Note 351 — Chapter IV · THE UNCONSCIOUS ORIGIN OF THE HERO
Beatrice M. Hinkle translation
How very important is the coronation and sun identification, is shown not alone from countless old customs, but also from the corresponding ancient metaphors in the religious speech: the Wisdom of Solomon v: 17: “Therefore, they will receive a beautiful crown from the hand of the Lord.” I Peter v: 4: “Feed the flock of God ... and when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
In a church hymn of Allendorf it is said of the soul: “The soul is liberated from all care and pain and in dying it has come to the crown of joy; she stands as bride and queen in the glitter of eternal splendor, at the side of the great king,” etc. In a hymn by Laurentius Laurentii it is said (also of the soul): “The crown is entrusted to the brides because they conquer.” In a song by Sacer we find the passage: “Adorn my coffin with garlands just as a conqueror is adorned,—from those springs of heaven, my soul has attained the eternally green crown: the true glory of victory, coming from the son of God who has so cared for me.” A quotation from the above-mentioned song of Allendorf is added here, in which we have another complete expression of the primitive psychology of the sun identification of men, which we met in the Egyptian song of triumph of the ascending soul.
(Concerning the soul, continuation of the above passage:) “It [the soul] sees a clear countenance [sun]: his [the sun’s] joyful loving nature now restores it through and through: it is a light in his light.—Now the child can see the father: He feels the gentle emotion of love. Now he can understand the word of Jesus. He himself, the father, has loved you. An unfathomable sea of benefits, an abyss of eternal waves of blessing is disclosed to the enlightened spirit: he beholds the countenance of God, and knows what signifies the inheritor of God in light and the co-heir of Christ.—The feeble body rests on the earth: it sleeps until Jesus awakens it. Then will the dust become the sun, which now is covered by the dark cavern: Then shall we come together with all the pious, who knows how soon, and will be for eternity with the Lord.” I have emphasized the significant passages by italics: they speak for themselves, so that I need add nothing.