In the main scene we can see a lady reclining on the tree of life ─the BEING─ and pointing with her right hand to a spider’s web, while with her left she holds a bird. This lady is sitting on a rock representative of the stone of stumbling and rock of scandal ─sexuality─ as Saint Paul so well described it.
Odoratvs- The sense of smell
The sense of smell [Olfaction], dear friends, also has a profound significance in the mysteries. In addition to allowing us to grasp the smells of Mother Nature, it would moreover allow us to perceive other fragrances that correspond to the superior worlds, once we have been properly educated.
The Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity
Para nosotros los gnósticos este grabado posee una importancia trascendental, pues nos permite concebir aquello que para las iglesias católica y ortodoxa fue calificado como dogma de fe.
Avditvs ─‘the hearing’─
To enter into the subject matter, I have to tell you that on this occasion the artist wanted to refer to the auditory faculty, once again indicated as a human quality and therefore represented in the form of a beautiful woman.
The contradictions of the animal Ego
To study this magnificent engraving, first of all we have to say that it was created between the years 1575-1618 and is found in the Rijksmuseum, located in the city of Amsterdam ─Holland─.
Esteemed readers, I show you here two images: a 16th century drawing by Francesco de Rossi ─Italian painter, 1510-1563─, in which Phanes appears as a hermaphrodite deity, as described by ancient Roman texts, and a Roman high relief.