Читать книгу The Science of Religion - Howard Barry Schatz - Страница 18

Lions and Leopards could still be found in Egypt until the rain belt moved south (circa 3500 BCE). They were “conquerors of death,” and fierce protectors of royal tombs and thrones (Figures 16a & c). Just as a lion is “king of beasts,” Fire held authority over the other primordial elements. Within monotheism, Heaven and the Throne of Glory were fashioned from the primordial Fires, while the Fires of Heaven purged away all impurity, freeing the Divine sparks from a korban sacrifice on the altar. Ariel, which literally means “altar,” or “Lion of God,” is one of the seven archangels mentioned in Jewish and Christian mythology. Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God, referred to his son Judah as a young lion. Judah was the dominant tribe of ancient Israel, the tribe of King David, and tribe of the anticipated Messiah.

Vishnu, within his dream of world-illusion, incarnated as a Man-Lion (Figure 16b) in order to devour the entrails of an atheistic king named “Golden Garment” who, through the power of yoga, had become sole sovereign of the universe, overthrowing even the gods.”102

Figure 16a - Leonine Body of Egyptian Sphinx Guarding the Pharaoh’s Tomb

Figure 16b - Man-Lion Altmuhl Caves (ca. 28,000 BCE) Figure 16c - Çatal Höyük Leopard Throne (ca. 6500 BCE)