EROS

by John Meluch
Eros
"I am sinless,
and the root of sin derives from me.
I am lust in (outward) appearance,
and interior self-control exists within me.

For I am the one who alone exists,
and I have no one who will judge me.

For many are the pleasant forms which exist in
numerous sins,
and incontinencies,
and disgraceful passions,
and fleeting pleasures,
which men embrace until they become sober
and go up to their resting place.

And they will find me there,
and they will live,
and they will not die again."

- Nag Hammadi Codex, "The Thunder, Perfect Mind".

"The EROS image uses the interior of Amiens Cathedral as a backdrop. (As a matter of fact, the exterior of Amiens was used in the SOPHIA image.) The female in the composition is possibly a temple priestess (or sacrificial virgin), and is portrayed on an altar with a frieze depicting the "Rebirth of Aphrodite". Despite her role as a love goddess, Aphrodite was ritually washed clean and reborn as a virgin annually. The virgin is only one part of the female trinity, (along with mother-whore, and crone).

The sightless minotaur is possibly the unconscious male libido which stumbles blindly in its pursuit of union ("hieros gamos"), with the divine female energy.

The small triangular window in the distance is an alchemical image of the "magna mater". The hovering image of the knight on the winged fish is from "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymous Bosch - member of a heretical, gnostic sect called the Adamites.

But this is just superficial, background information. The real interpretation of the image lies entirely in the mind/imagination of the beholder."

- Submitted by John Meluch.


Hard copy prints are available for parties interested.....16 x 20 inch gicle� prints, signed by the artist....$36 bucks and $3 shipping and handling. Send e-mail to John Meluch or visit the Rhino Graphics Web Site. Rhino Graphics Web Site
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