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Article SIGNS AND SYMBOLS.* ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Signs And Symbols.*
Ihe explanation of the Persian tale of Rustam , and of the Scandinavian Ash-tree Ydrasil in the above Lecture , is not merely an ingenious fiction , but serves to illustrate the process of initiation into the mysteries of those countries ; and identifies the absolute transmission of ancient mythology into modern romance . The rites of initiation are more intimately mixed up with the fables of Eastern nations than has been generally considered bhistorians and antiquariesancl their resolution
y ; would be easy if they were subjected to the alembic of this interesting portion of mythological practice . JYTany of the most pleasing tales in the Arabian Nights Entertainments , abounding in dangerous adventure , magical delusions , alarming transformations , and hair-breadth escapes are but an overwrought description of various ceremonies to which the candidate for initiation was subjected , in order to test his fortitude ancl virtue .
The Rev . Author has bestowed a fund of learning ancl research on all these subjects We think thc Point within a Circle may be astronomical and referrable to the Zodiacal signs , or the planets in their course round tlie bun The analogy is equall y apparent in the Betarmic dances of the Corybantes , the Egyptian Pyrrhic dance ; the Raas Jattra of India ; the Mithratic cave of Persia ; the druidical circular temples , and the winding palace of the Scandinavian Thor . The ancient stene edifices of
our own country , constructed in this form , were an unequivocal illustration of the significant emblem before us , and were evidentl y constructed on astronomical principles . Thus tho number of stones in the exterior circle of the great temple at Stone-Jienge , which Diodorus terms " the round temple of the sun , " to which was attached a place of initiation , was sixty , in allusion to the sexa ^ genary cycle ; and the inner oval contained nineteen , referring * to tha cycle of the Sun and The
Moon . interior circles of twelve stonel which occur at Abury , were the Zodiacal signs , or perhaps the months , whild the outer circles of thirty mi ght refer to the days of which the month was composed ; and the temple itself , ( the Cor , or circle of stones ) represented the Universe ; denominated b y one bard Cylch bad , the mundane circle ; and by another , Cylch batch Nevwy , the magnificent celestial circlei . e . the Zodiacwhich in India called the «
; , was circle ot Signs ; and some authorities are of opinion that Stonehenge and Abury were planispheres or orreries . Under whatever denomination , they were certainl y illustrative of this universal emblem , the Point within a Circle .
tl ,, wL / Tti . Q dell 0 te < 1 , by the same Symbo 1 * Universal space was VorZ f ' v ^ the S"n ^ th V , oinL This is displayed in an ancient n , X f llfice 1 men , , lone , by Herodotus . The following description is quoted from the Greek historian by Maurice . ( Ind . Ant . Vol . in . p . i-t >/ . ) it was situated on an eminence , the sloping declivities of Ind VrZT ° TY V eVm Cirmlar walts > ° » y ° "le other-, chttlTr ° ° { SUch P rodigi ° us ext e- 't « s to be si . vty stadia in ciicumfeience ; in reference probabl to the of the
y , sexagenary cycle te , W- n Y 7 ' - ^ doubtlei intended by * W number and , fj- i ° deSISM i , the seven P " ' ™ se gradually , one above tZ iT > f aSCe , lt ? f the hiU ' tl , at the battlements of each a - wvoli - !" Y - 7 ? th ° . ° , f the next * ' ¦ ° «* ; those battlements ¦ om ? l T ? , ° ; Wlth various co ! ouis * T ] , c A "' was white f on , thebasrs oi the battlement ; the second was black , the third was slarncd of a purple colour , the fourth of sky-blue , and the fifth of a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Signs And Symbols.*
Ihe explanation of the Persian tale of Rustam , and of the Scandinavian Ash-tree Ydrasil in the above Lecture , is not merely an ingenious fiction , but serves to illustrate the process of initiation into the mysteries of those countries ; and identifies the absolute transmission of ancient mythology into modern romance . The rites of initiation are more intimately mixed up with the fables of Eastern nations than has been generally considered bhistorians and antiquariesancl their resolution
y ; would be easy if they were subjected to the alembic of this interesting portion of mythological practice . JYTany of the most pleasing tales in the Arabian Nights Entertainments , abounding in dangerous adventure , magical delusions , alarming transformations , and hair-breadth escapes are but an overwrought description of various ceremonies to which the candidate for initiation was subjected , in order to test his fortitude ancl virtue .
The Rev . Author has bestowed a fund of learning ancl research on all these subjects We think thc Point within a Circle may be astronomical and referrable to the Zodiacal signs , or the planets in their course round tlie bun The analogy is equall y apparent in the Betarmic dances of the Corybantes , the Egyptian Pyrrhic dance ; the Raas Jattra of India ; the Mithratic cave of Persia ; the druidical circular temples , and the winding palace of the Scandinavian Thor . The ancient stene edifices of
our own country , constructed in this form , were an unequivocal illustration of the significant emblem before us , and were evidentl y constructed on astronomical principles . Thus tho number of stones in the exterior circle of the great temple at Stone-Jienge , which Diodorus terms " the round temple of the sun , " to which was attached a place of initiation , was sixty , in allusion to the sexa ^ genary cycle ; and the inner oval contained nineteen , referring * to tha cycle of the Sun and The
Moon . interior circles of twelve stonel which occur at Abury , were the Zodiacal signs , or perhaps the months , whild the outer circles of thirty mi ght refer to the days of which the month was composed ; and the temple itself , ( the Cor , or circle of stones ) represented the Universe ; denominated b y one bard Cylch bad , the mundane circle ; and by another , Cylch batch Nevwy , the magnificent celestial circlei . e . the Zodiacwhich in India called the «
; , was circle ot Signs ; and some authorities are of opinion that Stonehenge and Abury were planispheres or orreries . Under whatever denomination , they were certainl y illustrative of this universal emblem , the Point within a Circle .
tl ,, wL / Tti . Q dell 0 te < 1 , by the same Symbo 1 * Universal space was VorZ f ' v ^ the S"n ^ th V , oinL This is displayed in an ancient n , X f llfice 1 men , , lone , by Herodotus . The following description is quoted from the Greek historian by Maurice . ( Ind . Ant . Vol . in . p . i-t >/ . ) it was situated on an eminence , the sloping declivities of Ind VrZT ° TY V eVm Cirmlar walts > ° » y ° "le other-, chttlTr ° ° { SUch P rodigi ° us ext e- 't « s to be si . vty stadia in ciicumfeience ; in reference probabl to the of the
y , sexagenary cycle te , W- n Y 7 ' - ^ doubtlei intended by * W number and , fj- i ° deSISM i , the seven P " ' ™ se gradually , one above tZ iT > f aSCe , lt ? f the hiU ' tl , at the battlements of each a - wvoli - !" Y - 7 ? th ° . ° , f the next * ' ¦ ° «* ; those battlements ¦ om ? l T ? , ° ; Wlth various co ! ouis * T ] , c A "' was white f on , thebasrs oi the battlement ; the second was black , the third was slarncd of a purple colour , the fourth of sky-blue , and the fifth of a