[715]. Like his counterpart, the apocalyptic “son of man,” from whose mouth proceeds a “sharp two-edged sword.” Rev. i:16. Compare Christ as serpent and the Antichrist seducing the people. Rev. xx:3. We come across the same motive of the guardian dragon who pierces women, in the myth from Van Diemen’s Land: “A horn-back lay in the cavity of a rock, a huge horn-back! The horn-back was large and he had a very long spear. From his cavity he espied the women; he saw them dive into the water, he pierced them with his spear, he killed them, he carried them away. For some time they were to be seen no longer.” The monster was then killed by the two heroes. They made fire(!) and brought the women to life again. (Cited by Frobenius: Ibid., p. 77.)
[716]. The eyes of the Son of man are like a flame of fire. Rev. i:15.
[717]. Near the city of Rome there was a certain cavern in which appeared a dragon of remarkable size, mechanically produced, brandishing a sword in his mouth, his eyes glittering like gems, fearful and terrible. Hither came virgins every year, devoted to this service, adorned with flowers, who were given to him in sacrifice. Bringing these gifts, they unknowingly descended the steps to a point where, with diabolical cunning, the dragon was suspended, striking those who came a blow with the sword, so that the innocent blood was shed. Now, there was a certain monk who, on account of his good deeds, was well known to Stilico, the patrician; he killed this dragon as follows: He examined each separate step carefully, both with a rod and his own hand, until, discovering the false step, he exposed the diabolical fraud. Then, jumping over this step, he went down and killed the dragon, cutting him to pieces, demonstrating that one who could be destroyed by human hand could not be a divinity.
[718]. Cited by Cumont: “Textes et Monuments,” I, p. 352.
[719]. Compare Roscher: “Lexicon,” I, 2, 1885.
[720]. Out of dark places she rushes on children and women.
[721]. The triple form also related to the moon (waxing, full, and waning moon). However, such cosmic relations are primarily projections of metapsychology.
[722]. Faust (II Part): The Scene of the mothers: The key belongs to Hecate, προθυραία, as the guardian of Hades, and psychopompic Divinity. Compare Janus, Peter and Aion.
[723]. Attribute of the “terrible mother”: Ishtar has “tormented the horse with goad and whip and tortured him to death.” (Jensen: “Gilgamesh Epic,” p. 18.) Also an attribute of Helios.
[724]. Phallic symbol of fear.