What is that Monster? - Part 2 (Ignorance)

Emblem 188 from Alciato’s Emblemata 1621 edition. Image and text by permission of University of Glasgow Library, Archives & Special Collections.
https://www.emblems.arts.gla.ac.uk/alciato/emblem.php?id=A21a188

     With the translated text to this emblem featuring the monster, sphinx, a little light may be shed on what message Alciato is trying to get across here, but many things still seem wrapped up in strange and obscure references. Why is the sphinx’s riddle apropos to ignorance, how does the chimeric form relate to ignorance, and what is this “Delphic letter”?

     Ignorance is revealed in the figure of the sphinx by the various animal forms which comprise it—the limbs of the lion, the face of a maiden, and wings of a bird. From Alciato’s text it’s not clear (probably assumed) which form relates to which path of ignorance, but that’s secondary to just knowing ignorance comes in 3 ways. Ignorance is a beast that destroys man with three weapons, frivolity, pleasure, and arrogance like the sphinx which kills all those whom dare approach ancient Thebes. 

     Frivolity, or in other translations, levity, draws the veil of darkness down since the person who doesn’t take things seriously rarely digs deep to find real knowledge. These are people or just instances which we would call shallow. It’s a flat, one perspective view of things yielding only the slightest information. Most likely this aspect is represented by the wings and feathers of the bird who flies about here and there with seeming little care, never focusing or concentrating on one place for too long.

    In pride and arrogance may be the greatest enemy of man. The lion being the greatest of beasts is prone to this fault, since he rightfully can claim this post, though his greatness only extends within the animal kingdom, and arrogance, which is a false and overinflated sense of self, has him say he is greatest of all creatures. Man, similarly great among physical creatures, is misguided in pride when he thinks himself above all creation. Being one of many in the family of humanity, individuals also succumb to pride when they see themselves above their fellow man. If you think yourself great, you don’t realize the need to know more or expand you knowledge. Arrogance cuts off learning because the arrogant man doesn’t feel the need to know more and tends toward evil when to compensate for his ignorance relies on force like a vicious lion.

     We’re left to associate pleasure with the maiden. This might not be what you’re thinking though. The fact that the face is of a maiden is representing pleasure is not just commenting on pleasure, but more who is most susceptible to ignorance. The pursuit of pleasure is an end to itself meaning the pursuer of pleasure is not pursuing wisdom and knowledge, even though occasionally their paths may cross. Pleasure often times distracts one from learning which is not hard to see when you think back to the days of being in school when you’d rather have been playing with friends, video games, watching TV, or just about anything else that’s fun over your homework. But, why the face of a maiden?

     Going back to the story of the sphinx and Oedipus, it was said the one who defeats the sphinx would be king of Thebes and the field on the road to Thebes was littered with dead men. Ignorance finds its victims in all humanity, but men are more susceptible and the face and upper portion of the maiden is to show that the traits leading to ignorance—arrogance (pride), frivolity (sloth), and pleasure (lust)—are sins men must be particularly wary of succumbing to, as he is to the beautiful face of a woman. Ignorance is masculine, and despite the feminine appearance of the sphinx, she is more of a mirror being held up to those who approach her. Those who cannot answer her riddle prove their ignorance, as we shall see. 

     Deciphering ignorance is only half story of this emblem. In the next part, how we confront and defeat the sphinx, as Oedipus did with the answer to the riddle, will be investigated. We will step toward “the first victory of the wise” and “cut the dread throat” of this monster.