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Now step down into the Cloister, so that you can see well Helios, the setting sun. This was the primitive man's idea of the setting sun. He saw the sun as a man holding a huge golden ball, splashing down into the waters of the west. The serpent represents the burning sting of the sun.
You are bound to reflect here that the sun has thrown off great nebulous masses and that one of those masses has cooled and that we now call it the Earth. Yonder it is, seen at the end of the fountain, with four streams of water, from prehistoric sea life, playing over it.
Pass along to the first group beyond Helios, realizing that Robt. Aitken, the sculptor, calls this "The Dawn of Life." From right to left are these figures:
1. The Hand of Destiny Giving Life. 2. The Prenatal Sleep of Woman. 3. The Awakening. 4. The Joy of Living. 5. The Kiss of Life. 6. The Bringing Forth of Life.
The elemental feelings are here suggested.
You will then notice a gap which stands for the unknown period of history after the first "Dawn of Life."
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Now pass to Panel 1 (facing Helios).
The central figure is Vanity, one of the compelling motives of that early life.