosophy." TheLamasofTibetsaythatBuddha himselforiginatedtheWheelofLife,formingitontheEarthwithgrainsofricefroma"rice fieldschoolroom."Accordingtotheoldstory,whiletarryingforawhileattheSquirrels' FeedingGroundintheVenuvanaforestnearRajagriha,Buddhainstructedhisdisciple Ananda,tomakeaWheel,forthesakeofillustratingwhatanotherdisciplehadseenwhenhe visitedotherspheres.ThisWheelwastohavefivespokes,betweenwhichweretobeshown theseveralhells,animals,ghosts,godsandmen.Inthemiddleadove,aserpent,andahog weretosymboliselust,hatred,andignorance.Aroundtheouterrimwastowind"thetwelve foldcircleofcausation,"inregularandinverseorder.Beingsweretobeshown"asbeingborn inasupernaturalwayasbythemachineryofawaterwheelfallingfromonestateandbeing producedinanother."Buddhahimself,asan"EnlightenedOne,"liberatedfromthefateof recurrenceontheWheel,wastobeoutsideofitonewhohadescaped.Thisdiagram,made firstofricegrains,waslaterfilledin(secondcenturyA.D.)withpicturesbytheIndianmonk Nagarjuna,butthesepicturesaresaidtobenothisowninventions,butthevisualimagesof Buddha'sownparablesandallegories.

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Plate28TibetanWheelofLife TheKeytotheTibetanWheelofLifewillbefoundanaidinfollowingtheinterpretationofit,

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whichisWaddell's,andisgivenheremuchabridged.11 Thedisc,symbolisingtheendlesscycleoflife,isheldinthegraspofamonsterwho representsthehorrorsofAttachment,thewretchednessofClingingtoLife. ThebroadtireoftheWheelisfilledwiththetwelvelinkedclosedchaincalledtheCausal Nexus,or"thetwelvefoldcircleofcausation,"i.e.,thecausesoflifeandofmisery.Atthe centreornaveliethethreevicesordelusions,"theDaughtersofDesire,"symbolisinglust,ill will,andstupidity,whichlieatthecoreofrebirth,andareheregivenintheformsofadove,a serpent,andapig,colouredrespectivelyred,green,andblack.ThebodyoftheWheel,filled withvariedpictures,issupposedtobeconstantlyrevolving,therebyproducing"TheWhirling ontheWheel"ofLife. Thewayofescapeisindicatedbythetwelve"links,"andthefirstlinkistheconnectinglink betweentheoldlifeandthenew.ItmightbedenominatedUnconsciousWilltoescape.The linksinthecausalchainare: I.Ablindshecamel(ignorantunconsciouswill)ledbyadriver(Karma).Inthispicture, however,thefirstlinkisrepresentedbyablindoldwomanledbyaman,withitsmeaningthe same. II.Apottermodellingclayonhiswheel(Conformationsandimpressionsofandonformless clay). III.Amonkey(thebeginningofConsciousness;thenewmanisapproachingtothehuman, butisstillanunreasoningautomaton). IV.AmanbeingferriedacrossanOcean(SelfconsciousnesstheIndividualcrossingthe OceanofLife). V.Anemptyhouse(Understandingachievedthrough"theemptyhouseofthesenses"). VI.TheKiss(orcontactwiththeoutsideworld). VII.Anarrowenteringaman'seye(Feelingorperception). VIII.Amandrinkingwine(Desireorthirst). IX.Amangatheringfruitandstoringitinbaskets(Greed,orthesatisfyingofDesire). X.Amarriedwomanwifeofhimwhoselifeisheretraced(fullerlife,Being,Becoming,even RebirthandthecontinuanceofBeingforanotherexistence). XI.Parentandchild(Birthofanheir). XII.Acorpsebeingcarriedofftoburial(DecayandDeath),whichleadstoI,UnconsciousWill forrebirthandthecycleoftheWheelisbegunagain. Thewaysof"life"or"rebirth"are,fromhighesttolowest: 1.GodstheSura.2.TitanstheAsura.3.ManNara,orMi.4.BeaststheDudoor"best goers."5.TantalisedGhostsPretas.6.HellNarakaorNalk'am. Toliveinthefirstthreeworldsissuperior;toliveinthelastthreeisinferiorthehighestworld
11 Buddhism,orTheLamasofTibet;L.AustineWaddell,pp.105121.

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beingHeaven,andthelowestHell. InHeaven,abovetheTitans,ontheaetherealsummitofMountMeru,dwellthegods(Plate 25page80).Inthelowestregionsoftheheavensdwellthe"guardiankingsofthefour quarters";Dritarashtra,thewhiteguardianoftheEast;Virudhaka,thegreenguardianofthe South;Virupaksha,theredguardianoftheWest;andVaisravana,theyellowguardianofthe North. IntheupperrighthandsectionoftheWheelofLifetheTitans(theAsuraornotgods)have theirabode.Sincetheirchiefcharacteristicispride,thisistheworldofrebirthforthe"proud." TheTitanscorrespondtoSatanandhishosts,havingbeen,likeSatan,andforlikecause, castoutfromHeaven.LivingatthefootofMountMeru,theyhoverforeverbetweenHeaven andEarth.ThelifeoftheTitansismuchlongerthanthelifeofmen;butitisthefateofevery TitantodiewarringagainstthegodsforthefruitsoftheheavenlyParijatatree,whose branchesareinHeaven,butwhoserootsareintheircountry"thetreeoftheconcentrated essenceofEarth'sproducts."TheJambutreeis,inreality,accordingtothisreading,the "climber"whichencirclestheaetherealtree,andthroughitthequintessenceofJambudvip,or theJambucontinent"ofEarthisinstilledintotheParijataTree. ManNaraorMiivesintheupperlefthandregion,constantlyconfrontingtheeightmiseries birth,oldage,sickness,death,ungratifiedwishesandstruggleforexistence,misfortuneand punishmentforlawbreaking,separationfromrelativesandcherishedobjects,offensive objectsandsensations.Ofalltheseandotherphasesofordinaryexistencepicturesabound withintheWheelbirthinacottage;childrenatplay;villagescenespeopledrinkingwine underatree;afluteplayer;womenspinningandweaving;aborrower;twotraders;adrunken man;workerstillingafieldorgatheringfuelinaforestorbentunderheavyloads;the accidentsoflifeamanandahorsefallingintoariver;crimetwomenfightinganotheron trialanothersufferingpunishment;governmentakingandhisministers;oldage,disease adoctorfeelingasickman'spulse;deathacorpseandfuneralceremonies;religiona templeplacedabovealltheotherobjectswithintheWheelthatis,Indra'sPalace. Beastslowerrighthandquarteraremoremiserablethanman.Theyareshownconsuming eachotherandbeingconsumed;huntedbymen,overburdenedwithloads,andfilledwith fear.FarbeneaththewatersofthisanimalworldistheregionoftheNagasorMermen(great snakes),theirhomepreyeduponbyGaruda,Lordofbirds,seekingheretheserpentsofthe deepforfood. TheregionoftheTantalisedGhostslowerlefthandquarter,issituatedaboveHell,and hungerandthirsttorturetheinhabitants.Alwaysbeforetheireyestherearefoodanddrink andjewelsinabundance,butthePretashavemouthsnolargerthanthesizeofaneedle's eye,throatsnowiderthanahair'sdiameter,andthroughtheseopeningstheycannever satisfytheirhugebodilyappetites.Addtothisthat,whenfoodistaken,itischangedinto knivesormoltenmetal,andtheirhungerandthirstcanberealisedasincessantandneverto 91

beappeased.ThelittlepictureswithintheWheelshowflamespouringfromtheirmouthsif theytouchwater,itchangestoliquidfire.ThegreatMaudgalyayanaoncedescendedtothe Tibetanpurgatorytorelievehismother'sdistress,butevenhecouldnotaidher,andtherice heofferedherturnedtofieryashesasshetouchedit. Hell,thelowestregion,is"situatedinthebowelsofthehumanEarth,"andisruledoverby Yama,kingandjudgeofthedead,whomusthimselfeverydayswallowmoltenmetal.His domainisdividedintomanycompartments,eachwithitsspecialformofpunishmentforthe expiationofdifferentsins.IntheupperpartofHellsitsYamawithhisgoodandevilangels, ghostsofthedead,theWeigher,andthePrisoner.BelowaretheHotHells,andtheCold Hells,toeachofwhichthedamnedareassignedaccordingtotheirsins.TheHotHellsare sunkintheEarth,beginningatadepthof11,900miles,andtheyreachtoadepthof40,000 miles.Theyareofdeepestblack,althougheachissurroundedbyawalloffire.TheCold HellsareattheveryedgeoftheUniverse,circledbyicymountainsandsuppliedwithglacier waterinwhichthevictimsareconstantlyimmersed,untilchilblainsappearandbecomegreat soresandulcers. ThereisanexitfromHell,throughasortofborderlandHellcalled"thenear(torebirth) cycle."Thishasfourdivisions;thefirstfilledwithhotashesanddeadbodiesandoffal;the secondaquagmireor"sinkingsands,"beyondwhichisaforestofspears,whichmustbe crossedliketherazorbridgeofMohammed,theBifrostofYggdrasil,theslipperyfirtreeof theAmericanIndians,orthewideriverofThePilgrim'sProgress.Afterifthebridgeis crossed,therecomesariveroffreezingwaterwhosefarthershoreisthicklysetwithtree stumpsbearingthreespikedleaveswhichimpalethepilgrim.Whatislefttomanafterthis pilgrimageiscalled"TheSurvivingThing."

15EarthTheMundaneEgg
92

Fig.61TheGreatMonad

Earth.ItisanimatedChaos,primordialAirdividing intotwoAirstogenerateamultipliedcosmos,forthey havethepowertomakeandtransmuteallthings.Itis theOvumMundiEggoftheWorld. Itisneveralifeorabirthsymbolmerely;itisalways associatedwiththeideaofprimalcausalcosmic energy.TheJapanesemitsutomoeisavariationof theGreatMonadoftheChinese;insteadofthetwo commashapedfigure,its"commas"arethree.

THEGREATMONAD,ortheGreat Beginning,ortheGreatExtreme,orthe GreatVacuum,orYinandYang,or "Heaven,"isoneoftheold,mysterious figuresofEarth.Itrepresentsallthepairs ofoppositesthatweknowLightand Darkness,lifeanddeath,deathandre birth,heatandcold,goodandevil,subtle andgross,malefemaleinNature,orthe greatprinciplesYinandYang.ItisOne yetAllThings,thegreathermaphrodite "theindivisiblemonad,ofitselfgenerating itself,andoutofthiswereformedall things."Itlookslikeashell,itlookslikean ear;itlookslikeatadpole,anembryo,a whirlpool,aclaw,acomma,twoeyes, strangeMoonupontheSun.Itlooks perhapsliketheUniverseitselfbeforethe creationofHeavenandEarth.Itisthe epitomeofallthe"eggshaped"figuresof

"TheGreatExtreme,"saystheChinesephilosopher Chootzse,writingofthisancientsymbol,"movedand generatedtheLight;havingmovedtotheutmost,it rested,andresting,generatedtheDarkness.... "TheGreatExtremeresemblesarootwhichsprouts upwards,anddividesintobranches,andwhichalso dividesandproducesblossomsandleaves, generatingunceasingly.Whenthefruitisformed,Fig.62TheMitsuTomoeoftheJapanese. then,itcontainsinside,theseedofendlessgenerations,whichgeneratesandspringsforth. 93

ThisistheInfiniteGreatExtreme,whichneverceasesaltogether,butonlywhenthefruitis perfecteditceasestogenerateforawhile.... "InthebeginningHeavenandEarthwerejustLightandDarkAir.ThisoneAirrevolved grindingroundandround.Whenitgroundquicklymuchsedimentwascompressed,which, havingnomeansofexit,coagulatedandformedtheEarthinthecentre.Thesubtleportionof theAirthenbecameHeaven,andtheSun,Moon,andStarswhichunceasinglyrevolveonthe outside.TheEarthisinthecentre,andismotionless,itisnotbelowthecentre. TheEarthisthesedimentoftheAir;andhenceitissaidthatthelightandpureAirbecame Heaven;theheavyandmuddyAirbecameEarth."12 HereisaseriesofChinesediagrams(Fig.63,nextpage)illustratingtheprocessofthe CreationoftheuniversefromthebeginningthewholeinfinitemassofPrimordialAirwhenin Chaos.Thisisrepresentedbytheblackdisc(e),theOvumMundior"Mind"oftheuniverse, inherentinwhich,eveninitsmingledstate,istheDivineReason.In(f)isshownthe separationofthePrimordialAirintotwoAirs,thedivisionofSubtilefromGross,ofLightfrom Darkness.Thisisthebeginningofallthings,fromwhichsprangtheFirstGod,AllLight(a), calledReason,Fate,theImmovableMover,ortheInfinite.FromthisFirstGodcamethe SecondGod,orLight,andtheDemongodorDarkness(b),which,saytheChinese, representMindorthetwofoldSoul,containedwithinthebodyofthevisibleworld(c).To representthecompletebeingoftheanimatedcosmosthethreecirclesorglobesareplaced likethreebodies,onewithintheother(d);thisissometimescalledtheThreefoldAir.The GreatExtremeisrepresentedinanotherformintheupperhalfofthelowerrighthandfigure, whoseinnercirclerepresentstheFirstGodinherentinallthings,withtheLightandDarkAirs alternatingunceasingly.FromthisceaselessalternationaregeneratedtheFiveElements whoseChinesetermsdifferconsiderablyfromthosewehavebeenusingnamely,earth, water,fire,air,andether.Forthefirstone,theysay,istermedwater,andbysomeiscalled black.Thesecondisfire,andbysomeistermedred.Thethirdiscalledwoodandistherefore termedgreen.Thefourthiscalledmetalandiswhite.Thefifthiscalledearth,andis presumedtobeyellow.

12 ConfucianCosmogony.ThomasM'Clatchie,Shanghai,1874.

94

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96

Fig.63ChineseConceptionoftheCreation. BesidestheGreatMonadanditsassociateddiagrams,theChinesehadyetanotherseriesof diagramsbywhich,theyasserted,itwaspossibletoaccountforallthechangesand transmutationswithintheforcesofNature.ThesearetheEightDiagramsofFuhhe,which, accordingtohimandhisdisciples,manifesttheMindofHeavenandEarth,whoseonly purposeistogeneratethatis,tochangeandtotransmute."Thatwhichproceedsgradually," theysaid,"istransmutation[likethegrowthofatree].Thatwhichisunitedinoneandis 97

incomprehensibleisGod.Transmutationiseachthingsucceedinginorder."Theytriedto explainthisfurtherbysaying:"ThatwhichwhenatRestcannotMove,andwheninMotion cannotRestisMatter;.thatwhichMovesyetmovesnot,Restsyetrestsnot,isGod."They said,too,thatthe"thirtysixpalaces"thenumberofunitsthatmakeuptheEightDiagrams arenomorethanmerelythestrokesoftheLightandtheDarkness. Eachsetofthreelines(Fig.64at right)representsthethreepowers, Heaven,Earth,andMan,and representsalsotheexactforce exertedbyeachoneineachofthe eightcombinations.Thethree undividedlines,forinstance, indicatethetirelessstrengthof Heaven,thethreedividedlines,the dividedEarth.Beginningatthetop andgoingtotheleft,thetriadsare supposedtoread:riverorrunning water,Heaven,wind,Earth,Sun, lakeordormantwater,mountain, thunder.Thecentreofthismirroris saidtorepresenttheSun, surroundedbyfourconstellations, whichareinturnencircledbythe EightDiagrams,andtheseagainby theChineseZodiac,orYellowPath oftheSun,withitstwelveanimalsignstheMouse,Cow,Tiger,Rabbit,Dragon,Serpent, Horse,Ram,Ape,Hen,Dog,andPig.

THEFIVEFIGURESOFEARTHasthe MundaneEgg,giveninPlates29(a,batleft), 30,and31,areallofthemdifferent,yetallof themthesame,andtheyrangeintimeand regionfromancientEgypttoseventeenth centuryEngland.Theideaofthe"Ophiset OvumMundanum"(Plate29,B)isnottobe tracedtoitssource;itisfoundeverywhere,in 98

theopenorsecrettraditionsofallracesthisconceptofthegreatWorldSerpentwarming, guarding,hatching,sometimesfeastingontheEarthEgg.The"DeusLuna"()isoneofthe oldattempts,invaryingformsandwithmoreinterpretations,tolinkthegreattriadofheavenly bodies,Sun,Moon,andEarth,intoafiguresymbolicofthewholeuniverse.Herethe MundaneEggisheldinitsfieryvaseverymuchasanacornisheldinitscup.Itisguardedby theMoon,which,asa"greatwhitebird,"wassupposedtorestatnightupontheEarth;"likea goose,"saidtheEgyptians,"broodingoverheregg."

Fig.29cEarthasafloatingEgg.

Thethirdfigure(Plate29,Catright),as muchaWorldMountainasaWorldEgg,is assertedbyFlammariontorepresentthe worldconceptofEdrisi,anArabian geographeroftheeleventhcentury,"who, withmanyothers,consideredtheEarthto belikeaneggwithonehalfplungedinto thewater."Thisisidenticalwiththefigure illustratingthe"TheoryofTwoCentres" (Fig.54,p.78).Itisalsoamodern religiousrenderingoftheNorthern hemisphere,withJerusalemandPalestine attheapexoftheworld. Thelasttwofiguresbringusbackagainto ThomasBurnetandhisTheoryofthe Earth,whichemphaticallywasthetheory thatitisalmostliterally,certainlybyevery analogy,theMundaneEgg. "ThereisanotherthinginAntiquity,"said thisgreatEnglishPlatonist,"relatingtotheformandconstructionoftheEarth,whichisvery remarkable,andhathobtainedthroughoutalllearnedNationsandAges.Andthatisthe comparisonorresemblanceoftheEarthtoanEgg.Andthisisnotsomuchforitsexternal figure,thoughthatbetruetoo,asfortheinwardcompositionofit;consistingofseveralOrbs, oneincludinganother,andinthatorder,astoanswertheseveralelementaryRegionson whichthenewmadeEarthwasconstituted.ForifweadmitfortheYolkaCentralfire...and supposetheFigureoftheEarthOval,andalittleextendedtowardsthePoles...thosetwo bodiesdoverynaturallyrepresentoneanother,asinthisScheme,whichrepresentsthe interiourfacesofboth,adividedEgg,orEarth.Where,asthetwoinmostRegions(A.B.) representtheYolkandtheMembranethatliesnextaboveit;sotheExteriourRegionofthe Earth(D.)isastheShelloftheEgg,andtheAbysse(C.)underitastheWhitethatliesunder theShell.AndconsideringthatthisnotionoftheMundaneEgg,orthattheWorldwas Oviform,hathbeenthesenceandlanguageofallAntiquity,Latins,Greeks,Persians, 99

Egyptians,andothers,Ithoughtitworthyournoticeinthisplace." TheunknownauthorofDeImagoMundihad,ithappens,comparednottheEarthbutthe Universeitselftoaball,oranEgg.Inhisscheme,theshellcorrespondedtotheupper heavens;thewhitetotheupperair;theyolktothelowerair;andthepinguidinisgutta,ordrop ofgreaseinthecentre,totheEarth.And,evenearlierthanthese,theVenerableBedehad written(inthesixthcenturyA.D.):"The Earthisanelementplacedinthemiddleof theworld,astheyolkinthemiddleofan egg;arounditisthewater,likethewhite surroundingtheyolk;outsidethatistheair, likethemembraneoftheegg;andaround allisthefire,whichclosesitinastheshell does....Theocean,whichsurroundsit byitswavesasfarasthehorizon,divides itintotwoparts,theupperofwhichis inhabitedbyus,whiletheloweris inhabitedbyourantipodes;althoughnot oneofthemcancometous,noroneofus tothem."Thesethreeanalogiesare developeddifferently,butBurnet'sfigureof the"dividedegg"willservetoillustrateallofthem(Plate30atleft). HavingdividedhisEartheggtoshowtheorderofarrangementofitsinnerparts,Burnetthen closeditup,torepresentitentire,withonlyareminderofthegreatabyssunderit(Plate31at right),onwhichhiswholetheoryoftheDelugeandthedissolutionoftheEarthrested.Either thegreatabyssopened(whichhedoubted),"ortheframeoftheEarthbrokeandfelldown intotheGreatAbysse."Inthelattercase,there wouldbetwoeffects.This"smoothEarth"inwhich werethefirstscenesoftheworldandthefirst generationsofmankind,whichhadthebeautyof youthandnotawrinkle,scarorfractureinallits body,noRocksorMountains,nohollowCavesnor gapingChanels,"wouldbefirstsubmergedduring theagitationoftheabyssbytheviolentfallofthe Earthintoit.Then,whenthefloodhadsubsided, "youwouldsee,"saidhe,"thetrueimageofthe presentEarthintheruinesofthefirst"(Fig.34,p. 34andPlate14,p.51).Hecomparedhis"smooth" orprimalEarthtoanolipileorhollowsphere filledwithwater,whichtheheatoffirerarefiesand turnsintovapoursandwinds."TheSunhereisas theFire,"hesaid,"andtheexteriourEarthisas 100

theShelloftheolipile,andtheAbysseastheWaterwithinit....SoweseeallVapoursand Exhalationsenclos'dwithintheEarth,andagitatedthere,strivetobreakout,andoftenshake thegroundwiththeirattemptstogetloose.Andinthecomparisonweusedofanolipile,if themouthofitbestoptthatgivesthevent,theWaterrarefiedwillbursttheVesselwithits force.AndtheresemblanceoftheEarthtoanEgg,whichweusedbefore,holdsalsointhis respect,forwhenitheatsbeforetheFire,themoistureandAirwithinbeingrarefied,makesit oftenbursttheShell.AndIdothemorewillinglymentionthislastcomparison,becauseI observethatsomeoftheAncients,whentheyspeakofthedoctrineoftheMundaneEgg,say thatafteracertainperiodoftimeitwasbroken." AnothercosmogonyworkedoutalongthissameanalogyisthatoftheGnostics,agroupthat flourishedduringthefirsttwocenturiesoftheChristianera,whoaresaidtobethe descendantsinwisdomofothergroupsfarremoved.ButtheGnosticgroupwasreallyan aggregationofgroupswhocombinedtheChristianteachingswithagnosisorhigher knowledgethroughwhichtheinnermeaningofChristianitywasrevealed.Theirdoctrines wereakintothoseofPythagoras,thehigherEgyptian,IndianandChineseteachers,andto thoseoftheEsseneswhoforcenturiesbeforetheChristianerahaddweltapartontheshores oftheDeadSea.TheystroveaftertheknowledgeofGod;wisdomwastheirgoal,andthelife ofmanonEarththeirstudy.Forgnosis,inthewordsofTheodotus,istheknowledgeofwhat wewere,whatwehavebecome,wherewewere,intowhatplacewehavebeenthrown; whitherwearehastening,whenceweareredeemed;whatisbirth,andwhatisrebirth."Their schemeoftheuniversehascomedowntousthrough"thediagramofCelsus,"whocalledit thediagramoftheOphites,asectoftheGnostics,withwhosebeliefshewasmostfamiliar. Inthebeginning,saidtheGnostics,wastheTrinity,Light,Spirit,andDarkness,all intermingled;andfromthestrivingoftheDarknesstoretaintheLightandSpirit,andsoto imprisonlifesparksinmatter,andfromthestrivingofLightandSpiritagainstthepowerof Darkness,thefirstgreatformwasproduced,HeavenandEarth,symbolisedbytheWorldEgg inthewomboftheuniverse.ThisWorldEggwasrepresentedasacirclewithaserpent twinedseveraltimesaroundit,signifyingthemysteriousforcewhichfirstsetintoseparating, lightproducingmotionthemingledLightandDarknessoftheGreatMonad.Thegreat serpent,theybelieved,wasnottheGreatTempter,buttheformthroughwhichDivineWilland DivineReasonincessantlymovedandmanifested. Thediagramitselfisdividedintotwogreatregions,theupperandthelower,separatedfrom eachotherbythethickblacklinecalledGehennaorTartarus.Theupperregionbelongedto thesupremeIntelligences;itwastheworldoftheons,orthePleromaoftheGnosticsthe WorldofLight.Herewasperfectharmony,thestateofidealfullnessorperfection.

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Fig.65GnosticDiagramoftheUniverse. Thelowerregionisdividedintotwogroups,oneoften,theotherofseven,spheres,each groupofspheresbeingenclosedwithinasphere,andthetwoseparatedfromeachotherby 102

thebandofLowerAir.ThecircleenclosingthesevenspheresislabelledLeviathan,and representstheSouloftheWorld,asthebodyrepresentsthespiritthatdwellsinit.Forit chancedthat,oneday,theUniversalMother,broodingovertheWaters,leta"DropofLight" falldownwardsintochaoticmatter,andthiswascalledSophia,orWisdom,theWorldMother. Thewatersofthetherbeingthensetinmotion,formedabodyforSophia,calledthe Heavensphere.WhereuponSophia,freeingherself,roseupwardstotheMiddleRegion, belowherMotherwhowasherselftheboundinglineoftheIdealUniverse.Sophiahadherself producedIaldabaoth(childofChaos,andalsoidentifiedwithSaturn),whoinhisturn producedason,andsoon,untiltherewereseveninall,theFormativepowersofthe phenomenalworld. ThesecondgroupofsphereswithinasphereislabelledBehemothitistheterrestrialworld. Itslowersevenspherescarrywithinthemthesignaturesofsevengreatanimals,and,without, thenamesofsevenangels.Thehigherthreespheresbearonlyinterrogationmarks,butthey aresupposedtobelongtoIaldabaoth,therulerofterrestrialaffairs,orperhapstoSophia herself. Concerningthesignaturesofanimalsinscribedwithinthesevenlowerspheresandtheir relationtothesevenangelsnamedoutside,Celsussaysthatthefirst,agoat,"wasshaped likealion,"andwasapartofMichaeltheLionlike.Thesecondindescendingorderwasa bullorSuriel,theBulllike;thethirdwas"anamphibioussortofanimalandonethathissed frightfully"RaphaeltheSerpentlike;thefourthhadtheformofaneagleGabriel,theEagle like;thefifthhadthecountenanceofabearThauthabaoth,theBearlike;thesixthhadthe faceof,adogorErataoth;"theseventhhadthecountenanceofanassandwasnamed ThaphabaothorOnoel." Mightanysoulsucceedinescapingthroughthesesevenspheresandthethreeemptyglobes orcircles,hemustthenpass"thefenceofwickedness,"or"gates"subjectedtotheworldof rulingspiritscalledLeviathan.Beginningwiththelowest,hepassedtowhatwascalled Ialdabaoth,thentoIao,toSabaoth,toAstaphusrulerofthethirdgate,toAlusgovernorof thesecond,andtoHorus,keeperofthefirst.CelsuscallsthisworldofLeviathan"circles uponcircles." TheGnosticsarefamousfortheirstrangesymbolicfigures.TheybelievedinaWatcherofthe World,aMindthatperceived,andtheyoftenrepresentedthisSeeeroftheWorldasahuman bodypiercedwitheyes.TheextraordinaryfrontispiecetoRiccioli'sAlmagestumNovum(Plate 32,nextchapter)isbynomeansaGnosticpicture,butitslefthandfigureisaperfect delineationofthemyriadeyedWatcheroftheuniverse. AlmagestumNovumappearedatjustthetimewhenthewholeuniversehadbeenturned,so tosay,insideouthalfinsideout,atleast.ForthePtolemaicsystemoftheuniverse,bywhich weknowthattheorywhichplacestheEarthatthecentre,withtherestoftheheavenlybodies revolvingaboutit,hadbutlatelyfallen.Copernicus,aftermanyyearsofhesitancy,hadatlast 103

dared,in1543,topublishhisDerevolutionibus,whichdeclaredtheSuntobeatthecentreof ourworld.EighteenyearslaterRiccioli'sAlmagestumNovumwaspublished;andthislittle timeschemelendsevenmoreinteresttoitsremarkablefrontispiece.Forbetweenthe "'WatcheroftheWorld"andthe"StarryOne,"thetwogreatsystemsoftheuniversehangin thebalance,onewiththeEarth,theotherwiththeSun,inthecentreofSpace.Thefirstdisc isinscribedwiththenewCopernicansystem;thesecondwiththeancientEgyptian.Atthe goddess'sfeetliesthesystemknownasPtolemy's.InonehandsheholdstheBalance,inthe otheranarmillarysphere.Intheupperlefthandcornerwingedbeingsfloat,bearingorbs associatedwithLight;intheupperrighthandcornermovethebearersofthoseheavenly bodieswhichbringLightintoDarknesstheMoon,Saturn,Jupiter,andtheflyingserpentof theskies.

16SystemsoftheUniverse
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Plate32FrontispiecetoAlmagestumNovum;IoannesRiccioli,1561

WHENTHEGREEKSINTHE SIXTHCENTURYB.C.tookupthe studyoftheuniverse,itssystems multiplied.Theorderoftheorbitsof theheavenlybodies,aboveall,their disorder,fascinatedtheGreekmind. Eclipsesoccurred,buthow?A Cometfledthroughthesky,anddid notcollidewithasisterbodywhy? HowweretheEarth,Sun,Moon, andallthestarssupportedin space?Whataretherelative distancesofthespacesbetween them?Whichwerethelarger bodies?thesmaller?Whatwerethe divisionsofSpace?Whatwerethe majorcombinationsofthegreat elements?Howwerethese combinationseffectedanda hundredotherquestions. Homerwasthefirstpoetofthe Greekuniverse,butThaleswasits firstphilosopher(640572B.C.).He believedtheEarthwasadisc floating"likeapieceofwoodor somethingofthatkind,"onthe waterswhichweretheoriginofall things,includingfireandairaswell asEarth;andhisinterestineclipses ledhimintoaprotractedstudyofthemovementsoftheSunandtheMoonandtheirrelation totheEarth.

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Fig.66TheSystemsoftheUniverse.FromIterexstaticumcleste;AthanasiusKircher,1660

Anaximander(c.611545B.C.)washiscontemporary.Hegaveuptheideathatthewaterwas theoriginofeverything,anymorethananyothersubstanceknowntoman.Everything originated"fromthenatureoftheinfinite,"andtoitreturned.Henceitfollowedthatthisworld wasnoteternal,butmerelyoneofaprocessionofworlds.HedescribedthefigureofEarthas eitherflatorconvexonthesurface,butmuchmorelikeacylinderorstonecolumnthanthe thindiscofThales.Eventuallyhecalleditcylindrical,withaheightequaltoonethirdofits breadth.Thiscylinder,beinginthecentreoftheuniverse,wasstable,inequilibrium,sinceit 106

hadthesamerelationtoeverypartoftheuniverse.Aboveitwereaseriesofheavens,the firstofair,thesecondofallthestars,thethirdoftheMoon,abovethattheheavenoftheSun andabovealltheheavenoftheheavenlyfire.Hehadanextremelycomplicatedtheoryto accountforamotionlessheavenandmovingbodies;heappearstohaveimaginedtheSun, forinstance,tobeanenormouswheelfilledwithfire,itsrimpiercedbyasingleholethesize oftheEarth.

Fig.67TheUniverseaccordingtoAnaximander (c.611545B.C.)

So,too,theMoonandstarsrolled throughtheirheavens;eclipses camefromtheholesintheSun wheel'srimandthatoftheMoon beingpartiallyorwhollystoppedup. Quiteexactly,hisSunandMoon werevesselsfilledwithfire. Ofcourseonlytheuppersurfaceof Anaximander'sEarthwashabitable; belowittheheavenlybodieshad theirunderworldcourse;fortherest, thehorizonmarkedthelimitsofthe knownandtheknowable. Heseemstohaveheldtoothe curiousideathattheseriesofworldswhichcomeoutoftheinfiniteandgobackintoitmaybe alsocalledgods,since,likegods,theyarecreated,theylive,theydie,andareagaincreated. ForahundredyearsfollowingAnaximander'sdeath,theGreekswerestillaskinghowthe Earthwasheldinbalance,andwhytheheavenlybodiesdidnotfallfromtheirplacesinthe skyanddestroytheEarth.EmpedoclesandAnaxagorasofferedthisexplanationthatagreat whirlwindsweptcontinuouslyroundtheEarth,servingthedoubleendofholdingthe heavenlybodiesaloftandofdrivingthemacrossthesky.Anaxagorasbelievedthatthissame whirlwindwasresponsibleforthestarsthemselves;thattheywerefragmentsoftheEarth, tornoffbytheviolenceofthewhirlwind,andthattheirlightcamefromnomorethantheheat producedbyfriction.Healsobelievedthatthe"heavenofthestars"wasfarbeyondthatofthe Sun. AsforEmpedocles,hereassertedthateverythingconsistsofthefourelements,Earth,air, fire,andwater,eitherinapure,oracombined,oramixedstatemerely;andhesaidfurther thatallthesecombinationsandmixingswerebroughtaboutbytwoforcesalone,one attracting,andonerepulsing,oneHarmony,theotherDisharmony,oneCord,theother Discord.HehadalsoaveryindividualideaoftheMoonandtheSun;theMoonisairrolled togetherwithfireitisflatlikeadiscandgetsitslightfromtheSun.ButtheSun,hesaid,isa 107

reflectionofthefiresurroundingtheEarth;itisnotitselfofafierynature,butmerelya reflectionoffire,"likethatwhichisproducedinwater."
Fig.68TheUniverseofLeucippus(c.450B.C.)

Leucippus(c.450B.C.)changed Anaximander'sfigureoftheuniverse considerably.Hestillheldthatthe Earth'sflatuppersurfacewasitsonly habitablearea,buthegavethewhole massoftheEarththeshapeofa tympanumorkettledrum,flat,witha slightlyraisedrimaccordingtothis ideamanwaslivingontheflattopof thesouthernhemisphere.Abovethe hemisphereofEarthwasthe hemisphereofair,thetwosurrounded bythecrystalspherewhichheldthe Moon.AbovetheMoon'sspherewas theplanetarysphere;abovethisthe sphereoftheSun,withthestarzone last,"perhapsoutside."Heaccounted fortheinclinationoftheaxistothe horizonbysayingthattheEarthhad sunktowardsthesouth,whichis merelytheotherhalfoftheancientsayingthattheEarthisraisedtowardsthenorth. Leucippushadadisciple,Democritus(c.430B.C.),whoretainedthethinEarthdiscof Thales,butaddedtoitthesurroundingrimofhismaster'sEarthdrum.Hechanged Leucippus'sAirEarthsphereintoasphereofAir,dividedhorizontallythroughitscentrebythe Earthdisc.Thus,likethecylindricalEarthofAnaximander,itrestedonnothingbutair.Next theAirsphereheplacedtheMoonandtheMorningStar,thenthespheresoftheSun,the planetsandthefixedstars. TheSun,hesaid,wasignitedstoneoriron,andtheSunandMoon,eachalargesolidmass, werenonethelesssmallerthantheEarth.Originally,hesaid,theSunandtheMoonhad beentwoEarths,likethisofours,andeachofthem,likeours,atthecoreandcentreofa world.Butthesetwoworldshadencounteredourworld,whichhadabsorbedthemboth,and hadtakenpossessionofthe"Earth"ofeach.Comets,hesaid,arecausedbytwoplanets approachingeachotherclosely.TheMoonwasnotonlyasolidbody,but,havingoncebeen the"Earth"ofanotherworld,itstillhasmountainsandplainsandchasms,whichcausethe markingsonitsface.Anaxagorashoweverhadsaidthisbeforehim,andhadalsoasserted thattheMoonwasstillinhabited.DemocritusalsotaughtthatthelightoftheMilkyWaywas 108

causedbyagreatmultitudeofveryfaintstars.LateritwassaidthattheMilkyWaywasa formerpathoftheSun,whichforsomeobscurereasonhadchangeditscourse.
Fig.69TheUniverseofDemocritus(c.430B.C.)

ItwasPythagoraswhonumberedand measuredandnamedfortheGreeksthe fivegreatplanetsofoursystem,andwho gavethemplacesintheheavensequalin importancetothegreaterheavenlybodies. AnditwasPythagoraswhotaughtthatthe Earthwasaperfectsphere,hanging,ifnot moving,freelyinspace,withitswhole surfacehabitable,andwithmenmoving freelyonallitssides.FortheEarth,hesaid, balancedinthecentreoftheworld,cannot fall,norcanitletanythingwhichbelongsto anypartofitfall.Thereisnobelow,thereis noabove,forourNorthisSouthtothemen oftheantipodes;thereisnothingbutthe Centre,whereweare,anditisillusionto believeotherwise. NumberplayedtheprincipalpartintheuniverseofthePythagoreans,for,saidthey, everythinginnatureisgovernedbynumber,sincenumberisthebeginningandtheendofall relations.Therearecosmicprinciples,they declared,andthesecosmicprinciplesare mathematicalprinciples,whichareliving principles;numbersaretheessenceofthe universe,theverysubstanceofthings,thecause andeffectofallthatisinnature. Pythagorasseparatedtheplanetsandaffirmed thattheirdistancesareinexactproportiontothe intervalsbetweenmusicalnotes.Combinedwith theSunandMoonintoarunningscale,they makeupthesacrednumberseven,andthese sevennotesofthecosmicscaleconstitute,with themysteriousstarsphere,thecosmicoctave.As eachoftheheavenlybodiesmovesinitspath, differentto,yetharmoniouswithalltheothers,it

Fig.70TheUniverseofPythagoras(c.540B.C.)

soundsitsownindividualnoteinthegreatoctavethatis"themusicofthespheres."This music,saidthePythagoreans,isallaboutusandhasbeensinceourinfancy,butwelive 109

besideit"asonelivesbesidethecataractsoftheNile"weneverknowwehearit. AccordingtoAristotle,thePythagoreanuniversewasdividedthus: TheEarthwas,firstofall,aspheresituatedinthecentreoftheuniverse,andwassurrounded bymanyspheres. OuranosorSkystretchedbetweentheEarthandtheMoon.Itwastheregionofillusionand change,alwaysfilledwithwhorlsofairandshiftingclouds. Cosmoswastheregionof"thecelestialoctave,"theappointedplacefortheSun,theMoon, andtheplanets.Itconsistedofsevenconcentricringsorspheres,inwhichtheseheavenly bodies,or"divinebeings,"livedtheirconscious,joyouslives. OlymposwastheStarsphere,thepureelementalregionwhichcompletedthecosmicoctave. BeyondOlymposstretchedtheregionofcelestialfire. BeyondtheregionofcelestialfirewasApeiron,InfiniteAir,InfiniteSpace,fromwhichandinto whichtheCosmosbreathes,andthroughwhichandbywhichonlyitlives. ThePythagoreansdidnotfailtotakeinto accountthefivegreatelements,from whichtheybelievedallthingswere fashioned.Theyfittedthesefive"Causal Beings"intothefiveregularsolids(Figs.2 6,p.8),towhoseforms,theysaid,the componentparticlesofthedifferent elementscorrespond.Thecomponent particleofEarth,forinstance,corresponds tothecube;ofwater,totheicosahedron;of air,totheoctahedron;offire,tothe tetrahedron;ofether,tothedodecahedron theformwhichhadbeenGod'smodelfor thewholeuniverse.
Fig.71atleftTheFiveGreatElements.

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"AFigureofthe WholeWorld" (Fig.72atleft)is the Pythagorean Ptolemaic system,much elaborated.It beginsbytaking intoaccountthe "foure Elements,"butit extendsthe numberofthe imaginable heavensbeyond the"cristaline"to twothiswasan inventionofthe medival astronomers. Thesetwo additional heavenswerethePrimumMobile,orthe"FirstMovable,"and"Theempyrealheaven,the habitationoftheblesed."ThislastwastheHeavenofHeavens,motionless,incorruptible,the placeoftheeternalmysteries.Noneofthesespheresconsisted,ofcourse,ofanymaterially palpablesubstance;theyweregreatsphericalzonesofaetherealspace,arrangedonewithin theother,whichcircledaboutthemotionlessEarthatdifferingratesofspeed.Perhaps, insteadof"spheres,"or"shells,"or"zones,"thesemovingregionsarebetterexpressedbythe term"velocities." Fig.73onthenextpagerepresentsagainthesamesystem,evenmoreelaboratelyinscribed with"correspondences."Byaidofthesetwoguidesthroughthe"twoessentiallParts"ofthe wholeworldthatistosaytheelevenheavensandthefourelements,thesixsystemsofthe universeshowninFig.66(p.103)canbemoreorlesseasilyfollowed.

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Fig.73Systemofthediversespheres.

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ONEDEVELOPMENTOFTHEPYTHAGOREANSYSTEMmightbementionedherethe attemptofanotherwiseunknownastronomer,Philolaus,toremovethemotionlessEarthfrom itsplaceinthecentreoftheuniverseandgiveitanorbitofitsown(seehissystemon followingpage).Hisreasons,exceptthathehopedbythistoaccountbetterfortheseemingly contrarymovementsoftheheavens,donotconcernushere.Butitisatransitionpicture.For bymovingtheEarthfromthecentreandlettinghermoveinSpace,hemayhavesolvedone problem,butheraisedtwonewones.Hehadleftthesacredplace,theCentreoftheWorld, empty,andhehaddisturbedthecosmicoctavebyaddingtoitanothermovingbody. HeretoforetheEarthhadbeenmutebecauseitwasmotionless;nowmovementgaveitits ownnoteinadisturbedscale.Sointhesacredplaceheputthepurestoftheelements,Fire, forerunneroftheCentralSun.Then,moretorestoretheharmonyofnumber,quitelikely,than toexplainNightandDay,hecreatedanothermovingheavenlybody,theplanetAntichthon,or CounterEarth,andgaveitanorbitbetweentheEarthandtheCentralFirewithoneofits facesturnedalwaystotheFire.Thisgaveninemovingbodies,andwiththestarsphereas another,thenumberwasincreasedfromthesacrednumberseventothesacrednumberten. TheEarthrevolvedwithonefaceturnedalwaysawayfromthecentre;Antichthon,thenew planet,wasthereforealwaysinvisible.Afterthisrearrangementwascompleted,explanations purportingtoreconcileageocentricwithanignicentricsystemwereinventedplenteously, someofthemveryinterestingones."Thosewhopartookofagreaterknowledge,"wrote Simplicius,"calledthefireinthemiddlethecreatingpower,whichfromthemiddlegiveslifeto thewholeEarthandagainwarmsthatwhichhasbeencooled....ButtheycalledtheEartha starbecauseitalsoisaninstrumentoftime,foritisthecauseofdaysandnights,foritmakes daytothepartilluminedbytheSun,butnighttothepartwhichisintheconeoftheshadow." Andheendsbysayingthatthemoonwascalledtheantichthon,becauseitis"anaethereal Earth." SomemodernstudentsofthisconfusionhavesuggestedthattheEarthandtheCounter EarthorAntichthonmighthavebeenintendedtobethetwohalvesofasinglesphere,cut throughameridianandseparatedveryslightly,withtheflatsidestowardeachother,butwith theconvexsideofAntichthonturnedalwaystowardstheCentralFire,andtheconvexsideof theEarthturnedalwaysawayfromit.Thismaybeso,butnooneknows.ForthePythagorean teachingswereatthebestobscure,andthePythagoreantextthathascomedownisscanty andcorrupt.OnePythagorean,HicatusofSyracuse,issaidtohavebelievedandtaughtthat theheavens,theSun,Moon,stars,andalltheheavenlybodiesarestandingstill,andthat nothingintheuniverseismovingexcepttheEarth,which,whileitturnsandtwistsitselfwith thegreatestvelocityrounditsaxis,producesallthesamephenomenaasiftheheavenswere movingandtheEarthwerestandingstill."

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Fig.74TheSystemof Philolaus. Upperfigure:Nighton Earth.Onlytheside turnedawayfromthe centreisinhabited; consequentlytheCentral FireandAntichthonare invisible. Lowerfigure:Twelve hourslater;DayonEarth. Earthhasmadehalfa revolution,andherouter sideisnowlightedbythe sun,whichhasonly movedabouthalfa degreeforwardinits yearlyorbit.Antichthon hasalsomadehalfa revolution,therefore remainsinvisible.

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Asabove,sobelow!PhilolausplacedtheplanetAntichthonorCounterEarthintheheavens, perhapsfivehundredyearsbeforetheChristianera.InthefirstcenturyA.D.PomponiusMela, aLatincosmographer,convincedthatasphericalEarthmusthaveamoreorlessbalanced distributionoflandandwater,drewthefirstmaponwhichthemysteriouscontinentofEarth appearsintheunknownhalfofEarthourantipodes.Thiscontinentheinscribedwiththe nameAntichthones,theUnknown.Hispenhadleapedovertheimpassableequatorialzone, andhaddrawnbelowitasolid,bowlshapedmassoflandwhichnomanhadseen,andwhich nomanmighteversee.Andyetitmustbethere!Ithadbeenlongknownthroughtravellers thatfromGreeceorfromItalytheeastwardlylandstretchedmuchfartherthanthelandtothe west,anditwasthereforequitepossible,withnoproofoftheexistenceofagreatwestern ocean,thatthenortherncontinentofEuropeAsiaAfricamightwraparoundthesphereuntil itseasternedgetouchedthewesternshoreoftheknownAtlantic.Butitwasimplicitlybelieved thattheknownlandstoppedattheequator;thebalancingcontinentmustbethereforeatthe antipodes. WhenPomponiusMeladroppedhissecondcontinenttothesouth,hewasamistakenman, buthisAntichthoneslingeredintheimaginationofmenlingeredfornearlyfifteenhundred years,untilColumbus,sailingwesttoIndiacameupontheWestIndiesandtheAmericas. Thegreatastronomerandgeographer,ClaudiusPtolemy,livedinthecenturyafter PomponiusMela.ThereisalegendthathewasadescendantoftheEgyptiankings,and knewtheirsecretscienceoftheheavens;certainlyhebroughtaboutarevivalofmathematical geographythathadnotbeenintheworldsincethegreatAlexandrianperiod,andhedrewhis mapsuponaformthatwastobethemodeloftheEarthuptoandthroughtheMiddleAges. PtolemybelievedtheEarthtobeaglobularbody,buttheformonwhichhismapswere modelledwasoneslightlydepressedatthenorth,andsharplycutoffalittlebelowthe equatoriallinebyasupposedlycontinuousSouthernOceanwhichcircledtheequatorand flowedbelowit.Hishistoriansdonotseemtodoubtthathisknowledgeoftheregionsofthe Earthextendedasfarastheequator,andthathehimselfknewthisfabledzoneoffirewas bothhabitableandinhabited.Butheconfinedhimselftoamapformthatincludedneitherthe unknownPolarregionsnorthehemisphereofAntichthones.

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Fig.75PomponiusMela'sMapoftheWorld,withAntichthones(1stcenturyA.D.)

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17TheSquareEarthofCosmasIndicopleutes
Fig.77TheSquareEarthofCosmasIndicopleustes(6thcenturyA.D.)

ONEOFTHESTRANGESTOF WORLDSistheSquareEarthof CosmasIndicopleustes,an Egyptianmonkofthesixthcentury A.D.,whoexpendedanastonishing ingenuityuponthedevelopmentof atheoryoftheuniversethatwould eliminatetheincreasinglypopular notionthattheEarthwasasphere. Hewasfilledwithaholyhatredof theheresyofthe"spherists"and theantipodists,andheevolvedat lastafigureoftheuniverse modelleduponthedesignofthe TabernaclebuiltbyMosesinthe wilderness,which,hepointedout, Moseshimselfhaddeclaredtobe constructeduponthepatternofthe visibleworld.HisownexplanationofitmaybereadinhisChristianTopography. CosmassaysthattheEarthisarectangularplanesurface,whoselongsidesaretwicethe shorterones.ThesearethemeasurementsoftheTabernacle,andoftheTableofShew bread.ThisEarthtableisdividedintothreeparts:thehabitableEarth,inthemiddle,the oceanwhicheverywheresurroundsit,andbeyondtheoceananothersurroundingcontinent, whichisnowaltogetherinaccessibletoman,butwhichwasoncetheseatofParadiseandthe homeofthehumanraceuptothetimeoftheDeluge,whenthefloodswepttheArkwithits fewsavedmenacrosstothe"otherEarth."Itistrue,saysCosmas,thataftertheFallParadise itselfhadbeenclosedtoAdam,butuntiltheDelugeheandhisdescendantshaddweltonthe coastedgesoftheFirstContinentofman. Upontheedgesofthisouterinaccessiblecontinentrestthefourwallsofheavenfour perpendicularplanesjoinedhermeticallytotheedgesofthetransoceanicEarth,and cementedatthetopbyanenclosingroof,informlikehalfacylinder.Itsendsrestonthe easternandwesternsidesoftheworld,anditssidesonthenorthandsouth.Thesedirections aredeterminedbytheTabernacleTable,whichwasplacedlengthwisefromeasttowest.Here isabitfromCosmashimself: "TheDeityaccordinglyhavingfoundedtheEarth,whichisoblong,uponitsownstability, boundtogethertheextremitiesoftheheavenwiththeextremitiesoftheEarth,makingthe 117

netherextremitiesoftheheavenrestuponthefourextremitiesoftheEarth,whileonhighhe formeditintoamostloftyvaultoverspanningthelengthoftheEarth.Alongthebreadthagain oftheEarthhebuiltawallfromthenethermostextremitiesoftheheavensupwardstothe summit,andhavingenclosedtheplace,madeahouse,asonemightcallit,ofenormoussize, likeanoblongvapourbath.For,saiththeProphetIsaiah(xlix,22),Hewhoestablished heavenasavault.WithregardmoreovertotheglueingtogetheroftheheavenandtheEarth, wefindthiswritteninJob:Hehasinclinedheaventoearth,andithasbeenpouredoutasthe dustoftheearth.Ihaveweldeditasasquareblockofstone."13

Fig.78TheSquareEarth.Itshabitableplane. Theinteriorofthis"oblongvaultedvapourbath"consists,liketheTabernacle,oftwoparts,the outerandtheinnertheveiloftheTabernaclecorrespondingtothefirmamentwhichdivides theuniverseintotwoparts,andwhichistheflooroftheupperandtheceilingofthelower story.ThefirststoryreachesfromtheEarthplane,"thefootstooloftheLord,"tothe firmament,andistheabodeofmenandangels.Thepresenceofangelsisnecessaryin man'sworld,notonlyforthesakeoftheirbeneficenteffectonhim,butalsobecausetheSun, Moon,andstarsarecarriedintheircourses,notbythefirmamentwhichismotionless,butby angelsappointedtothisworkuntilthelastday. OntheEarthplanerisesahighconeshapedmountain,whichmakespossible,inthisworld system,therisingandthesettingoftheSun,dayandnight,climates,seasons,etc.Withthe universeenclosedwithinasquarebox,itwasnolongerpossiblefortheSuntosinkinwestern waters,swimundertheEarth,andemergeagainfromtheeasternsea.Butforevercirclingthe
13 ChristianTopographyofCosmasIndicopleustes:HakluytSoc.Pub.1897,p.30.

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conicalmountainoftheworld,inthearmsofitscarryingangel,itishiddenfromapartofthe worldallofthetime,andthuscomesdayandnight.Thelengthofthedaysandnightsvaries, saysCosmas,accordingastheSunisclosetoorfarfromitsmountainscreen,andfromthis causespringsummerandwinter,storms,eclipses,heatandcold,andsuchphenomena."All thestarsarecreated,"hesays,"toregulatethedaysandnights,themonthsandtheyears, andtheymove,notatallbythemotionoftheheavenitself,butbytheactionofcertaindivine Beings,orlampadophores.Godmadetheangelsforhisservice,andHehaschargedsome ofthemwiththemotionoftheair,otherswiththatoftheSun,ortheMoon,ortheotherstars, andothersagainwiththecollectingofclouds,andpreparingtherain."Cosmasalsosaysthat menaremistakenwhentheysaythattheSunismuchlargerthantheEarth;thatitis,in reality,verymuchsmaller;and,bymeasuringitsshadowsatthedifferent"climates"of Ptolemy,heconcludesthatthesunhasthesizeof"twoclimates." AbovethefirmamentandbeneaththeuppervaultlivetheBlessed.Alongtheoutersideofthis vaultwhichterminatestheworld,resttheheavenlywaters.TheMosaicaccountofthe TabernacleanditsenclosedArk,saysCosmas,givesallthemeasurementsandhenceallthe secretsoftheworld,andbyitalonemanmayreconstructtheuniversewithinhimselfandlook downuponit,astheCreatorsurveyshishandiworkfromthevaultedroofofCosmas's"vapour bath." HerearesomeofthecorrespondenceswhichCosmasdrewbetweenthepatternofthe Tabernacleandthatofthevisibleworld. InthefirstTabernacle,"Mosesplacedinthesouthofitthecandlesticks,withsevenlamps, afterthenumberofdaysintheweektheselampsbeingtypicalofthecelestialluminaries andshiningonthetableplacedinthenorthoftheEarth.Onthistableagainheorderedtobe placeddailytwelveloavesofshewbread,totypifythethreemonthsbetweeneachofthefour tropics.Hecommandedalsotobewreathedallaroundtherimofthetableawavedmoulding, torepresentamultitudeofwaters,thatis,theocean;andfurther,inthecircuitofthewaved work,acrowntobesetofthecircumferenceofthepalmofthehand,torepresenttheland beyondtheocean,andencirclingit,whereintheeastliesParadise,andwherealsothe extremitiesoftheheavenareboundtotheextremitiesoftheEarth.Andfromthisdescription wenotonlylearnconcerningtheluminariesandthestarsthatmostofthem,whentheyrise, runtheircoursethroughthesouth,butfromthesamesourcewearetaughtthattheEarthis surroundedbytheocean,andfurtherthatbeyondtheoceanthereisanotherEarthbywhich theoceanissurrounded."

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18ThePeruvianUniverse
THEREISANOTHER"SQUAREEARTH"showninoneoftherarerworldpicturesinthis collectiontheUniverseoftheancientPeruvians.JuandeSantaCruzPachacutiYamqui Salcamayha,anativePeruvian,leftthedrawinginhisAccountoftheAntiquitiesofPeru, writtenabout1620.HismanuscriptreachedSpain,whereitlaylongforgottenamongthe treasuresoftheBibliotecaNacionalatMadrid.SalcamayhawasnotonlyaPeruvian,butheis creditedwithbeingoneofthechosenrecipientsofthetraditionsofhispeople,andinclose touchwiththefinalgloriesoftheYncaempire;forhisgreatgrandparentswerelivingatthe timeoftheSpanishconquestofPeru,andstoriesofthevanisheddayscametohimalmost fromthelipsofthosewhohadwitnessedthem. Salcamayhaleftnoreadingofthiscrudelysketchedcosmos,andwhatfollowsisbased largelyonBeuchat'sinterpretation. TheWorld,saysBeuchat,14wascalledPacha.ItwasasquareWorld,witharoofindicated, ridgeshaped,wheredweltthegreatGod.ThelowestplanewasEarth,whichgavesupportto thefourquarterswheredweltthegods. OutsidetheWorld,aboveit,totheleft,isasmalldisc,soBeuchatcallsit,butitfarmore resemblesafigureoftheCosmicorMundaneEgg,surrounded,thoughnotencircled,byfive stars.Within,inthecentreofthepointedroof,thisouterdesignappearsagain,much enlarged,slightlyrearranged,andwiththeadditionofasinglestar.Intherearrangementof thedesign,threeofthestarshavebeenconnectedalongathread,andfromthesethreeis suspendedtheovalfigureofHuiracocha,theCreatoroftheWorld.OnhisleftistheSunor Inti;onhisrighttheMoonorQuilla.ThebrightstarbelowtheSunisChascaortheplanet Venus,andunderVenusliesastarrepresentingCatachillay,ortheMilkyWay.Betweenthe MilkyWayandVenusisagroupofstarsthirteenwhicharetheconstellations. BelowHuiracochaarefivestars,butarrangeddifferentlyfromthegroupabove.Oneis separatedentirelyfromtheotherfour,butthefourareunitedbycrossedlines.Beuchat venturestobelievethatthesealsorepresentconstellations. BeneaththeMilkyWay,Catachillay,areanumberofconcentricsemicircles,whichsignifythe Rainbow;thetwowavelinesattheleftareThunder,andbelowthemistheRiverPillcomayo. Totherightoftheriverandimmediatelybeneaththerainbowedcircleare"eyes,""dont,"says Beuchat,"onnevoitpointclairmantlasignification."Fartotherightisanirregularfigure labelledmamacocha"thesea,"saysBeuchat,andalittleaboveitablackpuma.Belowthese twoismallqui,"atree."Atthebottomofthepictureisarectangle,whichrepresents Coricancha,andabovethefiguresofamanandawoman.

14 Manueld'Archeologieamricaine:H.Beuchat,1912,pp.630631.

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Fig.79WorldpictureoftheancientPeruvians.

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InhismanuscriptSalcamayhaexplainsCoricancha,accompanyingthetextwithanotheroval "creation"figure.AcertainYnca,hesays,afterheandhispeoplehadsettledatCoricancha onwhosesitewasrearedtheTempleoftheSun,"orderedthesmithstomakeaflatplateof finegold,whichsignifiedthattherewasaCreatorofHeavenandEarth,andthatitwasofthis shape.Hecausedittobefixedinagreathouse,calledCouricanchapachayachachipac huasin,"whichistosay,"thegoldenplace,thehouseoftheteacheroftheworld." Anotherreadingofthisworldpicturegivessomeinterestingliteraltranslationsofsomeofthe oldIndianandSpanishtext.OutsideofthediagramaretwoIndianwords,Uamadoand Orcorara,followedbyabitofSpanishcommentary"whichistosay(quieredecir)threestars allequal."Insidethefigureatthepeakofthe"roof,"mingledwiththeSunandMoonaremany Indianwords,withaSpanishtranslationoutside:"Whichistosaythatthisistheimage,or pattern,ofthemakerofbothheavenandearth;yetthisplatewassimply(orcrudely)(made) andnottobeperceived(easilybyall),becausetherewasalackinallthetablet(ordesign)of theradianceoftheresurrectionofJesustheLord." "Lucera"writtenaboutthestarChasca,beneaththeSun,anddesignatedbyBeuchatas Venus,isaSpanishwordmeaning"luminousstars,"asdifferingfromfixedstars,andis appliedtoVenusasthemorning,andto"Lucifer"astheevening,star.UnderChascaare Indianwordsand,inSpanish,"Thisistheluminousstarofthemorning."Totheright,thestar beneaththeMooncarriesseveralIndianwordsand,inSpanish,"ThisistheEvening(star)." ThefivestarsbelowHuiracochaaredesignatedbytwoIndianwords,Saramaniaand Chacana,followedby"engeneral.""PerhapstheymeanCosmogony,butthisisonlya guess." Thegroupofthirteenstarssignify"summerseason."Andthecorrespondingdesignatthe rightreads"Cloudsinwinter(season)."Thetwowavelinesattheextremeleftareinthis reading,"Lightning."Totheirright,theRainbow,above"Elmundoolatierra""theworldor theearth." Theseven"eyes"underthe"world"aresaidheretobeIndianwords. The"blackpuma"abovetheTreeofLifeissaidtosignifyhail,"andsincehailisbadforcrops, theyrepresentitbyalittleanimal."

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19TheAztecUniverse
Plate33AWORLDPICTUREOFTHEAZTECS FirstpageoftheCodexFerjrvryMayer,representingthefiveregionsoftheworld,andtheirtutelarydeities.

THEAZTECWORLDPICTURE (Plate33atleft)isthefirstsheetof the"NightSide"oftheCodex FerjrvryMayer,anoldMexican paintedbooknowintheFreePublic MuseumsatLiverpool.The foundationfortheseriesof paintingsisasortofparchment madeofdeerskincoveredonboth sideswithathincoatingofan extremelyadhesivepasteonwhich thepaintingswereexecutedinthe usualwaytheoutlinesindeep blackandthespacesfilledinwith colours.Itconsistsoftwentytwo foldedshapes17cm.square. OnesideDr.EduardSeler,its interpreter,callsthe"NightSide," theotherthe"DaySide." Thisfirstsheetisthemostinterestingandthemostfamousoftheentiremanuscript.It representstheFiveRegionsoftheAztecworldandtheirtutelarydeities,spreadoutlikea cross,alltheirspacesfilledwithfiguresoftrees,gods,birds,rivers,andsymbolsofthe cosmos,bothofitsobjectsanditsattributes. IntheMiddlePlace,saysSeler,15istheFiredeity,Xiuhtecutli,"theMother,theFatherofthe gods,whodwellsinthenaveloftheEarth."Fromhisbodyfourstreamsofbloodflowtowards thefourcardinalpoints,andarecontinuedbeyondthesquarespaceenclosingthecentreto theoutercornersofthepicture,wherethesignsacatl,"Reed,"tecpatl,"Flint,"calli,"House," andtochtli,"Rabbit,"areseenonshieldsrespectivelybornebyaquetzalbird,anarara,an eagle,andagreenparrot."Thesearethefoursignsbywhichtheconsecutiveyearsare namedwithconstantreiteration,becausetheyarethesignswhichfallonthefirstdaysof thoseyears,andtherefore,sincetheyareexhaustedwiththenumberfour,havebecome symbolsforthefourcardinalpoints,East,North,West,andSouth." Thestreamofbloodpointingtothesignacatl(Reed),thatis,totheEast(lefthandabove), terminateswithahandpaintedyellow"thehand(ray)oftheSungod?"Thestreampointing
15 CodexFerjrvryMayer,elucidatedbyEduardSeler,1901,pp.524."

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tothesigntecpatl(Flint)endswiththestumplegofthegodoftheNorth.Thestreamflowing towardsthesigncalli(House)orWest(righthandbelow)endsinafigureofachestformedby thevertebraeandadjoiningribsofaskeleton."FortheWestistheregionofthesetting(dead) Sun."Thestreamflowingtowardsthesigntochtli(Rabbit)orSouthendsinaheadinwhose hairisstuckadownyfeatherball,whichsymbolizesthe"warriorintheSouth"andatthe sametime,the"warriorintheNorth,"thedualgodofthetwoquarters. Abovetheuppersideofthecentralsquareisasortofplatformwithstepsinthecentre;thatis tosay,totherightofthecornerwhich,owingtotheshieldwiththesignacatl,"Reed,"wehave toregardastheEastcorner."Atthelevelofthesteps,whicharepaintedred,isshownthe imageoftheSun."ThiscanobviouslybenothingbuttheHouseoftheSun,theEast." Abovetheleftsideofthecentralsquareisavotivedishinwhicharearubberball,anagava leafthorn,andabonedagger.Theyarethesymbolsofsacrifice,ofbloodletting,ofself torture,voluntarilymadeinhonourofthegods,but,saysScier,theybelongtothegodsofthe South,andbringingthemintotheNorthernquarteroftheheavensmeansareversionofthe order,oraninterchangeofNorthandSouth." Abovethelowersideofthecentralsquareisseenamonsterdescendingfromabove,thatis, here,frombelow.Itwouldseemtobetolerablycertainthatthisisintendedtorepresentthe Tzitzimim,thedemonswhichsymbolisetherealmofdarkness,theeclipseoftheSun.Ishall havemorefullytoexplainfartheronthattheTzitzimimareoriginallyimagesofthestars, which,merelybecauseatthesolareclipsesthestarsbecomevisibleinbroaddaylight,have beenmadedemonsofdarkness,symbolsofthedevouringgloom.Inanycase,herethe figuredenotestheWest,theregionofthesettingSun,ofthelightswallowedupbytheEarth." Abovethefourthorrighthandsideofthecentralsquareisseen"thewideopenthroatofa monsterhieroglyphoftheEarth,whichinthisformisobviouslythoughtofasthetakeroflife, themictlampa,therealmofdeath,i.e.,theNorth." ThefloweringtreerisingabovethepictureoftheSun(upperEastside)issurmountedbya quetzalbirdandguardedbyItztli,theStoneknifegod(ontheleft),andTonantiuh,theSun god,allsymbolisingtheEasternquarter.Thistree,likeallinthefourquarters,hastheformof across. Thetreeabovetheleftsideofthecentralsquareisathorntreesurmountedbyaneagle,and isguardedbyTlaloc,theRaingod,andTepeyollotli,theHeartoftheMountainsortheVoice oftheJaguarintheMountainssymbolsoftheNorth. ThetreeoftheWest,growingoutoftheforeheadoftheTzitzimitl,orthedragonofthe eclipse,hasastemsetwithhugeuprightthorns.Insteadofflowers,itbearsfeatherballsat thetipsofitsbranches."Onitispercheddoubtlessahummingbird,"whichaccordingto Aztecbelief,dieswiththedryandreviveswiththerainyseason.Theguardiandeitiesare 126

Chalchiuhtlicue,goddessofflowingwater,andtheEarthgoddessTlazolteotl. AbovetheSouthside(right)isatreegrowingoutoftheopenjawsofthemonstersymbolising theEarth;"itsstemissetwithnotches(orfruitpods?)turneddownwards,whilethebranches bearakindofstarshapedblossomlikethatofthetreeoftheNorth."Onitisperchedaparrot, anditisguardedbyCinteotl,themaizegod,andMictlantecutli,godofdeath. ThedeitiesdepictedaboutthefourarmsoftheSt.Andrew'sCross,thatis,inthespaces enclosedbythetrapezesabovethefoursidesofthecentralsquare,aretheeightgodsofthe fourquarters.InthecentralsquarestandstheFiregod;hebelongstotheCentreorthe MiddlePlacebecauseherepresentsthehearthfirewhichburnsinthemiddleofthehouse. TheseninearethedeitiesoftheFiveRegionsand"LordsoftheNight." LiketheTibetanandKalmuckworlds,thefourquartersoftheAztecworldhavetheirfour colours,andtheyare:East,red;North,yellow;West,blue;andSouth,green.Thesearethe coloursalsooftheyearsandofthedays.Thewholefiguresymbolizestheorientationofthe worldpowersinSpaceandTimeyearsandEarthrealmsandSkyrealms.

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20TartarMongolWorlds
INPictureWritingoftheAmericanIndians,GarrickMalleryhascollectedadelightfulgroupof TartarandMongolmagicdrumtops,overwhichalittletimewillnotbewastedjusthere. ThesedrumswereusedareusedbyvariousTartarandMongoltribesinreligious ceremonies,andtheirshamansbelievethatthesoundofonedesignorfigurepaintedonthe stretchedskindiffersessentiallyfromthatofanotherpatternpainted,andthattherefore,one drumsoundedmaykillortorment,whileanothermayheal.Manyofthesedesignsarelittle worldpicturespurely.
Fig.80PaintedTartarandMongoldrums.

TheupperlefthanddesigninFig. 80,forinstance,suggestsatfirst glancenotonlyatwostoried divisionofheavenandEarth,buta WorldMountainandaWorldTree. AccordingtoMallery,thetwocircles withinnerdotsabovethecrossbar representtheMoonandSun. Twoshamansorpriestsofmagic arepicturedontheleft,andwith themawildgoatandfiveserpents. Ontherightarethreeshamansand adeer. Theupperrighthanddesign(b)had thesamefourquarterdivision,with afaceindicatedinthetoploopof theaxisortree,andwiththeupper heavensspangledwithstars,suns andmoons.Belowthecrossbarare arainbowwithstarsbeneathit,and, abovetherainbow,two"heavenlymaidens."Thismagicdrumdesignrepresents"thebringing ofthehorsetosacrifice." Thelowerlefthanddesign(c),saysMallery,"istheexternaldelineationofaheadwithout eyesandnose."Theshamanswhoownedthisdrumsaidthatthecircles,twoabovethe crossbarandsixbelow,allempty,are"representationsofdrums,andthethreehuman figuresaremastersorspiritsoflocalities." Thefourthdesign(d)wasexplainedbytheshamannofurtherthantosaythatthefivewave linesoneithersideofthefaceabovethecrossbarare"serpents." 128

Fig.81PaintedTartarandMongoldrums.

TheupperlefthanddesigninFig.81 hasaboveitsdividinglinetwotrees. "Oneachofthemsitsthebird karagushwiththebillturnedtothe left.""Ontheleftofthetree,"Mallery goesontosay,"aretwocircles,one dark(themoon),theotherlight(the sun)."Butthedesignasgivenshows butone.Belowthehorizontallines arethreeanimals,afrog,alizard, andaserpentallofthemwatery animals,whoappeartobeswimming inthewatersunderthetreebearing Earth. Theupperrighthanddesign(b)"has ontheupperhalftwocircles,thesun andmoon;ontheleftsidefour horsemen;andunderthema bowman,alsoonhorseback.The centreisoccupiedbyapictureofa netandsieveforwinnowingthenuts andseedsofthecedartree.Ontherightsidearetwotrees,beigamin(literally,therichbirch), overwhichtwobirds,thekaragush,arefloating.Underadivisionontherightandontheleft sideareovalobjectswithlatticefiguresorscalyskin.Thesearetwowhales.Inthemiddle, betweenthem,areafrogandadeer,andbelowthemaserpent.Above,towardthehoopof thedrum,isfastenedanowl'sfeather." Thelowerlefthanddesign(c)has,intheupperhalf,sevenfigures"remindingoneofhorses, bura,goingtoheaven,i.e.,theirsacrifice."Abovethemaretwolightgivingcircles,thesun andthemoon;ontherightofthehorsesarethreetrees;underahorizontallineontheleftisa serpent,ontherightafish,"thekerbuleik,thewhaleaccordingtoVerbitski,literallythebay fish." Thelowerrighthanddesign(d)hasitsupperhalfdividedintothreelayers,thefirstofwhich "isheaven,thesecondtherainbow,andinthelowerstratumthestars."Attheleftandright arethesunandmoon,below,agoat,andthreetrees."Malleryaddsthatunderneaththere wasanundefinedfigurenotgiveninthisdrawingwhichtheinterpretingshamancalled"the bura.Somesaidthatitmeantacloud;othersthatitmeantheavenlyhorses."

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Fig.82PaintedTartarandMongoldrums.

ThelefthanddesigninFig.82isdividedby fourverticalandfourhorizontallines."The latter,"saysMallery,"representtherainbow; theverticallinesborsui.Circleswithdotsin thecenterarerepresentedinthreesections, andinthefourthonecircle."Furtherthanthis, theshamandidnotinterpret. Therighthanddesignshowsinitsupper sectionfivehumanfigures."These,accordingtotheshaman'sownexplanation,areheavenly maidens(intheoriginalTurkish,tengriduingkuiz).Below,underarainbow,whichis representedbythreearchedlines,areportrayedtwoserpents,eachhavingacrossinside. Thesearekurmosnuingtyungurey,i.e.,thedrumsarekurmos's.KurmosistheAltaicwordfor spirits,whichtheshamanssummon." Theshamansofthesetribesadmitthreeworlds;theworldoftheHeavens(hallanjurda);the middleoneoftheEarth(ontodoidu);andtheloweroneofHell(jedntiigara);thefirstthe realmoflight,thelasttherealmofdarkness.Themiddleworld,orEarth,hasforatimebeen givenoverbytheCreator(JuttasolbohtahJrdanAiTojan)tothewillofthedevilortempter, andthesoulsofmenatdeath,accordingtotheirmerit,aresenteithertotheupperorthe lowerworld.When,however,"theearthworldhascometoanend,thesoulsofthetworealms willwageawaragainsteachother,andvictorymustremainonthesideofthegoodsouls."

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21MapsoftheEarth
THESPANISHPRIESTBEATUSwhointheyear798diedinaBenedictineconventinthe Asturias,isrecognisedastheoriginaldraughtsmanofaremarkableworldmaplostexceptfor "copies,"tenofwhichareknowntoday.ThismapgroupisknownastheBeatusMaps;they allappearedbetweenthetenthandthethirteenthcenturies,andobviouslyderivefromone commonsource,butthesourcemaphasdisappearedcompletely. ItcameoutoriginallyinBeatus'sCommentaryontheApocalypse,about776,anditsaimwas, probably,toportraythespreadof Fig.83MonstersoftheAntipodes. theChristianfaithovertheEarth, aftertheanalogyoftheworldand thekingdomofheaventoafield sownwithseed.Itwasdivided intopartsorfields,eachruled overbyoneoftheApostles, whoselocalitywasmoreorless fixedbytradition,andwhowasat oncethesoweroftheseed,the tillerofthefield,andthereaperof theharvest. TheOsmaBeatusmap(Plate34, followingpage),althoughoneof thelatest(1203),isregardedas onewhichisinmanyofits importantfeaturesmostlikeitsprototype.Itgives,forinstance,aloneofallthecopies,the picturesoftheTwelveApostlesintheregionsoverwhichtheyruled.Italsogivesarealistic pictureoftheinhabitantsoftheSoutherncontinentorAntichthones,stillunknownthose monstrousbeingsknownasSkiapodesorShadowfootedmen,whomustalwayslieorsitin suchfashionthattheirgreatfeetwereasumbrellasshadingthemfromtheotherwisedeadly Sun.Therewereotherfabulousracesofthisaustralland;onewhosehugelips,insteadof feet,protectedthemfromthescorchingfireoftheSun;anotherwhoseheadshadsunktoa planealmostlevelwiththeirshoulders;andstillanotherwhoseheadshadsunkquitebelow theshouldersandhadbecomeabsorbedinthetrunkofthebody.TherewereDogheaded men;Apeheadedmen;menwithoutears;menwithouttongues;menwithoutnoses;men withoutmouths,orwithmouthssosmallthattheysuckedtheirfoodwithgreatdifficulty throughareed.Someneverwalkedatall,butcrawledalongthegroundlikeserpents,andate serpents.OfthesemonstrousracesoftheAntipodestherewerefourteen,wearetold.

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Plate34 InportioningouttheEarthtotheTwelveApostles,toPeter wasgivenRome;toAndrew,GreeceorAchia;toThomas, India;toJames,Spain;toJohn,Asia;toMatthew, Macedonia;toPhilip,Gaul;toBartholomew,Lycaonia;to SimonZelotes,Egypt;toMatthias,Juda;toJamesthe brotheroftheLord,Jerusalem;andtoPaul,thewhole world.Alltheselocalitiesareindicated,andalsotheplace ofParadise,thislastbyarectanglefromwhosecentre springfourrivers. ThedivisionofthecontinentswasusuallythatofthesoFig.84ATOmapoftheXIIthcentury.
In''ImagoMundi.''

calledTOmaps,withAsiafillingtheupperoreasternhalf 132

(thetopsofmanyofthemedivalmapswereattheEast);andwiththelowerhalfdividedinto Europe,ontheleft,andAfrica,intherighthandquarter.ButintheBeatusmapsshownhere, SouthernAsiaandAfricawerecutbyanarrowstripofocean,belowwhichwassupposedto lietheAustralcontinent,theAntipodes,orAntichthones,sourceofromanceandfablerun madforhundredsofyears. AnotheroftheBeatusmapsisthefamousoneknownastheTurinBeatus,ofthetwelfth century.UnliketheOsmaBeatus,itsshapeisapurecirclequitelikelyadeparturefromthe formofthelostsourcemap,whichisbelievedtohavehadtheovoidform.Thereisnoattempt madehereatanydivisionoftheworldamongtheTwelveApostles,buttheGardenofEden, theFirstParents,thetemptingserpenttwinedaboutthetree,andMountSinaiarein evidence.Theunknowncontinentisindicated,butitsinhabitantsarenotshown.Inmany waysthiscopydeflectsfromtheoriginal;buttheTurinBeatusisfamousforits"Wind blowers,"seatedontheirinflatedbagsandkeepingtheuniversetoitscourseastheyfloat throughtheaerialocean.

Fig.85TheTurinBeatusWorldmap,c.1150. 133

INTHELIBRARYATSTOCKHOLM,amongthemanuscriptsofMarcoPolo,fantastictraveller andmanoftheworldofthefourteenthcentury,lieshisownmappamundi.Itisacombination ofthefirstcenturyworldmapofPomponiusMela(Fig.75,p.113),wherethecontinentof Antichthoneswasfirstshown,andtheTOmapsoftheMiddleAges,butwiththeoddsin favourofPomponiusMela'sdivision,forMarcoPologivesrathermorethanhalfthelandof theEarthtoAntichthones.Strangetothinkofthisasthetravellingmapofatouristofthethen knownworld!ButMarcoPolo'sTravels,gloriousromancing,gloriouslyingasmuchofitis,did moretopopularisethenotionthatthewholeworldwashabitable,includingitsunknown areas,thananywritersincehassucceededindoing.Forwestillhaveunknown,impassable, uninhabitableareasoftheEarth,andbywhatwethinkperhapsrightlyofthePolarzones, wecangaugealittletheopinionsoftheancientworldandevenoftheMiddleAgesregarding Antichthones.
Fig.86TheWorldmapofMarcoPolo. FromoneofhismanuscriptsintheLibraryatStockholm.

Inanycase,thankstotheCrusades,the habitoftravelhadlaidstrongholdofman, andaraceofnewadventurerssprangup overnight.MarcoPolo'scontemporaries begantodoubtthemythstheyhadbeen bredon,andtheyhurriedtowardsnew ones,someofthemMarco'sown.His Travelspavedthewayfortravel,andthe newadventurersdaredfartherandfarther thestillimpassableoceanthatseparated themfromwhattheydidnotknow,and broughtbackmanytales,ifnotof continents,of groupsofislandsnewlyfound,andthe wildestrumoursconcerningthestrange landsandracesthatlaybeyondthem. LessthantwocenturiesafterMarco Polo'smapwasdrawn,Ptolemy'smodeloftheEarth,whichleftoutofaccountitsunknown areas,wastobediscardedforthatofa"truesphere."

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Forin1509ascrapofabookcalledGlobusMundiwasprintedatStrassburgbyanauthor unknownprobablyhewillneverbeknown.ItwaspublishedinLatinandGerman,andit seemstohavebeennomorethananexpositorypamphletortracttoaccompanyortobesold witharealglobe.Thisisimpliedbyitsamplifiedtitle:TheWorldGlobe.Expositionor descriptionoftheworldandoftheterrestrialsphereconstructedasaroundglobeliketoa solidsphere,wherebyeverymanevenofmoderatelearningcanseewithhisowneyesthat thereareantipodeswhosefeetareoppositeours.Whatmakesthisextremelyinterestingis thatonlyseventeenyearsafterColumbusdiscoveredtheAmericas,atinybitoflandtothe southwestofAfrica,labelledNeWelt,appearedonasphericalworldmap.Another interestingthingaboutthismapistheenormoussizegiventotheAfricancontinent,underthe lingeringinfluenceofthelongtime beliefintheimpassableequatorial zone. "ThisdeviceprovestheEarthtobe aGlobe"(Fig.88atleft)isaself explanatoryseventeenthcentury attemptatpopularisingascientific theory;nobetterbutnoworsethan moderndevicesforpopular education.Theproofofferedhereis theoutlineoftheshadowcastonan eclipsedMoon;iftheEarthwerean hexahedron,atetrahedron,ora cube,itsshadowontheMoon wouldnotbecircularinoutline.But weknowtheshadowcastbythe Earthisacircularone;thereforethe Earthisaglobe!Thatacubical, tetrahedral,orhexahedralbody rotatinginSpaceattheEarth's supposedspeedandinthediverse directionsofitsmovementsmight tendtotraceacurvedlinewasnot suggested.

Fig.88'ThisdeviceprovestheEarthtobeaGlobe.'

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22TheEarthofColumbus
Fig.89ThepearshapedEarthofColumbus.

ITISONEOFTHELITTLEIRONIESoflife thatthemanwhomorethananyother popularisedthenotionthattheEarthwas "shapedlikeaball,"himselfbelieveditwas shapedlikeapear.PrivatelyColumbus affirmedthattheEarthwaspearshaped.We findthisinhisletters,andinthewritingsof hiscontemporaries.Oneoftheselatter, PietroMartire,whoaccompaniedColumbus onthevoyageof1498,inhisDecadesofthe neweworldepublishedin1555,saidthat "theAdmirall"declaredsuchthings,"the whichbecausetheyseemecontraryetothe oppinionsofalltheAstronomers,Iwylltouchethembutwithadryefooteassayeththe proverbe....Forhesayeth,thathe...conjectured,thattheearthisnotperfectlyrownde; Butthatwhenitwascreated,therewasacerteyneheapereysedtheron,muchhygherthan theotherpartesofthesame.Sothat(ashesaith),itisnotrowndeaftertheformofanapple orabal(asothersthynke)butratherlykeapeareasithangethonthetree.AndthatPariais theRegionwhichpossesseththesupereminenteorhyghestpartethereofnerestunto heaven.Insoomuchethatheearnestlycontendeth,theearthlyParadisetobeesituateinthe toppesofthosethreehylles,whichweesaydebefore,thatthewatchemansaweowteofthe toppecastelloftheshippe:Andthattheoutragiousstreamesofthefreshewaterswhichsoo violentlyisseweoutofthesaydegoulfesandstryvesoowiththesaltewater,fauleheadlonge fromthetoppesofthesaydemountaynes." Columbushimself,inalettertoFerdinandandIsabellaregardinghisthirdvoyage,wrote:16 "Ihavealwaysreadthattheworldcomprisingthelandandwaterwasspherical,andthe recordedexperiencesofPtolemyandalltheothershaveprovedthisbytheeclipsesofthe moonandotherobservationsmadefromEasttoWest,aswellastheelevationofthePole fromNorthtoSouth.ButasIhavealreadydescribed,Ihavenowseensomuchirregularity thatIhavecometoanotherconclusionrespectingtheEarth,namely,thatitisnotround,as theydescribe,butoftheformofapear,whichisveryroundexceptwherethestalkgrows,at whichpartitismostprominent;orlikearoundball,uponpartofwhichisaprominencelikea woman'snipple,thisprotrusionbeingthehighestandnearestthesky,situatedunderthe equinoctialline,andattheeasternextremityofthissea.[HeisintheGulfofParia,tothe northorthenorthwestofthemouthoftheOrinoco.]...Ptolemyandtheotherphilosophers whohavewrittenupontheglobethoughtthatitwasspherical;...butthiswesternhalfofthe
16 SelectLettersofColumbus:HakluytSoc.Pub.,anded.pp.134138.

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world,Imaintain,islikehalfaveryroundpear,havingaraisedprojectionforthestalk,asI havealreadydescribed." WhenColumbuswrotethislettertohisroyalhelpers,hesupposedhimselftobeinAsia's easternmostwaters,buthewasreallyinthenorthernpartofSouthAmerica,whichhehimself wentontodescribeastheParadiseoftheEarthortheMountainoftheWorld.ButtheWorld MountainofColumbushaddroppedfromitsnorthernquartertothewestern.

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23Dante'sUniverse
Fig.90TheEarthofDante. a.CityofJerusalem.b.MountainofPurgatory.c.InfernowithintheEarth.

COLUMBUSWASOFGENOAa centuryafterDantehaddiedat Florence.Probablyhehadneverread hiscountryman'sDivinaCommedia; evenifhehad,hemighthaveseen littleofvalueorsignificanceinDante's cosmology.Dantehadone,however, andhisschemebroughtbackinto moderntimes,thatmostancientofthe figuresofEarth,thehillsofthegods, theantipodalmountains. But,inDante'sEarthfigurealso,asin Columbus's,themountainshave shifted.IfColumbus,forsomestrange reasonandhisreasonisnotatall clearhadputhismountainofParadiseatthewesternendoftheEarth,Dante'stwo mountainsgiveastillodderfigure.InhisParadiseFound,Dr.Warrenhasworkedoutthis constructionofDante'sEarth,showingthattheMountainofParadisehasslippedallof30 belowtheequator.Hebasesthisconstructionmainlyonafewlinesregardingthelocationof theMountainofPurgatory(Purgatorio,Cantoiv,6770):"Zionstandswiththismountainin suchwiseontheearththatbothhaveasinglehorisonanddiversehemispheres;"andhe adds:"...nocarefulreaderoftheDivinaCommediacanfailtoseethatits'MountZion'and thePurgatorialMontagnamalagevolealtissimaetcintademarearesimplyunrecognised 'survivals'ofprehistoricthoughtantipodalworldmountainsoncesituateatthepoles,but hererelocatedtosuitthedemandsofsacredmedivalgeography.TheyaretheSuMeruand KuMeruofIndiafiguringinChristianpoetry."

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AnotherconstructionofDante'suniverseisgiven(Fig.91),fromStudiesintheHistoryand MethodofScience,editedbyCharlesSinger.ItisCaetani'sdiagramofDante'sHell, Purgatory,EarthlyParadiseandthenineHeavens.DantedescribesHellasafunnelor invertedcone descendingin ninediminishing whorlsthrough thehemisphere untilthecentreis reached,whichis alsothecentreof theuniverse,and issituatedjust underJerusalem, thecentreofthe habitableEarth. Or,accordingto Caetani,he picturesitasa circularmountain, conelike. Purgatory,Dante placesatthe antipodes,thatis, onanislandinthe oceanofthe uninhabitable Earth.Fromthis islandspringsa mountain ascendingina seriesofstages uptothesummit onwhichisEden, theEarthly Paradise,homeof theFirstPair.

Fig.91Dante'sSchemeoftheUniverse.
SlightlymodifiedfromMichelangeloCaetani,ducadiSermoneta, LamateriadellaDivinaCommediadiDanteAlighieridichiaratainVitavole,MonteCassino,1855.

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Paradiseincludesallthespheresofheaven,throughallofwhichDanteascends,finding himselfalwaysontheplanetthatgovernseachsphere,untilatlasttheEmpyreanParadiseis attained,whichcrownstheuniverse. Tworegions,ofairandoffire,mustbecrossedbeforethesphereoftheMoon,thefirststar, whichboundstheregionoffire,isreached;andonthelowerrighthandquarterofEarthisthe darkforestinwhichDantespentanightbeforehebegan,orinwhichhebegan,hisjourney. Atitsendheisatthefootofahill,confrontingthreegreatbeasts,fromwhomheisrescuedby Virgil,whoistobehisguidethroughHellandPurgatory.ThepoetsentertheInfernoat twilightaworldofeternalnightwhoseruleristheMoon.TheygothroughthetenPitsuntilin theverycentreoftheEarththeyseeLucifer,itsking,atthiscentreofgravity,encasedin eternalice. Thepassagethroughthecenteroftheearthisoneofthegreatestdifficulty,andaboveitis oceanonly,exceptfortheIslandofPurgatory.Thisdivisionoflandandwaterisexplainedto Dantethus: WhenLuciferfell,allthelandwhichexistedinthemysterioushemispherefellwithhim,and fledforfearofhimescapinginwhatwayitmightaroundtheglobe,settlingfinallyinthe inhabitedhemisphere.ItispossiblethattheEarthintheinteriorfledalso,butintheopposite direction,toformanislandoflandinthePurgatorialhemisphere.But,betweenlandandland, therewasleftanemptyspace,andupthisspacetheymightclimbtotheislandofrefuge. ThencomestheascentofstagesofPurgatorytoParadise,andtheflightthroughthe heavenlyspheres,untilatlastfromtheHeavenoftheStarstheuniverseliesspreadoutunder theirfeet,andDanteseesbelowhimthePurgatorialEarth,heartofthecosmos,smalland roundasathreshingfloor.

24EarththeHeartoftheCosmos
140

THECOSMICHEARTcentreoflifeintheuniverseasman'stinyheartishiscentreoflife meanttotheancientAryans"Breath,"theceaselesslyascendinganddescendingspiralwhich isthelifesustainingsymboloftheuniverse.TotheancientEgyptiansthecosmicheartwas theMind:"ItisHe(theHeart)whobringsfortheveryissue,anditisthetonguethatrepeats thethoughtsoftheHeart."TotheChinesetheheartoftheuniversewasBuddha;itwasalso "theskilfulworkman,"whomadeallthedifferentconditionsofexistenceinthetenregionsof space;itwasthe"universalessence"fromwhicheverythingintheuniversecameintobeing. HeavenandEarth,withthisheart,theysaid,pervadeseverything.Manobtainsit,andthenit istheheartofman;whenthingsobtainit,thenitistheheartofthings;whengrass,trees, birds,andbeastsobtainit,thenitistheheartofeachofthese.Andtheheartofman,they said,issimplytheinbornBuddha,whichbelongstoeverythingthathasconsciousexistence, thatinfinitesimalparticleofthedivinethatgivesandsustainsall.Somewhere,then,inthe universethisdivineheartofthecosmospulsated,andiftheEarthwasthecentreofthe cosmos,thentheEarthwasitsheartanditslife.
Plate35TheEarthofthemysticsTheheartofGod

JustastheunknownauthorofDe ImagoMundihadworkedouthis schemeoftheuniverseontheimage oftheCosmicEgg,JohnPordage,an Englishmanoftheseventeenth century,developedhismysticaltheory ofthe"ArchtypousGlobe"asthe CosmicHeart.Plate35giveshis drawingoftheEternalWorld,wherein theHolyTrinitydomanifest themselves,asinaclearChrystalline GlassorMirrour."Init,hediscerned threedistinctplaces,theOutward Court,theInwardCourt,orHoly Place,and"theInmostCourt,orthe AbysmalEyeinthecentreofthe HeartofGod,...whichessentialEye ofGod,lookingintoitself,andfinding nothingbesidesitself,bydilatingitself,givesabeginningandanendtoitself;which beginningandentringinto,andjoyningwithoneanotherdoconstituteandformtheGlobeof Eternity...fortheEye,turningitselfinwardsintoitself,comestoknowitself,andtosee, feel,andtasteitself;andifitlookoutward,itseesnothingbutitselfneither,becauseasthe EyeisGod,soistheGlobenothingbutthedilationoftheEye...forthenaturalformationof aGlobeorsphearisbytheCentre'sdilatingandexpandingofitself;acircumferencebeing nothingelsebutacentredilated,oracentralemanationboundedbyitself....Iamashamed topresentyousuchadeadlifelessfigureofit;butnopencandecipheritonpaper,itisonly 141

theSpiritoftheEyethatcanopenitself,andgiveyouthelivingandravishingsightofitsown essentialitywithoutsimilitudesorfigures,thoughIcanexpressitoutwardlynobetterthanI haveintheforegoingfigure." Pordageexplainsthetiny"figureintheMargent,"astypifyingtheHolyTrinity.TheEyeinthe midstoftheHeartrepresentstheFather,theGeneratoroftheSonwhoistheHeartofthe Father;andtheoutflowingexitofpowers,likeabreath,representstheHolyGhostproceeding fromtheFather,throughtheHeartoftheSon.ThusthebirthoftheHolyTrinityismanifested intheopeningoftheEye,tobeaTrinityinUnity;theEyeisintheHeart,andtheHeartisthe Eye'sCentre,andtheSpiritisaproceedingSpiritfromtheEyeandHeart;andthustheyare oneinanother,inoneEssence,andundividedandinseparable;theFatherisonewiththe Son,andtheSonwiththeFather;andtheSpiritproceedsfromtheunionoftheseboth,and abidesonewiththem.WheresoevertheEyeis,thereistheHeart;andwheresoevertheEye andHeartare,theretheoutgoingofpowersstreamsforthfromthem." Mapmakersarenotusuallymystics,andcertainlythereisnoindicationthatPetrusApianus, distinguishedGermanmathematicianandastronomerofthesixteenthcentury,wasproposing todomorethanmakeanextraordinarilybeautifulworldmapaccordingtoapatternhehimself explains.OnPtolemy'sfigureofEarth,Apianusmadehisfamous"cardiformprojections" towardsthepoles,andobtainedhisheartshapedmapoftheworld.Thisisoneoftheearliest mapsonwhichthejustdiscoveredwesterncontinentsappearunderthenameofthe Americas.(SeeFrontispiecePlate36,p.2.)

25St.Hildegard'sUniverse
142

THEREISANOTHERUNIVERSEoftheMiddleAgesinwhichtheEarthisliketheheart." ThisistheUniverseofSaintHildegardofBingen,wholivedfrom1096to1179or1180.Saint Hildegardwouldhavebeenaremarkablewomaninanyage;inherownshehadnoparallel. AbbessofaBenedictineconventnearBingenontheRhine,shewasthefirstofagreatlineof womenmystics.Shefoundedtwoconvents,wastheauthorofmanylettersandthreebooks possiblyfivewasforthosedaysaphysicianinherownright,andwrotealongtreatiseonthe natureandpropertiesofherbs.Shewasinterestedinstatecraft,wasamusicianandapoet, andoverhalfahundredhymnsarecreditedtoher.Herhealthwasnotgood,butshe governedherconvent,wroteherbooks,healedhersickandailing,correspondedwiththe wisestmenofherage,andtravelledhundredsofmilesinthetwelfthcentury!Andwithall this,sheledthecontemplativelife.
Fig.92Hildegard'sfirstschemeoftheUniverse.SlightlysimplifiedfromtheWiesbadenCodexB,folio14r.

Inthatcontemplativeactivelifeher curioussystemoftheuniverse blossomed,andinherlettersand herbooksshelefttherecordsofher mysticalvisionsofitsstructureand meaning.Theserecordsusually beginwith,"TheLivingLightsayeth ..."ItwashernameforGod,butit wasin"TheShadeoftheLiving Light"thatshehadherperceptions oftheuniverse,anditisinteresting toreadhersimpleaccountofthese "Lights.""Frommyinfancyuntilnow intheseventiethyearofmyage," shesays,"mysoulhasalways beheldthislight,andinitmysoul soarstothesummitofthe firmamentandintodifferentair.... ThebrightnesswhichIseeisnot limitedbyspace,andismore brilliantthantheradiancearound theSun....Icannotmeasureits height,length,breadth.Itsname, whichhasbeengivenme,is'Shade oftheLivingLight.'...Withthat brightnessIsometimesseeanother lightforwhichthenameLuxVivenshasbeengivenme.WhenandhowIseethisIcannottell; 143

butsometimeswhenIseeitallsadnessandpainisliftedfromme,andIseemasimplegirl again,andanoldwomannomore." InHildegard'suniverse,theEarthwasthecentre,andspherical,aroundwhichwerearranged concentricshellsorzones.Theinnerzonesarespherical,theouterovaloreggshaped,and theoutermost(Fig.92)soformedastosuggesttheacuminatedspherethatsymbolisesthe fifthelement,quintessenceoftheotherfour.Thispointthattapersintoouterspaceisinthe East,whichisthetopofthediagram.Oneofherdrawingsshows,saysSinger,thatshe believedtheantipodeansurfaceoftheEarthtobeuninhabitable,"sinceitiseitherbeneath theocean,orinthemouthoftheDragon." IntheinterioroftheEarth,shebelieved,aretwovastspacesshapedliketruncatedcones, wherepunishmentwasendured,andfromwhencegreatevilcameforth.TheEarthitselfwas composedofthefourelements,whicharerepresented,curiouslyunequalinproportionand shape.Theirarrangementisnotorderly,andthisverydisorderillustratesoneofHildegard's fundamentaldoctrinesregardingtherelationofthisworldtotheuniverse.Beforeman'sfall, theelementswereunitedinanharmoniouscombination,andEarthwasParadise;afterthat catastrophe,theharmonyoftheuniversewasdisturbed,withthecentreofallthetroubleon thisplanetwhichhaseversinceremainedinitsnowfamiliarstateofchaoticconfusionor mistio,asHildegard'sagecalledit.Thismistiosherepresentsvigorouslyenoughbythe irregulardistributionoftheelementsovertheEarth."Thusmingledwilltheyremainuntil subjectedtothemeltingpotoftheLordJudgment,whentheywillemergeinanewand eternalharmony,nolongermixedasmatter,butseparateandpure,partsofanewheaven andanewEarth." Aroundthisworld,saysSinger,17isspreadtheatmosphere,theaerlucidusoralbapellis,also circular.ThroughthisalbapellisnoEarthcreaturecanpenetrate.LaterHildegardseemsto havedividedthisfirstzoneofairintotwo,theaertenuisoratmospherewhoseouterpartis theinnerzoneoftheclouds,andthefortisetalbuslucidusqueaer,wherecertainfixedstars areplaced. Beyondthisarefourouterzonesbelongingtothefourwinds,indicatedbythebreathof supernaturalbeings.Theyalsocorrespondconfusedlytothefourelementsandtothefour regionsoftheheavenlybodies. Thefirstistheaeraquosus,correspondingtowater,andcontainingtheeastwind.Initsouter partfloatclouds,expanding,contracting,andbeingblownthiswayandthat,thusconcealing orrevealingtheheavenlybodies. Beyondtheaeraquosus,orwateryzone,isthepurusaether,orzoneofair,andcontaining thewestwind.Ofallthezonesitisthewidest,andthelongaxisofthiszoneandthe
17 "TheScientificViewsandVisionsofSaintHildegard;"CharlesSinger:InStudiesintheHistoryandMethodof Science,Vol.I,1917,pp.2236.

144

remainingouterzonesisfromeasttowest,thusfixingthepathofmovementoftheheavenly bodies.Itcarriesinittheconstellationsofthefixedstars,theMoon,andthetwointerior planets,MercuryandVenus. Beyondthezonesofeastwindandwaterandofwestwindandairistheumbrosapellis,or ignisniger,thezoneofthe"dry"andthe"earthy,"ofthenorthwind,thunder,lightning,and storms.Itisadark,narrowshellwhichisthestorehouseof"thetreasuresofthesnowandof thehail." Theoutermostshellisthelucidusignis,zoneoffire,ofthesouthwind,andofthethreeouter planets,Mars,JupiterandSaturnalso,inHildegard'sfirstscheme,oftheSun. Themovementsofthefourouterzonesabouteachother,whichcarrytheheavenlybodies, arecausedbythefourwinds;andtheelementspeculiartoeachzoneareherecomparatively pure.Eachzonehasalsoitsownspecialmentalcharacter,andhasaspecificinfluenceon themindandthebodyofman.For,saysHildegard,"AndagainIheardthevoicefromheaven saying,'God,whocreatedallthings,wroughtalsomaninHisownimageandsimilitude,and inhimHetraced(signavit)allcreatedthings,andHeheldhiminsuchlovethatHedestined himfortheplacefromwhichthefallenangelhadbeencast." Plate37isanillustrationfromherLiberDivinorumrepresentinghersecondvision,which showsNous,the"worldspirit,"animatedandcontrolledbytheGodhead,witharms outstretchedembracingthemacrocosmwiththemicrocosm.Onlytheheadandthefeetof Nousarevisible,forthebodyiscoveredwiththediscoftheuniverse.Inthispictureofher universe,thezonesareseven:theyare,fromwithoutinwards,saysSinger: a.Thelucidusignis,containingthethreeouterplanets,thesixteenprincipalfixedstars,and thesouthwind. b.Theignisniger,containingthesun,thenorthwind,andthematerialsforthunder,lightning, andhail. c.Thepurusaether,containingthewestwind,theMoon,thetwoinnerplanets,andcertain fixedstars. d.Theaeraquosus,containingtheeastwind. e.Thefortisetalbuslucidusqueaerwherecertainotherfixedstarsareplaced. f.Theaertenuis,oratmosphere,intheouterpartofwhichisthezoneoftheclouds. Fromallthesezoneswithalltheircontents,elements,winds,Sun,Moon,planets,fixedstars, andthegreatanimalsorqualitiesoftheheavens,areraineddowninfluencesuponthefigure 145

ofthemacrocosm. SingerquotesapassagefromHildegard'sLiberDivinorum. toillustrateallthis,andmostofitcanbefollowedinPlate37,andinFig.92.

Plate37NouspervadedbytheGodheadembracingtheMacrocosmwiththeMicrocosm.

146

147

"Inthemiddleofthedisk[ofthe universe]thereappearedtheform ofaman,thecrownofwhose headandthesolesofwhosefeet extendedtothefortisetalbus lucidusqueaer,andhishands wereoutstretchedrightandleftto thesamecircle....Towards thesepartstherewasan appearanceoffourheads,a leopard,awolf,alion,andabear. Abovetheheadofthefigure,in thezoneofthepurusaether,I sawtheheadoftheleopard emittingablastfromitsmouth, andontherightsideofthemouth theblast,curvingitselfsomewhat backwards,wasformedintoa crab'shead...whileontheleft sideofthemouthablastsimilarly curvedendedinastag'shead. Fromthemouthofthecrab's head,anotherblastwenttothe middleofthespacebetweenthe leopardandthelion,andfromthe stag'sheadasimilarblasttothe middleofthespacebetweenthe leopardandthebear...andall theheadswerebreathingtowards thefigureoftheman.Underhis feetintheaeraquosusthere appearedasitweretheheadofawolf,sendingforthtotherightablastextendingtothe middleofthehalfspacebetweenitsheadandthatofthebear,whereitassumedtheformof thestag'shead;andfromthestag'smouththerecameasitwereanotherbreathwhichended inthemiddleline.Fromtheleftofthewolf'smoutharoseabreathwhichwenttothemiddleof thehalfspacebetweenthewolfandthelion,wherewasdepictedanothercrab'shead... fromwhosemouthanotherbreathendedinthesamemiddleline...Andthebreathofallthe headsextendedsidewaysfromonetoanother....Moreover,ontherighthandofthefigurein thelucidusigni,fromtheheadofthelion,issuedabreathwhichpassedlaterallyontheright intoaserpent'sheadandontheleftintoalamb'shead...similarlyonthefigure'sleftinthe ignisniger,thereissuedabreathfromthebear'sheadendingonitsrightintheheadof [another]lamb,andonitsleftinanotherserpent'shead...Andabovetheheadofthefigure 148

thesevenplanetswererangedinorder,threeinthelucidusignis,oneprojectingintotheignis niger,andthreeintothepurusaether....Andinthecircumferenceofthecircleofthelucidus ignisthereappearedthesixteenprincipalstars,fourineachquadrantbetweentheheads.... Alsothepurusaetherandthefortisetalbuslucidusqueaerseemedtobefullofstarswhich sentforththeirraystowardstheclouds,whence...tongueslikeriversdescendedtothedisk andtowardsthefigure,whichwasthussurroundedandinfluencedbythesesigns." InHildegard'sfourthvisionoftheinfluenceoftheheavenlybodiesandthepureelementson men,animals,andplants,shesaw,fromtheupperfieryfirmament,thelucidusignis,ashesas itwerecasttotheEarth,whichproducedrashesandulcersinmenandanimalsandfruits. Fromtheignisnigershesawvapours(nebul)descending,whichwitheredtheplantsand drieduptheearth.Againstthesedescendinginfluencesthepurusaetherstruggled,seeking toholdbacktheplaguesofdiseaseanddrought. FromthefortisetalbuslucidusqueaershesawcertaincloudsdescendtotheEarthandinfect menandbeastswithapestilence,butthisplaguetheaeraquosusopposed,sothatallwere notdestroyed.Intheaertenuisshesawitsmoistureasifitwereboilingabovethesurfaceof theEarth,rousingtheforceoftheEarth,andcompellingittobringforthitsfruitsbyaidofthe cosmicrays. Inthewholeofherschemeoftheuniverse,thewindsareofprimeimportance.Wereitnotfor thewinds,which,shesaid,arethewingsofGod'spower,theotherthreeelements,thefires ofthesouth,thewatersofthewest,andthegreatshadowsofthenorthwouldburstoverthe Earthanddestroyit.Or,werethefourwindstomoveforwardatonce,theelements themselveswouldbesplitasunder,andthewatersoftheseawouldbedriedup.Asman's body,shesaid,isheldtogetherbythesoul,sothefirmamentisheldtogetherbythewinds, whichare,likethesoul,invisible. Indevelopinghertheoryofthecorrespondenceofthemicrocosmtothemacrocosm,ofman totheuniverseandGod,shesetdownmanyofitsdetails.Thefirmamentcorrespondstothe headofman,inwhich,fromthetopofthecerebralcavityto"thelastextremityofthe forehead,"aresevenmarkedspacesallequal,whichcorrespondtothesevenplanets,allof which,saysHildegard,areequallydistantfromeachotherintheheavens.TheSun,Moon, andstarsshecomparestohiseyes;airishishearing,thewindshissmelling,thedewof heavenhistasting,andthesidesoftheworldhisarmsandhistouching.TheEarthislikethe heartofthecosmos,forit,liketheheartofman,canbestirredbyemotion;and,astheheart ofman,movedbyjoyorsorrow,excitesthebraintocausetearstoflow,sotheEarth,when theMoonbeginstowaxandwane,sendsuphertears,thefogsofheroceansandseas.

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Plate38(FromUriusqueCosmi;RobertFludd,1621.Vol.I)

26TheEarthsintheUniverse
OFALLTHEMYSTICALCOSMOLOGISTSEmanuelSwedenborgwrotethelongestscrollof correspondencesbetweenMan,Earth,andHeaven.Hiswholecosmologywasfoundedon 150

theGrandMan,whocontainedwithinhimselftheuniverse,andtestifiedtothemystics'struth that"allthingsarecreateddouble,oneagainstanother";that"thereisnoherbonearthto whichastardoesnotcorrespondinheaven."But,unlikeHildegard,Swedenborgdidnotleave behindhimhispicturedconceptionsofthecosmos,oftheGrandMan,orofthemultiplied Earthsoftheheavens.Thereisalittlebookofhis,TheEarthsintheUniverse,whichreads likeafairystory,andshouldhavehadatleastitsfrontispiece.His"EarthsintheUniverse"are theplanets.Hebeginswiththe"Earthorplanet"Mercury,followingitwiththeEarthorplanet Jupiter,andafterthese,intheirorder,cometheEarthsorplanetsMars,Saturn,andVenus. ThenhediscoursesonthespiritsandinhabitantsoftheMoon,andthe"fiveEarthsofthe starryheavens." "Thattheuniversalheavenresemblesoneman,"hesays,"whoisthereforecalledthe GRANDMAN,andthatallandsingularthethingsappertainingtoman,bothhisexteriorsand interiors,correspondtothatmanorheaven,isanarcanumnotasyetknowntotheworld,but thatitisso,hasbeenabundantlyproved.ToconstitutethatGrandMan,thereisneedof spiritsfromseveralearths,thosewhocomefromourearthnotbeingsufficientforthis purpose,beingrespectivelyfew;anditisprovidedoftheLord,thatwhensoeverthereisa deficiencyinanyplaceastothequalityorquantityofcorrespondence,asupplymustbe instantlymadefromanotherearth,tofillupthedeficiency,sothattheproportionmaybe preserved,andthusheavenbekeptindueconsistence." TheinhabitantsoftheEarthorplanetMercury,hesays,havearelation,nottoterrestrial objects,buttothememoryofthingsabstractedfromtheseobjects.Thespiritsorangelswho arefromtheEarthJupiter,"intheGRANDMANhaverelationtotheIMAGINATIVEPARTOF THOUGHT,andconsequentlytoanactivestateoftheinteriorparts;butdiespiritsofourearth haverelationtothevariousfunctionsoftheexteriorpartsofthebody,andwhentheseare desiroustohavedominion,theactiveorimaginativepartofthoughtfromtheinteriorcannot flowin;hencecometheoppositionsbetweenthespheresofthelifeofeach."Thebeingsof theEarthMarshaverelation,intheGrandMan,to"thelongitudinalsinus,whichliesinthe brainbetweenthetwohemispheresthereof,andisthereinaquietstate,howsoeverthebrain bedisturbedoneachside."TheinhabitantsandspiritsoftheEarthSaturnhaverelation,in theGrandMan,to"themiddlesensebetweenthespiritualmanandthenaturalman,butto thatwhichrecedesfromthenaturalandaccedestothespiritual."ThespiritsofVenushave relation,intheGrandMan,to"thememoryofthingsmaterial,agreeingwiththememoryof thingsimmaterial."ThespiritsandinhabitantsofourEarthhaverelation,intheGrandMan,to "naturalandexternalsense,whichsenseistheultimatewhereintheexteriorsoflifeclose, andrestasintheircommonbasis."

27WheelsuponWheels

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Plate39Kepler'sdiagramofTheLawconnectingtherelativedistancesoftheplanets.

ATLEFTISAGROUPOFEIGHT FIGURESwhosewholeinterestlies justintheirassociation.Withtheir sciencewehavenothingtodohere, sincetheyareoldattempts,mostof them,toaccountfortheobserved aberrationsofmovementamongthe heavenlybodies.WangCh'ung,an oldChinesephilosopher,expressed apartofthisstillunsolvedproblem veryoddlyandsimplyindeed. Writingofthecomplexmovements oftheSunandtheMooninrelation totheheavens,hesaid:That Heaventurnssidewaystotheleft "likeamillstone";thattheSunand Moonmovetotheright,butare sweptbyHeaventotheleft;that theirrealmovementistowardsthe east,buttheyarecarriedbyHeaven towardsthewest,wherethey"go down";thattheyresembleants creepingtotheleftsideona millstoneturningtotheright,but thatthemillstone,beingmuch swifterthantheants,compelsthem tofollowittotheright. Oldastronomers,however, employedtwodevicestoaidthemin theircalculations;onetoaccountfor theseemingdifferenceobservedin thespeedoftheSun'smovementin itsorbit;theothertoaccountforthe seemingalternationofdirectioninthemovementsoftheplanets. TheSun,forinstance,whendescribingacertainsegmentofitsorbit,travelledatagreater speedorsoitseemedthanwhenitmovedinthecorrespondingoppositequarter.Tothe Sun,therefore,wasgivenaplaceintheheavenscalledtheExcentricsphereitwasanother theoryoftwocentres.Foritwasassumedthatalltheheavenlysphereswerenotconcentric, didnot,thatis,havetheEarth'scentreasacommoncentre;andthatthecentreofone 152

sphereofrevolutionmightbeapointalittleremovedfromthecentreoftheEarth.According tothistheory,whentheSunwasneartheEarth,itsspeedwouldappearmuchgreaterthan whenitwasmovingatadistancefartheraway.

Fig.93(atleft): TheexcentricsphereofMahmudibnMuhammedibn OmaralJagmini(c.13thcenturyA.D.) 1.TheSun.2.Excentricsphere.3.Surroundingsphere.4. Complementofthesurroundingsphere.5.Centreofthe world.6.Centreoftheexcentricsphere.

point."Foratimethesedevicesofthe excentricandtheepicycleseemedto workfairlywell;butafterawhilethe astronomersfoundthemselves entangledinsuchamazeofcentrics andexcentrics,cyclesandepicycles, andspheresheapeduponspheres, thattheyneverfoundtheirwayoutof thelabyrinththeyhadthemselves constructed,andeventuallythe systemthatwastoaccountforallthe mysteriesoftheheavenlymovements fellofitself.

Toaccountfortheseemingalternationof directioninthemovementsoftheplanets,the theoryoftheEpicyclewasevolved.Thismeant, briefly,thataplanetdidnotmovedirectlyinthe circumferenceofitsrevolvingsphereorcycle as,forinstance,theSunmovedinitsexcentric sphere,butinanepicycleorsmallcirclethat revolvedaroundafixedpointinthelargercircle andcarriedtheplanetwithit;"fixedtoitsinner surface,"saysanoldArabianastronomer,"likea pearlonaring,touchingthesurfaceinone

Fig.94(atright)The''GuidingSpheres''of NasirEddinAttsi (13thcenturyA.D.) 1.EpicycleoftheMoon.2.Surrounding sphere,destinedtokeepthediameterfrom apogeetoperigeeinitsplace,always coincidingwiththediameterofthesphere(4); "Letusgiveitasuitablethickness,butnottoogreat,soasnottotakeuptoomuchspace."3.Spherewhich correspondstothesmallersphere,andthediameterofwhichisequaltothedistanceofthecentreofthe deferentinthePtolemaicsystemfromthecentreoftheEarth.4.Spherewithadiametertwiceasgreatas(3).5.

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Carryingsphereconcentricwiththeworldandoccupyingtheconcavityofthesphere(6),theequatorofwhichis intheplaneofthelunarorbit. (2)and(4)and(5)revolveinthesameperiod,thatinwhichthecentreoftheepicycleperformsarevolution;(3) revolvesinhalfthattime,while(6)revolvesintheoppositedirectionwiththesamespeedastheapogeeofthe excentric.

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Thefigurenowshowshowtheepicycle movestoandfroalongthediameterof(4), andduringtherevolutionofthecircle(5) describesaclosedcurve,aboutwhich NasirEddinjustlysaysthatitissomewhat likeacirclebutisnotreallyone,forwhich reasonitisnotaperfectsubstituteforthe excentriccircleofPtolemy.

Fig.95(atright)Themovementdescribed byMars,15801596.

Dante'sfavoritedescriptionofthe heavenswas"wheelsuponwheels," andJagmini'sdiagram(Fig.93) showsthe"excentricwheel"ofthe Sun,itselfasolidsphericalbodythe edgesofwhosewheeltouchtwo othersurfaces,inthecommon centreofwhichistheEarth.Butthe centreoftheexcentricsphereisnot"thecentreoftheworld."Fortherewere"pulls"inthe heavensthatresultedinconstantlyshiftingcentres. NasirEddinAttsi,greatArabianastronomerofJagmini'scentury,attemptedtoaccountfor thevariouslunaciesoftheheavensby,literally,"thespotsonthemoon."Thesespots,he assumed,arecausedbyotherbodiesmovinginitsepicycleandunequallyexposedtoits light,andthisphenomenonhecalls"theanomalyofillumination."Themovementsofthefive planets,particularlythoseofMercuryand Venus,required,hesaid,"theintroducingofa systemofguidingspheres,"andthistheory, whenfullyworkedout(Fig.94)gavehim,for thepathofMercury,nottheexcentriccircleof Ptolemy,noracircleatall,butacuriousclosed
Fig.97TherelationoftheharmonyoftheMicrocosmostotheMacrocosmos.

curvewithunequalradiiwhichhedescribedas"somewhatlikeacircle,butnotreallyone."

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Fig.98TheBalance.

28TheWorldOctaves
ITWASHISPROLONGEDOBSERVATIONofthemovementofMars(Fig.95,p.147)thatled Keplertodiscoverthetrueformoftheplanetaryorbits,tilthenconsideredtobeperfectly circular,anditwasduringthelastyearofhisobservations(1596)thathehituponhisbeautiful solutionofthecosmographicmystery.Hebelievedintheharmonyofthespheres,andall hislifehesoughtforsometrueandsimplelawbindingthemembersofthesolarsystem together.Hisfirststepwastodiscoverthelawconnectingtherelativedistancesoftheplanets, 156

somesimplerationofdistancesthatwoulddoawaywiththecomplexandmultipliedepicycles andexcentricswithwhichPtolemyandhissuccessorshadtroubled,ifnottheheavens,the mindsofmen. Byaccidenthewasbroughtfinallytoseekthislawofdistancesthroughsimplegeometry.A diagramhehaddrawnduringalecture,toillustratethecyclesofthegreatconjunctionsofthe planets,remindedhim,inasuddenflashofillumination,ofthe"fiveregularsolids,"the"five mathematicalbodies"(6);andfortherestofhislifeheworkedonthetheorythatthese beautifulsolidsborewithinthemselvesaproportionansweringtotheseveraldistancesofthe planetsfromeachother.Thatis,ifwedescribeacirclearoundacubeandanotherinsideit,or acircleaboutatetrahedronandanotherwithinit,thedistancesbetweenthesecircumscribed andinscribedcircleswillshowtheproportionaldistancesoftheplanetseachfromtheother betweenwhichthesefivesolidsfit. Betweenthesixplanetaryspherestherearefiveintervals,andKeplerplacedthefivesolids betweenthespheresasfollows: Saturn Cube Jupiter Tetrahedron Mars Dodecahedron Earth Icosahedron Venus Octahedron Mercury Thatis,thesphereofJupiterisinscribedinacubetowhichthesphereofSaturnis circumscribed;thesphereofJupiteriscircumscribedtoatetrahedroninwhichthesphereof Marsisinscribed,andsoon.Therestismathematics. InKepler'sbeautifuldrawingsofhissolids,which,morethanplanefigures,hesaid,must belongtoSpace,heassignedtoeachformthatoneofthegreatelementswhose"component particle"corresponded.Withinacrystallinecubeheplacedamountain,atree,asproutedand leafingplant,andtoolsfortillingtheEarth.Withinthetetrahedronheplacedfire;withinthe dodecahedronthefirmament;withintheicosahedronwaterandtheinhabitantsofwater; withintheoctahedron"flyingbirds."

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Kepler's"intervals"werenot onlyspacesforthefive mathematicalbodies;they werealso"notes"inan harmonicuniversalscale.His harmonyofthesphereswas notonlytheharmonyof movementbuttheresultof movementsound.Itwas unimaginablethatthegrand revolutionsofthespheres throughSpaceweremadein silence;unimaginablealso thattheearsofmencould heartheprodigiousconcert ofthewholeuniverseinits rapidrevolution.Asthey mustclosetheireyesagainst theSun,toobrighttosee,so musttheirearsbeclosed againstaharmonytoo vibranttoendure.
Plate40(atleft)TheMundane Monochord

proportions,harmoniesand intervalsofitsextramundanemovementaccuratelyspacedashereindepicted."Earththe mutebecausemotionlessEarthofthePythagoreansplaysitspartthroughthedivisionofthe elements,Earth,Water,Air,andFire.OnlywhentheEarth'satmospherereachesthezoneof theMoonisthefirstnotestruckofthegreatCmajorscale.Beyondthesevenzonesofthe Moon,theSun,andthefiveplanets,andabovethefirmamentofthefixedstars,thedivisions oftheupperheavenscorrespondtothoseoftheEarthbelow. Plate41(nextpage)isthesecondoftheseries,takenupagaininhisMicrocosmiHistoria,in whichmanisshownasparticipatorintheheavenlyscale.Hereisasingleoctave,insteadof two,asintheprecedingdrawing;itsscalegivenintermsofmindorreason,ratherthanin termsoftheelementsandtheheavenlybodies.FromA,theAbsoluteMindorEssenceofthe Godhead,orUnity,orSpirit,itdescendsthroughB,thecreativeoractiveintellect,thefirst vehicleofthemind,toC,mindandintellectintherationalspirit(orthepassiveintellect),toD, therationalspirittogetherwithmindandintellectinthemediansoul,toE,themediansoul floatingintheaetherealliquid(inotherwords,theLivingLightcombinedwithMind),toF,the Body(orman),whichisthereceptacleofallthings. 159

Andthen,havinggiventhetwooctaved universeHeavenandEarth,andthe oneoctaveduniversestretchingfrom theGodheadtoman,hedrewathird figure(PlateXLII)ofthethreeoctaved universe,withitsthreegreatscalesof correspondences,risingoneabovethe other,eachcorrespondingexactly,note bynote,totheothertwo,whether higherorlower.Sound,hesays,isthe connectinglinkbetweenthethree worlds;forsoundisthelanguageofthe mind.Vibrationisthesecretofcreation, andthroughitallsecretsmaybe revealed,ifthesleepingmindand memoryofmaniseverwakened throughitspower.
Plate41(atleft)Man&theWorldOctave

Andthen,havinggiventhetwooctaveduniverseHeavenandEarth,andtheoneoctaved universestretchingfromtheGodheadtoman,hedrewathirdfigure(Plate42)ofthethree octaveduniverse,withitsthreegreatscalesofcorrespondences,risingoneabovetheother, eachcorrespondingexactly,notebynote,totheothertwo,whetherhigherorlower.Sound,he says,istheconnectinglinkbetweenthethreeworlds;forsoundisthelanguageofthemind. 160

Vibrationisthesecretofcreation,andthroughitallsecretsmayberevealed,ifthesleeping mindandmemoryofmaniseverwakenedthroughitspower.

Plate42(atleft)The ThreeWorldOctaves.

29EarthaHollowSphere
WITHTHESymmesTheoryofConcentricSphereswetakeup,forthefirsttime,a cosmogonyofthenineteenthcentury.Inthisflightthroughworldswehavespannednotonly 161

thecenturiesbuttheoceansandcontinentsoftheEarth.WeareintheyearofourLord,1818, inAmerica,andatSt.Louis,Missouri,onthewesternbankofthemightiestriveroftheEarth. Weareonthecontinentwhoseaboriginalinhabitantshave,runningthroughalltheir mythologiesandtraditions,thetraditionandmythofa"hollowEarth,"andweareaboutto consider,intheirorder,threemodernAmericantheoriesofthefigureofEarth,allofthem basedontheassumptionthatthisplanetisahollowsphere,habitablewithin. Abriefcircularannouncedthefirstofthese: Lightgiveslighttolightdiscoveryadinfinitum St.Louis(MissouriTerritory) NORTHAMERICA,April10,A.D.,1818 TOALLTHEWORLD: Ideclarethattheearthishollowandhabitablewithin;containinganumberofsolidconcentric spheres,onewithintheother,andthatitisopenatthepolestwelveorsixteendegrees.I pledgemylifeinsupportofthistruth,andamreadytoexplorethehollow,iftheworldwill supportandaidmeinthisundertaking. JNO.CLEVESSYMMES OfOhio,lateCaptainofInfantry.
N.B.IhavereadyforthepressaTreatiseonthePrinciplesofthematter,whereinIshowproofsoftheabove position,accountforthevariousphenomena,anddiscloseDr.Darwin's"GoldenSecret." Iaskonehundredbravecompanions,wellequipped,tostartfromSiberiainthefallseason,withreindeerand sleighs,ontheiceofthefrozensea;andIengagewefindawarmandrichland,stockedwiththriftyvegetables andanimals,ifnotmen,onreachingonedegreenorthwestoflatitude62;wewillreturninthesucceedingspring. J.C.S.

Symmesneverreached,norevenbeganhisjourneytoreach,the"northpolarVergeofthe world,"letpassitsinterior.In1822andagainin1823,hepetitionedtheCongressofthe UnitedStatestoequipforhimtwovessels"of250or300tonsburden,"andin1824even soughtaidfromtheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofOhio.Naturallynosuchrequestwas evenconsideredbyanAmericanCongressorLegislature.In1829hedied,andoverhis grave,atHamilton,Ohio,waserectedamonumentsurmountedbyahollowglobeopenatthe poles,inscribed:"HecontendedthattheEarthishollowandhabitablewithin." WhereSymmesgothisnotionthattheEarthhasaconcave,habitablesurfaceseemstohave interestednobody.Butitisinterestingtoconsiderthatthree"concave"cosmogonieshave sprungupwithinlessthanacenturyonthiscontinentwhoseaboriginesbelievedinthe hollownessoftheir"greatIsland."TheMontagnaisheldtheearthtobepiercedthroughand 162

through;thattheSunsetbyenteringoneholeandhidinginsidetheEarthduringthenight; thatitrosebyemergingfromtheoppositehole.Numberlesstribeshavethetraditionthat formerlytheirracelivedunderground,untilsomeadventurousyouthclimbedupwardsby somegreatvinetotheoutersurfaceoftheEarth,and,findingitdelightfulandhabitable, returnedandbroughttheirpeopleoutofthe"concave."IndiangodsfellfromHeaven,through theEarth;andvanishedraceswerethosewhohadreturnedtotheirfirsthomes.Howmuchof thisSymmeshadpickedupthroughfraternisingwiththewesternIndians,orwhetherhehad everheardanyofthistraditionfromthem,weshallprobablyneverknow.

Plate43TheSymmesTheoryofConcentricSpheres

In1826,"A Citizenofthe UnitedStates," otherwiseJames McBride, published,at Cincinnati,alittle bookcalledThe SymmesTheory ofConcentric Spheres,giving thesisandproofs. "Accordingto Symmes's Theory,theearth, aswellasallthe celestialorbicular bodiesexistingin theuniverse, visibleand invisible,which partakeinany degreeofa planetarynature, fromthegreatest tothesmallest,fromthesundowntothemostminuteblazingmeteororfallingstar,areall constitutedinagreaterorlessdegree,ofacollectionofspheres,moreorlesssolid, concentricwitheachother,andmoreorlessopenattheirpoles;eachspherebeingseparated fromitsadjoiningcompeersbyspacerepletewithaerialfluids;thateveryportionofinfinite space,exceptwhatisoccupiedbyspheres,isfilledwithanaerialelasticfluid,moresubtle thancommonatmosphericair;andconstitutedofinnumerablesmallconcentricspheres,too minutetobevisibletotheorganofsightassistedbythemostperfectmicroscope,andso elasticthattheycontinuallypressoneachother,andchangetheirrelativesituationsasoften 163

asthepositionofanypieceofmatterinspacemaychangeitsposition;thuscausinga universalpressure,whichisweakenedbytheinterventionofotherbodiesinproportiontothe subtendedangleofdistanceanddimension;necessarilycausingthebodytomovetowards thepointsofdecreasedpressure." Symmesbelievedthattheplanet"whichhasbeendesignatedtheEarth,"iscomposedofat leastfiveconcentricspheres,withspacesbetweeneach,anatmospheresurroundingeach, andeachhabitableuponbothitssurfaces.Eachspherewaswidelyopenatitspoles,andthe northpolaropeningoftheouterspherewhoseconvexsurfacemaninhabits,hebelievedtobe aboutfourthousandmilesindiameter.Thesouthernpolaropeningheestimatedtobehalf againaslarge. EachofthespherescomposingtheEarthisaccordingtothistheorylightedandwarmed "accordingtothosegenerallawswhichcommunicatelightandheattoeverypartofthe universe."Thislightandheatmightnotbesobrightorsointenseasours;andtheprobability ofthisisindicated,hesays,inthosehighnorthernlatitudes,wherethe"Verge"begins,bythe palenessoftheSunandthedarknessofthesky;yethedoesnotdoubtthattheyare sufficientlywarmedandlightedtosupportanimalandvegetablelife.
Plate44GARDNER'SDIAGRAMOFSYMMES'SEARTH Showingthefiveconcentricspheres,withtheir polaropeningsattheVergesoftheWorld.their separatingatmospheres,andtheirmidplane spaces.

His"midplanespace"theoryis interesting,andGardner'sdiagram (Plate44)makesitveryclear.Each spherehasacavity,ormidplane spacenearitscentrethemedialline, thatis,whichwouldsplititscrustor shellintoinnerandouterlayersfilled withthislight,subtle,elasticaerial fluid,"partakingsomewhatofthe natureofhydrogengas;whichaerial fluidiscomposedofmoleculesgreatly rarefiedincomparisonwiththegravity oftheextendedorexposedsurfacesof thesphere."Itisthismidplanespacewhichgivesthespherelightnessandbuoyancy,and theaerialfluidwithwhichitisfilledmaypossibly,heconjectures,serveforthesupportof animallife. Cloudsformedintheouterairoftheplanetwouldprobablyfloatthroughthevastpolar 164

openingsintheformofrainorsnow.Thegreatwindsortyphoons,knownontheEarth,might havetheirforcesuppliedbywindssuckedintoonepolaropening,andemergingthroughthe other,thusperformingthecircuitofthesphere. HeargueshishollowEarthbyanalogytohollowstalksofwheat,thehollowquillsand feathersofbirds,thehollowbonesofanimals,andthehollowhairsofourheads.Thiswould be,hesays,"themostperfectsystemofcreativeeconomy,agreatsavingofstuff."And,this earlyinthehistoryofnorthpolarexploration,andfromtheevidenceofwhalersandfishermen inthenorthernseasregardingthemigrationofbirds,animals,andfishtoandfromthenorth polarzone,heisarguingforawarmandhabitableregionbeyondtheicepacks,"wherethe freshwatersfuriouslycontendwiththesalt."Hedevelopsatgreatlengththeprecisemanner inwhichlightandheatfromourSunmight,byreflectionandrefraction,penetrateintoevery partoftheinteriorshells.Itisevenpossible,hesuggests,that,"neartheVergesofthepolar openings,andperhapsinmanyotherpartsoftheunfathomableocean,thespheresarewater quitethrough(atleastallexceptthemidplanespacesorcavities),whichbeingthecase,light wouldprobablybetransmittedthroughthespheres." Symmesbelievedthatman,inhiseffortstoreachtheNorthPole,hadalwaysfailedjuston the"Verge";thatoncepasttheicebarrierandheadedinevitablyfortheinteriorofthehollow shell,hewouldfindhimselfalmostatonceinatemperatezone.Thepathtotheinterior,he says,wouldbeatortuousone,bywayof"thewindingmeridiansoftheVerge."

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Plate44(atleft): CHARTOFTHE KORESHAN COSMOGONY

THE KORESHAN COSMOGONYis another"hollow Earth"theory, whichwasfirst givenoutin1870 byCyrusReed Teed.Thechart giveninPlate XLVcontainsall theprincipal diagramsby whichthetheory isillustrated. Thissecondof modern American cosmogonies holdsthatthe Earthwelive uponandthink we"know"tobe theoutersurface ofasphere,is,in reality,its concavesurface; thatweareactuallylivingenclosedwithinahollowshell,howevermuchourcollectivesenses andourcollectivescienceseemtoprovethecontrary.This,Teedaffirms,isbecausewehave beentaughtforcenturiesthattheEarthisaglobefilledwithmoltenmatteronwhosecooled crustwelive;thatitisbutaspeckininfiniteSpace,adotinavastoceanofworlds,revolving onitsownaxiseverytwentyfourhoursandthuscreatingitsowndaysandnightsinitsyearly revolutionsaroundtheSun;thattheMoonshinesaborrowedlight;thatcometsappear,flyoff 166

intospace,andreturn;thataboveandaroundandbelowoursolarsystemstretchtheorbitsof otherworldstoillimitabledistances;thatourSun,thecentreofoursystem,hasadiameterof 866,000miles,isdistantfromtheEarth93,000,000miles,andhasavolumeorbulk 1,300,000timesthatoftheEarth;thattheplanetnearesttheSun,Mercury,is36,000,000 milesdistantfromit,and57,000,000milesdistantfromtheEarth,andsoonuntilwereachthe planetNeptunewhichis2,800,000,000milesfromtheSunandguardstheoutermost boundariesofouruniverse. TheKoreshancosmogony,ontheotherhand,"maintainsanddemonstratesthattheuniverse isaunit;itisanalchemicoorganicstructure,limitedtothedimensionsof8,000miles, diameter.Accordingtothegreatlawofanalogyweholdthatitsformiscellular,thatalllifeis generatedinacellomnevivumexovo.Theearth'sshell,composedofmetalsandminerals, isabout100milesinthickness,constitutingagiganticvoltaicpile,thebasisofthegreat galvanomagneticbattery,furnishingthenegativeelementsofthecellforthegenerationand supplyofthesun'sfuel.Theconcavesurfaceoftheearthaloneishabitable.Superimposed uponthestrataoftheshellandemplacedintheirstaticplanesarethethreeatmospheres.At thecentrewefindthepositivepoleofthegreatbatterythecentralsun,aroundandwith whichtheheavensrevolveintwentyfourhours.Alltheenergiesofthephysicaluniverseare engenderedthroughtherelationofthepositivecentretothenegativecircumference;agreat complexbatteryofphysicalunityisthusattainedandperpetuated."18 Thisshell,onehundredmilesinthickness,iscomposedofsevenmetallic,fivemineral,and fivegeologicstrata.Thesevenmetalliclayersorlaminare"thesevennotablemetals,"of whichgoldconstitutestheouterrindoftheshell.Beyondthisisnothing. Theinnersurfaceoftheshellislandandwater,aconcaveexpanseinhabitedbyeveryformof life.Thatweliveonaconcavesurface,thiscosmogonyundertakestoprovebyexactlythe samephenomenonwhich"proves"theEarth'ssurfaceisconvexthedisappearanceofaship "around"theworld.Withintheshellarethethreeatmospheres,ofwhichtheoutermost,the atmosphereinwhichweexist,iscomposedchieflyofoxygenandnitrogen.Thenextormiddle atmosphereiscomposedofpurehydrogen;andtheoneaboveof"aboran."Withinthisisthe solarsphere,andwithinthewholeandnucleusofall,theastralorstellarcentre.Thusthe starrynucleusisthecentreofSpace,andthemetallicplatesorlaminthecircumferenceof Space.TheheavensdonotsurroundtheEarth,buttheEarth,theheavens. InandoccupyingtheseatmospheresarenotonlytheSunandstars,butalso"thereflections calledtheplanetsandthemoon.Theplanetsaremercurialdiscimovingbyelectromagnetic impulsebetweenthemetalliclaminorplanesoftheconcaveshell.Theyareseenthrough penetrablerays,ultraelectromagnetic,reflectedorbentbackintheirimpingementonthe spheresofenergyregularlygraduatedasthestoriesintheheavens."And,lateron,theyare furtherdescribedas"littlefocalpointsofenergy,partiallymaterializedspheresinprocessof combustion.Theirdiameterisverysmall.Jupiterisnothingliketheconceptintheusual
18 CellularCosmogony,CyrusReedTeed,1905,p.172.

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theory.Therealplanetsarediscsofmercuryintheearth,betweenthemetallicshells.They focalisethesun'senergiesintheatmosphereaboveus.Theyarewhattheirnamesindicate planetslittleplanes."Ofthesemercurialdiscsthereareseven. Cometsarenotgreatstreamsoffierymatter;theyaretinythings,brokenupbitsofcrystalline energiesspiratingaboutthecentralsolarsphere."Theydonotflyoffintospaceandreturn. Theyplungeintoandfeedthesun." NeitheristheSun886,000,000milesindiameter,nordistantfromtheEarth93,000,000 miles,sinceitisabodycontainedwithintheconcaveEarth.GiventheEarth'sdiameterof 8,000miles,theSun'sdiameterwouldnotbeover100miles,oritsdistancefromtheconcave habitablesurfaceover1000miles."Thesun,moon,stars,includingSirius,Arcturus,Procyon, allthegreatnebulandcomets,inshort,allthethingsthatexistintheheavensabove,are containedintheshell.Theyarenotworlds,orsystemsofworlds;theyarenotwanderersor erraticorbs,butpointsofgenerationofenergy,everyoneofwhichhasadistinctlydifferent functionbelongingandnecessarytouniversalperpetuation."
Fig.99''Allthingsshewgreatthroughvapouresormyste.''

TherevolutionoftheSunandnot therotationoftheEarthisthecause ofdayandnight.Insteadof appearingtoriseaboveaconvex surface,theSunsimplycomesinto oursphereofvisioninthecourseof itsrevolution,and,atsunset,"goes outovertheearthbeyondtheseaof hydrogenandarcoftheheavens." AstotheMoon,whichisan interestingpartofthisreversed cosmogony,itistobefirstofall understoodthatthereisuninterruptedreciprocalinterchangeofsubstancefromcentreto circumferenceoftheshell;fromthepositivepoleofthegreatbatterythecentralone,"tothe shellitself,describedbeforeas"agiganticvoltaicpile,thebasisofthegreatgalvano magneticbattery,furnishingthenegativeelementsofthecellforthegenerationandsupplyof thesun'sfuel."Forenergy,itisexplained,"isthedestructionofmatterasmatter,andmatteris theresultofthedestructionofenergyasenergy." TheoriginoftheMoonisintheEarth'sshell,asphereofenergyderivedfromtheplanetsand fromtheenergiesgeneratedintheconcavecrustoftheEarth."Themoonweseeisprojected orreflectedfromthegreatconcavemirror,themetalliclamininthecircumference;thismoon isasphereofforceinthephysicalheavens,asphereofcrystallineenergyuponwhichis implantedthepictureoftheearth'ssurface.ThevisiblemoonisagravosphereorXray 168

pictureofthecrust;henceweseelightanddarkplacesuponit,producedfromtheearth's surfaceandthegeologicstrata.Therealmoonisthelaminoftheearth'sshell.Thesunis thecentre,themoonthecircumference;theimageorfocalisationofeachweseeinthe physicalheavens.ThemoondoesnotshineborrowedlightdirectasintheCopernican system.Butthesunandmoonaretwogreatlights;eachshineswithalightofitsown,the lightofthemoonbeingderivedfromthousandsofqualitiesofsolarenergies,afterutilization, transmutation,andmetamorphosisinthegreatshell." ThefiguresofEarthinthiscosmogonyareatfirstbewildering,untiltheeyebecomes accustomedtothetrickof"reverse."Intheupperlefthandsphere(Plate44,p.157)weare lookingatthe"geography"ofaconcavesurfacedownwardsasintoabowl.Intheupper righthandsphericalfigure,wearelookingat"theheavensintheEarth."Thecentralspherical figureshowsthethreeatmosphereswhicharethecauseofdayandnight.Itisacross sectionalviewofthe"giganticelectromagneticbatterywiththesunastheperpetualpivotand pole."Itisthesouthernhemisphereofthe"cell."Thesmallerspheresshowupperleftand rightthesummerandwintersolstices;lowerleft,theactualpositionoftheEarthandits poles;lowerright,theorbitsoftheplanetarymercurialdiscsintheEarth'sshell. Inthiscosmogony,theEarthisnot"supported";itissuspended;itisdependentwhollyupon itscentre.Itiseternal;itisthefootstoolofGodandnecessarytoHisOwnexistence;butitis All;"itistheultimateandoutermostlimitofexpressionofthedivinemind."Beyonditsouter plateofshininggoldthereisnothing. ThesearetwoofthethreemoderntheoriesoftheEarthasahollowshell,differingwidely fromeachother,buthavingasacommongroundthehabitabilityoftheconcavesurface.The firstconceivestheEarthtobeabodycomposedofatleastfiveconcentricspheresorshells, withenormouspolaropeningsthroughwhichlightandheatenterfromtheexteriorSun.The secondaffirmsthattheEarthisasingleshellcontainingwithinitselfthewholeuniversethe atmospheres,theplanets,theheavenswiththestarsandMoonandSun,andthatonits concavesurfacemanliveswithouteverknowingthatheisenclosedwithinhisworld,likea birdinacage.ThethirdtheorysaysthattheEarthisasingleshell,habitableonbothits surfaces,withpolaropeningsandaninteriorSun. ThistheoryofthefigureoftheEarthwasfirstpublishedin1913,inMarshallB.Gardner'sA JourneytotheEarth'sInterior,orHavethePolesReallyBeenDiscovered.Plate46(next page)showstheexteriorofhisworkingmodel,andFig.100p.162)isadiagramoftheEarth bisectedthroughitspolaropeningsandshowingtheinteriorSun. Accordingtothesefigures,theEarth'sshellisasolidmassabout800milesthick,withitsown centreofgravity.Withinaswithoutthereislandandwater,theirdistributioninsidebeing probablythereverseofthedistributionwithout.Thatis,thePacificandAtlanticoceanareas indicategreatinteriorcontinents(perhapsthelostcontinentsAtlantisLemuriaPanMu!),and thespaceoccupiedbyourcontinentsareprobablytheplacesoftheinteriorseas. 169

Plate46TheEarthaccordingtoGardner,asitwouldappearifviewed fromspaceshortingtheNorthPolaropeningintheplanet'sinterior.whichishollowandcontainsacentralsun insteadofanoceanofliquidlava.

Ateachpolaraxisthereisagreat opening,about1400milesindiameter, aroundwhichboththeexteriorand interiorwaters,whosecurrentsflow bothways,pourover"thelipsofthe world."Overthisgreatcurve,says Gardner,marinersmightfloat,orflying menfly,withnomorerealisation exceptfordisturbancestotheir compassneedlesthattheywere describingahalfcircleaboutaTitanic waterfall,thanavoyagerrealisesheis roundingtheglobeatanysinglestage ortotalofstagesofaworldvoyage. "Theywouldonlyknowthattheyhad actuallypassedoverthelipbythe peculiarbehaviorofthemagnetic needleandbythefactthattheywouldseeabovethemasabovethemwouldmeantoward theactualcentreoftheearththeinteriorsun,whichofcoursewouldbeshiningwhetherthe voyagerscameunderitsinfluenceduringthedayorduringthearcticnight." Nomarinerhaseverroundedthishypotheticallip,enteredthegreat"concave,"andemerged totellhistale.But,saysGardner,messagesfromtheEarth'sinteriorhavedriftedand constantlydodriftouttousbywayofthecontrarycurrent.HeciteslogafterlogofNorthPolar expeditions,fromthefirsttothelast,allofthemfilledwithcuriouscontradictionsand "unexplainable"phenomena;the"warmcurrentflowingfromthepolarregions,"themigrations northwardsinsteadofsouthofbirdsandanimalstofeedandbreed;thegreaterwealthof animalandvegetablelifeinthehigherlatitudesofthearcticregionsthaninthelower;the"red pollenofplantsthatgrowwhere?"scatteredonicebergsandglaciers;thetreessomeof themgreenleavedwasheddowninthewarmpolarcurrent;the"caseaftercasewherethe mammothhasfloatedoutfromtheinteriorincasedinglaciersandbergsandhasbeenfrozen increvassesintheinteriornearthepolaropenings,andthencarriedoverthelipbyglacial movementsintoSiberia."Fromthenotedevidenceoffossilremains,completeconiferous trees,thepresenceofbutterfliesandbees,gnatsandmosquitoes,incalculableshoalsoffish, themuskoxenandreindeer,themillionsofbirdsincludingthesandpiper,the"redsnow," freshwaterice,therecurrentappearancesof"extinct"speciesthemammoth,themastodon, themylodon,tosaynothingoftheremainsoftherhinoceros,hippopotamus,lion,hyena,arid othertropicalspeciesallaroundtheNorthPolarregion,heconcludesacommonorigin, beyondthecurveofthepolarsea,afterithasdippedbelowourhorizonandhasbegunto flow,stillnorthaswewouldsay,yetsouth,intotheEarth'sinterior.

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Fig.100Diagramshowingtheearthasahollowspherewithitspolaropeningsandcentralsun.Thelettersat topandbottomofdiagramindicatethevariousstepsofanimaginaryjourneythroughtheplanet'sinterior.Atthe pointmarked''D''wecatchourfirstglimpseofthecoronaofthecentralsun;atthepointmarked''E''weseethe centralsuninitsentirety.

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TheinteriorSunwhichwarmsthisinnerEarthmaybeperhaps600milesindiameter.Itisthe centralnucleusoftheoldnebularhypothesis;but,insteadofthrowingoffaseriesofrings, eachofwhich,breaking,formedasphereandeventuallyaplanetrevolvingaroundthecentral nucleusorSun,theoriginalnebula,saysGardner,"didnotbreakupintoasolarsystem,but condensedintooneplanet,"thisEarth.Thespiralnebulaisthefirststage,hesays,ofa planetarybody;theshelllikenebulawithitscentral"star"orSunisthesecondstage;the oblatespheroidwithitscentralSunandthetwoopenings"whicharealwaysleftwhenthe nebulacoolsintoaplanet,"isthethirdstage.Oneplanet,thatis,islikeanother.As,for instance,MarsandEarth. The"icecaps"ofMarshaveaccounted,untilcomparativelyrecently,fortheclearlydiscernible brightspotsatitspoles.OflateastronomershavebeguntodoubtthatMartian"ice"could sendlightflashesacrosssomanymillionmilesofspace.Gardnersaysthatwhatweseeisno moreorlessthanthelightfromMar'sinteriorSun,andthatnowandthen,inobservedbrilliant pointslikestarsflashingfromthemidstofthepolarcaps,wehavecaughtthedirectcosmic rayfromMars. TheAuroraBorealisisanotherunexplainedphenomenonthosepulsatingaerialfiresofthe north,whichhavetheircounterpartintheAuroraAustralisattheSouthPole.Gardnersays thatthescientiststhemselvesknowthatthetheoryoftheirbeingtheresultofmagneticor electricaldischargesdoesnotexplainthem.ThenearerthePole,themoremagnificentisthe displayandhequotesFlammariononthem:"Thislightoftheearth,theemissionofwhich towardsthepolesisalmostcontinuous..."Itisjustsimplythat,saysGardner,thelightofthe Earth;thelightofitsinteriorSun,whichpoursthroughthelipsoftheEarthintothenorthern andsouthernskies.Nothingbutinteriorstormsofgreatviolence,whichchoketheorificesfor atimewithdenseclouds,canholdbackthealmostcontinuousstreamoflight.Hequotes fromNansen'sFarthestNorthinthisconnection.NansensawonenightamarvelousAurora. Abrilliantcoronacircledthezenithwithwreathsofstreamersinseverallayers,alltending upwardtowardsthecoronawhicheverynowandthenshowedadarkpatchinitscentre towardswhichalltheraysconverged:"Thehalokeptsmoulderingandshiftingjustasifagale intheupperatmospherewereplayingabellowstoit."Foratimeitappearedasifthecelestial stormabated;thenthegaleseemedtoincrease;ittwistedthestreamersintoaninextricable tangle,untilatlasteverythingmerged"intoachaosofshiningmist."Therearephrasesin Nansen'sdescriptionofthisdisplaywhichdelightGardner;"bellows,""gale,""storm."Asa matterofintelligentexplanation,hesays,thelightfromthecentralSunwasbeingreflected fromthehigherreachesoftheEarth'satmosphere,andthereflectionwasbeinginterfered withbyaviolentstormintheinterioroftheEarth.Greatcloudswereinrapidprocessof formationanddissipationnearthepolaropenings,sothatatonemomenttheraysofthe centralSunshotclearlythrough,atthenextmomenttheywereblackenedandhid. InsteadofdepartingfortheinterioroftheEarthbywayofSiberia,asSymmesbeggedtobe aidedtodo,GardnerwouldpickupsomeEskimoswhoseancestors,accordingtotheirown tradition,camefromthe"inside"whereitisalwayslightsomedogsandsomesledsatGod 174

haven,Greenland,andthenproceednorthalongitscoasttoabout82or83.Whatwarm air,orwarmwater,theexpeditionwouldencounterwouldcomefromthenorth,and,ifitwere summer,mosquitoeswouldbetheplagueofplagues.FromthecoastofGrantLandorPeary Land,itwouldstartonthelastlapofthejourneyacrosstheopenpolarsea.TheAurora Borealiswouldbenolongerinthenorth,butdirectlyoverhead,andtherewouldcomea midnightperhapsthatwasstrangedaytheirshipwouldbesurroundedbyanangryreddish lightandastrangeatmosphere.Forthetravellerswouldhavepassedfarenoughoverthelips oftheworldtosee,nolongertheexteriorSun,buttheinnerSunwhichneversets.Itisno longermovingfromeasttowest.Itisstationary,orpracticallyso,in"thecentreoftheworld." Inthatinteriorworld,Gardnersurmises,isthetreasurehouseofallofthespeciesoffloraand faunaandprobablyalloftheracesofmanthatthroughmillionsofyearshavefollowed eachotherinendlessprocessionovertheexteriorsurfaceoftheEarth;appearing,abidingfor awhile,andthenpassingaway.Warnedbygreatclimaticchangesontheoutside,orbythe tremorsthatprecedegreatgeologicalchanges,theywouldhaveretreated,afewofthe "saved,"tothehiddencitiesofrefugewithintheglobe.Sothatherewouldbeallofthemyriad "missinglinks"inthedisconnectedstoryofthefracturedouterEarth. Thereturn,incidentally,totheexteriorwouldbenoeasierthanthedeparturefromit.Forat eachorificethecontrarywatersendlesslystruggletopass,anditmightverywellbethatthe travellercaughtinthewrongcurrentwouldnotbeabletomakethecrosstotherightoneon whichhecouldfloateasilyout.

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30TheTetrahedralEarth
Plate47(FromVestigesoftheMoltenGlobe;WilliamLowthianGreen,1875)

THELASTFIGUREOFEARTH inthiscollectingofitsendlessly changingformsis,sofarasI know,thelatestfigureofEarthto bedrawn;itdiffersinallways fromanyotherworldpicturewe havehere.Plate47(atleft)isa drawingoftheEarthasa Tetrahedronorthreesided pyramid;itappearedintheNew YorkWorld,October24,1926,as anillustrationtoareviewof ThophileMoreux'sAstronomy Today.Itisnot"scientific";itis justanexampleofhowa "guess"takesaform,evenin thisage.Ithasaninteresting story,thisfigureofEarth;andso webegin,farenoughback. "Continentsriseandsinkasif throughsomegentleactof respiration.Theymoveinlong undulationswhichmaybe comparedtowavesofthesea." Thissoundsasifsomemild mysticwerespeaking,butitis EliseReclus,French geographer,writingofTheEarth in1870.Twentyyearslater ClarenceDutton,American geologist,coinedaterm,the TheoryofIsostacy,forthefast developingtheoryofthe floatationoftheearth'scrust,orfloatingcontinents.LessthantenyearsagoAlfredWegener, inTheOriginofContinentsandOceans,advancedthistheory.Thecontinentsaremassesof sialor"continentalrock,"movingthroughthesimathatrockformingthesubstratumofthe 176

oceanbed,whichhecomparesinitsviscositytosealingwax;itis,thatis,anextremely viscousfluid,offeringaverygreatresistancetoanychangeofform,butinevitablyyielding, underconstantpressure,tothepassageofthecontinentalmasses.Verysimplyand fantasticallyimaged,itisasifthecontinentswereenormousleavesorflowersorbranches springingfromsomegreatparentstalkortrunkimbeddedintheveryearthofEarth,and floatingupwardsthroughtheoceandepthstothewaterysurfaceandfarbeyondit. Andyetitisalmostthisveryfiguretheinvertedpyramidalplantfigureofthefloating continentswhichWilliamLowthianGreenworkedoutin1875withtheaidofa"model crystal,"atetrahedronwithitssidesdepressedanditsfourcornerstherebyslightlyraised.His hypothesisisthatduringtheprocessoftheEarth'scooling,andbecauseofwhathecalls"the tetrahedralcollapseoftheEarth'scrustinthesouthernhemisphere,"theassumedspheroid formoftheEarth(givingaminimumofsurfaceforagivenvolume)tendedtodevelopintoa tetrahedron(givingamaximumofsurfaceforagivenvolume),withthecontinentsasthe edgesandtheoceanbedsasthesides."Thus,"saysGreen,19"ageneralviewofthecrystal, thesixfacedtetrahedron(Fig.20,p.13),supposedtobethreefourthscoveredbywater attractedtowardsthecentreofgravityofthefigure,representsgenerallyallthecontinentsand oceansontheglobeintheiractualrelativepositions.Astherearefouracutesolidangleson thecrystal,sotherearefourandonlyfourcontinentsormassesinreliefontheglobe,andas therearefourobtuseanglesonthecrystal,sotherearefourandonlyfourgranddepressions oroceansontheglobe." Trytofindanygeneralreferenceto"Green'stheory";scientistsknewofit,ofcourse,but otherwiseitisasifitappearedlikeacometintheskyof1875,nottoappearagainforover fiftyyears. Moreuxspokeofit,however,inhisAstronomyToday,andthankstothewayhespokeofit, wehavethislastpictureofatetrahedralEarth.Hetakesuponebyonetheunsolved problemsoftheEarthandtheheavens,anditisanamazingarrayoftheunknown.Thedozen orsomovementsoftheEarthisapuzzle;theirregularityofthosemovementsisapuzzle,the Earth'srealcentreofgravityisapuzzle,theplanetarysystemindividuallyandasawholeisa puzzle,the"respiration"oftheEarthisapuzzle,theEarthMoonsystemwouldbethepuzzle ofpuzzlesifitwerenotforthefactthatthestillunknownactualfigureoftheEarthisthe puzzlethattopsthemall.Itismoreofaproblemtodaythanitwasin1885. Forin1885thatwhichwastosolveitdidnomorethantotangleagainallthelaboriously disentangledthreads.Thediscoveryofinvarinthatyear,analloyofnickelandsteelwhose expansionandcontractionatordinarytemperatureisalmostnothing,seemedtomake possibleforthefirsttime,atleastinourrecordedhistory,theaccuratemeasuringofthe supposedoblatespheroidonwhichwelive.Theinvarwirewastheunerringinstrumentby whichscientistsbeganagainthepainstakingremeasuringoftheEarth."Atthepresenttime," saysMoreux,"thesurveyoftheEarthhasbeencarriedoutinallpossibledirections,andthe
19 VestigesoftheMoltenGlobe;WilliamLowthianGreen,1875,p.5.

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resultshavemadetheproblemonlymorepuzzling.Itisfoundthat,evenbetweenthesame latitudes,meridianarcsarenotallofequallengths,anddissymmetryiseverywhere;it becomesmorepronouncedstillwhenthetwohemispheresarecompared;andtheequator itself,insteadofbeingaccuratelyacircle,likethelargestcircleofaspheroid,hasdifferent radiiofcurvatureatdifferentlongitudes."20 Sinceastronomersmust,inalltheirpracticalcalculations,makeuseofthemathematical elementsofthisglobesocalled,theyhave,forthemselves,determinedonasetofaverage valuesnottoofarremovedfromtheunknownrealones,whichforthetimeservesthemfairly well.Butgeographersandgeologists,saysMoreux,arenotinterestedinthismerely approximatesolutionoftheenigma."Byconsideringthematterclosely,theyhavefoundthat certainsystematicvariationswhichoccurinpendulumobservationsandinthevalueofgravity pointmoreandmoretothetruthofanoldtheorywhichwaslongignored.Itwassuggestedby Greenin1875;"andthenherestatesGreen'shypothesis: "Accordingtothistheory,theEarthwouldtend,intheprocessofcooling,totaketheformofa tetrahedronortriangularpyramid,withfourfacesandfourcornersorcoigns.Theseaswould occupythedepressionsandformthefacesofthepyramid,whilethecontinentswouldbe situatedroundthecoignsandwouldreachoutalongtheedges. "Thefactsseemtobeinconsiderableagreementwiththissupposition.Threeofthecoigns areinthenorthernhemisphere;tousethepicturesqueexpressionofSuess,theyarethe Scandinavian,Canadian,andSiberian'bucklers,'thelastbeingsituatednearYakutsk. Moreover,theseprojectingcontinentsareofveryancientformation,andtheirramifications extendmoreorlessuninterruptedlyasfarastheSouthPole.Theoppositefacesconsistof theSouthernAtlantic,theIndianandthePacificOceans.Lastly,thefourthcornerformsthe Antarcticcontinent,towhichtherecorresponds,ontheoppositeface,thefrozenArctic Ocean."21 Thesearethewordsthatgavetheimagethatproducedthislatestfiguretobedrawnofthe Earth,atetrahedronorthreesidedpyramid,withfourcontinentsandfouroceans,spinningin space.ItisworthnotingherethatGreensaysofhis"crystalmodel":"Crystallographersare awarethatthesixfacedtetrahedronwithconvexfacesmaygeometricallyaswellasinnature andfact,approachtotheformofasphere,andthatmanydiamondspossessingthat crystallinefigurearehardlydistinguishablefromspheres,butyetmaybetruesixfaced tetrahedrons." WithoutcommittinghimselfatalltothetetrahedralfigureofEarthasestablished,Moreux addsthat"thetetrahedraltheoryaccountsfortheinequalityofthepolarradii,andatthesame timegivesamoresatisfactoryexplanationthananyrivaltheorydoesofcertainfactsof astronomywhichareinconsistentwiththeEarth'sbeingatrueellipsoidofrevolution."So,too,
20 AstronomyToday;ThophileMoreux,1926,p.65.259 21 AstronomyToday;ThophileMoreux,1926,p.66.

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hesays,thegeneralplanoftheEarth'sreliefandmainlinesoffracturesorcrumplingsonits surfacewould,bythistheory,bethelogicalconsequenceofthecontractingprocesswhich beganduringthefirstofthegeologicalerasandhascontinuedaccordingtothesamelaws eversince.

Plate48TheTetrahedralEarth

Beverysurethatsciencetodayis committedtonothingbut"guesses"onthe stillunknownfigureoftheEarth.Weare doingtoday,inthelastanalysis,nomore thanthatfirstman,whoeverandwherever andwheneverhewas,whosaid,"Perhaps itislikethis,"andsetdownhiscrudelines ofanislandinasea.Weknowagreat manyfactsaboutagreatmanythings,and agreatmanythingsaboutagreatmany facts;andthismultitudeoffactsandthings isjustexactlyourconfusion.Thefactsare facts,buttheyarecontradictoryfacts;they havenotfusedintotheonegreattruth abouttheoneEarthofwhichweknowa little.Wehavegirdledtheglobeinships onthesurfaceofitswaters,wehave roundedtheunknownlineofitscurve underitswaters,andwearemakingour owncurvesthroughitsairasweflyabove it.ButnomanhaseverseentheEarth.It isinvisible.Wetalkofthesecretsofthe frozenNorth;theyarenomorethana handfulofthesecretsoftheEarth.Itlies overtheSunandundertheMoon,giving everything,butforeverwithholdingthesumofeverythingtherightimageofitsowntrue, unimaginableform. WhatisEarth?Ageoid. Whatisageoid?AnEarthshapedbody. WhatisanEarthshapedbody?Ageoid. WhatisEarth?

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