Zeus
Zeus was the ancient Greek god of the realm Mt. Olympus. Also known as Jupiter in Roman Mythology, Zeus represents a Supreme Being. H. P. Blavatsky defines Zeus in the Theosophical Glossary as:
Zeus (Gr.). The "Father of the gods". Zeus-Zen is Æther, there fore Jupiter was called Pater Æther by some Latin races.[1]
Æther and Ether
Zeus is known to represent the Æther, the divine, as well as Ether, the physical. H. P. Blavatsky recognized Zeus' duality, as "The "Supreme Deity" bears, in every ancient Pantheon -- including that of the Jews -- a dual character, composed of light and shadow."[2] By embracing both the Æther and the Ether, Zeus represents both the spirituality of the creator as well as the intellect of the serpent. Blavatsky further comments:
Æther is Akâsa in its higher aspect, and Ether Akâsa, in its lowest. In one sense it is equivalent to the Father-Creator, Zeus, Pater Æther; on the other to the infernal Serpent-Tempter, the Astral Light of the Kabalist.[3]
When yielding to his lower passions, Zeus has often been symbolized as the Serpent. As the Manas are fused with the lower principles of Kama, Zeus embodies Ether. In The Secret Doctrine, H. P. Blavatsky remarks:
Between Zeus, the abstract deity of Grecian thought, and the Olympic Zeus, there was an abyss. The latter represented during the mysteries no higher a principle than the lower aspect of human physical intelligence -- Manas wedded to Kama...Zeus was the human soul and nothing more, whenever shown yielding to his lower passions, -- the jealous God, revengeful and cruel in its egotism or I-AM-NESS. Hence, Zeus is represented as a serpent -- the intellectual tempter of man -- which, nevertheless, begets in the course of cyclic evolution the "Man-Saviour," the solar Bacchus or "Dionysos," more than a man. [4]
Zeus and triple Monads
In Greek legend, Zeus was first regarded as the single Monad, or Supreme Unity. However, through ancient scholars and mystics of Pythagoras, Zeus has been believed to evolve from the Monad into the triple Monad. Through the transformation of Zeus' single being, he embodies the higher aspects of the spiritual, intuitive, and mental spheres. H. P. Blavatsky comments:
Later, in the Pythagorean speculations, Zeus became the metaphysical trinity; the monad evolving from its invisible SELF the active cause, effect, and intelligent will, the whole forming the Tetractis.[5]
Zeus and Fohat
According to Theosophy, Zeus is the Greek embodiment of Fohat, the masculine primordial cosmic energy. The cosmic vitalitiy of Zeus propells the Natural forces, which brings life to all things. Stemming from the Supreme essence, Zeus has been recognized as a guiding power of the manifestation process. H. P. Blavatsky notes:
The Supreme Being of Heaven, or of all that is comprehended under this name, is Zeus, for it is by Heaven that Zeus gives life to all things...This is quite philosophical and in accordance with the spirit of Eastern esotericism: for all the Forces, such as Light, Heat, Electricity, etc., etc., are called the "Gods" -- esoterically...And, therefore, the personification of Fohat synthesizing all the manifesting forces in nature is a legitimate result.[6]
Notes
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. Theosophical Glossary (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophy Company, 1973), 386.
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. The Secret Doctrine Vol. II (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), ft. 412.
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1946), 95.
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. The Secret Doctrine Vol. II (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), 419-420.
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. Isis Unveiled Vol. I (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 262.
- ↑ Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. The Secret Doctrine Vol. I (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1978), 672.
Further Reading
- Zeus at Theosopedia