pentecost & babel tower
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THE BABEL TOWER AND THE PENTECOST, The earth and the heavens
Monica A. Rivera College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Estate University
M. Arch2
May 6, 2005
The Bible stories of the Tower of Babel and the Pentecost are
maybe one of the most opposite cases of how the hand of God may
interfere on the human’s willing. The two episodes represent contrary
cases of the human attitude towards God, and therefore, different
responses from Him. But,
certainly both of them
reveal the always present
human desire for
transcend from this world,
a desire for touching the
heavens; on the first case
through the reputation
that their name would
have, on the second,
because of the redemption
that would give them
eternal life.
The above image, which appears on an emblem book1, dated
1678, could well be the image that the builders of the Tower had on
their minds, a metaphor that they dare to make real2
“And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach
unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the
face of the whole earth”
, a stairway to
the heavens that will put them at the same level of God.
3
The Tower of Babel, Babylon, “the Greek form of the Hebrew
word bavel, which is closely allied and probably derived from the
Akkadian babilu or "gate of God."
Gen 11, 4
4
1 Jakob Bornitz, Moralia Bornitiana Hoc est: Symbola Et Emblemata Politico-Sacra Et Historico-Politica, dated 1678.
Where is that door? Can it be on
any place where the man can build a tower? The figure on first plane
seems to be waiting for his turn to
ascend to the mountain that will lead
him to the heavens. The appearance of
his clothes, the cane he holds, the load
he carries, his position of being resting
only for a moment, give to the viewer
the impression that he is a pilgrim; then
such a stair to the heavens could not be
on any place, but on a particular one,
non-transferable to another.
2 Not as a translation from idea to building, as it is usual on architecture, but as the parallel of the idea on the building.
3 King James Version Study Bible, Red-letter Edition
4 Jim A. Cornwell, " The Tower of Babel and Babylon, Gilgamesh, Ningizzida, Gudea "
The New Testament brings a completely new conception of what
this door to the heavens mean. Jesus declares himself to be the only
way to the heaven,
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how
can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”5
Here there is the fundamental nature of the difference between
the two episodes, which can be testified the attitude of the people.
While on the Babel Tower, the people points out to obtain rewards
from the world (fame and power) through a material construction of a
Tower; the people of Pentecost episode point out to the spiritual
construction of the Church, for the propagation of the God’s kingdom.
Then the purpose of their endeavor would go from the terrestrial to
the celestial, and their understanding from the literal to the
metaphorical.
John 14, 5-6
On the
representations
of the Tower of
Babel, the
setting points to
stress is the
magnificence of
the tower on
comparison
with the
surrounding
world. The
5 King James Version Study Bible, Red-letter Edition
scenario is exterior, how many have painted the interior of the Tower?
On “The Construction of the Tower of Babel”, by Hendrick III van
Cleve (16th
Century), the colossal of the tower is amplified through the
effects of the perspective. The distortion where the tower starts
running into the sky, make us experience the colossal and tallness of
the tower. The background also contributes to strengthen this effect.
Among the mist, on the distant background on the right we catch a
glimpse of what seems to be the towers of castles, very important
buildings, but which presence only contributes to enhance the
importance of the Tower.
On the Pentecost
images, the scenario
is interior. Here is
the heavens whom
invade the interior
space, and not the
architecture that tries
to reach the sky; here
it is God who comes in
the human house, and
not the man who tries
to cross the threshold
of God’s dwellings.
The space that lodges
to the characters, is
further modest, or
lacks of importance at
all on other
representations, whereas on the representations of the Tower of
Babel, the magnificence of the scenario is of great importance in order
to represent the human pride.
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar”. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth”6
Genesis, 11,1-9
.
The language that we speak is such a powerful weapon, because
it defines not only the understanding of one another, but furthermore
it determines the consolidation of a group as a nation. The way in
which our thinking is structured, and even the way in which we
understand the concepts and meaning of things is influenced by the
direct and related meaning that every language endow to each word.
The Babylonians had therefore a powerful weapon, let’s say a
“silent” weapon, the common language, which would allow them to
succeed on any venture they undertake. The “word” would be their
strategy, but it would be God’s too.
6 King James Version Study Bible, Red-letter Edition
The images on this page show us an endeavor under
construction. The people on them seem to be talking the same
language; not only a spoken language, but also a constructive
language. What the story tells about the materials they used may well
be extended also to a technique of their own, which they were proud
of, so they wanted boast it through their tower.
Conversely to what we saw on the van Cleve’s tower, the scale
operates here to emphasize the presence of the builders, their skills
and their apparent effortless communication. They work fluently, have
a constructive technique, and have developed a structured process to
operate, but they remain unaware of their fate. Only one worker –on
the left picture- seems to notice the angels that keep an eye on them,
as they approach to the confines of heavens -represented on the
arches that frame the picture. On the right image the scale has also
Construction of the Tower of Babel, Maciejowski
Bible, mid 1240
Babel, Unknown, German, Resensburg, about
1400-1410
being used to underline hierarchy between the King –the owner- and
the builders.
The builder’s
determination and
confidence on their
acts, is absent on the
case of the builders of
the Kingdom of God.
They are afraid, and
feel helpless because
Jesus has left. Again,
in opposition to what
would happen to the Tower’s builders, here they are about to receive
what would enable them to act with courage and determination,
whereas the builders will be deprived from it.
The above painting by the Portuguese Vasco Fernades (1853-
1932), depicts the moment in which the spirit of God Descent upon the
Apostles, and the languages are fussed again, allowing the
communication between the people of different nations.
Whereas on Vasco’s painting the apostles appear fearful and
don’t understand what is happening, on the next picture their eyes
seem to have been opened. They stretch their arms to the force that
encourages them; they want to be freed through the purifying fire.
Each painting captures very close moments on time; however huge
transformations have occurred on those of upper room. On the other
hand, notice how on Vasco’s painting not all of them seem to realize
what is happening. On the right side of the painting, a man writes
unaware of the miracle that is happening. This might stand on allusion
to the vesicle 13 on the same chapter, “Others mocking said, these men
are full of new wine”7
The same
unawareness seems
to take place on the
Tower of Babel on
the next picture.
While at the top the
angels have started
to execute what
must be the plan of
God, down at the
base of the Tower,
everybody remain
uninformed of the
change that is
taking place. The
chaos will come as a
domino, from top
downwards. See
how on the top of
the Tower, the
incapacity of
understanding one another, through their language, had initiate their
first disputes.
7 King James Version Study Bible, Red-letter Edition
The group that on
the beginning was one
unite body, has been
dispersed because of the
language; their endeavor
has ceased. For the
apostles, on the other
hand, Pentecost marks
the start point of a
common journey, the
conformation of a new
community, and the
Christian Church as an
only body. Their journey
is just to begin.
Which will be the
plan? To be witness of the God. Which will be the instrument? His
Word, represented on this icon through the scrolls hold by “Cosmos”,
the old man on rich clothes, who symbolizes the people of the world
awaiting the salvation brought by Christ.
The plans for the Tower
are on the tower, and
have changed as many
times the human
ambition has grown,
without measure, every
time higher and higher.
For each story the tower
gets, one more is wanted. The plans of the Tower are in constant
change, the plans of God never change.
However fascinating they are, the comparisons between the two
episodes can be inexhaustible, and they have material and studies for
unlimited discussion. After all, the relations between gods and
humans have always been controversial. Through a stair such as a
tower, or one such as the faith, what the human has always wanted is
to reach the heavens, maybe only to convince himself of his divine
origin, and of his transcendental final fate.
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