Design and Tradition / A short account of the principles and historic development of architecture and the applied arts

by Amor Fenn

Darkness as a Devouring Monster

In the early myths, Night or Darkness is invariably a malignant influence or a devouring monster threatening the earth or the sun, e.g., the Scandinavian Wolf Fenrir or Fenris, the Python slain by Apollo, and in Oannes the Chaldean sea-god devoured or destroyed by darkness.

Oannes, who is represented in composite fish and man form, according to tradition lived with mankind during the day to instruct them in the Arts and Sciences; being immolated at night and re-incarnated at dawn.