The axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar and center of the world) is a ubiquitous symbol that crosses human cultures. Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Parvati ( Sanskrit: Pārvatī sa [[wiktपार्वती पार्वती]] sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu Ganesha ( Sanskrit: sa गणेश Gaṇeśa) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar The image expresses a point of connection between sky and earth where the four compass directions meet. At this point travel and correspondence is made between higher and lower realms. Communication from lower realms may ascend to higher ones and blessings from higher realms may descend to lower ones and be disseminated to all. The spot functions as the omphalos (navel), the world's point of beginning. An omphalos is an ancient religious stone artifact, or Baetylus. ^[1]

The axis mundi image appears in every region of the world and takes many forms. The image is both feminine (an umbilical providing nourishment) and masculine (a phallus providing insemination into a uterus). The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis The uterus (from the Latin word for womb) is the major Female reproductive organ of most Mammals including Humans One end the It may have the form of a natural object (a mountain, a tree, a vine, a stalk, a column of smoke or fire) or a product of human manufacture (a staff, a tower, a ladder, a staircase, a maypole, a cross, a steeple, a rope, a totem pole, a pillar, a spire). A mountain is a Landform that extends above the surrounding Terrain in a limited area with a peak A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or A vine is any plant of Genus Vitis (the Grape plants or by extension any similar climbing or trailing plant ---- Stalking is the obsessive following observing or contacting of another person or the obsessive attempt to engage in any of these activities Smoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid Particulates and Gases ref> ''Smoke Production and Properties'' - SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. Towers are tall human-made Structures that are always taller than they are wide usually by a significant Margin. A ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. There are two types rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a Wall, and The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of Maple ( Acer) hawthorn or Birch) sometimes erected with several long coloured A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. Totem poles are monumental Sculptures carved from great Trees usually cedar but mostly Western Redcedar, by a number of Indigenous cultures along A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building particularly a church Tower. Its proximity to heaven may carry implications that are chiefly religious (pagoda, temple mount, church) or secular (obelisk, minaret, lighthouse, rocket, skyscraper). A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram An obelisk (from Greek ὀβελίσκος - obeliskos, diminutive of ὀβελός - obelos, "spit nail pointed pillar" For the mountain formation see Minarets (California. Minarets ( Arabic manara (lighthouse منارة but more usually مئذنة A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an A rocket or rocket vehicle is a Missile, Aircraft or other Vehicle which obtains Thrust by the reaction of the A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable Building. There is no official definition or a precise cutoff height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper The image appears in religious and secular contexts. ^[2] The axis mundi symbol may be found in cultures utilizing shamanic practices or animist belief systems, in major world religions, and in technologically advanced "urban centers"–wherever the impulse exists to link a column with the idea of a center. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals

Contents 1 Background 2 Multiplicities 2.1 Places 2.2 Plants 2.3 Human figure 2.4 Houses 2.5 Shamanic function 3 Traditional Expressions 3.1 Asia 3.2 Middle East 3.3 Europe 3.4 The Americas 4 Modern Expressions 4.1 Modern Storytelling 5 See also 6 References

Background

The symbol originates in a natural and universal psychological perception: that one's native land and home stand at "the center of the world. is the highest Mountain in Japan at.An Active volcano that last erupted in 1707–08 it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. " Home is indeed the center of one's known universe, the point of one's origin. From it one may venture in any of the four cardinal directions, make discoveries, and establish new centers. The name of China, "Middle Kingdom," expresses the ancient perception of its residents that their land occupied the center of the world, with other lands lying in various directions relative to it. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National ^[3]

Within the central known universe a specific locale–often a mountain or other elevated place, a spot where earth and sky come closest–gains status as center of the center, the axis mundi. High mountains are typically regarded as sacred by peoples living near them. Shrines are often erected at the summit or base. Japan's highest mountain, Mount Fuji, has long symbolized the world axis in Japanese culture. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. is the highest Mountain in Japan at.An Active volcano that last erupted in 1707–08 it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Mount Kun-Lun fills a similar role in China. The Kunlun Mountains ( Mongolian: Хөндлөн Уулс is one of the longest Mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3000 Km. For the ancient Hebrews Mount Zion expressed the symbol. Mount Zion (הר צִיּוֹן Har Tzion) is a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Sioux beliefs take the Black Hills as the axis mundi. Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the Mount Kailash is holy to several religions in Tibet. Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European The Pitjantjatjara people in central Australia consider Uluru to be central to both their world and culture. Pitjantjatjara ˈpɪcaɲcacaɾa is the name of both an Aboriginal people of the Central Australian desert and their language (for which see Pitjantjatjara Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock, is a large Sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, Central Australia In ancient Mesopotamia the cultures of ancient Sumer and Babylon erected artificial mountains, or ziggurats, on the flat river plain. Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding Sumer ( Sumerian: sux-Latn [[Ki (earth ki]]-[[EN (cuneiform en]]-'''ĝir15''', Akkadian: Šumeru; possibly Biblical Shinar Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq A ziggurat ( Akkadian ziqqurrat, D-stem of zaqāru "to build on a raised area" was a Temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian These supported staircases leading to temples at the top. The pre-Columbian residents of Teotihuacán in Mexico erected huge pyramids featuring staircases leading to heaven. Teotihuacan is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the Pre-Columbian Americas The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. A pyramid is a Building where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point Jacob's Ladder is an axis mundi image, as is the Temple Mount. Jacob's Ladder refers to a Ladder to Heaven, described in the Book of Genesis, which the biblical patriarch Jacob envisions The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram For Christians the Cross on Mount Calvary expresses the symbol. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half "Golgotha" redirects here For other uses see Golgotha (disambiguation. ^[4] The Middle Kingdom, China, had a central mountain, Kun-Lun, known in Taoist literature as "the mountain at the middle of the world. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions " To "go into the mountains" meant to dedicate oneself to a spiritual life. ^[5] Monasteries of all faiths tend, like shrines, to be placed at elevated spots. Wise religious teachers are typically depicted in literature and art as bringing their revelations at world centers: mountains, trees, temples.

Multiplicities

Places

Because the axis mundi is an idea that unites a number of concrete images, no contradiction exists in regarding multiple spots as "the center of the world. " The symbol can operate in a number of locales at once. The ancient Greeks regarded several sites as places of earth's omphalos (navel) stone, notably the oracle at Delphi, while still maintaining a belief in a cosmic world tree and in Mount Olympus as the abode of the gods. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca An omphalos is an ancient religious stone artifact, or Baetylus. Delphi ( Greek,) ( pronounce and dialectal forms) is an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western The World Tree is a Motif present in several religions and mythologies particularly Indo-European religions The world tree is represented as a colossal Mount Olympus (Όλυμπος also transliterated as Ólympos, and on Greek maps Óros Ólimbos) is the highest Mountain in Greece Judaism has Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, Christianity has the Mount of Olives and Calvary, Islam has the Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock) and Mecca, said to be the place on earth that was created first. For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also Mount Zion (הר צִיּוֹן Har Tzion) is a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives (also Mount Olivet, جبل الزيتون الطور Jebel az-Zeitun הר הזיתים Har HaZeitim; is a mountain ridge in east "Golgotha" redirects here For other uses see Golgotha (disambiguation. The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored In addition to Kun-Lun the ancient Chinese recognized four mountains as pillars of the world. ^[6]

Sacred places constitute world centers (omphalos) with the altar or place of prayer as the axis. An omphalos is an ancient religious stone artifact, or Baetylus. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place Altars, incense sticks, candles and torches form the axis by sending a column of smoke, and prayer, toward heaven. The architecture of sacred places often reflects this role. The stupa of Hinduism, and later Buddhism, reflects Mount Meru. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices For the Mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru (Tanzania. Mount Meru ( Sanskrit: मेरु (also called Cathedrals are laid out in the form of a cross, with the vertical bar representing the union of earth and heaven as the horizontal bars represent union of people to one another, with the altar at the intersection. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half Pagoda structures in Asian temples take the form of a stairway linking earth and heaven. A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea A steeple in a church or a minaret in a mosque also serve as connections of earth and heaven. A steeple, in Architecture, is a tall tower on a building often topped by a Spire. For the mountain formation see Minarets (California. Minarets ( Arabic manara (lighthouse منارة but more usually مئذنة Structures such as the maypole, derived from the Saxons' Irminsul, and the totem pole among indigenous peoples of the Americas also represent world axes. The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of Maple ( Acer) hawthorn or Birch) sometimes erected with several long coloured The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. An Irminsul ( Old Saxon, probably "great/mighty pillar" or "arising pillar" was a kind of Pillar which is attested as playing an important role Totem poles are monumental Sculptures carved from great Trees usually cedar but mostly Western Redcedar, by a number of Indigenous cultures along For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. The calumet, or sacred pipe, represents a column of smoke (the soul) rising form a world center. ^[7]

Plants

Plants often serve as images of the axis mundi. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World The image of a tree provides an axis symbol that unites three planes: its branches reach for the sky, its trunk meets the earth, and it roots reach down into the underworld. In some Pacific island cultures the banyan tree, of which the Bodhi tree is of the Sacred Fig variety, is the abode of ancestor spirits. The Pacific Ocean contains an estimated 20000 to 30000 Islands (the exact number has yet to be precisely determined A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an Epiphyte when its Seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host Tree (or on structures like The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree ( Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig The Bodhi Tree is also the name given to the tree under which Gautama Siddhartha, the historical Buddha, sat on the night he attained enlightenment. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment The Yggdrasil, or World Ash, functions in much the same way in Norse mythology; it is the site where Odin found enlightenment. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. Other examples include Jievaras in Lithuanian mythology and Thor's Oak in the myths of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples. Lithuanian mythology had many different gods and deities It is hard to reconstruct the full list of names because the sources are scant and contradictory Lithuanian mythology is an example of pagan Mythology containing archaic elements developed by Lithuanians throughout the centuries Thor's Oak was an ancient tree sacred to the Germanic tribe of the Chatti, ancestors of the Hessians and one of the most important sacred sites of the Pagan The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis present two aspects of the same image. A tree of life is a mystical concept a Metaphor for common descent or a Motif in various world theologies and philosophies. In the Book of Genesis, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (and occasionally translated as the Tree of Conscience,) was a Tree in the middle of the Each is said to stand at the center of the Paradise garden from which four rivers flow to nourish the whole world. Not to be confused with Eden Gardens.The Garden of Eden ( Hebrew "pleasure" גַּן עֵדֶן Arabic: جنات عدن, Each tree confers a boon. Bamboo, the plant from which Asian calligraphy pens are made, represents knowledge and is regularly found on Asian college campuses. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily The Christmas tree, which can be traced in its origins back to pre-Christian European beliefs, represents an axis mundi. A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration ^[8] Entheogens (psychoactive substances) are often regarded as world axies, such as the Fly Agaric mushroom among the Evenks of Russia. An entheogen, in the strictest sense is a Psychoactive substance used in a religious or shamanic (or entheogenic) context Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and Psychoactive Basidiomycete Fungus, The Evenks or Evenki (autonym Эвэнкил Evenkil; Эвенки Evenki; 鄂温克族 pny ''Èwēnkè Zú'' formerly known as Tungus Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

Human figure

The human body can express the symbol of world axis. Some of the more abstract Tree of Life representations, such as the Sefirot in Kabbalism and in the Chakra system recognized by Hinduism and Buddhism, merge with the concept of the human body as a pillar between heaven and earth. Sephirot "enumerations" '''Sephiroth''' '''Sefiroth''' (סְפִירוֹת singular Sephirah also Sefirah (סְפִירָה "enumeration" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel Disciplines such as Yoga and Tai Chi begin from the premise of the human body as axis mundi. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Taiji (太極 is a state of being from Tao and Wuji. It is a state of absolute and of infinite potentiality Large statues of a meditating figure unite the human figure with the symbolism of temple and tower. Astrology in all its forms assumes a connection between human health and affairs and the orientation of these with celestial bodies. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems World religions regard the body itself as a temple and prayer as a column uniting earth to heaven. The ancient Colossus of Rhodes combined the role of human figure with those of portal and skyscraper. The Renaissance image known as the Vitruvian Man represented a symbolic and mathematical exploration of the human form as world axis. The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned Drawing with accompanying notes created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487 as recorded in one of his journals ^[9]

Houses

Houses serve as world centers. The hearth participates in the symbolism of the altar and a central garden partipates in the symbolism of primordial paradise. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place A garden is a planned space usually outdoors set aside for the display cultivation and enjoyment of Plants and other forms of Nature. Not to be confused with Eden Gardens.The Garden of Eden ( Hebrew "pleasure" גַּן עֵדֶן Arabic: جنات عدن, In Asian cultures houses were traditionally laid out in the form of a square oriented toward the four compass directions. A traditional Asian home was oriented toward the sky through Feng shui, a system of geomancy, just as a palace would be. Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography Traditional Arab houses are also laid out as a square surrounding a central fountain that evokes a primordial garden paradise. The nomadic peoples of Mongolia and the Americas more often lived in circular structures. The central pole of the tent still operated as an axis but a fixed reference to the four compass points was avoided. ^[10]

Shamanic function

A common shamanic concept, and a universally told story, is that of the healer traversing the axis mundi to bring back knowledge from the other world. The caduceus (/kəˈdjuːsiəs/ -ʃəs -ˈduː- κηρύκειον in Greek) or wand of Hermes is typically depicted as a short herald's staff It may be seen in the stories from Odin and the World Ash Tree to the Garden of Eden and Jacob's Ladder to Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World The Garden of Eden is the second posthumously released Novel of Ernest Hemingway, published in 1986. Jacob's Ladder refers to a Ladder to Heaven, described in the Book of Genesis, which the biblical patriarch Jacob envisions Jack and the Beanstalk is an English Fairy tale, closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant Killer. " Rapunzel " is a German Fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's It is the essence of the journey described in The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy The epic poem relates its hero's descent and ascent through a series of spiral structures that take him from through the core of the earth, from the depths of Hell to celestial Paradise.

Anyone or anything suspended on the axis between heaven and earth becomes a repository of potential knowledge. A special status accrues to the thing suspended: a serpent, a victim of crucifixion or hanging, a rod, a fruit, mistletoe. Mistletoe is the common name for a group of hemi-parasitic Plants in the order Santalales that grow attached to and within the Derivations of this idea find form in the Rod of Asclepius, an emblem of the medical profession, and in the caduceus, an emblem of correspondence and commercial professions. The rod of Asclepius (also known as the rod of Asklepios, rod of Aesculapius or asklepian) is an ancient Greek Symbol associated The caduceus (/kəˈdjuːsiəs/ -ʃəs -ˈduː- κηρύκειον in Greek) or wand of Hermes is typically depicted as a short herald's staff The staff in these emblems represents the axis mundi while the serpents act as guardians of, or guides to, knowledge. Serpent is a word of Latin origin (from serpens serpentis "something that creeps snake" that is commonly used in a specifically mythic or ^[11]

Traditional Expressions

Asia

• Bodhi tree, especially where Gautama Buddha found Enlightenment
• Pagoda
• Stupa (Buddhism, Hinduism)
• Mount Meru in Hinduism
• Mount Fuji (Japan)
• Mount Kailash regarded by several religions in Tibet, e. The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree ( Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist For the Mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru (Tanzania. Mount Meru ( Sanskrit: मेरु (also called is the highest Mountain in Japan at.An Active volcano that last erupted in 1707–08 it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European g. Bön
• Jambudweep in Jainism which is regarded as the actual navel of the universe (which is human in form)
• Kailasa (India), the abode of Shiva
• Mandara (India)
• Kun-Lun (China), residence of the Immortals and the site of a peach tree offering immortality
• Human figure (yoga, tai chi, sacred images)
• Central courtyard in traditional home
• Bamboo stalk, associated with knowledge and learning

Middle East

• Garden of Eden with four rivers
• Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
• Ziggurat, or Tower of Babel
• Jacob's Ladder
• Jerusalem, specifically, the Temple
• Cross of crucifixion
• Steeple
• Mecca, specifically, the Ka'aba; focus of Muslim prayer and where Adam descended from heaven
• Dome of the Rock where Muhammad ascended to heaven
• Minaret
• Dilmun
• Land of Punt
• Paschal candle
• Garizim (Samaria)
• Alborj (Persia)

Europe

• Yggdrasil (World Ash Tree)
• Mount Olympus in Greece, court of the gods
• Delphi home of the Oracle of Delphi
• Colossus of Rhodes
• Maypole
• Christmas tree
• Jack's Beanstalk
• Rapunzel's Tower
• Hearth
• Altar
• Human Form

The Americas

• Teotihuacán Pyramids
• Totem Pole
• Tent
• Black Hills (Sioux)
• Calumet (sacred pipe)
• Bamboo (Hopi)

Modern Expressions

Axis mundi symbolism abounds in the modern world. Bön ( is the oldest spiritual tradition of Tibet. Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, has recognized the Bön tradition as the fifth principal spiritual Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. According to Jainism, this loka or universe is an uncreated entity existing since infinity having no beginning or an end Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva The Kunlun Mountains ( Mongolian: Хөндлөн Уулс is one of the longest Mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3000 Km. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Taiji (太極 is a state of being from Tao and Wuji. It is a state of absolute and of infinite potentiality Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Not to be confused with Eden Gardens.The Garden of Eden ( Hebrew "pleasure" גַּן עֵדֶן Arabic: جنات عدن, A tree of life is a mystical concept a Metaphor for common descent or a Motif in various world theologies and philosophies. In the Book of Genesis, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (and occasionally translated as the Tree of Conscience,) was a Tree in the middle of the A ziggurat ( Akkadian ziqqurrat, D-stem of zaqāru "to build on a raised area" was a Temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian The Tower of Babel (מגדל בבל Migdal Bavel برج بابل Burj Babil) is a structure featured in chapter 11 of the Book of Genesis, an enormous Jacob's Ladder refers to a Ladder to Heaven, described in the Book of Genesis, which the biblical patriarch Jacob envisions Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. A steeple, in Architecture, is a tall tower on a building often topped by a Spire. Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored The Kaaba ( Arabic: ar الكعبة; 'kɑʕbɑ or 'kæʕbæ "Cube" is a Cuboidal building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the See also Adam (Bible Adam ( Arabic آدم) also spelt Adham or Aadam, is the first Prophet of Islam[http //www The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics For the mountain formation see Minarets (California. Minarets ( Arabic manara (lighthouse منارة but more usually مئذنة Dilmun (sometimes transliterated Telmun) is a land mentioned by Mesopotamian Civilizations as a trade partner source of raw material copper and Entrepot See also Puntland The Land of Punt, also called "Pwenet" by the Ancient Egyptians at times synonymous with Ta netjer, the 'land of This article describes the Paschal candle of the Western Churches Mount Gerizim ( Samaritan Hebrew Ar-garízim, Arabic جبل جرزيم Jabal Jarizīm, Tiberian Hebrew הַר גְּרִזִּים In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World Mount Olympus (Όλυμπος also transliterated as Ólympos, and on Greek maps Óros Ólimbos) is the highest Mountain in Greece Delphi ( Greek,) ( pronounce and dialectal forms) is an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of Maple ( Acer) hawthorn or Birch) sometimes erected with several long coloured A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration Jack and the Beanstalk is an English Fairy tale, closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant Killer. " Rapunzel " is a German Fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's In common historic and modern usage a hearth (Har-th is a Brick - or stone -lined Fireplace or Oven used for Cooking and/or Heating An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned Drawing with accompanying notes created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487 as recorded in one of his journals Teotihuacan is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the Pre-Columbian Americas Totem poles are monumental Sculptures carved from great Trees usually cedar but mostly Western Redcedar, by a number of Indigenous cultures along A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily The Hopi are Native American people who primarily live on the 12635 km² (2531 Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. A symbolic connection between earth and sky is present in all skyscrapers, as the term suggests, and in other spires. A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable Building. There is no official definition or a precise cutoff height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building particularly a church Tower. Such buildings come to be regarded as "centers" of a civilization and icons of its ideals. The first skyscraper of modern times, the Eiffel Tower in Paris France, exemplifies this role. The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel /tuʀ ɛfɛl/ is an Iron Tower built Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Taipei 101 in Taiwan, a twenty-first century descendant, unites the images of staircase, bamboo, pagoda, and pillar; at night, it also evokes a candle or torch. Taipei 101 ( POJ: Tai-pak yat-leng-yat is a 101-floor Landmark Skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Originally a torch was a portable source of Fire used as a source of light usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch and/or some other The Washington Monument in the United States and capital buildings of all sorts fill this role. The Washington Monument is a large tall sand-colored Obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Burj Dubai (United Arab Emirates) will fill the role as it adopts characteristically Arab axis mundi symbols. Burj Dubai ( برج دبي "Dubai Tower" is a Skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai, United Arab

The various architectural designs of towers emphasize different elements of the symbol. Twin towers, such as the Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and the former World Trade Center (Manhattan), maintain the axis symbolism even as they more obviously assume the role of pillars. The Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or Twin Towers) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were the world's tallest buildings Kuala Lumpur (ˈkwɑːləlʊmˈpʊər Malay /kwɑlɑlʊmpʊ/ and locally /kwɑləlʊmpɔ/ or even /kɔlɔmpɔ/ or often abbreviated as K For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The World Trade Center in New York City, United States (sometimes informally the WTC or Twin Towers) was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Some structures pierce the sky, implying movement or flight (Chicago Spire, CN Tower in Toronto, the Space Needle in Seattle). The Chicago Spire is a Skyscraper under construction in Chicago, Illinois. The CN Tower, located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a communications and tourist Tower standing tall Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The Space Needle (often called just "the Needle" by locals is a Tower in Seattle Washington, and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest Some structures highlight the more lateral elements of the symbol in implying portals (Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, The Gateway Arch in Saint Louis). Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building gate or fortification and especially a grand entrance to an important structure Tuntex Sky Tower, or the T & C Tower or 85 SKYTOWER (the Tuntex & Chien-Tai Tower) is an 85-floor Skyscraper located in Lingya District, Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is located in St Louis Missouri near ^[12]

Ancient traditions continue in modern structures. The Peace Pagodas built since the 1947 unite religious and secular purposes in one symbol drawn from Buddhism. A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist Stupa designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds and to help unite them in their search for world peace Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The influence of the pagoda tradition may be seen in modern Asian skyscrapers (Taipei 101, Petronas Towers). A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea The ancient ziggurat has likewise reappeared in modern form, including the headquarters of the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC and The Ziggurat housing the California Department of General Services. A ziggurat ( Akkadian ziqqurrat, D-stem of zaqāru "to build on a raised area" was a Temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian Overview The NGS's historical mission is "to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural historical and natural Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Ziggurat is a ten-story stepped pyramidal office building and adjacent 5 story concrete parking structure located in West Sacramento California on the shore The California Department of General Services (DGS is a state government agency in the executive branch of the government of California in the United States Architect Frank Lloyd Wright conceived the Guggenheim Museum in New York as an inverted ziggurat. Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8 1867 &ndash April 9 1959 was an American (of Welsh descent Architect, Interior designer, Writer, and educator who This article refers to the Guggenheim's landmark New York museum

Modern artistic representations of the world axis abound. The Endless Column (Romanian Coloana fără sfârşit or Coloana infinitului) is a sculpture created by Constantin Brâncuşi Constantin Brâncuşi, ( February 19, 1876 &ndash March 16, 1957) konstanˈtin brɨnˈkuʃʲ was an internationally renowned Romanian Prominent among these is The Endless Column (1938) an abstract sculpture by Romanian Constantin Brâncuşi. The Endless Column (Romanian Coloana fără sfârşit or Coloana infinitului) is a sculpture created by Constantin Brâncuşi Constantin Brâncuşi, ( February 19, 1876 &ndash March 16, 1957) konstanˈtin brɨnˈkuʃʲ was an internationally renowned Romanian The column takes the form of an umbilical or pillar linking earth to sky even as its rhythmically repeating segments suggest infinity.

The association of the cosmic pillar with knowledge gives it a prominent role in the world of scholarship. University campuses typically assign a prominent axis role to some campus structure, such as a clock tower, library tower or bell tower. The building serves as the symbolic center of the scholastic "world" and as an emblem of its ideals. The symbolism also appears in the image of the "ivory tower," a colloquial metaphor for academia. ^[13]

The image still takes natural forms as well, as in the American tradition of the Liberty Tree located at town centers. See Arbre de la liberté for the French revolutionary Liberty Trees Individual homes continue to act as world axes, especially where Feng shui and other geomantic practices continue to be observed. Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography

Axis mundi symbolism may be seen in much of the romance surrounding space travel. Spaceflight is the use of Space technology to fly a Spacecraft into and through Outer space. A rocket on the pad takes on all the symbolism of a tower and the astronaut enacts a mythic story. An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained ^[14] Each embarks on a perilous journey into the heavens and, if successful, returns with a boon that benefits all the world. The Apollo 13 insignia stated it succinctly: Ex luna scientia ("From the Moon, knowledge"). ^[15]

Modern Storytelling

The axis mundi continues to appear in fiction as well as in real-world structures. Fiction is the telling of stories which are not real More specifically fiction is an imaginative form of Narrative, one of the four basic Rhetorical modes. Appearances of the ancient image in the tales and myths of more recent times include these:

• The ash tree growing in Hunding's living room, in Act 1 of Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), is one of many appearances of the image in the operas of Richard Wagner. An ash can be any of four different tree genera from four very distinct families; most commonly in a combined form (e Die Walküre ( The Valkyrie) is the second of the four Operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung Hunding's tree recalls the World Ash visited by Wotan, a central character in the Ring cycle of which this opera forms a part (1848-1874). Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer
• The sphinx in the science fiction novel The Time Machine (1895) by H. G. Wells serves as center for the world of the far distant future. A Sphinx is a Zoomorphic mythological figure which is depicted as a recumbent lion with a human head A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story The Time Machine is a novella by H G Wells, first published in 1895 and later directly adapted into at least two Feature films of the same name as Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 &ndash 13 August 1946 He was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, his later works becoming increasingly political The time traveller's explorations begin there and the structure unites the planes of future human society.
• The Emerald City in the land of Oz, depicted in the popular book by L. Frank Baum (1900) and the subsequent MGM film (1939), stands at the center of the four compass directions. Lyman Frank Baum ( May 15 1856 &ndash May 5 1919) was an American Author, Actor, and Independent filmmaker The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical - Fantasy film mainly directed by Victor Fleming and based on the 1900 children’s
• Orodruin, location of the creation and destruction of the One Ring, is one of many representations of the symbol in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien (1937-1949). The Lord of the Rings is an epic
• Two Trees of Valinor in Tolkien's tellingly named Middle-earth produce the light of the Supreme God (1937-1949). "The Two Trees" is also a poem of Yeats' 1893 The Rose. Middle-earth refers to the fictional lands where most of the stories of author J Eru as Creator The Quendi (ie Elves) and the Atani (ie Men) were created by Eru
• The wardrobe and lamppost in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (1949-1954) mark the spots where children travel between this world and the next and the place where the world ends. Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963
• In an episode of Seinfeld titled The Maid, Kramer finds himself at the corner of "1st and 1st. Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons Cosmo Kramer is a character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998 played by Michael Richards. . . the Nexus of the Universe".
• The wooded hilltop and ascending and descending staircases in The Midsummer Marriage, an opera by English composer Michael Tippett (1955), explore Jungian aspects of the symbol. The Midsummer Marriage is an opera in three acts with music and libretto by Michael Tippett. Sir Michael Kemp Tippett, OM (2 January 1905 &ndash 8 January 1998 was one of the foremost English Composers of the 20th century
• The pillar of fire rising to heaven from the ark of the covenant is recalled in the climax of Steven Spielberg's film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). A Pillar of Fire was one of the manifestations of the God of the Israelites (for Nontrinitarians Yahweh; for Trinitarians God in the The Ark of the Covenant (אָרוֹן הָבְרִית ʔārōn hāb’rīθ, Modern aron habrit) is described in the Bible as a sacred container wherein Steven Allan Spielberg, KBE (Hon (born December 18 1946 is an American Film director, Screenwriter and producer. Raiders of the Lost Ark (also known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) is a 1981 Adventure film directed by Steven
• A huge sheltering tree on a hilltop near the end of Stealing Beauty, a 1996 film by Bernardo Bertolucci, crowns a series of images evoking the primordial Paradise garden. Stealing Beauty is a 1996 Italian / French / British Drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and written by Bertolucci Bernardo Bertolucci (born March 16, 1940) is an Italian Writer and Academy Award winning Film director. The Garden of Eden is the second posthumously released Novel of Ernest Hemingway, published in 1986.
• The center of Bruce Wayne's Gotham City is a skyscraper built by his father in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005). Christopher Jonathan James Nolan (born July 30 1970 is a Film director, writer and producer. Batman Begins is a 2005 American Superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by A fantastic cathedral unites the images of skyscraper, spiral staircase, steeple, rope and ladder for the same role in an earlier film by Tim Burton (1989). Batman is a 1989 Superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Timothy "Tim" William Burton (born August 25 1958 is an American Film director, Screenwriter and Set designer, notable for the quirky

See also

References

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