by cameo-d 23 Replies latest jw friends
Remember, Cameo-d, the 'fish' was another symbol of Christ...
So it would make sense for the illustrator to create a doubly-significant visual image...
The "waters of life" and the "fish", symbolizing the time Jesus fed the masses with bread and fish...
Although, the 'fish' has an older, deeper symbolism... It hearkens back to Goddess worship that predates the Christian mythology. I'm not familiar with all the details; another topic for me to research...
Zid
Journey-on: "Look at the border. Look at the images on the left side and those on the right. Do you notice anything especially?"
I hadn't really thought too much about the border before. The illustration is off center, and the right border is thinner than the left border. But I assume that has to do with the book binding aspects, as this illustration was for the Book of Hours.
I notice that the illustrations on the right border are all small buds, probably because the border is thinner. The border does not really seem to be an integral part of the illustration, though it could be and I'm just not getting it.
The flowers on the left and bottom seem rather arbitrary and I don't see any special meaning or reason in it. Maybe you do?
I thought the lamb was supposed to be the symbol of ChristI would say the lamb is the symbol for Jesus' sacrifice.
It is Gideon's Fleece.
http://www.wikiwak.com/wak/Gideon_%28Bible%29
In both Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, Gideon's fleece was regarded as a type of the Annunciation to Mary, where Mary was the fleece, and Christ the dew. He is regarded as a Saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church, who hold his Feast day on September 26 (those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, September 26 currently falls on October 9 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). He is also commemorated, together with the other righteous figures of the Old Testament on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (the Sunday before Christmas). He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.
Judges 6:36-40
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground
The flowers on the left and bottom seem rather arbitrary and I don't see any special meaning or reason in it. Maybe you do?I do. As I said, I think this piece is about spiritual unfoldment and transformation.
The buds on the right represent the newly emerging spirituality. As you follow them around to the left side, you see them begin to open. By the time you get to the bottom, the bloom is fully developed. The meaning of this I think, would be spiritual unfoldment.
Also note the two butterflies on the left side. One is dark and facing left. The other is white and facing right. Butterflies represent rebirth and transformation.
Mythbuster, I appreciate your contribution and participation.
I don't know how authoratitive the author of the wiki info would be, but that information leaves me less than satisfied and in some ways makes no sense.
"In both Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, Gideon's fleece was regarded as a type of the Annunciation to Mary, where Mary was the fleece, and Christ the dew."
Who is the one "regarding" this as such? Is it a particular religious sect? Is it folklore? Mary is the fleece and Christ is the dew? That sounds really lame and contrived and rather like grasping at straws. It is an absurd explanation, imo.
"Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. "
Is dew not a normal act of nature? Is this dew on the fleece anything that would be out of the norm? You are the Mythbuster....isn't there a logical scientific explanation rather than a supernatural one?
This reminds me of Urim and Thummim which was basically trickery and superstition.
Wouldn't this method of "receiving answers from God" based on wind blowing, or dew falling, or weather patterns, etc. fall under either "testing god" or some kind of 8 ball theology?
Journey-on: "Also note the two butterflies on the left side. One is dark and facing left. The other is white and facing right. It hovers above a some geese. (Geese represent the Great Mother...think Mother Goose) Butterflies represent rebirth and transformation."
Oh, wow. I did not even recognize that was GEESE in the corner!!! I thought it was some kind of grey droopy flower blossoms! hahaha
I think you are onto something with the Mother Goose/Great Mother aspect.
Does "the Mother" represent "the church" or "Mary the virgin"? Could it be that the lines are intentionally blurred?
Question: Is the robed figure blowing a horn? And what is that funnel-shaped thing behind him?
I decided I wasn't sure if those were geese or more flowers, so I removed that comment. But, geese do represent the Great Mother and Mother Goose is an interesting thing to research if you have time.
Please put your Goose comment back. I think it was excellent point!!!
Consider this creepy thought....Mother goose--the Great Mother....and what's that building? AAAHHHHHHH! It's a WATCHTOWER in the picture!
