WalkerW Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Was wondering if some of our more Hebrew savvy members could give us some details on fertility's relationship to the ancient temples. Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Im no Hebrew Scholar, but... some of the fertility symbols I've found incorporated into the ancient temple of Solomon as well as our Modern Day temples.Lilly work on the baptismal font. Lillies were an ancient sign of Fertility. Its intresting to find in on the FONT were we are REBORN to God.http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/lotus.htmhttp://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/miscellaneous/flowers-and-religionhttp://www.templesecrets.info/sexsymb.htmlAlso... Sheeves of Wheet.In the Greek Orthodox Church new Brides were often Given crowns of Lillies intertwined with Scheeves of Wheet as a symbol, blessing and reminder of Noahs covenant with the Lord to Multiply and fill the earth.Pomagranites where also another Symbol of fertility used in ancient temples. Link to comment
David Bokovoy Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Great topic. One of the important religious symbols linked with Near Eastern temple worship includes the tree of life, a traditional North West Semitic fertility symbol. The link between fertility and the sacred tree of life appears in Canaanite iconography where the tree denotes the female pubic region. Link to comment
maklelan Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 The date palm and the lotus flower were signs of fertility, as were oxen and bulls. The capitals to the pillars at the front entrance were probably stylized lotuses or date palms, and the oxen under the brazen sea were a sign of Yahweh's fertility and power over chaos. Those are a couple from off the top of my head. Keel and Uehlinger's book Gods, Goddesses, and Images of God in Ancient Israel is a great resource for your question. Link to comment
maklelan Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Great topic. One of the important religious symbols linked with Near Eastern temple worship includes the tree of life, a traditional North West Semitic fertility symbol. The link between fertility and the sacred tree of life appears in Canaanite iconography where the tree denotes the female pubic region. A wonderful example is the Ashera figurine with the tree branches growing out of her pelvic region being eaten by ibexes. Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 We learn from the Book of Abraham that his Symbol was... ...You gessed it...A Lilly in Egypt. The father of many nations whos 1st Wives womb was barren, who would have decendants as numerous as the sands of the sea. It was one of the first commands given to Gods new creations. "Mulitply and fill the earth" "seeds within themselves to produce after their kind" "I the Lord commanded them to Multiply."Yes Fertiliy is the very base of the Gospel. Link to comment
volgadon Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 The pomegranate was a fertility symbol.It is important to note (and I've pointed this out before) that fertility does not mean wild sex party. A temple is a symbol, it is meant to point towards something. Fertility symbols reminded people of just who the source of life was.Fertility symbols are not a major part of restored temples because fertility symbols are not a major part of our culture today. They would not carry the same meaning for us.The other aspect of fertility is that it was linked with power. Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 The pomegranate was a fertility symbol.It is important to note (and I've pointed this out before) that fertility does not mean wild sex party. A temple is a symbol, it is meant to point towards something. Fertility symbols reminded people of just who the source of life was.Fertility symbols are not a major part of restored temples because fertility symbols are not a major part of our culture today. They would not carry the same meaning for us.The other aspect of fertility is that it was linked with power.Ive always enjoyed the Cupid carved into the stair railings of the Salt Lake temple celestial room. I agree the fertility symbols aren't about sex, they are about Love. Link to comment
SlackTime Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 The pomegranate was a fertility symbol.It is important to note (and I've pointed this out before) that fertility does not mean wild sex party. A temple is a symbol, it is meant to point towards something. Fertility symbols reminded people of just who the source of life was.Fertility symbols are not a major part of restored temples because fertility symbols are not a major part of our culture today. They would not carry the same meaning for us.The other aspect of fertility is that it was linked with power.It seems like I've seen a lot of "flower" motifs in the trim and decoration of the temple. I believe that I have even seen the "olive branch" motif. And I'm pretty sure I've seen the "sheaf of grain" motif. I've certainly seen tree of life motifs in temple windows and other decorations.In the flower motifs I remember particularly the 4-leaf flower design that was used in the Arizona temple that I was married in.- SlackTime Link to comment
Scott Lloyd Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Was wondering if some of our more Hebrew savvy members could give us some details on fertility's relationship to the ancient temples.Why are you yelling in the topic line? Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 It seems like I've seen a lot of "flower" motifs in the trim and decoration of the temple. I believe that I have even seen the "olive branch" motif. And I'm pretty sure I've seen the "sheaf of grain" motif. I've certainly seen tree of life motifs in temple windows and other decorations.In the flower motifs I remember particularly the 4-leaf flower design that was used in the Arizona temple that I was married in.- SlackTimeWell... isn't the entire "Garden" scene a symbol of Fertility and life? And the flower itself... that is kind of an unmistakable reference to a certian part of the human ananomty.Maybe the sisters who arrange the flowers for Sacrament Meeting, Relif Society, and GC should take note. Link to comment
SlackTime Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Well... isn't the entire "Garden" scene a symbol of Fertility and life?While true, the "garden" is now only in the Video, but I was pointing out that even in our newer temples, fertility symbols, like the flower, are often depicted on our altars, or in moldings, in window art, in chandelier design, in ceiling decoration, etc.- SlackTime Link to comment
volgadon Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Oh, and on the subject of the date palm there is an interesting psalm:The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. Link to comment
volgadon Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Also, David's presumably beautiful (step)daughter was named Tamar (date palm). Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 While true, the "garden" is now only in the Video, but I was pointing out that even in our newer temples, fertility symbols, like the flower, are often depicted on our altars, or in moldings, in window art, in chandelier design, in ceiling decoration, etc.- SlackTimeWe could always throw in the Honey bee, and the Birds. The Conference center incorporates scheeves of wheat as well. And a Garden on top to boot. Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Also, David's presumably beautiful (step)daughter was named Tamar (date palm).That psalm is refelected in the NT motifs as well with the whole trees bringing forth good and bad fruit. Link to comment
WalkerW Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Why are you yelling in the topic line?BECAUSE I WANT AN ANSWER!!!!!!Actually, that isn't the reason. I use all caps in my blog topic lines. Habit. Link to comment
WalkerW Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thank you all, by the way, for your comments. Keep them coming. I wrote a blog entry entitled "Taking on the Name: The Creation of Creators" that brought up this fertility subject briefly. Here is an excerpt: Methodist scholar Margaret Barker finds that the Greek text of Ps. 110 "is a little clearer than the Hebrew: Link to comment
mfbukowski Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 And then of course we have the vesica piscis which brings it all into the Christian era, with the Christian fish symbol, arguably related to the Hindu yoni and Shiva worship. Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Eg. Trees...1 Chr. 16: 33 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.Look at all these Fertility Symbols all in one place!Duet 8 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. Trees, Water, springs, Wheat barley vines trees pomegranates, oil honey milk Link to comment
mfbukowski Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I hope I am being neither too cryptic nor too explicit, but in the context of the thread, this scripture comes to mind:D&C 89 18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; Arguably, this phrase from the Word of Wisdom is referring to a progressive regeneration, first from the navel, the source of birth, and progressing outward, to the bones.The same phrase "health in the navel" is mentioned in Psalms in a context of fertility, and of course any reference to the navel seems obviously related to birth, regeneration and resurrection. Link to comment
SlackTime Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Eg. Trees...1 Chr. 16: 33 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.Look at all these Fertility Symbols all in one place!Duet 8 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. Trees, Water, springs, Wheat barley vines trees pomegranates, oil honey milkI'm sure that our esteemed scholars will explain that "a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. " are all phallic in essence and symbol...- SlackTime Link to comment
Zakuska Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I'm sure that our esteemed scholars will explain that "a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. " are all phallic in essence and symbol...- SlackTimeTheres always "rising Breadsticks". Link to comment
WalkerW Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 The date palm and the lotus flower were signs of fertility, as were oxen and bulls. The capitals to the pillars at the front entrance were probably stylized lotuses or date palms, and the oxen under the brazen sea were a sign of Yahweh's fertility and power over chaos. Those are a couple from off the top of my head. Keel and Uehlinger's book Gods, Goddesses, and Images of God in Ancient Israel is a great resource for your question.Thanks for the reference.Does it discuss the brazen sea and Yahweh's triumph over chaos? I'd really like to read more about that. Link to comment
maklelan Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks for the reference.Does it discuss the brazen sea and Yahweh's triumph over chaos? I'd really like to read more about that.It does. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.