AAL’S LABYRINTH HISTORY An Alternative Viewpoint…..contd. #60

 

Greek Apollo Sun God 

With the 6^th century BCE we enter the era of the Master Philosophers whose thoughts underpinned two thousand years of Western cultural thinking. This begins the age of the Pre-Socratic Western philosophers of Greece who sought natural rather than mythological explanations of phenomena; Thales (c590BC) Anaximander (c580BC) Anaximenes (c545BC) Heraclitus (c506BC). 

The next century will continue the trend in Parmenides (c485BC) Anaxagoras (c465BC) Empedocles (c460BC) Democritus (c430BC) (13).

 

This current century sees the gradual rise of naturalistic science based on sceptical rationalism and seen to develop through Eleatic rationalism, Ionian Physics and Democritus’ Atomism. (19)

 

A new cycle of human development is evidenced during this century, inaugurating a new set of human values and development of the mind and soul. It will be followed by five centuries of humanities attempt to adjust to this new level of being. [207]

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

The great cities of Greece along the coast of Asia Minor are in touch with all the leading centres of the civilized world: Egypt, Phoenicia, Lydia, Persia and Babylon. What the Greeks borrowed they transmuted and to this added some of their own thinking. [185]

In the East is the philosophy of Lao-Tse who was born at the end of the previous century but there is indication of his philosophy filtering into the west, probably along the ‘Silk Road’ of trading and even perhaps in the explorers from the west travelling east and then returning with new ways of thinking. Other influences come from India and Asia to meld with those of the west.

598 BCE     SOLON (c638-558) Greek Athenian Law maker who is instructed on the mysteries by the priests of Sais in Egypt during a visit there in the time of Pharaoh Amasis I. The priests also told Solon of the story of Atlantis, which he will in turn transmit to Plato (c560 BCE). [72.103] According to Plutarch, Solon received his instructions from the priest Sonchis of Sais. (250)

Egyptian Priest

paying Homage to the gods

c597 BCE     NEBUCHADNEZZAR II leads the Babylonians to conquer Jerusalem around this time. With the Assyrian defeat of Egypt, the final fall of the Israelite monarchy is achieved by c586 BCE. Jerusalem and its Temple are destroyed and the Hebrews are exiled to Babylon for 70 years where they are to become scholars of the Babylonian star religion. The Hebrew people are now dispersed as exiles and refugees, going between their homeland, Egypt and Babylon. (102. 9)

            The Semitic Chaldeans of Babylon are attributed with the introduction and development of astrology. It is thought that writing and magic were a Turanian or Sumerian (Akkadian) contribution to Babylonian civilization but that astronomy and astrology were Semitic innovations. (1)

                The Prophet Ezekiel said ‘I have appointed thee each day for a year’ and astrologers use this as a measurement for prediction by the stars.

 

591                 The capital of Kush [Nubia/Northern Sudan] is moved from Napata to Meroe, by the kings of the 25^th Dynasty of Egypt. The Meroe civilization blended Egyptian, Hellenistic and Indian influences into a unique culture, which included their own form of writing, a cursive script that remained undeciphered until the end of the 20^th century CE.

                

EARTHLY QUEEN

 

Sigil of the Bull

The Taurean Bull of course can be tracked back to the ancient Egyptian Apis Bull and his partner. The Apis Bull was the sacred symbol of Osiris and through him of his partner Isis/Hathor who sometimes sports the cow head. It is quite debatable which had the most authority, but it is highly suspicious that it was Isis who was the goddess to give birth to the child Horos or Hour.  Horos or Hour, a segment of time-space and symbol of the creative qualities as the Great Mother Goddess. However, make no mistake that Isis would remain barren without the stimulation, seeding and support of Osiris. It does and always will take two to tango or in other words a polarity to create a third condition generated out of that polarity. Think carefully upon these words, said the master.

 

Isis and Osiris are the cosmic polarities of the ‘All’; the male and female principles of life, and their story is retold by Plutarch. Plutarch had learnt a lot from the High Priestess Clea.

Hathor 

An aspect of the 

Great Mother Goddess.

Venus is the planet most associated with the Earth sign Taurus. Venus is symbolised in the ancient Goddess Hathor. Hathor wears the cow head symbolised in the horns of potency and the disk of creation.

 

The other image of Venus is the classical Greek goddess Aphrodite, an image that over emphasises the feminine. And yet one can still sense some yang energies to be present and to keep the balance going.  Aphrodite has absolute ‘feminine’ appeal, yet with a hidden stress of being her own person. 

Aphrodite of Greece

In fact, Aphrodite can be quite harsh in her search for equality, balance, harmony, and justice. When these desires are harnessed to the Bullish qualities of Taurus, there is not likely to be a middle path towards achieving that peace according to the Taurean will; a will-power that is strong and determined yet ready to play ball with the opponent if good practical reason is given and the production of harmony is sensed as the end product. Image assaulting the earth in order to planet a rose tree. The rose tree blooms and reminds us of the beauty of life well lived in balance.

 

Equally, we will see this drive in the Libran Venus. If Venus cannot be bothered with all the inconvenience of war then she is likely to sit down and refuse to move or to be concerned about the state of things. We will come to this in the October sign of Libra who also is strongly associated with the planet Venus.

The month of May is the time of year to pay homage to the Queen of Mother Earth, the goddess Flora or her associate Persephone the daughter of Demeter. Flowers are one of the attributes of the planet Venus symbolising the love of nature in its beautiful and harmonious aspect.

 

Persephone or goddess Flora