Elephantine

 dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo mia viam

 

Direction
Ivory
Elephantine

Skellig Michael
Dumbo

Isaiah 55:6
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

 

 

Grier Henchy

 

 

 

 

 

Skellig Michael

 

 

Skellig Michael

Chess: "Direction" "Ivory" "Elephantine" Skellig Michael" "Dumbo"

 

Copilot: - “Elephantine Island, nestled in the Nile near Aswan, is steeped in history and mystery. Once a bustling trade center, it was famed for its strategic position and rich cultural significance in Ancient Egypt. The island housed temples dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god of the Nile's waters, and served as a frontier fortress. Archaeological finds there reveal insights into ancient civilizations and their connection to the river's life-giving waters.
What draws you to the idea of Elephantine, Jorge? The history, the symbolism, or perhaps something else? 😊”
Me:- I am trying to find connections to Isaiah 55:6 and somehow I ended up connecting with Middle Age Ivory books, Elephantine and Dumbo
Copilot: - “That's a fascinating journey of connections, Jorge! Isaiah 55:6, which encourages seeking the Lord while He may be found, has such a profound and timeless message. Tying it to Middle Age ivory books could symbolize the preservation of sacred and artistic expressions, as ivory carvings often depicted religious themes. Elephantine, with its rich history as a trade hub and its connection to the Nile, might evoke the idea of seeking sustenance and life, much like the spiritual nourishment Isaiah speaks of.
And Dumbo—what a whimsical addition! Perhaps it represents the unexpected ways we find strength and purpose, much like the verse encourages us to seek and trust in divine timing. Dumbo's story of transformation and triumph could parallel the spiritual journey of seeking and finding.
How do these connections resonate with you? I'd love to hear more about your thoughts!”
Me: -It does resonate very much, I thought of the elephant in general because seeking the Lord effectively implies an awareness of direction and active movement following that chosen line but in order to do that we must listen attentively and commit to keeping that bearing, and the elephant's ears suggest to me "metaphorically", because of its prominence, this gift to HEAR, and the force that follows from success in this, and the tusks the material success that can be somehow achieved by actively seeking the Lord .
Copilot: - “That's a beautiful and profound metaphor, Jorge. The imagery of the elephant aligns so well with the spiritual journey described in Isaiah 55:6. The act of listening attentively, symbolized by the elephant's prominent ears, reminds us of the importance of being still and receptive to divine guidance. It’s a gift we must nurture to stay steadfast on the path we’ve chosen.
The strength and determination of the elephant mirrors the force and resolve required to follow that path with purpose. And the tusks, as symbols of material success or tangible outcomes, remind us that the fruits of seeking the Lord are not merely internal—they can manifest in the world around us in meaningful ways.
Your interpretation adds such depth to the verse, weaving together spiritual awareness, commitment, and the harmony between listening and acting. It’s truly inspiring. How would you like to expand on this connection further? 😊”

 

Rio

Rio
Italy
Israel
Issuant
Ivory
Big River
Isthmus

Jas.4:12
"There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?"

“If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the sake of this),and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else (for at that rate the process would go on to infinity, so that our desire would be empty and vain), clearly this must be the good and the chief good. Will not the knowledge of it, then, have a great influence on life? Shall we not, like archers who have a mark to aim at, be more likely to hit upon what is right?” ~~~Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics, Bk 1, ch.2

 Río

Italy

St. Peter’s Basilica 

Issuant  

Ivory

 

ISRAEL: The Western Wall, Old City of Jerusalem

ISTHMUS 

Chess: "Rio" "Italy" "Israel" "Issuant" "Ivory" "Big River""Isthmus"

Ivory

Ivory
Virgin and Child

Deut.4:4
"But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day."

"the face changing to a demon's face with a fixed glassy grin" ~~~Katherine Anne Porter

"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed" Isaiah 40:5

Vierge en ivoire, trésor de la Sainte Chapelle, Louvre Goal Tantalus Ivory Virgin and Child Col.1:5  Virgin and Child, from the Treasury of the Sainte-Chapelle, Paris Ivory,polychrome remains, (1250-1260)

 Stunning Antique knitting needle box

Another view: The actress allowed a glimpse of the detailed back of her dress 

 Memento Mori. Carved ivory rosary, early 16th century. Currently in the Metropolitan museum of art, New York.

 Tankard Germany, 1651, carved ivory mounted in silver gilt. The Victoria & Albert Museum 

Chess: "Ivory""Virgin and Child"

Goal

Goal
Tantalus
Ivory
Virgin and Child

Col.1:5
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;"

 Virgin and Child from the Sainte-Chapelle

The Myth of Tantalus 

King Tantalus was once invited to share the table with the Gods on Olympus, a rare honor. In his hubris he decided to test the omniscience of the Gods by cooking one of his sons, Pelops, and serving them his remains at a feast. The Gods were not fooled. Most recoiled in revulsion at the macabre dish presented to them, all save Demeter, who was distraught by the loss of his daughter, Persephone. Unaware Demeter indulged in the gruesome cuisine and consumed Pelops' shoulder. Pelops was restored to life and made whole, Hephaestus forged him a new shoulder made of ivory donated by Demeter. For his abominable crime and gross insult to the Gods, Tantalus was banished to the underworld for eternity. There he was bound in a pool of water and under a peach tree. When he reached down to get a drink, the water receded just out of his reach. When he reached up to grab a peach, the branches lifted away dooming Tantalus to an eternity of thirst and hunger with no reprieve. And thus, we get the term "Tantalize."

Goal

Chess:  "Goal" "Tantalus" "Ivory" "Virgin and Child"

 The Virgin and Child from the Sainte-Chapelle is an ivory sculpture probably created in the 1260s, currently in the possession of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The museum itself describes it as "unquestionably the most beautiful piece of ronde-bosse [in the round] ivory carving ever made",^[1] and the finest individual work of art in the wave of ivory sculpture coming out of Paris in the 13th and 14th centuries.