Philosophy, Art, and Science

Symbolism of the Ziggurat Building in Sacramento, CA

The Ziggurat building in Sacramento, CA is a building that was designed by EM Kado Associates. Completed in 1998, it originally served as the headquarters to a financial services company called The Money Store prior to their collapse shortly thereafter. The building is currently leased and occupied by the California Department of General Services.

According to the architects, the building is modeled after the ziggurat structures of ancient Mesopotamia. It is a 10 story building that stands 156 feet tall at the apex, measures 300’ x 300’ at the base and 90’ x 120’ at the top floor, making it relatively larger in size than the largest ziggurats discovered. Each floor is stepped like the ancient pyramidal structures of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Sumerians, and Akkadians whose remains can still be found in what is now southern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The building was designed by Mr. Ed Kado, who suggested to the owner of The Money Store, that the pyramidal shape represents stability which is desirable for a company that sells financial services2. This central theme of “stability” is one that can also be attributed to the ancient ziggurat builders who formed the first civilizations on Earth. Transitioning from nomadic tribesman, the Sumerians settled in this area of the world and began the art and science of agriculture, digging trenches for irrigation and saving and storing seeds and grain for future use. These were the first forms of acquiring and accumulating “wealth”. The later development of writing cuneiform on clay tablets allowed people to keep records of their possessions, create laws, and record business transactions1. Ziggurats in ancient times formed the heart of the cities, making it a fitting symbol for the capital city of California.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu who is upset by the death of his friend goes on a quest to find eternal life. In his search, he encounters the flood god who teaches him that he will never find eternal life, but he can live on in memory through the creation of large monuments and buildings. These ideals were definitely reflected in the earliest settlements of man. The epic tells the story of the flood god and the mortality of man being challenged and tamed by the hero, symbolic of the taming of the flooding of the rivers which enabled the creation of a thriving civilization. The pyramidal shape with a large and strong base anchors the structure to the earth symbolizing a strong footing and permanence which stands in contrast to the shifting sands of the old nomadic ways. This shape may also play a subconscious role in the minds of the modern people of California, since it will invoke imagery of the more well-known pyramids of Egypt which are symbolic of that which can seemingly endure forever. California is well-known for its many earthquakes, so such a symbol can certainly transfer an idea of permanence in a land of uncertainty.

Mesopotamia means “Land between the rivers”, referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. These two rivers appear in many myths because it is here where the first civilizations developed. In the Bible, this is the location of the Garden of Eden, where (civilized) man is first born and is given laws. The name “Eden” in Hebrew means “luxury”, which is a fitting name for the area where man first learned to save an acquire wealth. The name “Euphrates” (Semitic parat) means bearing fruit and reproducing, alluding to the permanence of civilization through the science of agriculture. The name “Tigris” means “swiftly moving”, which can refer to the fleeting nature of life and how everything can vanish in a moment (i.e. swept away in a flood). The naming of the region “Mesopotamia” in this sense is more than just a geographical term, it is a mythical one, presenting us with the paradox in which we all live. It illustrates that even though all of us are swiftly passing through this land, we have the ability to endure by planting seeds and nurturing growth in all we do. These ideas seem perfectly fitting for a company that works selling financial products which serves the reflects the societal need to establish something that will live on beyond the grave.

References

1Mesopotamia: I Have Conquered the River. Films Media Group, 2000. Films On Demand. Web. 22 March 2013. http://0-digital.films.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=19726&xtid=11654http://0-digital.films.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=19726&xtid=11654

2Starkey, Danielle. "Ed Kado" Sacramento Business Journal. American City Business Journals, 22 Feb. 1998. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

3The Ziggurat Building | Buildings | EMPORIS. (n.d.). EMPORIS - Building data and construction projects worldwide. Retrieved March 21, 2013, from http://www.emporis.com/building/the-ziggurat-building-west-sacramento-ca-usa

The Mythology of Indiana Jones Temple of Doom

The second film of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, is a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark taking place in India in 1935.  Jones and two others crash land in India where they are believed to be an answer to prayers offered by local villagers who have had their magical Sankara Stones as well as their children stolen by Thuggee cult members.  

The Thuggee cult of the film is based on the real-life criminal underground bands of thieves/murderers that plagued India from about the 13th or 14th century until the British rule basically all but eliminated them.  Thugs were notorious for joining caravans by befriending merchant traders and earning their trust, often traveling with them for hundreds of miles, before murdering them (usually in their sleep) and stealing all their goods.  The Thuggees were not just average thieves and murderers, but they were devotees of Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and destruction, and were somewhat ritualistic in their murders.  Thuggees apparently believed that what they were doing was beneficial to human life and that they were carrying out the will of Kali which delayed her return to this world.  

Kali is the cohort of Lord Shiva and both are mentioned in the Ramayana.  In Hindu mythology, the Narmada river, which is also mentioned in the myth, is where Banalinga are found.  Banalinga are smooth cylindrical or ellipsoid shaped stones (as seen in the film), representing a phallus (or Lingam) that are believed to possess magical properties.  These stones are usually placed in a stone bowl or dish, representing the feminine Yoni/vagina.  Offerings of fruit are typically placed in the bowl surrounding the banalinga.  The Narmada river is also known as Shankari, named after the daughter of Shiva (or Shankar).  Shankar, the destructor of the universe, is one of the creations of Shiva, and is thus also associated with Kali.  The Sankara stones of the film are thus the physical form representing Shiva who is also known as “Shankar”.

There is one scene in the film where Mola Ram, the Thuggee high priest and leader, is conducting a human sacrificial ritual in which the victim is locked in a cage and slowly lowered into a pit of hot lava.  Before locking the victim in the cage, Mola Ram offers some magical incantations which empower him to remove the heart from his victim with his bare hands.  Mola Ram’s words are as follows:

"Kali Maa Shakti Dei!" (Mother Kali, Give me power!)

"Bali Chadogey?" (You wish to be sacrificed?)

"Bali mangti Kali Ma." (Sacrifice is what Mother Kali desires..)

"Mukti Degi Kali Ma." (Mother Kali will give you freedom.)

"Kali Ma Sweekar Karo." (Mother Kali, accept it.)

As he is holding the man’s heart in his hand, he says:

"Aab iski jaan meri mutthi mein hai!" (Now his life is in my fist!)

The victim is continually chanting “Aum namah Shiva!”, which is a mantra of adoration to Lord Shiva, the husband of Kali.  

Mola Ram mentions the story behind the stones.  He states that there were originally five stones and that over the centuries they were lost and scattered.  The Thuggees had two already and stolen one from the village where they stole the children from and they were searching for the two missing stones to complete the set of five.  The five stones in Hindu mythology represent the five elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Aether) as well as five deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesha, and Devi).

The first film of the franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, which takes place one year after the events of Temple of Doom incorporates Hebrew mythologies surrounding the Ark of the Covenant and King Solomon’s Temple.  Though, not mentioned specifically they do make reference to Hitler being “obsessed with the occult”, alluding to his supposed connections with the Vril Society and the Thule Society which believed Germanic origins to be with the Teutonic gods which include Balder, Odin, Frigg, Thor, Loki, etc.  This motif comes into play once again in the third film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which deals primarily with the mythology surrounding the Holy Grail.  

In the storyline of Temple of Doom, we see Indiana Jones himself going through a bit of a transformation.  When Indy is first told of the theft of the Shankara stone, his sidekick Short-Round asks him the meaning of “Shankara”.  His response is “fortune and glory kid, fortune and glory.”  This seems to indicate that Indiana Jones is more interested in feeding his own ego rather than helping the villagers.  Perhaps he plans on keeping the stone for himself.  Interestingly, the true meaning of “Shankara” refers to the works of Shiva in dispensing with doubt and giving happiness to others through the doing of good deeds.  According to myth, the Narmada river, from which these stones are taken and named, was formed when Lord Shiva meditated so hard that he began sweating, and his sweat formed the river.  It is one of five rivers which purifies people of their sins by simply washing in it.  The sin of Indiana Jones (egotism) is established early in the film.  This sets the stage for the alchemical formula which states that the chemist is transformed along with his experiment.  However, this selfish and skeptical nature of Indiana Jones is quickly tempered with a bit of humanity when he is told that the Thuggees stole the children from the village.  During his quest for the stone (a veiled metaphor for the alchemical quest for the Philosopher’s Stone), Indiana himself experiences death - when he is placed under the spell of the Black Sleep of Kali.  He is reborn through the pain of fire by iShort Round.  After this point, Indiana Jones has a choice to leave with the stone or to risk his life by staying to free all the children.  He chooses to let go of “fortune and glory” and try to save the lives of others.  His doubts having been extinguished by the Shankara, Jones is purified by the waters of the Narmada.  In the end he confronts Mola Ram in hand to hand combat, where Jones in a display of true faith angrily scolded Mola Ram saying “You’ve betrayed Shiva!” and thus invokes the wrath of Kali which causes the stones to burst into flame.  He lets two (representing his his fortune and glory) fall to river below to be lost forever, while catching the third one which he promptly returns to the villagers.  This marks the completion of the Hero’s Journey for Indiana Jones, who in essence sacrifices himself for the good of the villagers though they literally had nothing to offer to him in return.  

Producer George Lucas has stated in interviews that he is very interested in mythology from all over the world and that this is reflected heavily in all his films.  Though, I don’t see much significance in the musical score or in the choice of actors, they have all worked together before.  Lucas, composer John Williams, and Harrison Ford both did the Star Wars stories which are considered modern epics.    It seems that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg do enjoy retelling old myths because they are stories that already resonate with the people en masse.  Perhaps this makes them smart businessmen, but I think it’s more than that.  I think that these are stories that they themselves identify with and love.    

Da Vinci and the Da Vinci Code

Leonardo di ser Piero Da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, inventor, scientist, freethinker, mathematician, philosopher, draftsman, and the definitive Renaissance Man.  He was born in Vinci, Italy in 1452 during the Italian Renaissance.  Da Vinci was a prankster who became a master artist by the age of 20.  His inventions, most of which remained confined to his notebooks during his life, included ball bearings, machine gun, tank, helicopter, scuba gear, and more.  One of the few inventions that he actually built was a robotic knight that was capable of walking, sitting, and moving its jaw.  

Leonardo Da Vinci is best known for his paintings, particularly “The Last Supper” and “The Mona Lisa”.  Da Vinci did include encryptions in a lot of his writings using ATBASH and other ciphers.  He also incorporated musical codes into much of his art using his “fish hook code”.  

In 2003, Dan Brown published the second fictional novel of his Robert Langdon series.  Robert Langdon is a symbologist, cryptographer, and Harvard University professor who is the central character in a number of adventures.  In this particular story, Langdon iis suspected in the murder of the curator of the Louvre museum in Paris which houses Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks.  As the story goes, Jacque Sanier, the curator, after being shot spent his last few minutes of life writing out anagrams drawing a pentacle on his chest and a numerical code with his own blood so as to attract the attention of his estranged granddaughter, Sophie Neveu, who is a police cryptographer, then laying down in the pose of Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing before finally dying in that pose.  Neveu and Langdon are then led through a series of clues hidden in Da Vinci’s paintings which they must follow in order for Langdon to clear his name and to uncover the secret that the grandfather has kept from her all her life, while fleeing from the law.  

The secrets concern the nature and identity of the famed Holy Grail.  The book suggests that Da Vinci incorporated clues in his works that pointed out the “truth” that was suppressed by the Church - that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that they had at least one child together and that the bloodline (sangreal “Royal Blood” or san greal “Holy Grail”) of Christ are the true heirs to the ministry of Jesus.  This part of the novel claims to be true, that the secrets are real, and that the Seat of St. Peter (i.e. the Pope) is a usurper of Christ’s power.   

The novel is apparently based on the many of the theories advanced by the  1982 book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (also titled Holy Blood, Holy Grail).  Holy Blood, Holy Grail claimed that the descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene who were actively hunted, took refuge in France and eventually produced the Merovingian line of kings.  Thought it was an international bestseller, Holy Blood, Holy Grail received a lot of harsh criticism from scholars and historians.  They claim that a lot of flimsy assumptions and conjectures are made to support their theories.  

Another large element of the Da Vinci Code novel is the mythology contained within Freemasonry.  Much of the plot line consists of uncovering Masonic secrets and legends as well as those of a secret society called the Priory of Sion which claimed Leonardo Da Vinci was a past Grand Master.  The Priory of Sion in reality was a modern club which fabricated a false history and Leonardo Da Vinci was thus never actually a member nor Grand Master.  The film The Da Vinci code addresses this issue by subtly claiming the hoax of the Priory was a cover for the actual club to stay in hiding.  

The overall premise of the book is based on the fact that Leonardo Da Vinci was a bit of an iconoclast.  The author of the book seems to have iconoclastic tendencies as well.  Many non-members of Freemasonry see him as being a conspiracy theorist’s hero for revealing forbidden Masonic knowledge and secrets.  To the Masons, he does seem to have some inside knowledge of Freemasonry, though he denies being a member of any Masonic order, nor do any Research Lodges contain any records of his affiliation.  Dan Brown says that he admires Freemasonry as providing “a beautiful blueprint for human spirituality.”  If you look carefully at the inside of the dust jacket of the hardcover novel, you will notice there are few letters written in bold.  If you take those letters and read what they say, they contain (part of) one of the most closely-guarded Masonic secrets, which is only to be given in the event of imminent peril.  This illustrates Dan Brown’s penchant for being an iconoclast.  Though some have claimed this as proof of his membership, the reality is that all of the so-called Masonic secrets can be readily found in a vast number of books within public libraries or on the internet.  The difficulty lies in sorting fact from fiction.  Dan Brown has stated that if he were a Freemason, he would probably be kicked out for revealing their secrets, and this is very likely to be true, though many Freemasons and Masonic bodies view him favorably.  

Dan Brown is not an historian.  He grew up playing with puzzles, anagrams, and ciphers with his family.  “Brown's relationship with his father inspired that of Sophie Neveu and Jacques Sauniere in The Da Vinci Code, and Chapter 23 of that novel was inspired by one of his childhood treasure hunts (Dan Brown, Wikipedia).”  Dan Brown does not claim his novel as an historical endeavor, but did offer that the discussions regarding the artwork, Priori of Sion, and Opus Dei were accurate.  His intention was to write a novel.  Though, it would seem that he was apparently duped by the Priori of Sion’s falsified history and membership roster claims.

The central conspiracy theory of the Da Vinci Code is that the Holy Grail is Mary Magdalene, the wife of Jesus Christ and that the tales of her collecting his blood in a chalice was metaphorical for carrying his child.  This explanation of the grail legend certainly is plausible.  It is definitely a much more logical explanation than a woman literally collecting his blood in an actual chalice for some unknown reason.  The novel is accurate in stating that the New Testament is a composite of over 5000 texts pieced together by scholars over a period of centuries.  These texts are in different languages, most are incomplete, and some are illegible, so it is likely that there is more to the story than the official dogma.  It is also correct in its account of the recent discovery of the Nag Hamadi library and how the gnostic gospels contained therein offer more of the story.   A lot of what’s contained in the gnostic gospels does offer a legitimate challenge to many things that the Church has held to be sacred for many centuries, and it is certainly plausible that they would have an interest in suppressing the dissemination of that information.  

Another conspiracy mentioned in the story is that Leonardo was a member of a secret order that guarded the secret about the blood descendants of Christ and protected them from Vatican assassins who want to destroy any record of their existence in order to preserve the authoritative power of the Roman Catholic Church.  This theory is much less plausible, as there is no evidence of such a secret society, nor are there records of these types of attacks.  There is the assault by the Vatican on the Templar Knights, which resulted in the virtual extermination of all the Templars, but the motive behind that in the book differs from historical records.  This bit of history is used by Dan Brown to establish the theory that the Templars were guarding the secret of the Holy Grail.  The Templar Knights were indeed living in the catacombs beneath the ruins of King Solomon’s Temple and they were there for ten years searching for something; what that “something” and whether or not they found it is open for conjecture at this point.  

Much of the criticism of Brown’s work is based on trying to preserve the religious ideas that the book challenges.  A great many critics will use the Bible to challenge the accuracy of the novel, while the novel calls the accuracy of the Bible (or at least motive behind the canon) into question.  On a scholarly level, there are a lot of gaps in the history that are filled in by conjecture on both sides.  

Works Cited

"Dan Brown Writes a Letter to the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, U.S.A." PS Review of Freemasonry. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2013.

"Inaccuracies in The Da Vinci Code." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 May 2013.

"Leonardo Da Vinci Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 05 May 2013.

"Science and Inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 May 2013.

"Top 10 Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2013.

Discovery Channel - The Da Vinci Code: The True Story