Wednesday 28 November 2018

Fact and Fable


At Esplanadi park, Helsinki, stands a Gunnar Finne statue Fact and Fable. Helsinki art museum introduction:
"In 1928 a competition was arranged for a memorial to Zacharias Topelius. The competition was won by Gunnar Finne's with his entry 'Fact and Fable', which was later unveiled in 1932.

'Fact and Fable' consists of two allegorical female figures: 'Fact' with the flame of truth on her palm, and 'Fable' with the crown-headed bird of fable resting on her fingers. The figures face opposite directions: 'Fact' looks down the Esplanadi park while 'Fable's' gaze is turned to the sidewalk off Pohjoisesplanadi'. The figures are formed in a way which accents non-material features, and the imagery is refined and pure. The aim has been to create an illusory atmosphere in both the maidens' figures and in the balancing composition."


Fact and Fable

Topelius and the masonic "hidden hand"


First of all, Zacharias Topelius (aka Sakari Topelius) was a Freemason. So it's more than likely, that the memorial has some hidden in plain sight symbolism. Just look at the details, and see how this statue is yet another example of tarot symbolism.

Flame and a bird? And nude females?

The statue depicts the card Star. The most common tarot deck, Rider-Waite, has on this card a nude female pouring water from two jugs. On the background one can see a bird. In this version, the card does not have the flame. But if look at some other decks, like the old Marseille deck, you can see there is also a flame on the card.


Rider-Waite Star

Marseille Star


But why does the statue have two ladies instead of one?

To understand that, you need to know something about this card. This card represents the combined power of intellect and imagination. When you are in the state of "creative flow", you are using both sides of your brain. The lady pouring the water on earth and water represents exactly this. She is using both conscious mind (water poured on ground --> analysis, reason, evidence) and sub-conscious mind (water poured on water --> imagination, intuition, symbols, archetypes).

Fact and Fable represent a corrupt version of this. Or one could say the statue represents a reversed Star. Two naked ladies facing different directions represents a divided mind which has no natural connection or flow of the both sides of mind.

The Finnish name of the statue is Taru ja Totuus. The English translation Fact and Fable is not quite accurate. "Taru" means "story", like an allegorical story or children's tale. "Totuus" means "truth", not fact. Truth and fact are not quite the same.

"Tarot" used to be known as "taruth", which is the etymological origins for "truth". You see the obvious etymological connection the name of the statue has with tarot? Taru. Truth.

Tarot is way older than is commonly believed. Tarot as a divination art has its origins in ancient Egypt. Words like tarot, taruth, truth, thought, torah and the Finnish taru are all etymologically connected. Looking for the origins of these words leads you to way back in ancient Egypt. One of the oldest known goddesses of Egypt was called Taurt - the hippopotamus.


Taurt


Taurt was the great mother goddess, which represented the constellation of Ursa Minor. This constellation was very important for ancients, for it was one of the never-setting constellations near the pole star. In the Dendera zodiac you can see Taurt right in the middle.


Taurt in the middle of Dendera zodiac


More examples of tarot statues on page Esoteric statues.


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