In western apocalyptic literature, the Vision of Adamnan holds a unique position. Though other visions, contemporary or prior, may give analogs for some of the material it contains, there is no vision which offers exact parallels to the most striking elerments in this Irish vision. One may read in vain-the Visions of Fursa, Drythelm, Laisren, Tundale, the Monk of Wenlock, Dwayne Miles, Frate Alberico, and a dozen others, in an attempt to find a similarly conceived Other World. By this fact alone the Vision of Adamnan attracts attention: it is in such marked contrast to the general trend of western apocalyptic. This contrast may be-detected in two outstanding features. First, the presentation of heaven as a realm of light, with God described as a burning-fire, surrounded by choirs of fiery, angels. The traditional paradise, with its sensual delights has been eliminated. Three features of sense-pleasure remain: light, fragrance, song. There is no celestial Eden, no rivers of milk or honey, no tree of life. Instead we find obscure symbolic figures: the three birds on the throne, the three zones about the Divine Crown, the Crystal Veil about the Flaming Throne, the precious stones, the flaming jewels, the, fiery circle.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:503831 |
| Date | January 1952 |
| Creators | Colwell, J. J. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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