Triad of Osorkon II E 6204 Sully 1st floor room 29 This pendant is one of the rare pieces of goldwork in our possession today. The Egyptian worshipped triads of divinities. The best known is shown here. It is composed of the god Osiris, sat on a pillar inscribed with the name Osorkon II. The god is flanked by two figures: on his left, his sister and wife, Isis, divine symbol of Motherhood; on his right, their son Horus.
Triad of Osorkon and concept of Trinity
The Egyptian pantheon patently displays the stamp of Babylonian heritage. The relationship between Osiris and Isis and their respective characteristics correspond surprisingly closely with those of the Babylonian divinities, Tammuz and Ishtar. AE50, AE51
On the orb of the stele, as if on the celestial vault, are the astral divinities: Sin, the Moon, Shamash, the Sun, and Ishtar in the form of a star representing the planet Venus. The gods are represented by their symbols: tiaras with six rows of horns represent Anu and Enlil, the ram's head and the goat-fish represent Ea or Enki, and finally the emblem of the earth goddess Ninhursag. Babylonian Triad Sb 22
Sin the Moon, Shamash the Sun,
and Ishtar the planet Venus : A Babylonian Triad
The Crowning of the Virgin RF 1966-11 Michael Sittow Around 1525 One of the three panels which bear witness to the contribution of Sittow to the Polyptych of Isabella the Catholic. Christian Trinity
The artist, trained in Memling’s circle in Bruges before 1488, demonstrates great iconographic freedom in his Castilian work combined with a colourful and luminous style, and may have been influenced by Jean Hey who he could have met in Bourges. www.louvre.fr
It is also interesting to note that ‘the word Trinity does not feature in the New Testament.
This doctrine took shape progressively, over several centuries and through many a controversy.’ AE53
The word Trinity : not in the New Testament
“The Platonic trinity was itself merely a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples. This Greek philosopher's conception [Plato 4th Century BC] of the Divine Trinity can be found in all the ancient religions. The conception which the Christian Trinity resembles most is unquestionably that of the Chinese.” Maurice Lachâtre
AE53 “The Old Testament tells us nothing, implicitly or explicitly, about a Triune god […] There is no proof that any of the sacred authors even suspected the existence of a Trinity in God.”
Fortman, The Triune God AE53
“From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity.” Will Durant AE59
In fact, many of the characteristics of different religions, Christian or otherwise, can find their explanation in a common Babylonian origin.
