The Riddle Of The Sphinx :: essays research papers

The Riddle of the SphinxThe study of myths probably began in the 4th century. BC. when Euthemerusexplained them as exaggerated adventures of historical individuals. Theallegorical interpretation of myths , stemming from the 18th century study ,says that at one time myths were invented by wise men to point out a truth, hardlyafter a time myths were taken literally. The linguistic decadenceinterpretation says that myths could be understood as allegory for pointts foundin nature. The Jungians school denoted myths as a mechanism of wish fulfillment.Sir James Frazer, believed that all myths were sooner connected with theidea of fertility in nature, with birth, death, and resurrection of vegetationas a constantly recurring motif. Though the modern interpretation of myths isnot general but a specific explanation for myths of a single people. Thetheological interpretation states that myths are foreshadowings of facts of theScripture or corruptions of them. This view, which is not contem porarily popular,is surprisingly enlightening when attention is give to the meaning of names ofcharacters and places in relation to Biblical stories. Even recent fairy taleswhich fall into the category of myth, often reveal through metaphor much truthin scripture than one would anticipate.The most relevant and necessary topic for the perceptiveness of theimagery and symbolism of myth is found in the model of the celestial zodiac.The pictures found today in the zodiac were not developed by the Greeks, butwere in place perhaps as early as 4000 B.C. predating even the civilizations ofSumaria. The pictures were not arranged in haphazard order to aid in thetracking of the star movements but with order and purpose of depicting an epicnarrative. This understanding of the zodiac reveals an intelligence andscientific understanding that was corrupted through time . The symbolism whichremains can be analyzed to reveal the basic truth foot it.The story of the sphinx is an excellent example of the zodiac / mythconnection. The sphinx a composite creature with the head of a woman or man andthe body of a social lion was associated with the guarding of sacred sites of antiquity.It represented the whole of the narrative of the zodiac, with the head of awoman, Virgo the beginning of the celestial cycle and the body of a lion,Leo,the end of the cycle. In fact, the actual contrive for what scripture calls acherub is in actuality,a sphinx. The angels were beings whose sole purpose wasto reflect the will and the glory of the God who created them.