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Griffin, oil on canvas, 2x3 ft., Fall 1999 SDSU. This Greek style griffin is the reflection of the blending of the archetype Scorpio and Leo in astrology--hence, a Scorpleo griffin. Astrology dominated the thinking and fostered many of the arts and sciences of not only the Greeks, but the Romans, and most civilizations in the Crescent Valley and Indus valley from more than 6000 years ago (actually my view is it was brought from Atlantis and distributed through the Mediterranean including Egypt). The Greeks believed that the signs were grouped together by Element and Mode and did not distinguish them otherwise. These griffins, winged men, and winged bulls (Minataurs) were carryovers from ancient Sumer, Babylon and Assyria. When the Emperor Constantine sanctioned Christianity, the Christians copied these icons from these civilizations because they knew they would be more easily integrated and accepted. Therefore, the winged man (Aquarius) became St. Matthew, the winged Lion--St. Mark, the winged bull (or Ox) became St. Luke, and the eagle (the higher octave of Scorpio) became St. John. The astrological iconography and permeation can still be seen in art in Europe in the "Christ in Majesty" from the 12th century in Santa Maria de Muir, Catalonia, Spain-- for example--or the "Christ Enthroned" mosaic in Santa Prudenziana in Rome from the 5th Century. Now that the ends have been achieved by the Christian cult, astrology in Christian fundamentalism is considered evil. In Madeleine, France, the signs of the Zodiac encircle the ascension of Christ in a relief on the center portal of the narthex of that church. I will be placing an article at my Information site about the truer history of these periods, that will precede a fuller explanation in texts to come. There are astrology related works in gallery 6 and the links there.
© 1999/2000 Edmond H. Wollmann, Altair Publications Astrological Consulting | Astrology Information | Astrology and Academia | Arcturian1
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