Page:Psychology of the Unconscious (1916).djvu/278



"And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

"And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

"Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee and one for Moses and one for Elias.'"[34]

From these passages it appears that Christ stands on the same plane as Elias, without being identified with him,[35] although the people consider him as Elias. The ascension places Christ as identical with Elias. The prophecy of Christ shows that there exist aside from himself one or more immortals who shall not die until Parousai. According to John xxi: 22nd verse, the boy John was considered as one of these immortals, and in the legend he is, in fact, not dead but merely sleeping in the ground until Parousai, and breathes so that the dust swirls round his grave.[36] As is evident, there are passable bridges from Christ by way of Elias to Chidher and Ahasuerus. It is said in an account of this legend[37] that Dhulqarnein led his friend Chidher to the "source of life" in order to have him drink of immortality.[38] Alexander also bathed in the stream of life and performed the ritual ablutions. As I previously mentioned in a footnote, according to Matthew xvii: 12th verse, John the Baptist is Elias, therefore primarily identical with Chidher. Now, however, it is to be noted that in the Arabian legend Chidher appears rather as a companion or accompanied (Chidher with Dhulqarnein or with Elias, "like unto them"; or identified with them[39]). There are therefore, two similar figures who resemble each other,