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Fragments of a Faith Forgotten, by G.R.S. Mead, [1900], at sacred-texts.com


p. xxvii

ILLUSTRATIONS

 

Tetramorph (Anthropos symbol) standing on two wheels, symbol of the Old and New Testaments. From the Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos. 13th century.

Figure 1

The "union of irreconcilables," marriage of water and fire Each figure has four hands to symbolize their multitudinous capabilities. From an Indian painting in Nikolaus Mueller, Glauben, Wissen and Kunst der Alten Hindus, Mainz 1822.

Figure 2

Gnostic Gem, Harpocrates on the lotus. From C. W. King, The Gnostics and Their Remains, London 1864.

Figure 3

Unicorn and his reflection, depicting the motto "De moy je m’epouvante." From Jacobus Boschius, Symbolographia, Augsburg 1702.

Figure 4

Mercurius standing on the globe. The caduceus and horns of plenty symbolize the richness of his gifts. From V. Cartari, Le Imagini de i dei de gli antichi, Lyons 1581.

1

Communion table with seven fish. Christian earthenware lamp from Carthage.

3

p. xxviii

 

Two dragons forming a circle, and, in the four corners, signs of the four elements. From Abraham Eleazar (Abraham the Jew), Uraltes chymisches Werk, Leipzig 1760.

 

Hermes conjuring the winged soul out of an urn. Attic funeral lekythos, Jena.

121

Hermes on Greek vase painting. In the Hamilton Collection.

155

Melusina. From Abraham Eleazar (Abraham the Jew), Uraltes chymisches Werk, Leipzig 1760.

157

The Uroboros as symbol of the æon. From Horapollo, Selecta hieroglyphica, 1597.

 

Fermentatio, symbolic representation of the conjunctio spirituum. The lines react: "But here King Sol is tight shut in / And Mercurius philosophorum pours over him." From the Rosarium, Frankfort 1550.

451

Crowned dragon as tail-eater. In the four corners signs of the four elements. From Abraham Eleazar (Abraham the Jew) Uraltes chymisches Werk, Leipzig 1760.

453

Christ as Anthropos, standing on the globe, flanked by the four elements. From Bartholomew de Glanville, Liber de proprietatibus rerum Bartholomew Anglici, Strasbourg 1485.

603

Anima Mundi. From Thurneisser zum Thurn, Quinto essentia, Leipzig, 1574.

 

The Mercurial spirit of the prima materia, in the shape of a salamander, frolicking in the fire. From Michael Maier, Scrutinium chymicum, Frankfort, 1687.

608

 

NOTE: These illustrations are from the 1960 University Books edition. They are all believed to be in the public domain.--JBH.

 


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