awakening

Friday, February 24, 2012

I was thinking of the sculpture "The Awakening" by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. which was originally at Hains Point, Washington, D.C. circa 1980. I always wondered about the meaning behind this sculpture. Everyone seems to agree it is scary but some even think it represents the resurrection of Baal.

It seems to be a very common theme, such as Bassin d'Encelade by Gaspard Masey, 1675-77. Masey's is most captivating of this theme, in my opinion. It is said that it really depicts the battle between the Giants or Titans, children of Gaia. Enceladus was one of the Titans. Enceladus was disabled during war by a spear of Athena and buried on Sicily, under Mount Etna. The volcanic fires of Etna were said to be the breath of Enceladus. The locals even said that Mt. Etna's tremors were said to be him rolling beneath the mountain. In Greece, an earthquake is still often called a "strike of Enceladus." ref

Versailles: Jardins du Château de Versailles - Bosquet de l'Encelade -  Le bassin d'Encelade

The
Monumento al Ahogado in Punta del Este, Uruguay, 1982.


Mano del Desierto in the Atacama Desert in Chile, 1992.

Let's not forget, Enceladus also got sixth-largest of the moons of Saturn as his namesake. It was discovered in 1789. What a guy.
BCN said...

I actually took my prom pictures in front of "The Awakening!" Not to date myself, but oh well.

It's pretty hilarious, we're all dressed up, and standing in the wood chips.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

i've lived here for nearly 9 years now and I've never been down to see the sculpture! LOL