Spiritual Gallery

Hobbes/Leviathan/Frontis

LEVIATHAN : Frontispiece to the first edition, representing the spiritual and temporal power united in the person of the King, and ruling over the whole earth

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10044008

1651, Books, Earth, Edition, Frontis, Frontis Piece, Historical, History, Hobbes, King, Leviathan, Person, Power, Published, Representing, Rules, Ruling, Spiritual, Supreme, Temporal, United, World

Alchemy

Alchemy. Historical artwork by the German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) titled Melencolia I. It represents one of the four temperaments or humours, and it is thought that its title (ending in I) implies that Durer intended to draw the other three. Many of the artifacts seen, such as the mathematical "magic" square (upper right), balance (upper centre) and geometric shapes (far & lower left) are associated with alchemy. Alchemy was the pseudo-scientific predecessor to chemistry, which among other ideas is best known for its practitioners hunt for the Philosopher's Stone, which would impart eternal life and the ability to turn base metals into gold

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Wandering Uzbek Dervishes from Samarkand

Wandering Uzbek Dervishes from Samarkand. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth'. Within the Islamic tradition such people are often known as Sufis, Sufi, people of the way or mystics and they come from every strata of society; here monetary considerations are inapplicable since the situation is that of a deep personal inner spiritual longing. There are in existence a number Sufi Orders many of which bear the name of a great saint and within these orders various practices have continued over the centuries in order to assist generations of seekers whose desire is to be brought to reality itself. It is said that the number of ways to reality/truth exceeds the number of grains of sand on the beach. It may be noted that this infinite number of ways to truth can even start at a point beyond religion, ultimately the truth is an univeral quality."

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10269732