The Solar Theory of Myths, 



67 



heaven St. John says, "he was to look upon like a jaspei 

 and a sardine stone," giving a general idea of glory but 

 little differing from that of the Latin poet. ISText conies 

 the descrip'ion of the throne, in Ovid. " In solio Phoebus 

 Claris lucente smaragdis." Phoebus on a throne glittering 

 with bright emeralds. The evangelist says, and a rain- 

 bow round about the throne like unto an emerald."^ At the 

 right and left of Phoebus stand the day, the month, the 

 year and the centuries, none of which are mentioned in the 

 Apocalypse, but, strange to say, the week, the only division 

 of time omitted by the Roman, is supplied by St. John in the 

 " seven lamps of fire which burn before the throne." We 

 are told that about the throne of the sun-god are placed 

 the hours at even distances, " positae spatiis aequalibus 

 horae," while the sacred record reads : " Round about the 

 throne were four and twenty seats, and upon the seats I 

 saw four and twenty elders sitting." 



But the chief figures in the description of Ovid are the 

 four seasons, who were the principal personages of his 

 court and, bearing each the emblems peculiar to himself, 

 stood about the throne; enough, I think, to remind every 

 one present of the four beasts whose strangely symbolical 

 forms are so prominent in the vision of the inspired dreamer. 

 Such coincidences are to be met with in every part of the 

 sacred writings and epic poetry of all nations. They are 

 too common not to be noted, too unmistakable not to be 

 regarded, and, accepting the fact, recent investigators have 

 sought to find the reason of these likenesses, and the com- 

 mon origin of the immense mass which they are com- 

 pelled to class together. It was found that, b}^ taking 

 into consideration a great number of myths, gathered from 

 nations most widely separated, minor differences being 



' In the passage from the Bible above referred to, tlie only precious stones 

 mentioned are the sardonyx, jasper and emerald. In Plato's description of 

 the ideal world, to which he believed the virtuous passed at death, we find 

 the same jewels mentioned as the common rocks in that glorious land. " — 

 ddpdta re xai iddJtidai uai duapdydovi." — Phcedo, 110, E. 



