|
|
| |
|
Behind Moloch and Astarte, the Egyptian sky goddess Neith spans the entire ceiling vault: her toes touch down at the west, her fingertips at the east. In Sargent's words, Neith represents “the vault of heaven, the origin of things, the Mother of gods…as on Egyptian ceilings and zodiacs.” Her vast body is itself the firmament; stars shine within the astrological ring of the zodiac that forms her collar. The serpent-dragon and archer that stand behind ancient myths of seasonal change appear about Neith’s impassive face, seen here just below Astarte’s head. (SargentMurals.bpl.org) <http://sargentmurals.bpl.org/site/murals/15_description.html>
