While the area beyond the Lion Gate often has sympathies to the element of earth, that beyond the gate of Birds is as strongly linked to air, with a strong connection to the concept of aer (also called aither). The architecture here takes a grand sweeping style. There are signs of warfare here, just like the area beyond the Lion Gate. |
Just beyond the pillared gateway is a large chamber with a conical dome. In its carved tructures are the nests of countless birds. It seems that throughout the year there are at least some birds nesting here, and during the nesting season, the place is swarmed with birds of all types, some not even native to the area, drawn by the magic of the place.
From this chamber there is a corridor, that unlike its compatriot in the Lion Gate is no gradual slope. Here is a vertical shaft that zooms straight up for 60 paces, being four paces in diameter.
At the top of this lies a octagonal chamber, the large opening to the shaft below rimmed in lapis lazuli, engraved with the zodiacal signs, decans and decantantes for the three signs of Air (Libra, Aquarius and Gemini.)
There are four corridors leading from this room. One at each of the diagonal faces. The four walls of this chamber contain representation of each of the four cardinal winds: Boreas (north), Zephyrus (West), Eurus (East) and Notus (south). The winds are all brothers, sons of Astraea and Eos.
Boreas the North wind, is shown at his home in the Thracian Salmydessus, on the Black Sea, after carrying Orithyia hence from the games on the Illissus, after her father refused her to him in marriage.
Zephyrus is represented as the fructifying wind. The West wind is the messenger of spring and the lover of the flower-goddess Chloris. Here he is represented in an erotic scene with Chloris, perhaps even the one that caused the birth of Carpus, the god of fruit.
Eurus the East Wind is represented in traditional cloak, colored as the dawn in the midst of chasing some unknown nymph.
Notus the South Wind is shown heralding the return of migratory birds back across the Mediterranean in the Spring.
The passageway between Boreas and Zephyrus leads a long straight path to the Temple of the Elemental Nuptials.
Here are descriptions of some of the chambers to be found down these corridors:
Last modified: Sat Nov 6, 1999 / Jeremiah Genest