Monday 9 July 2018

Images

In the Atlantean palace-temple, murals show the Triple Goddess and human souls taken to judgment:

"By flickering lamplight, they seemed to stir."
-Poul Anderson, The Dancer From Atlantis, CHAPTER TWELVE, p. 98.

Elsewhen:

"It was the gods carved on the pillars that seemed to move amidst unrestful shadows, one-handed Father Tiwaz, Donar of the Ax, the Twin Horsemen - they, and the beasts and heroes and entwining branches engraven in the wainscot."
-Poul Anderson, "The Sorrow of Odin the Goth" IN Anderson, Time Patrol (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 333-465 AT 372, p. 334.

"Evening sunlight slanted through windows and among columns, filtered to a domed ceiling, brought forth out of dusk, remote upon gold and blue, the Twelve Apostles and Christ Lord of All."
-Poul Anderson, A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows IN Anderson, Sir Dominic Flandry: The Last Knight Of Terra (Riverdale, NY, 2012), pp. 339-606 AT XVIII, p. 576.

The Christian figures do not seem to move but might have. How many people see such images in places of worship, then project religious visions? - which are always culturally conditioned.

"I see Lord Krishna and I weep."

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

4 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I too thought of the image of Christ as the Pantocrator, in the church of St. Clement, as we see it in A KNIGHT OF GHOSTS AND SHADOWS.

One of the most impressive images I've seen of Christ as the Pantocrator is the mosaic Christ in Majesty, to be seen at the Catholic National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

And I believe some visions are real and genuine, not merely culturally conditioned. Such as the appearances of the BVM at the church of St. Mark, in Zeitun, a part of Cairo, Egypt.

Sean

dealsshutter said...

your content is new to me. it was informative

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

your name is new to me. it is welcome

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, dealsshutter!

I hope this blog interests you and that we see more comments by you.

Ad astra! Sean