What is the concept of Sol and Luna in Hermetic Philosophy? Explore the origins of this fascinating belief through illustrated manuscripts and alchemical texts.
Sol and Luna
In Hermetic Philosophy, Sol and Luna can be defined as the following:
- Sol: Soul / Sun / Man
- Luna: Body / Moon / Woman
Androgynous beings were usually characterized with having elements of both Sol and Luna, and ultimately contained one intertwined body and soul. Alchemists believed androgynous beings were divine and contained the ability to ward off evil. They were often shown defeating serpents or even images of the devil. It was believed that only through combined male and female forces, the power of The Mercurial Dragon could be defeated.
Images of androgyny were popular among alchemists because Hermes (the Greek god of travel and the underworld) had a son who was a hermaphrodite. In late classical Egypt, Hermes became associated with healing and alchemical texts. Therefore, his staff - the Caduceus - also became an important symbol in Hermetic Philosophy.
Sol and Luna in Alchemical Texts
Ideas of androgyny became popular in alchemical texts after the publication of the Sol and Luna poem. This poem was first published in the Rosarium Philosophorum in 1550. The Rosarium Philosophorum was one of the first widespread alchemical picture books. The poem itself however, can be dated back to the early 1400’s.
The Sol and Luna poem described the conjunctio of male and female forms, and the purification of the body in this state. Here, male and female bodies were joined together in a grave, where they awaited extraction of the soul. Another alchemcial text, the Donum Dei, also illustrated the union of male and female forms.
The Buch der heiligen Dreifaltigkeit, produced in the 15th century, described androgynous beings as "the personification of unselfish alchemy; consisting of the male stone of purity and the female stone of loveliness."
How Were Androgynous Beings Depicted in Hermetic Manuscripts?
Androgynous beings were usually depicted in several different ways:
- one body with two heads (one male, one female); sometimes with both heads wearing a crown
- one body with two heads; heads depicted as the sun and moon
- a winged figure containing two heads (male and female), also wearing crowns and carrying a coiled snake or sword
- a three-footed figure surrounded by a large eagle
In most manuscript illustrations, both male and female heads are shown wearing a crown. The crown represents the "royal brother and sister", also known as King Sol and Queen Luna. Sometimes, Sol and Luna were depicted as two separate beings, often warding off serpents or dragons.
