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{{Short description|Religious concept and artistic theme}}
{{other uses}}
{{Other uses}}
{{see also|Four continents|Biblical cosmology|Flat Earth}}

[[File:Earth symbol.svg|thumb|The astronomical symbol of [[Earth]] represents either the four quadrants of the world or the [[four continents]].]]
[[File:Earth symbol.svg|thumb|The astronomical symbol of [[Earth]] represents either the four quadrants of the world or the [[four continents]].]]


Several [[cosmology|cosmological]] and mythological systems portray '''four corners of the world''' or '''four quarters of the world''' corresponding approximately to the four [[points of the compass]] (or the two solstices and two equinoxes). At the center may lie a sacred mountain, garden, [[world tree]], or other beginning-point of creation. Often four rivers run to the four corners of the world, and water or irrigate the four quadrants of the Earth.
Several [[cosmology|cosmological]] and [[myth]]ological systems portray '''four corners of the world''' or '''four quarters of the world''' corresponding approximately to the four [[points of the compass]] (or the two solstices and two equinoxes). At the center may lie a [[sacred mountains|sacred mountain]], garden, [[world tree]], or other beginning-point of creation. Often four rivers run to the four corners of the world, and water or irrigate the four quadrants of Earth.


==Ancient near eastern traditions==
[[File:Cosmological Diagram. Aluvihara, Sri Lanka 0475.jpg|thumb|Tibetan conception of four rivers dividing the world into quadrants]]
{{Main|Ancient near eastern cosmology}}
⚫
In [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], the Old Testament ({{bibleverse|Genesis|2:8-14|KJV}}) identifies the [[Garden of Eden]], and the four rivers as the [[Tigris]], [[Euphrates]], [[Pishon]], and [[Gihon]]. The Tigris runs to [[Assyria]], the Euphrates to [[Armenia]], the Pishon to [[Havilah]] or [[Elam]], and the Gihon to [[Aethiopia|Ethiopia]].<ref name=George>George & George (2014) ''The Mythology of Eden'', Rowman & Littlefield
⚫
In Mesopotamian cosmology, four rivers flowing out of the garden of creation, which is the center of the world, define the four corners of the world.<ref name="George" /> From the point of view of the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]], the northern geographical horizon was marked by [[Subartu]], the west by {{smallcaps|[[Amorites|Mar.tu]]}}, the east by [[Elam]] and the south by [[Sumer]]; later rulers of all of Mesopotamia, such as [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]], claimed among their titles ''{{transl|akk|[[Lugal|LUGAL]] kib-ra-a-ti er-bé-et-tì}}'', "[[King of the Four Corners]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Four Quarters of the World – Epiphany |url=http://www.binujohn.name/2013/04/14/the-four-quarters-of-the-world/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517010131/http://www.binujohn.name/2013/04/14/the-four-quarters-of-the-world/ |archive-date=2017-05-17 |access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref>[[File:Cosmological Diagram. Aluvihara, Sri Lanka 0475.jpg|thumb|Tibetan conception of four rivers dividing the world into quadrants]]
==Semitic traditions==
⚫
In [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], the [[Old Testament]] ([[Book of Genesis]], {{bibleverse|Genesis|2:8-14|KJV}}) identifies the [[Garden of Eden]], and the [[Rivers of Paradise|four rivers]] as the [[Tigris]], [[Euphrates]], [[Pishon]], and [[Gihon]]. The Tigris runs to [[Assyria]], the Euphrates to [[Armenia]], the Pishon to [[Havilah]] or [[Elam]], and the Gihon to [[Aethiopia|Ethiopia]].<ref name=George>George & George (2014) ''The Mythology of Eden'', Rowman & Littlefield
</ref><ref>
</ref><ref>
{{cite book
{{cite book
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}}
}}
</ref><ref>
</ref><ref>
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{{cite book|last1=Jordan|first1=James B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33lKAwAAQBAJ|title=The Sociology of the Church: Essays in Reconstruction|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=9781579102487|edition=reprint|location=Eugene, Oregon|publication-date=1999|page=86|chapter=Sociology: A Biblico-Historical Approach|date=18 May 1999 |quote=In a generally ignored but all-important paragraph of Genesis 2, we are told how the world was organized when it was created [...]. In short, the world was organized in terms of a primordial duality between the central sanctuary of Eden, and the outlying world watered by four rivers extending to the four corners of the world.|author-link1=James B. Jordan|accessdate=2016-05-20}}
{{cite book
</ref> The four corners of the earth are also spoken of in the book of [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 7:1, and mention of the "four quarters of the earth" appears in Revelation 20:8.
| last1 = Jordan
==Indian traditions==
| first1 = James B.
⚫
In [[Hinduism]], the sacred mountain [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]] has four sides, from which four rivers flow to the four quarters of the world (the [[Ganges]], [[Indus]], [[Oxus]] (Amu Darya), and [[Śita River|Śita]] (Tarim)), dividing the world into four quadrants. Another account portrays a celestial mountain, [[Mount Meru]], buttressed by four terrestrial mountain ranges which extend in four directions. Between them lie four sacred lakes, through which the celestial river divides into four earthly rivers, which flow to the four corners and irrigate the four quadrants of the Earth. [[Buddhism]] and the [[Bon religion]] of Tibet have similar accounts.<ref name=George/>
| author-link1 = James B. Jordan
| chapter = Sociology: A Biblico-Historical Approach
| edition = reprint
| title = The Sociology of the Church: Essays in Reconstruction
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=33lKAwAAQBAJ
| location = Eugene, Oregon
| publisher = Wipf and Stock Publishers
| publication-date = 1999
| page = 86
| isbn = 9781579102487
| accessdate = 2016-05-20
⚫
| quote = In a generally ignored but all-important paragraph of Genesis 2, we are told how the world was organized when it was created [...]. In short, the world was organized in terms of a primordial duality between the central sanctuary of Eden, and the outlying world watered by four rivers extending to the four corners of the world.
}}
</ref>


Another similar account from [[Jainism|Jain]] cosmology features a model of the universe with the world of humans located in the middle. Mount Meru is shown on the central continent [[Jambudvīpa]] which is surrounded by a series of concentric continents and oceans bordered by a serrated ring marking the mountain range beyond which humans cannot travel. Past this boundary in the four corners of the world are four temples enshrining [[Jina (Jainism)|Jinas]], flanked by celebrants and celestial attendants.<ref>{{citation|title=Jain cosmological map of adhaidvipa|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/711314|publisher=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]|access-date=2024-02-02}}</ref>
⚫
In [[Mesopotamian mythology|Mesopotamian cosmology]], four rivers flowing out of the garden of creation, which is the center of the world, define the four corners of the world.<ref name=George/> From the point of view of the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]], the northern geographical horizon was marked by [[Subartu]], the west by {{smallcaps|[[Amorites|Mar.tu]]}}, the east by [[Elam]] and the south by [[Sumer]]; later rulers of all of Mesopotamia, such as [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]], claimed among their titles ''{{transl|akk|[[Lugal|LUGAL]] kib-ra-a-ti er-bé-et-tì}}'', "King of the Four Quarters".<ref>[http://www.binujohn.name/2013/04/14/the-four-quarters-of-the-world/]</ref>


==See also==
⚫
In [[Hinduism]], the sacred mountain [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]] has four sides, from which four rivers flow to the four quarters of the world (the [[Ganges]], [[Indus]], [[Oxus]] (Amu Darya), and [[Śita River|Śita]] (Tarim)), dividing the world into four quadrants. Another account portrays a celestial mountain, [[Mount Meru]], buttressed by four terrestrial mountain ranges which extend in four directions. Between them lie four sacred lakes, through which the celestial river divides into four earthly rivers, which flow to the four corners and irrigate the four quadrants of the Earth. [[Buddhism]] and the [[Bon religion]] of Tibet have similar accounts.<ref name=George/>
{{portal|World}}
*[[Four continents]]
*[[Biblical cosmology]]
*[[Flat Earth]]
*[[Time Cube]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Mythological cosmologies]]
⚫
[[Category:Physical geography]]
[[Category:4 (number)|Corners of the world]]
[[Category:4 (number)|Corners of the world]]
[[Category:Flat Earth]]
⚫
[[Category:Physical geography]]
[[Category:Ancient near eastern cosmology]]

Latest revision as of 09:20, 18 July 2024

For other uses, see Four corners of the world (disambiguation).
The astronomical symbol of Earth represents either the four quadrants of the world or the four continents.

Several cosmological and mythological systems portray four corners of the world or four quarters of the world corresponding approximately to the four points of the compass (or the two solstices and two equinoxes). At the center may lie a sacred mountain, garden, world tree, or other beginning-point of creation. Often four rivers run to the four corners of the world, and water or irrigate the four quadrants of Earth.

Ancient near eastern traditions

[edit]
Main article: Ancient near eastern cosmology

In Mesopotamian cosmology, four rivers flowing out of the garden of creation, which is the center of the world, define the four corners of the world.[1] From the point of view of the Akkadians, the northern geographical horizon was marked by Subartu, the west by Mar.tu, the east by Elam and the south by Sumer; later rulers of all of Mesopotamia, such as Cyrus, claimed among their titles LUGAL kib-ra-a-ti er-bé-et-tì, "King of the Four Corners".[2]

Tibetan conception of four rivers dividing the world into quadrants

Semitic traditions

[edit]

In Christianity and Judaism, the Old Testament (Book of Genesis, Genesis 2:8–14) identifies the Garden of Eden, and the four rivers as the Tigris, Euphrates, Pishon, and Gihon. The Tigris runs to Assyria, the Euphrates to Armenia, the Pishon to Havilah or Elam, and the Gihon to Ethiopia.[1][3][4] The four corners of the earth are also spoken of in the book of Revelation 7:1, and mention of the "four quarters of the earth" appears in Revelation 20:8.

Indian traditions

[edit]

In Hinduism, the sacred mountain Kailash has four sides, from which four rivers flow to the four quarters of the world (the Ganges, Indus, Oxus (Amu Darya), and Śita (Tarim)), dividing the world into four quadrants. Another account portrays a celestial mountain, Mount Meru, buttressed by four terrestrial mountain ranges which extend in four directions. Between them lie four sacred lakes, through which the celestial river divides into four earthly rivers, which flow to the four corners and irrigate the four quadrants of the Earth. Buddhism and the Bon religion of Tibet have similar accounts.[1]

Another similar account from Jain cosmology features a model of the universe with the world of humans located in the middle. Mount Meru is shown on the central continent Jambudvīpa which is surrounded by a series of concentric continents and oceans bordered by a serrated ring marking the mountain range beyond which humans cannot travel. Past this boundary in the four corners of the world are four temples enshrining Jinas, flanked by celebrants and celestial attendants.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c George & George (2014) The Mythology of Eden, Rowman & Littlefield
  2. ^ "The Four Quarters of the World – Epiphany". Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
  3. ^ Nelson, Richard D. (2006). "Babes in the Wood". From Eden to Babel: An Adventure in Bible Study. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780827210776. Retrieved 2016-05-20. The four rivers flowing out to the four corners of the world explain global geography as the ancients would have pictured it ([Genesis] 2:10-14).
  4. ^ Jordan, James B. (18 May 1999). "Sociology: A Biblico-Historical Approach". The Sociology of the Church: Essays in Reconstruction (reprint ed.). Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers (published 1999). p. 86. ISBN 9781579102487. Retrieved 2016-05-20. In a generally ignored but all-important paragraph of Genesis 2, we are told how the world was organized when it was created [...]. In short, the world was organized in terms of a primordial duality between the central sanctuary of Eden, and the outlying world watered by four rivers extending to the four corners of the world.
  5. ^ Jain cosmological map of adhaidvipa, Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved 2024-02-02
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