Archetypes In Symbolism And Mythology

"Mythology is a fictitious tale about 
characters who never existed,
engaged in events that never happened.
But, yet, it is true."
- Joseph Panek

An Archetype is a physical portrayal of either an Event or an
abstract concept. An Archetype is portrayed as male when it is
designed to depict a masculine aspect, or essence, of nature.
An Archetype is portrayed as female when it is designed to
depict a feminine aspect, or essence, of nature.

Ancient Esoteric writings inform us that masculine aspects of
nature are active, bestowing, rational, logical, conscious, and
solar - The Seed; while feminine aspects of nature are passive,
accepting, intuitive, emotional, subconscious, and lunar
- The Womb.

The events depicted by an Archetype can be either terrestrial
( earthly ) or cosmic ( heavenly ). The Epic tales of classic
literature all contain Archetypal heroes, gods, and goddesses
who weave their ways through these ancient sagas and mingle
in the affairs of mankind. Consider the heroic and divine
Archetypes who have mesmerized us in Homer's unforgettable
classic tales of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

The abstract concepts depicted by Archetypes are limitless.
They include, but are not limited to, dreams, insights, epiphanies,
prophecy, esoteric Wisdom, and Shamanic experiences. These
are the Archetypes portrayed in the many temple paintings and
hieroglyphs which come down to us from ancient Egypt.

Archetypes allow us to visualize, personify and personalize events
and abstract concepts. They are unforgettable physical
constructions which then become an ingrained mental image that
allows us to recall and associate a specific Archetypal character
with a specific event or abstract concept.

An Archetype is a necessary element for the creation of metaphors,
allegories, parables, myths, legends, fables, and stories which
become the unforgettable Lessons which are then passed down
from generation to generation.

The ancient thought process was Archetypal and metaphorical.
The ancients thought, spoke, taught, and wrote through the use
of Archetypes and metaphors. Therefore, in order for us to
understand ancient histories, legends, myths, and sacred writings,
we must first attempt to understand the ancient mind which
evaluated events, ideas, and concepts by way of Archetypal thinking.

For only by understanding this ancient thought process can we
truly understand the histories and Lessons which they have
passed down to us by way of their myths, legends, sacred
writings, puns, and metaphors.

So, how does this process of Archetypal thinking actually work?

First: An event must occur, a hero must be glorified, an
abstract concept must be brought into consciousness, or a
phenomenon of nature must be experienced. These are the original
and fundamental sources from which Archetypes are conceived
and brought into physical reality.

Second: An Archetype is created which Symbolizes this event,
hero, abstract concept, or phenomenon of Nature. Only then, by
way of a physical representation ( a Symbolic Archetype ), can
a myth, legend, story, or metaphor then be created. If the event
or abstract concept is masculine in nature, it is portrayed by a
man. If the event or abstract concept is feminine in nature, it is
portrayed as a woman. The Archetype must exist before the
myth, story, or legend can be created.

Third: The myth, legend, sacred writing, or metaphor is created
by way of using the Archetype, or Archetypes, which have been
created from the initial event or abstract concept. This end result
is the stories and Lessons that have been passed down to us from
our ancient ancestors from the most ancient of Times.

An Archetype is perpetual while those who later assume the role
of that particular Archetype are temporary. THE HERO is an
Archetype for all heroes who follow. AN ECLIPSE is an Archetype
for all eclipses which follow. MOTHERHOOD is an
Archetype for all women who later assume the role of mother.

Furthermore, THE HERO will always exist; regardless of whether
or not there are currently any heroes to assume that role.

This fact is True for ALL Archetypes.

KINGSHIP is the Archetype for all future kings who assume this
role. KINGSHIP ( or RULERSHIP ) will also always exist
regardless of whether or not there is currently any king to assume
this role. The Archetype of KINGSHIP is clearly defined in the
statement, "The king is dead. Long live the king". What this
proclamation is actually saying is, "The old king is dead. Long live
the new king". This proclamation reminds us that the Archetype of
KINGSHIP is perpetual, even though the characters who wander
in and out of the role of 'king" are continuously replaced.


The same goes for "popes", "presidents", "history teachers",
"comedians", "architects", etc. These are all perpetual Archetypal
titles under which others temporarily assume a role as Time and
history ceaselessly march onward.

Let us look at two Archetypal portrayals (one masculine and the
other feminine ) in order to better visualize the concept of Archetypes:

 

Horus - image via wikipedia

HORUS: Horus is the ancient Egyptian Archetype, or Neter, which
Symbolizes KINGSHIP or RULERSHIP. Horus is depicted as
having the body of a man and the head of a hawk.

KINGSHIP or RULERSHIP is an invisible abstract concept which
relates to an "active", or "masculine", aspect of Nature. Therefore,
the Archetype the ancient Egyptians called Horus is depicted as
having the body of a man.

Furthermore, Nature also provides us with a visual phenomenon of
RULERSHIP by way of the hawk.

The hawk is a powerful bird that RULES the heavens. And just as
the hawk was seen as the ruler of its domain of the heavens, so
was the KING or PHARAOH seen as the earthly counterpart of the
hawk who was destined, and responsible, for RULING on earth.

This is why Horus, the Archetype of RULERSHIP, was depicted as
having the body of a man with the head of a hawk

All Egyptian pharaohs were understood to be a temporal aspect of
the Archetype Horus and were therefore recognized as HORUS.

 

Hathor - image via wikipedia

HATHOR: Hathor is the ancient Egyptian Archetype, or Neter,  for
MOTHERHOOD. MOTHERHOOD is a feminine aspect of Nature.
Therefore Hathor is portrayed with either a woman's body with a
cow's head, or, simply as a woman's facial features with a cow's
ears. HATHOR can also be portrayed simply as a cow.

The cow is a docile, nurturing animal. It is also the animal which
provides the milk which is necessary to nourish infants. Here we
see the reason why the ancient Egyptians chose the cow as the
Symbol for MOTHERHOOD.

All women who chose the role of motherhood in ancient Egypt
therefore became a physical manifestation, and representation, of
the Archetype called HATHOR.

Furthermore, when a person's earthly incarnation came to its end,
it was HATHOR who welcomed, nourished, and nurtured the Soul
of the newly deceased when it once again returned to the spiritual
realm from whence it had departed in order to experience a
physical existence.

Conclusion: As we become more and more familiar with Archetypes,
we gain a better understanding of the thought processes and
perceptions of our most distant ancestors. And it is by this
process of understanding the ancient mind that we can slowly
unravel the enigmatic and mystical riddles which baffle and amaze us;
enigmas, mysteries, riddles, and abstract concepts conceived and
cast into stone at the most remote beginnings of historical Time.

See Also:  Article about "The Egyptian Neter"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2019

Symbols And Symbolism

"Nature speaks in symbols and in signs."
- John Greenleaf Whittier

Symbols are mankind's way of attempting to express abstract
concepts and Divine Mysteries by way of drawings, artwork,
statues, patterns and designs.

We find artistic representations (Symbols) of the abstract and
Divine in the calligraphy writing of China and in the hieroglyphic
characters of the ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Aztecs.

We see Symbolic representations of abstract concepts etched
upon ancient pottery and carved upon cave walls and stone
monuments. We even see Symbols drawn within burial sites that
pre-date recorded history and the most ancient writing.

Since the most ancient times mankind has expressed its thoughts,
experiences, feelings and beliefs through the use of Symbols.
Ancient cultures understood that certain animals, metals, patterns,
Cycles and Events - both earthly and heavenly - were physical
expressions of the unseen Divine Forces which governed their
everyday existence and they used Symbols to pictorially represent
these Divine Essences and Events.

The Ancients also understood that they lived in a world of duality
which expressed itself as either a masculine or feminine principle
of nature. Masculine principles are those aspects of nature which
are assertive, bestowing, logical and conscious - the Seed.
Feminine principles are those aspects of nature which are passive,
receptive, intuitive and subconscious - the Womb.

We are most familiar with these masculine and feminine Symbolic
expressions by way of the Egyptian Neters (generally referred to
as Egyptian gods and goddesses) whereby either a masculine or
feminine figure is portrayed with either the head of an animal,
or some type of physical Symbol depicted atop their head. If the
Neter expresses a feminine principle of Divinity it has a woman's
body and if the Neter expresses a masculine principle of Divinity
it has a man's body.

Abstract concepts such as Truth, Harmony, Justice, Order and
Balance were also expressed through Symbols. And the Ancients
were very exact in choosing which animal, weapon, shape or
implement they selected to express these abstract concepts.
The most important thing to keep in mind when attempting to
translate and understand a Symbol is that a Symbol does not
simply represent a word, or a letter of an alphabet. A Symbol
represents a Concept! And because it represents a concept, it
encompasses all of the various meanings, definitions and insights
contained within that particular Concept.

It is extremely difficult to evaluate Ancient expressions (Symbols)
by way of modern Western thought; for modern Western thought
is bound, and limited, by letters and Words. However, Ancient
Symbolism, and even current Eastern thought, is unbound and
evaluates life, Nature and Divinity by way of Concepts - Concepts
portrayed by way of Symbols.

An equally important thing to keep in mind, when attempting to
understand Symbols and Symbolism is that for us to properly
understand the meaning of Ancient Symbols we must imagine the
way in which Ancient Cultures lived, thought, farmed and hunted.
We must also try to imagine the immense, dark, star-studded and
awe-inspiring night sky under which these Ancients lived; a rotating
night sky full of not only stars but planets, comets, meteors,
Shooting-Stars and Lightening. And finally we must try to imagine
how these Ancient peoples interacted within their society, with
their neighbors and with the countless, and uncertain, elements of
Nature to which they were exposed.

And finally, we must remember that because Symbolism is
extremely Ancient, the Divine Principles and Concepts which the
Ancients Symbolized could only be expressed in the tools, weapons,
and implements which were available to Ancient Cultures during
their Time.

For example: Where we would express "measurement" by means
of surveying equipment, the Ancients would use a rope to Symbolize
this same Concept. Where we may use a bullet to express the
"speed of thought" the Ancients Symbolized this concept by means
of the Arrow. Where we may express the means of "cutting" or
"dissecting" by way of a laser beam, the Ancients would Symbolize
this concept with a knife or Sword. And, where we would express
the concept of "communication" by way of a computer or radio, the
Ancients would Symbolize this same concept through the image of
the Tongue.

When we consider all that must be absorbed into the translation
of Symbols and Symbolism it is easy to understand how Ancient
Symbols can easily be either Mis-translated or partially translated.
This in turn can lead to our misunderstanding, and confusion, of
what a particular Symbol fully represents. And if we have difficulty
in understanding a single Symbol, how can we possibly fully
understand the Divine Truths and Concepts contained within
Ancient texts which are "written" with only Symbols?

Since Symbols represent Concepts, they can only be understood
through our intuition and Subconscious; not through reason and
logic. Ancient Symbols are the archetypes, the original mental
impressions, which have been part of our nature since the earliest
beginnings of Time. Symbols are Sacred esoteric depictions which
the Ancients used to describe Divine Concepts.

And because Symbolism is embedded deeply within each one of us,
it is up to us to reach deep within if we wish to understand, feel and
un-Veil the Sacred Concepts which Ancient Symbolism is designed
to reveal to us.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010