Sphinx - Revision history

Odyssee: /* References */

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References

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	[[Category:Human evolution]]		[[Category:Human evolution]]
	[[Category:Egyptian mythology]]		[[Category:Egyptian mythology]]
	[[Category:~~Egypt~~]]		[[Category:Egyptian-Chaldean culture]]
	[[Category:Sphinx]]		[[Category:Sphinx]]
	[[de:Sphinx]]		[[de:Sphinx]]

Odyssee: /* The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx */

2021-07-02T15:08:31Z

The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx

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	== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==		== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==
	~~[[File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]~~

	[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.		[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.
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	=== Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx ===		=== Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx ===
			[[File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]

	According to [[w:Greek mythology\|Greek mythology]], the Sphinx was regarded as an ominous being and was considered a daughter of Typhon and Echidna and thus at the same time a sister of Hydra, Chimera, Kerberos and Orthos. The question motif is an essential part of the Oedipus saga, according to which the Sphinx dwelt on a mountain outside Thebes and posed a riddle to passing travellers that went like this: "What walks on four feet in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening?" ({{lang\|grc\|τί ἐστιν ὃ μίαν ἔχον φωνὴν τετράπουν καὶ δίπουν γίνεται}}). Whoever failed to solve this riddle was strangled and eaten by the Sphinx. Only Oedipus realised that this refers to man himself: as a child he crawls on all fours, as an adult he walks on two legs and in old age he uses a stick as a third leg - but this is only the trivial exoteric answer. In fact, the riddle of the sphinx points to a deeper occult truth. It is a clue to the human evolution from animal-like beings, though not in the sense of modern materialistic evolutionary theory, to present-day man and further to future Venusian or Vulcan man with three "organs of locomotion", namely the two "wings" of the two-leaved lotus flower at the root of the nose and the left half of the body transformed into a hand<ref>[[Rudolf Steiner]] says in this regard:		According to [[w:Greek mythology\|Greek mythology]], the Sphinx was regarded as an ominous being and was considered a daughter of Typhon and Echidna and thus at the same time a sister of Hydra, Chimera, Kerberos and Orthos. The question motif is an essential part of the Oedipus saga, according to which the Sphinx dwelt on a mountain outside Thebes and posed a riddle to passing travellers that went like this: "What walks on four feet in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening?" ({{lang\|grc\|τί ἐστιν ὃ μίαν ἔχον φωνὴν τετράπουν καὶ δίπουν γίνεται}}). Whoever failed to solve this riddle was strangled and eaten by the Sphinx. Only Oedipus realised that this refers to man himself: as a child he crawls on all fours, as an adult he walks on two legs and in old age he uses a stick as a third leg - but this is only the trivial exoteric answer. In fact, the riddle of the sphinx points to a deeper occult truth. It is a clue to the human evolution from animal-like beings, though not in the sense of modern materialistic evolutionary theory, to present-day man and further to future Venusian or Vulcan man with three "organs of locomotion", namely the two "wings" of the two-leaved lotus flower at the root of the nose and the left half of the body transformed into a hand<ref>[[Rudolf Steiner]] says in this regard:

Odyssee at 15:04, 2 July 2021

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	[[File:Karnak sphynxes.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[w:Sheep\|Ram]] sphinxes ([[Wikipedia:Karnak Temple\|Karnak Temple]])]]		[[File:Karnak sphynxes.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[w:Sheep\|Ram]] sphinxes ([[Wikipedia:Karnak Temple\|Karnak Temple]])]]
	[[File:Sphinx Metropolitan.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Sphinx of [[Wikipedia:Hatshepsut\|Hatshepsut]] ([[Wikipedia:Metropolitan Museum of Art\|Metropolitan Museum of Art]])]]		[[File:Sphinx Metropolitan.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Sphinx of [[Wikipedia:Hatshepsut\|Hatshepsut]] ([[Wikipedia:Metropolitan Museum of Art\|Metropolitan Museum of Art]])]]
			[[File:Sphinx MET 11.185.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Greek sphinx, [[w:Attica\|Attica]], ca. 530 BC.]]

	The '''sphinx''' ({{Greek\|σφίγξ}}, from {{lang\|grc\|σφίγγειν}} ''sphíngein'' "to strangle"; possibly also derived from [[w:Egyptian language\|ancient Egyptian]]: {{lang\|egy\|spanch}} "that which receives life"; the traditional ancient Egyptian name of the sphinx, however, was not this, but '''Hu''' "protector") is a hybrid being with a human head and a mostly winged animal body that can show itself to the [[clairvoyant gaze]]. Ideally, one can see the four-beast (also called four-form or '''tetramorph'''), which unites all four sphinx animals, i.e. [[man]], [[eagle]], [[lion]] and [[bull]]. Occasionally, one even sees a [[dragon]] or [[reptile]] tail, which points back to a very early stage of [[human evolution]]. In [[Egypt]], however, sphinx figures with [[w:Sheep\|ram]], [[w:hawk\|hawk]] and [[w:sparrowhawk\|sparrowhawk]] heads were also common.		The '''sphinx''' ({{Greek\|σφίγξ}}, from {{lang\|grc\|σφίγγειν}} ''sphíngein'' "to strangle"; possibly also derived from [[w:Egyptian language\|ancient Egyptian]]: {{lang\|egy\|spanch}} "that which receives life"; the traditional ancient Egyptian name of the sphinx, however, was not this, but '''Hu''' "protector") is a hybrid being with a human head and a mostly winged animal body that can show itself to the [[clairvoyant gaze]]. Ideally, one can see the four-beast (also called four-form or '''tetramorph'''), which unites all four sphinx animals, i.e. [[man]], [[eagle]], [[lion]] and [[bull]]. Occasionally, one even sees a [[dragon]] or [[reptile]] tail, which points back to a very early stage of [[human evolution]]. In [[Egypt]], however, sphinx figures with [[w:Sheep\|ram]], [[w:hawk\|hawk]] and [[w:sparrowhawk\|sparrowhawk]] heads were also common.

Odyssee at 15:00, 2 July 2021

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	15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ 28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”\|{{B\|Daniel\|7:1-28}}}}		15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ 28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”\|{{B\|Daniel\|7:1-28}}}}

			== Sphinx and Christianity ==

			The four-beast also forms the basis of the evangelist symbols and in the Christian tradition the Christ is often associated with the four-beast, for example in the church fathers Irenaeus of Lyon (2nd century) and Hippolytus of Rome. The Christ was man in the birth, "bull calf" in the sacrificial death on the cross, "lion" in the resurrection and "eagle" through the ascension. However, this is to be understood to the effect that the Christ - as the representative of humanity and the archetype of the human being par excellence - completely overcomes the animal forces in the human being. The sphinx form as such is a Luciferic phenomenon that entered man through the Fall and can only be overcome through the sacrificial act of the Christ.

			{{GZ\|When the etheric body of man expands through the energy of breathing, a luciferic being emerges in the soul. In this etheric body lives not the human form, but the luciferic form, the sphinx form. Thus the human being, by being open to the cosmos in his breathing process, faces the sphinx nature. This basic experience emerged particularly in the 4th post-Atlantean, the Greek-Latin cultural period. And in the Oedipus legend we see how man confronts the Sphinx, how the Sphinx chains herself to him, how she becomes the tormentor of questions. Man and the Sphinx, or we can also say, man and the Luciferic in the universe should, as it were, be placed as a basic experience of the 4th post-Atlantean cultural period in such a way that when man breaks through his outer normal life on the physical plane just a little, he comes into contact with the Sphinx nature. Then Lucifer approaches him in his life, and he must come to terms with Lucifer, with the Sphinx.\|158\|102f}}

			{{GZ\|In the future the human face will look out in transfigured form from the separated, cast down evil of the animal. Let us think of the transfigured human face, which today slumbers like a riddle in animal matter, separated from animal evil and symbolically represented - the Egyptian Sphinx. It is not something that only points to the past, but it also points to the future.\|93a\|239}}

	== Literature ==		== Literature ==

Odyssee at 14:56, 2 July 2021

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 Thus man, by being open to the Cosmos in his breathing process, faces the Sphinx nature. This experience of facing the sphinx nature of the cosmos in his breathing, this basic experience arose particularly in the fourth post-Atlantean, the Greek-Latin cultural period. And in the Oedipus saga we see how man confronts the Sphinx, how the Sphinx chains herself to him, becomes the tormentor of questions. Man and the Sphinx, or we can also say, man and the Luciferic in the universe should, as it were, be placed as a basic experience of the fourth post-Atlantean cultural period in such a way that when man breaks through his outer normal life on the physical plane just a little, he comes into contact with the Sphinx nature. Then Lucifer approaches him in his life, and he must come to terms with Lucifer, with the Sphinx.|158|99ff}}
 == The Vision of Ezekiel ==
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 {{GA}}
 [[Category:Human evolution]]

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	== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==		== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==
	[[File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg\|thumb\|~~200px~~\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]		[[File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]

	[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.		[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.
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	== The Vision of Ezekiel ==		== The Vision of Ezekiel ==
	[[File:Ezekiel-Vision-Merkaba.jpg\|thumb\|Ezekiel's Vision (Merian Bible)]]		[[File:Ezekiel-Vision-Merkaba.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Ezekiel's Vision (Merian Bible)]]
	[[File:Raphael - Ezekiel's Vision.jpg\|thumb\|The Vision of Ezekiel, [[w:Raphael\|Raphael]] (1518)]]		[[File:Raphael - Ezekiel's Vision.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|The Vision of Ezekiel, [[w:Raphael\|Raphael]] (1518)]]

	The Jewish prophet [[w:Ezekiel\|Ezekiel]] sees the glory of the Lord in his great vision through the four-beast:		The Jewish prophet [[w:Ezekiel\|Ezekiel]] sees the glory of the Lord in his great vision through the four-beast:
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	Daniel also describes the four sphinx beasts in his apocalyptic vision, albeit in a modified form:		Daniel also describes the four sphinx beasts in his apocalyptic vision, albeit in a modified form:

	[[File:132.Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts.jpg\|thumb\|~~300px~~\|[[w:Gustave Doré\|Gustave Doré]]: ''Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts'', Doré's English Bible (1866)]]		[[File:132.Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[w:Gustave Doré\|Gustave Doré]]: ''Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts'', Doré's English Bible (1866)]]

	{{Quote\|'''Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts'''		{{Quote\|'''Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts'''

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	== The Vision of Ezekiel ==		== The Vision of Ezekiel ==
			[[File:Ezekiel-Vision-Merkaba.jpg\|thumb\|Ezekiel's Vision (Merian Bible)]]
	[[File:Raphael - Ezekiel's Vision.jpg\|thumb\|The Vision of Ezekiel, [[w:Raphael\|Raphael]] (1518)]]		[[File:Raphael - Ezekiel's Vision.jpg\|thumb\|The Vision of Ezekiel, [[w:Raphael\|Raphael]] (1518)]]

Odyssee: /* The apocalyptic vision of Daniel */

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The apocalyptic vision of Daniel

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	== The apocalyptic vision of Daniel ==		== The apocalyptic vision of Daniel ==
	~~[[File:132.Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts.jpg\|thumb\|[[w:Gustave Doré\|Gustave Doré]]: ''Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts'', Doré's English Bible (1866)]]~~

	Daniel also describes the four sphinx beasts in his apocalyptic vision, albeit in a modified form:		Daniel also describes the four sphinx beasts in his apocalyptic vision, albeit in a modified form:

	{{GZ\|Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts		[[File:132.Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts.jpg\|thumb\|300px\|[[w:Gustave Doré\|Gustave Doré]]: ''Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts'', Doré's English Bible (1866)]]

			{{Quote\|'''Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts'''

	1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.		1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

	The Ancient of Days Reigns		'''The Ancient of Days Reigns'''

	9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.		9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

	The Son of Man Is Given Dominion		'''The Son of Man Is Given Dominion'''

	13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.		13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

	Daniel’s Vision Interpreted		'''Daniel’s Vision Interpreted'''

	15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me~~[2]~~ was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ 28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”\|{{B\|Daniel\|7:1-28}}}}		15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ 28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”\|{{B\|Daniel\|7:1-28}}}}

	== Literature ==		== Literature ==

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 == The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==
-[[File:File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]
+[[File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]
 [[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.
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 {{Quote|1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. 4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. 15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. 18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.|{{B|Ezekiel|1:1-28}}}}
 == Literature ==

Odyssee at 14:05, 2 July 2021

2021-07-02T14:05:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 2 July 2021
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	== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==		== The Nightmare, the Question Motif and the Sphinx ==
	[[File:~~Gustave Moreau~~ Oedipus.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]		[[File:File:Oedipus and the Sphinx MET DP-14201-023.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|[[Wikipedia:Gustave Moreau\|Gustave Moreau]], Oedipus and the Sphinx]]

	[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.		[[Nightmare]] appears in a more refined form in the riddle of the Sphinx, as it has been handed down, for example, through the [[w:Oedipus\|Oedipus saga]]. It is based on the [[lucifer]]ic influence on breathing and blood movement, which was particularly strong in the [[Greco-Latin period]] and led to an expansion of the [[etheric body]] beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Today, the [[ahriman]]ic influence increasingly takes its place, which is expressed in the experience of the [[Mephistopheles]] figure as described by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\|Goethe]] in his [[Faust]] tragedy.
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	Thus man, by being open to the Cosmos in his breathing process, faces the Sphinx nature. This experience of facing the sphinx nature of the cosmos in his breathing, this basic experience arose particularly in the fourth post-Atlantean, the Greek-Latin cultural period. And in the Oedipus saga we see how man confronts the Sphinx, how the Sphinx chains herself to him, becomes the tormentor of questions. Man and the Sphinx, or we can also say, man and the Luciferic in the universe should, as it were, be placed as a basic experience of the fourth post-Atlantean cultural period in such a way that when man breaks through his outer normal life on the physical plane just a little, he comes into contact with the Sphinx nature. Then Lucifer approaches him in his life, and he must come to terms with Lucifer, with the Sphinx.\|158\|99ff}}		Thus man, by being open to the Cosmos in his breathing process, faces the Sphinx nature. This experience of facing the sphinx nature of the cosmos in his breathing, this basic experience arose particularly in the fourth post-Atlantean, the Greek-Latin cultural period. And in the Oedipus saga we see how man confronts the Sphinx, how the Sphinx chains herself to him, becomes the tormentor of questions. Man and the Sphinx, or we can also say, man and the Luciferic in the universe should, as it were, be placed as a basic experience of the fourth post-Atlantean cultural period in such a way that when man breaks through his outer normal life on the physical plane just a little, he comes into contact with the Sphinx nature. Then Lucifer approaches him in his life, and he must come to terms with Lucifer, with the Sphinx.\|158\|99ff}}

			== The Vision of Ezekiel ==
			[[File:Raphael - Ezekiel's Vision.jpg\|thumb\|The Vision of Ezekiel, [[w:Raphael\|Raphael]] (1518)]]

			The Jewish prophet [[w:Ezekiel\|Ezekiel]] sees the glory of the Lord in his great vision through the four-beast:

			{{Quote\|1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. 4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. 15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. 18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.\|{{B\|Ezekiel\|1:1-28}}}}

	== Literature ==		== Literature ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:04, 2 July 2021
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	[[File:Karnak sphynxes.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[w:Sheep\|Ram]] sphinxes ([[Wikipedia:Karnak Temple\|Karnak Temple]])]]		[[File:Karnak sphynxes.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|[[w:Sheep\|Ram]] sphinxes ([[Wikipedia:Karnak Temple\|Karnak Temple]])]]
	[[File:Sphinx Metropolitan.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Sphinx of [[Wikipedia:Hatshepsut\|Hatshepsut]] ([[Wikipedia:Metropolitan Museum of Art\|Metropolitan Museum of Art]])]]		[[File:Sphinx Metropolitan.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Sphinx of [[Wikipedia:Hatshepsut\|Hatshepsut]] ([[Wikipedia:Metropolitan Museum of Art\|Metropolitan Museum of Art]])]]
			[[File:Sphinx MET 11.185.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Greek sphinx, [[w:Attica\|Attica]], ca. 530 BC.]]

	The '''sphinx''' ({{Greek\|σφίγξ}}, from {{lang\|grc\|σφίγγειν}} ''sphíngein'' "to strangle"; possibly also derived from [[w:Egyptian language\|ancient Egyptian]]: {{lang\|egy\|spanch}} "that which receives life"; the traditional ancient Egyptian name of the sphinx, however, was not this, but '''Hu''' "protector") is a hybrid being with a human head and a mostly winged animal body that can show itself to the [[clairvoyant gaze]]. Ideally, one can see the four-beast (also called four-form or '''tetramorph'''), which unites all four sphinx animals, i.e. [[man]], [[eagle]], [[lion]] and [[bull]]. Occasionally, one even sees a [[dragon]] or [[reptile]] tail, which points back to a very early stage of [[human evolution]]. In [[Egypt]], however, sphinx figures with [[w:Sheep\|ram]], [[w:hawk\|hawk]] and [[w:sparrowhawk\|sparrowhawk]] heads were also common.		The '''sphinx''' ({{Greek\|σφίγξ}}, from {{lang\|grc\|σφίγγειν}} ''sphíngein'' "to strangle"; possibly also derived from [[w:Egyptian language\|ancient Egyptian]]: {{lang\|egy\|spanch}} "that which receives life"; the traditional ancient Egyptian name of the sphinx, however, was not this, but '''Hu''' "protector") is a hybrid being with a human head and a mostly winged animal body that can show itself to the [[clairvoyant gaze]]. Ideally, one can see the four-beast (also called four-form or '''tetramorph'''), which unites all four sphinx animals, i.e. [[man]], [[eagle]], [[lion]] and [[bull]]. Occasionally, one even sees a [[dragon]] or [[reptile]] tail, which points back to a very early stage of [[human evolution]]. In [[Egypt]], however, sphinx figures with [[w:Sheep\|ram]], [[w:hawk\|hawk]] and [[w:sparrowhawk\|sparrowhawk]] heads were also common.