Difference between revisions of "12. There is a controversy over writing at the heart of the story. What is that conflict?"
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Caroline Ramirez | Caroline Ramirez | ||
| − | The invention of Byblos, a form of writing, proposed a problem for the authorities of Akbar. Byblos to the high priest was a signal that civilization would be destroyed. The high Priest thought that if people knew Byblos it would put his position at risk. People would know how to read the sacred rituals only the priest would understand. "If the sacred rituals became widely known, many would be able to change the Universe, and the gods would become confused.Till that moment, only the priestly case knew of the ancestors, which was transmitted orally, under oath that the information would be kept in secret (The Fifth Mountain 64)." This shows that if the lower and middle class people learn what only the Priest knows they will be just as special and the priest won't be as important. | + | |
| + | The invention of Byblos, a form of writing, proposed a problem for the authorities of Akbar. Byblos to the high priest was a signal that civilization would be destroyed. The high Priest thought that if people knew Byblos it would put his position at risk. People would know how to read the sacred rituals only the priest would understand. "If the sacred rituals became widely known, many would be able to change the Universe, and the gods would become confused.Till that moment, only the priestly case knew of the ancestors, which was transmitted orally, under oath that the information would be kept in secret (The Fifth Mountain 64)." This shows that if the lower and middle class people learn what only the Priest knows they will be just as special and the priest won't be as important. Another time when Byblos is considered messing with the gods is when the woman Elijah loves brings it up. The woman states "It (Byblos) might offend the gods of Phoenicia and the Lord our God…Will God disappear from words? (The Fifth Mountain 117,119)". Elijah responds by saying "He will continue in them but each person will be responsible for whatever he writes (The Fifth Mountain 119). This means that Byblos will spread and it is up to the people to decide what they write about their Gods. | ||
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| − | Information Source: | + | Information Source: The Fifth Mountain Pages 64, 117, 119 |
Picture Source: Byblos Writing [http://www.ancientscripts.com/images/byblos.gif] , The Fifth Mountain Cover [http://images.oprah.com/images/obc_classic/book/2009/quotes/fifth_mountain_350x263.jpg] | Picture Source: Byblos Writing [http://www.ancientscripts.com/images/byblos.gif] , The Fifth Mountain Cover [http://images.oprah.com/images/obc_classic/book/2009/quotes/fifth_mountain_350x263.jpg] | ||
Return to [[History 8 Fifth Mountain Readings]] | Return to [[History 8 Fifth Mountain Readings]] | ||
Revision as of 22:53, 17 January 2014
Caroline Ramirez
The invention of Byblos, a form of writing, proposed a problem for the authorities of Akbar. Byblos to the high priest was a signal that civilization would be destroyed. The high Priest thought that if people knew Byblos it would put his position at risk. People would know how to read the sacred rituals only the priest would understand. "If the sacred rituals became widely known, many would be able to change the Universe, and the gods would become confused.Till that moment, only the priestly case knew of the ancestors, which was transmitted orally, under oath that the information would be kept in secret (The Fifth Mountain 64)." This shows that if the lower and middle class people learn what only the Priest knows they will be just as special and the priest won't be as important. Another time when Byblos is considered messing with the gods is when the woman Elijah loves brings it up. The woman states "It (Byblos) might offend the gods of Phoenicia and the Lord our God…Will God disappear from words? (The Fifth Mountain 117,119)". Elijah responds by saying "He will continue in them but each person will be responsible for whatever he writes (The Fifth Mountain 119). This means that Byblos will spread and it is up to the people to decide what they write about their Gods.
Information Source: The Fifth Mountain Pages 64, 117, 119
Picture Source: Byblos Writing [1] , The Fifth Mountain Cover [2]
Return to History 8 Fifth Mountain Readings
