Laura Frank

Honors in Philosophy and Religion

Major: Philosophy and Religion

Supervisor: Diana Pasulka, Philosophy and Religion

The Rebirth of Archetypal Power

The Renaissance era produced some of the greatest images depicting the life of Christ and within this period there are numerous pictures in which the artists portray Christ as infant or adult including a vivid depiction of his phallus. The phallus as a symbol of creative divine power can be traced back to ancient cultures. This paper examines the archetypal patterns and symbolism within the images according to the theories of Swiss psychologist C.G. Jung, along with my own interpretations. An archetypal interpretation gives evidence of the inherited patterns within the human psyche concerning the role of gods and goddesses as portrayed in the figures of Mary and Jesus. This analysis sheds light on the similarities which connect all cultures and peoples to give a better understanding of the ideal and need of a god image within the human psyche.