Cosmogonic Myths and Theoretical Science

Biblical References

Egyptian Science and Cosmological Thought

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder by William Blake (1757-1827).

Gen 28:12 (KJV) "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

John 1.51 (KJV) "Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angles of God Ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'"

A symbol of the upward or heavenward yearning of the soul in stages of progress, the ladder of the God or the ladder of Set is referenced in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. [SABS1] In one tradition, it was by means of a ladder guarded by Ra and Horus (son of Isis) that Osiris ascended to heaven:

Ra setteth upright the ladder for Osiris, and Horis raiseth up the ladder for his father Osiris, when Osiris goeth to [find] his soul; one standeth on the one side, and the other standeth on the other, and Unas is betwixt them. In an earlier version found at the temple of Pepi I, the ladder guardians are Set and Horus the Elder: "Hail to thee, O Ladder of God, hail to thee, O Ladder of Set. Stand up, O Ladder of God, stand up, O Ladder of Set, stand up, O Ladder of Horus, whereon Osiris went forth into heaven. (2)