If you could see the well-known image of Adam and Eve under the Tree - for the very first time, in its purest form - as it is, without knowing its common interpretation and having some knowledge in the symbolism, at the same time: What would you see?
A scene of fertility or some obscene sin?
First, a scene depicting a tree with a snake on it, between male and female. Sheer visual interpretation of the forces of life, from where the fertility rites arouse, from which the serpent was a sign of wisdom and cycles, and - as seen on the Tree of Life - echoing the DNA - the base on which all life is built.
The female, giving the fruit, is a mother from whom the new life will be born, as from the fruitful tree. The male is her consort, and both represent the dual sense of life and Universe in maturity and fruitfulness. Both coming from one source - the Tree of Life, entwined symbolicaly by a snake.
It reminds the rod of Asclepius, Greek half-god, half-man, patron of medicine. And for medicine's today official sign is the rod of Asclepius. Well, I wouldn't dare to say that without medicine there is no life, but medicine men and women for ages have played a number one role in both births and deaths of community members, didn't they?
A wealth of knowledge in such a small yet significant picture.
And worth noticing: Re-interpretation of that image - as a picture of the primordial sin - has taken humanity on a completely different path. Imposing disobedience and thus guilt, shame, fear, rejection and sense of punishment, it has brought mankind into a place of unworthy, distasteful beings who suffer a condemnation from angry God and thus - in need for salvation. At the basis of this doomed interpretation is sexuality - and thus fertility of course - the reinterpretation of monotheistic religions is that of condemnation of life's basic instinct.
Well, if you want to see it that way, it is your choice. We think it is much healthier to celebrate life and its sexual aspects, which the monotheistic religions have a particular problem with. The lust, the desire, the passion of lovemaking, the very core of all plant, animal and human kingdoms seems to be sinful for them. Fortunately, the religions say what they want to; the people do what they love to do, anyway.
SUN instead of SIN!
Enjoyment instead of atonement!
"In Eve's scene at the tree... nothing is said to indicate that the serpent who apeared and spoke to her was a deity in his own right, who had been revered in the Levant for at least seven thousand years before the composition of the Book of Genesis"
Joseph Campbell Occidental Mythology
