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Do not stoop below (1)

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Topics (move over topic to see place in topic list) Netherworld imagery 01 Religious and ideological doctrines and imagery 01.06 Netherworld imagery Seven-layered heaven 01 Religious and ideological doctrines and imagery 01.05 Celestial imagery 01.05.03 Seven-layered heaven	Keywords Chaldean Oracles descent netherworld soul
Period 2nd century CE 11th century BCE Byzantine Empire Roman Empire	Channel Byzantine philosophers and scholars

Text
The precipice is a symbol of the netherworld, and seven steps refer to seven planetary spheres.

Chaldean Oracles 164:
“Do not stoop below. A precipice lies beneath the earth, drawing (the soul) down from the staircase of seven steps.”

Psellus, Commentary on the Chaldean Oracles:
When the soul has bent downward, she is brought to the earth through these seven spheres.

Sources (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Chaldean Oracles 164
Psellus, Commentary on the Chaldean Oracles

Bibliography

Culianu 1983, 53-54	Culianu, Ioan Petru. Psychanodia I. A Survey of the Evidence Concerning the Ascension of the Soul and its Relevance. EPRO 99. Leiden: E. J. Brill 1983.
Majercik 1989, 110-111	Majercik, Ruth. The Chaldean Oracles. Text, Translation, and Commentary. Studies in Greek and Roman Religion 5. Leiden, New York, Copenhagen, Cologne: E. J. Brill 1989.

Amar Annus

URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0001051.php

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