The Ilion Mystery – Part 2 We saw in the previous article - The Ilion Mystery, Part 1 - that the Trojan War was a pictorial description of a great inner conflict concerning the evolutionary direction beyond liberation of Spirit. On the one hand, the...
Diagrams-Geneology
INTRODUCTION TO SRI AUROBINDO’S POEM ILION – Part 1
The Ilion Mystery - Part 1 When one approaches Sri Aurobindo’s poem Ilion, one may be captivated by the poem’s epic breath, by its particular musicality, or by some mysterious inner resonance. Indeed, the subject of the poem is the last day of the Trojan...
ILION
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Date Description Menu Item Page Remarks 01/08/2023 Genealogical Diagrams Version 2 Genealogical Diagrams Genealogical Diagrams Updated all the diagrams
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Claude de Warren Born of June 18th 1949 in Paris, Claude began from early on to devote himself to the study of human evolution and the workings of consciousness. As he was working full-time as an engineer installing radar systems at airports, he found he had to reduce...
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The death of the children of Medea and the end of Jason’s life
<< Previous : The death of Pelias and the games given in his honour Their vengeance carried out Jason and Medea left Iolkos, giving the throne to Acastus and settled in Corinth. Some say Medea became its queen. In some versions a few years later Jason...
The death of Pelias and the games given in his honour
<< Previous : The Argonauts in the terrific night then the illumination Pelias, who had stopped believing in the return of the Argonauts, had wanted to put to death Jason’s father Aeson but the latter had asked for the right to bring about his own death....
The Argonauts in the terrific night then the illumination
<< Previous : The Argonauts and the death of the giant Talos Subsequently the heroes were "terrified by a night that can be qualified as sepulchral: this sinister night was pierced neither by stars nor moonlight. It was only a black gaping void emanating...
The Argonauts and the death of the giant Talos
<< Previous : The Argonauts in the Hesperides garden Having followed his directions the heroes skirted Crete where the giant Talos attacked them with stones. Zeus had offered him to Europa after being united with her. He went around Crete three times a...
The Argonauts in the Hesperides garden
<< Previous : The Argonauts and the desert test Having arrived at the shores of Lake Triton the heroes laid down their vessel. Parched with thirst they sought a spring and reached the place where on the previous day a dragon had been guarding the golden...
The Argonauts and the desert test
<< Previous : The union of Jason and Medea Although they had reached the outskirts of their homeland the heroes still had to undergo other trials on the borders of Libya. While the land of Pelops was in sight they were roughly treated by a storm raised by...
The union of Jason and Medea
<< Previous : The Argonauts avoid Charybdis and Scylla Then the heroes arrived to a vast and fertile island inhabited by the Phaeacians and ruled by King Alcinous where they were very warmly welcomed. Drepane (“the Sickle”) was the name of the sacred...
The Argonauts avoid Charybdis and Scylla
<< Previous : The Argonauts escape the seduction of the Sirens As Hera had foreseen the heroes then approached Charybdis and Scylla at the “crossroad of the sea routes”. In fact Hera knew that without the intervention of Thetis their route would lead them...
The Argonauts escape the seduction of the Sirens
<< Previous : The Argonauts at Circe Before reaching the baneful waters of Charydbis and Scylla, the heroes passed by the Island of Flowers inhabited by the Sirens whose spellbinding songs made all those who moored in proximity to the island perish. But...
The Argonauts at Circe
<< Previous : Argonauts are confronted with spiritual presumption and the awakening of kundalini Setting sail again the heroes finally reached the harbour of Aeaea where they found Circe, the daughter of Helios and sister of Aeetes. She was cleansing her...
Argonauts are confronted with spiritual presumption and the awakening of kundalini
<< Previous : The murder of Apsyrtus by Jason Having entered the Eridanus the heroes sailed close to the place where the body of Phaethon was decaying. The latter had once asked to ride the chariot of his father Helios but was unable to control it and...
The murder of Apsyrtus by Jason
<< Previous : The path of the return of the Argonauts Filled with rage Aeetes demanded that his people the Colchians bring back his daughter Medea without further delay. A large army set out in pursuit of the Argonauts under the leadership of Apsyrtus the...
The path of the return of the Argonauts
<< Previous : Jason kills the sawn-men raising out from the Dragon’s teeth Canto four deals wilt the return of the Argonauts Since Medea had decided to flee with Jason, she made use of her powers to lull the monstrous dragon to sleep so that Jason could...
Jason kills the sawn-men raising out from the Dragon’s teeth
<< Previous : The Argonauts and the birds of the island of Ares The third Canto deals with karmic memories. Jason convinced the Argonauts to send just a small delegation to Aeetes. Only the sons of Phrixus along with Telamon and Augeias accompanied him....
The Argonauts and the birds of the island of Ares
<< Previous : The Argonauts pass off the coast of the Chalybes, Tibareni and Mossynoeci ENCOUNTER WITH THE SONS OF PHRIXOS The heroes then approach the island of Ares. It was populated by birds whose feathers fell from the sky like sharp arrows, causing...
The Argonauts pass off the coast of the Chalybes, Tibareni and Mossynoeci
<< Previous : The Argonauts on the island of Thynia The myth depicts some other mistakes that the seeker must become aware of even though he does not have to correct them at this stage as the Argonauts sail off the coast. Some of these are the attraction...
The Argonauts on the island of Thynia
<< Previous : The Cyanean rocks or Symplegades (Clashing rocks) This myth illustrates the encounter with the Master or one’s personal path. The Argonauts disembarked on the port of the desert island Thynia. It was the moment just before dawn when a faint...
The Cyanean rocks or Symplegades (Clashing rocks)
<< Previous : The Argonauts at Phineus The myth of the Symplegades or Clashing Rocks, also known as the Cyanean Rocks, deals with the first major test for the spiritual seeker. Phineus counsels the heroes in these terms: “After you leave me and come to...
The Argonauts at Phineus
<< Previous : The Argonauts at the Bebryces This story deals with the perturbations of intuition and the impossibility of benefiting from expansions of consciousness The following day the heroes disembark on the land of the Thynians. On the shore dwelled...
Jason and the quest of the Golden Fleece
The myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece describes the first steps on the spiritual journey, the encounter with the spiritual master and the tests until the first great spiritual experience. To fully understand this web page, it is recommended to follow the...
The Argonauts at the Bebryces
<< Previous : The Argonauts at the Dolions The second canto deals with other mistakes of the seeker, the clarifying of intuition, the episode of the dark rocks and the meeting with the true master After describing the risks of being misled Apollonius...
The Argonauts at the Dolions
<< Previous : The women of Lemnos This myth deals with inner insincerities which lead to deceptive paths During the night the heroes finished crossing the Hellespont and advanced into the Propontis. Then they reached a peninsula known as “Mount of Bears”...
The women of Lemnos
<< Previous : The departure of the Argo ship The “women of Lemnos” illustrate the quest for “exotic spiritual forms” in lieu of an aspiration to transform oneself The first episode which the seeker is faced with is illustrated by the episode of the women...
The departure of the Argo ship
<< Previous : The Argonauts The first Canto reports an erring vagrancy of the seeker looking for exotic forms of spirituality and fascinated by spiritual powers It must be recalled that according to the seekers a wide variety of experiences can occur;...
The Argonauts
<< Previous : Jason and the quest of the Golden Fleece Jason’s companions the Argonauts represent the yogic labors that must be developed up to a certain level to begin the quest. We repeatedly will find lists of characters to illustrate the conditions...
THE TELEGONY: TELEMACHUS AND TELEGONUS
It is to be regretted that the last work of the Epic cycle, the Telegony, signifying 'that which is to be born in the future', has not survived. Said to have been composed by Eugammon of Cyrene in the mid-sixth-century BCE, this last part has only been...
The Suitors in Asphodel Meadows and Odysseus with Laertes (Book XXIV)
The souls of the suitors were guided by Hermes. Beyond the course of the Ocean and the White Rock, beyond the Gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams, they finally reached the Asphodel Meadows inhabited by the shadows. They saw those of Achilles, Patroclus,...
Penelope and Odysseus (Ulysses) reunited (Book XXIII)
Euryclia announced to Penelope the return of Odysseus (Ulysses), who went from joy to doubt and then to the will to check his presence herself. She went down into the room, and despite Telemachus' remonstrations, could not fully persuade herself that this...
The slaughter of the suitors (Book XXII)
After getting rid of his rags, the beggar-Odysseus (Ulysses) fired an arrow into the throat of Antinoos who died immediately. Then he revealed his identity to the suitors green with terror. Then Eurymachos accused Antinoos of being solely responsible for the...
The Bow of Odysseus (Book XXI)
Penelope fetched the bow, arrows and axes that were stored with Odysseus (Ulysses)' treasure in a locked room. The bow was a present from Iphitos whom Odysseus (Ulysses) had met one day at Orsilochus. Odysseus (Ulysses), then a young man, had been sent to the...
Before the slaughter of Penelope’s Suitors (Book XX)
Odysseus (Ulysses) did not sleep, trying to calm the anger that rose in him at the sight of the cheerful maids who went to sleep with the suitors. Then Athena appeared to him as a woman, but he immediately recognized the goddess and told her of his helplessness...
Odysseus (Ulysses) and Penelope (Book XIX)
At Odysseus (Ulysses)' request, Telemachus sent away the women. Then, as Athena provided light with her golden lamp, they both carried helmets, spears and shields to the treasure. Telemachus told his father of the prodigy he witnessed: he saw the walls, beams...
The Beggars Fight (Book XVIII)
An extremely gluttonous beggar, without strength or vigour but of very good appearance, arrived in the great hall. His name was Arne, but the young men nicknamed him Iros because he carried all the messages. He wanted to drive out the beggar-Odysseus (Ulysses)...
Odysseus the beggar (Book XVII)
Telemachus, declaring that he did not want to take care of him, entrusted the "beggar" to Eumaeus to take him to the city while he himself would go to Penelope's house. Upon his arrival at the manor, he was greeted by Euryclia and then by his mother, to whom he...
Odysseus (Ulysses) reveals himself to Telemachus (Book XVI)
Telemachus was greeted by the dogs of Eumaeus, who wagged their tails without barking, and then by the swineherd himself, who could not hold back his joy and his displays of tenderness. By virtue of the sacred laws of hospitality, he assured Eumaeus that he...
The Return of Telemachus (Book XV)
While these events were taking place in Ithaca, Athena went at night to Telemachus who was in Sparta at Menelaus with Pisistratus, Nestor's son. She urged him to return, informing him that Penelope's father and brothers were urging her to marry Eurymachos. She...
Dialogue of Odysseus (Ulysses) with the Swineherd Eumaeus (Book XIV)
During Odysseus (Ulysses)' absence, without consulting Laertes or Penelope, Eumaeus had built a pigsty of twelve magnificent stables side by side and backed by a circular wall. Each stable contained fifty sows that had given birth. Under the care of four dogs,...
Odysseus’ Journey from the Island of the Phaeacians to Ithaca (Book XIII)
On the last day Odysseus (Ulysses) spent with the Phaeacians, Alcinous sacrificed an ox in honour of Zeus. The hero thanked them for their hospitality and presents, and all feasted. When night fell, he greeted queen Arete one last time, then reached the boat...
Telemachus at Menelaus in Sparta (Book IV)
Telemachus and Pisistratus arrived at Menelaus’ home on the same day that he was celebrating the wedding of his two children: those of his daughter Hermione with Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, according to the promise made in Troad, and those of his bastard but...
Telemachus visits Nestor in Pylos (Book III)
As the day rose, Telemachus' boat approached Pylos. It was the city of Neleus and his son Nestor. On the shore, black bulls were sacrificed in honour of Azure-haired Poseidon. The Pylians were divided into groups of five hundred, with nine bulls per group....
Preparation of Telemachus’ Journey (Book II)
The next morning, Telemachus convened the assembly of Achaeans with long hair. As some asked why, Telemachus addressed the nobles present in the assembly. He complained that their sons were ruining his house and harassing his mother for almost four years to...
THE MYTH BEHIND EUROPE
In his aphorism 76, Sri Aurobindo says: “Europe prides herself on her practical and scientific organisation and efficiency. I am waiting till her organisation is perfect; then a child shall destroy her.” When Mother was asked to comment on this aphorism, she...
THE OLYMPIC GAMES: Their true meaning in ancient Greece
Lecture by Claude de Warren, February 2024 Please click the link to watch youtube video: THE OLYMPIC GAMES: Their true meaning in ancient Greece Let us set aside the images and the ideas of the Olympic Games we have about them today, and transport ourselves to...
Genealogical diagrams
The first diagram shows the overall architecture. The two that follows present syntheses of the two great spiritual paths: that of the ascent of the plans of consciousness or "spiritualization" of the being (Iapetus) and that of the “psychisation” (Oceanos). For...
Seers in Greek Myhtology – Family tree 29
FAMILY TREE 29 - FAMOUS SEERS The genealogies appearing above present the different categories of soothsayers or seers involved in Greek mythology and which correspond to different stages of the seeker's progress. Melampous "he who has black feet" received from Apollo...
Argolid kingdoms – Diagram 28
FAMILY TREE 28 - THE KINGS OF ARGOS, TIRYNS, MYCENAE AND SPARTA The different genealogies listed above outline the progress of the seeker of truth. This progression is described in detail on the page “PERSEUS AND THE GORGON MEDUSA; INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST SIX...
Atalanta – Family tree 27
FAMILY TREE 27 - THE ROYAL LINEAGE OF ARCADIA: ATALANTA The myths which have come down to us do not give the ancestry of Lycaon "nascent light (that which is obtained in the lower nature as a result of purification)", father of Callisto "the most beautiful", that is...
Daedalus, Icarus and Theseus – Family tree 26
FAMILY TREE 26 - THE LEGENDARY KINGS OF ATHENS The goddess Athena represents a spiritual force which ensures that humanity reaches a complete development and a perfect mastery of the external being (mental, vital and body) by the growth of the inner being. It...
Achilles and Ajax – Family tree 25
FAMILY TREE 25 - OCEANOS: THE LINE OF ASOPIDS The line from the Asopos River is one of the major lines from Oceanos and therefore relates to the purification / liberation process. The name Asopos, like that of his wife Metope, is related to "the vision". It means "the...
Perseus and Heracles – Family tree 24
FAMILY TREE 24 - OCEANOS: THE LINE OF BELOS The line of Belos in which the great heroes Perseus and Heracles appear is a branch of " Inachus – Family tree 21", which describes a line from the son of Oceanos, Inachus, and therefore concerns the process of purification...
Europa and Minos – Family tree 23
FAMILY TREE 23 - OCEANOS: THE LINE OF EUROPA AND MINOS The family tree above is a branch of " FAMILY TREE 21 - OCEANOS: THE INACHIDS ", which describes a line from the son of Oceanos, Inachus, and therefore relates to the process of purification / liberation. Inachus,...
Dionysus and Oedipus – Family tree 22
FAMILY TREE 22 - OCEANOS: THE CADMOS LINE The family tree above is a branch of "FAMILY TREE 21 - OCEANOS: THE INACHIDS", which describes a line from the son of Oceanos, Inachus, and therefore relates to the process of purification / liberation. Inachus, let us...
Inachus – Family tree 21
FAMILY TREE 21 - OCEANOS: THE INACHIDS This page presents the main line from the Titan Oceanos and therefore concerns the purification / liberation process. A general description of the first generations of this lineage corresponding to the family tree appearing above...
Lapiths and Centaurs – Family tree 20
FAMILY TREE 20 - OCEANOS: LAPITHS AND CENTAURS In the tree above, the line of Lapithes was connected to the Peneus River by Stilbe "the one who shines with beauty" who would have united with Apollo, god of psychic light. But the Peneus-Stilbe filiation only appears...
Styx and the Sirens – Family tree 19
FAMILY TREE 19 - OCEANOS: THE LINEAGES This page presents the lineages from Oceanos which relate to the purification / liberation process. A general description of these lines can be found on the page " OCEANOS: RIVER-GODS SCAMANDER AND ACHELOOS AND OCEANIDES". An...
Olympian complementary gods – Diagram 18
FAMILY TREE 18 - THE COMPLEMENTARY GODS The 12 gods of Olympus are described in Family Tree 17 and in detail on the page "THE TWELVE OLYMPIAN GODS". They can be grouped by pairs of complementary as described in detail on the page "THE COMPLEMENTARY GODS". Because at...
Gods of Olympus – Family tree 17
FAMILY TREE 17 - THE 12 GODS OF THE OLYMPUS The twelve gods of Olympus all belong to the descendants of the Titan Cronos, either because they are the brothers and sisters of Zeus, or because they are the children of the latter. However, their field of activity varies...
Priam, Hector and Paris – Family tree 16
FAMILY TREE 16 - ELECTRA Electra is the fifth Pleiad and corresponds to the plane of the "illumined mind" (See Family Tree 7 and Family Tree 8 "). Recall that the seven Pleiades are daughters of Atlas, himself the son of Iapetus. They therefore relate to the ascent of...
Tantalus and Agamemnon – Family tree 15
FAMILY TREE 15 - TANTALUS This page presents the Tantalus Family Tree. The corresponding myths are studied in the page “THE LINEAGE OF TANTALUS: PELOPS, ATREUS AND AGAMEMNON". Tantalus' parentage with Plouto and Atlas is only mentioned by late historians and...
Odysseus – Family tree 14
FAMILY TREE 14 - DEION This page presents the family tree of Deion "he who works for the reunification of consciousness". He is the seventh son of Aeolus, who belongs to the line of Iapetus "the ascent of the planes of consciousness" (cf. Family tree 10 and Family...
Penelope and Helen – Family tree 13
FAMILY TREE 13 - TAYGETE The seven Pleiades are daughters of Atlas, himself the son of Iapetus. They therefore relate to the ascent of the planes of mental consciousness (See Family tree 7 and Family tree 8). Taygete is the sixth Pleiad and corresponds to the plane of...
Jason – Family tree 12
FAMILY TREE 12 - JASON This page presents the family trees of four sons of Aeolus out of the seven. Aeolus belongs to the line of Iapetus "the ascent of the planes of consciousness" (cf. Family tree 10 and Family tree 7). The Sisyphus family tree is presented in...
Sisyphus and Bellerophon – Family tree 11
FAMILY TREE 11 - SISYPHUS Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, belongs to the line of Iapetus "the ascent of the planes of consciousness" (cf. Family tree 10 and Family tree 7). It is studied in detail as well as his descendants in the page " THE FIRST FIVE CHILDREN OF AEOLUS:...
Family tree of Oceanus – Purification and liberation
OCEANUS FAMILY TREE - SYNTHESIS The Oceanus family tree presented here concerns the process of purification / liberation. Only the characters who are the most famous and/or have a major importance in the myths are represented. For the other characters, the reader will...
Family tree of Japet – Ascent of planes of consciousness
IAPETUS FAMILY TREE - SYNTHESIS The family tree of Iapetus presented here concerns the ascent of the planes of mental consciousness. Only the characters who are the most famous and / or have a major importance in the myths are represented. For the other characters,...
Family trees – General Synthesis
GENERAL SYNTHESIS This diagram shows how the whole of Greek mythology is organized from the first principle "Gaia" which, before it splits, symbolizes the unity Existence / Consciousness. At the same time (but this is still a step which precedes creation, therefore...
Aeolus – Family tree 10
FAMILY TREE 10 - AEOLUS' CHILDREN Hellen belongs to the line of Iapetus "the ascent of the planes of consciousness" (cf. Family tree 7 ). It symbolizes the quest for "liberation" with a view to "awakening" according to the name of his wife Orseis. His son Aeolus,...
Leda, Meleager, Deianira and Diomedes – Family tree 9
FAMILY TREE 9 - THE DESCENT OF PROTOGENIA Protogenia, whose name means "who walks in the lead" (of the progress of humanity) belongs to the line of Iapetus "the ascent of the planes of consciousness" (Cf. Family tree 7 and Family tree 8). It therefore concerns the...
Pleiades – Family tree 8
FAMILY TREE 8 - THE PLEIADES The seven Pleiades are daughters of Atlas, himself the son of Iapetus. They therefore relate to the ascent of the planes of mental consciousness. At the end of the war which opposed the gods to the Titans, that is to say when the mind...
Atlas and Prometheus – Family tree 7
IAPETUS: MAIN LINEAGES In this page are presented the two main lines of the family tree of Iapetus, that of Atlas and that of Prometheus, which describe on the one hand the seven planes of mental consciousness and on the other hand the major experiences and...
Hecate, Boreas and Zephyr – Family tree 6
FAMILY TREE 6 - KRIUS (CRIUS) The Krius (or Crius) family tree illustrates the work of the divine forces that govern the evolution of humanity. It is explained in the page " CRIUS: THE GREAT WINDS BOREAS, NOTUS, ZEPHYRUS AND EURUS, AND THE GODDESS HECATE". United to...
Leto, the Fates and the Muses – Family tree 5
FAMILY TREE 5 - KOIOS, THEMIS, MNEMOSYNE The family tree represented above includes not only the descendants of the Titan Koios (see the page COEUS: LETO AND ASTERIA), but also that of two Titanides who are united not to a Titan but to Zeus (see the ZEUS page)....
Helios, Circe and Medea – Family tree 4
HELIOS, CIRCE AND MEDEA - FAMILY TREE 4 Hyperion symbolizes the highest level of the creation plan, the highest degree of creative power. He is one of the six Titans sons of the Ouranos-Gaia couple (cf. Family tree 1). His descendants are studied in the page...
The Titans – Family tree 3
THE TITANS - FAMILY TREE 3 The Titans and Titanides come from the union of Ouranos and Gaia (Cf. Family tree 1). They are powers which belong to the world of creation, that is to say to the supramental world as defined by Sri Aurobindo. They are described in detail in...
Iris, the Harpies and the Gorgon Medusa – Family tree 2 – Vital evolution
FAMILY TREE 2 - THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE The family tree represented above comes from Pontus "the sea stream", symbol of Life. It is explained in the page "The offspring of Pontus". Pontus is a son of Gaia whom she fathered alone (See the board of Origins). United with...
Gaia and Tartarus – Family tree 1
GAIA AND TARTARUS – FAMILY TREE 1 - THE ORIGINS This plate explains the Genesis of creation as it was exposed by the poet Hesiod and as it is explained in the page Genesis The first branch deals with the way in which the Supreme, the Absolute concentrated in Himself...