Isahluko 3

Imizila Efanayo Yeentsomi

1-3. (a) Kutheni le nto sifanele sibe nomdla kwiintsomi? (b) Yintoni esiza kuyigubungela kwesi sahluko?

KUTHENI, salibala kukujikajikana neentsomi? Ngaba azingomabali nje obuxoki amhlamnene? Nangona iyinyaniso into yokuba amabali amaninzi asekelwe kubuxoki, amanye asekelwe kwinyaniso. Ngokomzekelo iintsomi namabali akhoyo zwenibanzi asekelwe kwisibakala esiyinyaniso sikaNogumbe, okanye uMkhukula wehlabathi, iBhayibhile ebalisa ngawo.

² Isizathu sokuba sijikajikane neentsomi sikukuba zisisiseko seenkolelo nezithethe ezisaqheliselwayo kwiinkonzo zanamhlanje. Ngokomzekelo, inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo inokulandwa ukususela kwiintsomi zaseAsiriya nezaseBhabhiloni yamandulo yaza yenjenjeya ukutyhubela ezaseYiputa, ezaseGrisi, nezaseRoma, ukuya kuqhina kwiNgqobhoko, apho iye yaba sisiseko semfundiso yayo yezakwalizwi. Iintsomi zibubungqina bokuba abantu bamandulo babefuna oothixo, bekwafuna nokuphila ubomi obunenjongo. Kwesi sahluko siza kuthi gqaba-gqaba sigubungela eminye yemibandela eyaziwayo edla ngokuvela kwiintsomi ezisekelwe kuzo iinkolelo ezingokwesithethe ezibalaseleyo ehlabathini. Njengoko sihlolisisa ezi ntsomi, siza kuphawula indlela indalo, uMkhukula, oothixo bobuxoki noothixo abangabantu, ukungafi komphefumlo nokunqulwa kwelanga okuvela ngayo ngokuqhubekayo njengemizila efanayo kumbandela womxube wamabali neentsomi. Kodwa kutheni kusenziwa konke oku?

³ Ngokufuthi gqitha kuye kubekho umongo woko kwenzeka ngokwenene embalini okubandakanya umntu, okanye isiganeko esithile esiye kamva sabaxwa okanye sagqwethwa ukuze senziwe intsomi. Esinye sezi zibakala zingokwembali yingxelo yeBhayibhile engendalo.a

Izibakala Eziyinyaniso Neziyintsomi Ngendalo

4, 5. Ziziphi ezinye zeenkolelo zeentsomi zamaGrike?

⁴ Kukho iintsomi ezininzi ezingendalo, kodwa akukho nanye enenkcazelo elula nesengqiqweni yengxelo yeBhayibhile engendalo. (Genesis isahluko 1, 2) Ngokomzekelo, ingxelo enikelwe kwintsomi yamaGrike ivakala ingabhadlanga. UmGrike wokuqala owabhala iintsomi ngendlela ecwangcisiweyo yayinguHesiod, owabhala incwadi yakhe ethi Theogony ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Uchaza indlela ababakho ngayo oothixo nehlabathi. Uqala ngoGaea, okanye uGaia (uMhlaba), ozala u-Uranus (iZulu). Okulandelayo kuchazwa ngumphengululi Jasper Griffin kwiThe Oxford History of the Classical World:

⁵ “UHesiod ubalisa ibali, elaziwayo nguHomer, elingokulandelelana koothixo besibhakabhaka. Owokuqala u-Uranus wayongamile, kodwa wayebacinezela abantwana bakhe, waza uGaia wakhuthaza unyana wakhe uCronos ukuba amthene. Nanko ke ngoku uCronos eqwenga abantwana bakhe, de umfazi wakhe uRhea wamnika ilitye ukuba atye lona endaweni kaZeyus; umntwana onguZeyus wakhuliselwa eKrete, wamnyanzela uyise ukuba abahlanze abantakwabo, waza wathi ngokuncediswa ngabo nangokufumana olunye uncedo wamoyisa uCronos neziGebenga zakhe waza wabaphosela esiThokothokweni Senzonzobila.”

6. Ngokutsho kukaJasper Griffin, kusenokwezeka ukuba nguwuphi umthombo weentsomi ezininzi zamaGrike?

⁶ AmaGrike ayeyifumana kuwuphi umthombo le ntsomi ingaqhelekanga? Kwalo mbhali mnye uyaphendula: “Kubonakala ngathi imvelaphi yayo yokuqala isusela kubemi baseSumer. Kula mabali asempuma sifumanisa ukulandelelana koothixo, nengcamango ephambili yokuthenwa, yokuginywa, neyelitye, ngcamango ezo eziphindaphindwa ngeendlela ezithi, nangona zahlukahlukene, zibonise ukuba olu thelekiso olukwibali likaHesiod alufananga nje lwazenzekela.” Sifanele sikhangele iMesopotami neBhabhiloni yamandulo njengemithombo yeentsomi ezininzi ezingenelele kwezinye iinkolelo ezingokwesithethe.

7. (a) Kutheni le nto kungelula ukufumana inkcazelo ngeentsomi zamaTshayina amandulo? (b) Enye intsomi yamaTshayina ikucacisa njani ukudalwa komhlaba nabantu? (Thelekisa iGenesis 1:27; 2:7.)

⁷ Iintsomi zamandulo zonqulo lwesizwe samaTshayina akusoloko kulula ukuzichaza, ekubeni iingxelo ezininzi ezibhaliweyo zatshatyalaliswayo ebudeni bexesha lowama-213-191 B.C.E.b Noko ke, ezinye iintsomi zasala, njengaleyo echaza indlela umhlaba owavela ngayo. Unjingalwazi kwezobugcisa baseMpuma, uAnthony Christie, ubhala oku: “Sifunda ukuba uChaos wayefana neqanda lenkuku. Lalingekabikho iZulu noMhlaba. Kwelo qanda kwazalwa uP’an-ku, ngoxa ngenxalenye yalo enzima kwenziwa uMhlaba kwaza ngenxalenye yalo elula kwenziwa iSibhakabhaka. UP’an-ku uboniswa enjengohili, owambathiswe ngofele lwebhere okanye ingubo eyenziwe ngamagqabi. Kangangeminyaka eli-18 000 umgama ophakathi koMhlaba neSibhakabhaka wawusanda ngomlinganiselo [weemitha ezintathu] yonke imihla, yaye uP’an-ku wayekhula ngomlinganiselo ofanayo ukuze umzimba wakhe uzalise esi sithuba. Wathi akufa, amalungu awahlukeneyo omzimba wakhe aba ziziqalelo ezahlukahlukeneyo zendalo. . . . Iintakumba zakhe zaba sisizwe sabantu.”

8. Ngokusekelwe kwintsomi yamaInca, iilwimi zabakho njani?

⁸ Ibali lamaInca elinemvelaphi yaseMzantsi Merika licacisa indlela umdali wasentsomini awanika ngayo uhlanga ngalunye intetho. “Wanika uhlanga ngalunye ulwimi olwaluya kuluthetha . . . Wanika uhlanga ngalunye ubomi nomphefumlo, walwenza lwangamadoda nabafazi waza waluyalela ukuba lutshone ngaphantsi komhlaba. Ngenxa yoko uhlanga ngalunye lwatshona ngaphantsi komhlaba zaza zavumbulukela kwiindawo awazabela kuzo.” (The Fables and Rites of the Yncas, nguCristóbal de Molina waseCuzco, licatshulwe kwiSouth American Mythology) Kule meko kubonakala ukuba ingxelo yeBhayibhile yokudutywa kweelwimi eBhabheli ingumongo oyinyaniso wale ntsomi yamaInca. (Genesis 11:1-9) Kodwa ngoku makhe siphethulele ingqalelo yethu kuNogumbe ochazwe eBhayibhileni kwiGenesis 7:17-24.

UMkhukula—Ngaba Wabakho Ngokwenene Okanye Yintsomi Nje?

9. (a) IBhayibhile isixelela ntoni ngeemeko zangaphambi koMkhukula emhlabeni? (b) Yintoni ekwakufuneka uNowa nentsapho yakhe beyenzile ukuze bahlangulwe kuMkhukula?

⁹ Xa ibuyela umva isazisa ngokwenzekayo kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-4 500 eyadlulayo, malunga nowama-2 500 B.C.E., iBhayibhile isixelela ukuba oonyana bakaThixo bokomoya abavukelayo bazambathisa imizimba yenyama baza “bazeka abafazi.” Ezi ntlobano zingezozamvelo zavelisa iiNgxilimbela ezinogonyamelo, ‘ezazingamagorha awayekho kwasephakadeni, amadoda adumileyo.’ Ihambo yawo yokuchas’ umthetho yalichaphazela ihlabathi langaphambi koMkhukula ukusa kwinqanaba lokuba uYehova athi: “Ndiya kumcima umntu endimdalileyo, angabikho ehlabathini . . . ngokuba ndizohlwaya ngokuba ndizenzile ezo zinto. UNowa yena wababalwa nguYehova.” Yandula ke le ngxelo ihlabele mgama ichaza amanyathelo angqalileyo nasebenzisekayo ekwafuneka uNowa ewathabathile ukuze azisindise yena, intsapho yakhe neendidi ngeendidi zezilwanyana, kuMkhukula.—Genesis 6:1-8, 6:13–8:22; 1 Petros 3:19, 20; 2 Petros 2:4; Juda 6.

10. Kutheni le nto ingxelo yeBhayibhile engoMkhukula ingamele ijongwe njengentsomi?

¹⁰ Ingxelo yeziganeko zangaphambi koMkhukula echazwe kwiGenesis ijongwa njengentsomi ngabahlalutyi bale mihla. Kanti, imbali kaNowa yamkelwa yaza yakholelwa ngamadoda athembekileyo, anjengoIsaya, uHezekile, uYesu Kristu nompostile uPetros noPawulos. Ikwaxhaswa nasisibakala sokuba iintsomi ezininzi zazwenibanzi zisekelwe kuyo, kuquka noMbongo wamandulo kaGilgamesh kwakunye neentsomi zamaTshayina nezama-Aztec, ezamaInca nezamaMaya. Ngoxa usacinga ngale ngxelo yeBhayibhile, ngoku makhe siqwalasele intsomi yabemi baseBhabhiloni nabaseAsiriya nendlela ehlobene ngayo nomkhukula.c—Isaya 54:9; Hezekile 14:20; Mateyu 24:37; Hebhere 11:7.

UMkhukula Nothixo Ongumntu UGilgamesh

11. Ulwazi lwethu olungoMbongo kaGilgamesh lusekelwe entwenini?

¹¹ Xa sibuyela emva kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-4 000 yembali, sifumana intsomi edumileyo yama-Akkadian ebizwa ngokuba nguMbongo kaGilgamesh. Ulwazi lwethu ngale ntsomi lusekelwe ngokuyintloko kumbhalo woonobumba abatsobhileyo owafumaneka kwigumbi lethala leencwadi lika-Ashurbanipal, owayelawula ngowama-668-627 B. C. E., kwiNineve yamandulo.

12. Wayengubani uGilgamesh, yaye kutheni le nto wayengathandwa nje? (Thelekisa iGenesis 6:1, 2.)

¹² Libali elingezenzo zikaGilgamesh, ochazwe njengonenxalenye yomzimba enkulu enguthixo nencinane engumntu, okanye uthixo ongumntu. Enye ingxelo yalo mbongo ithi: “EUruk wakha oonkankanka beendonga ezingoorhec’ izulu, netempile kaEanna osikelelekileyo eyenzelwe uthixo wesibhakabhaka uAnu, noIshtar uthixokazi wothando . . . , inenekazi lethu lothando nemfazwe.” (Ukuze ubone uludwe loothixo noothixokazi baseAsiriya nabaseBhabhiloni, bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 45.) Phofu ke, uGilgamesh kwakungayolisi ncam ukuba naye. Abemi baseUruk bakhalaza koothixo besithi: “Inkanuko yakhe ayishiyi nanye intombi enyulu kwisithandwa sayo, uxhaphaza kwanentombi yomphumi-mkhosi okanye umfazi wesidwangube.”

13. (a) Liliphi inyathelo elathatyathwa ngoothixo, ibe yintoni uGilgamesh awayenzayo? (b) Wayengubani u-Utnapishtim?

¹³ Liliphi inyathelo elathatyathwa ngoothixo ukusabela kwisikhalazo sabantu? Uthixokazi uAruru wadala uEnkidu ukuba abe lutshaba olungumntu olusukuzana noGilgamesh. Noko ke, kunokuba babe yinyoka nesele, baba ngumtya nethunga. Lo mbongo uhambisa uthi, uEnkidu wambatha ingubo kaqaqaqa. Ebindekile, uGilgamesh wadanduluka wathi: “Xa ndifile, ngaba andizi kufana noEnkidu? Ndisuke ndanombilini. Ngokoyika ukufa, ndibhadula kwabhadakazi.” Wayefuna imfihlelo yokungafi waza wahamba efuna u-Utnapishtim, owasinda kunogumbe nowathi wajizekwa ngokungafi njengoothixo.

14. (a) Yintoni u-Utnapishtim awaxelelwa ukuba ayenze? (Thelekisa iGenesis 6:13-16.) (b) Waba yintoni umphumo wohambo lukaGilgamesh oluchazwe kulo mbongo?

¹⁴ Ekugqibeleni uGilgamesh uyamfumana u-Utnapishtim, othi ambalisele ngomkhukula. Njengoko kubonisiwe kwicwecwe XI loMbongo, elaziwa ngokuba liCwecwe loMkhukula, u-Utnapishtim ubalisa ngemiyalelo ayinikiweyo ngokubhekisele kumkhukula: “Diliza (le) ndlu, wakhe inqanawa! Shiya izinto onazo, londoloza ubomi bakho. . . . Enqanaweni khwelisa imbewu yazo zonke izinto eziphilayo.” Ngaba oku akuvakali kufana ngandlel’ ithile nembekiselo yeBhayibhile engoNowa noMkhukula? Kodwa u-Utnapishtim akakwazi ukumjizeka ngokungafi uGilgamesh. Edane eyinko, uGilgamesh wanyoshoza ukubuyela ekhaya eUruk. Le ngxelo iphela ngokufa kwakhe. Sisonke esi sigidimi salo mbongo siqulethe unxunguphalo nokatyo olubangelwa kukufa nobomi basemva kokufa. Abo bantu bamandulo abazange bamfumane uThixo wokwenyaniso nonik’ ithemba. Noko ke, indlela lo mbongo onxibelelene ngayo nengxelo ecacileyo yeBhayibhile yexesha langaphambi koMkhukula izicacele nakubani na. Ngoku makhe siphethukele kwingxelo yoMkhukula njengoko ivela kwamanye amabali.

Ibali LoMkhukula Kwezinye Iinkolelo Ezingokwesithethe

15. Kutheni le nto ibali lomkhukula labemi baseSumer libangela umdla nje kuthi?

¹⁵ Kwanangaphambi kwengxelo ekuMbongo kaGilgamesh kwakukho intsomi yabemi baseSumer ebalisa “ngoZiusudra, omela uNowa ekuthethwa ngaye eBhayibhileni, ochazwa njengokumkani ozinikeleyo elunqulweni, nowoyik’ uthixo, osoloko eziphaphele izityhilelo zikathixo ezibonakala emaphupheni okanye kwizenzo zomlingo.” (Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament) Ngokutsho kwalo mthombo ukwamnye, le ntsomi “efunyenwe kwiincwadi zaseSumer iphantse ifane nqwa nombandela oseBhayibhileni.” Impucuko yaseBhabhiloni neyaseAsiriya, eyafika kamva, yaphenjelelwa yeyaseSumer.

16. Amabali omkhukula aseTshayina anokuba avela kuwuphi umthombo?

¹⁶ Incwadi ethi China—A History in Art isixelela ukuba omnye wabalawuli baseTshayina yayinguYü, “umoyisi kuMkhukula Omkhulu. UYü wawahlulahlula amanzi omkhukula ukuba aye emilanjeni nakwiilwandle ukuze abantu bakhe bafumane indawo yokuhlala kwakhona.” Ingcali kwiintsomi uJoseph Campbell wabhala ‘Ngexesha Labalawuli Abalishumi Abadumileyo’ baseTshayina esenjenje: “Ukuza kuthi ga kweli xesha libalulekileyo, eliphele ngoNogumbe, kwanyulwa abalawuli abalishumi ngexesha lasentsomini lomnombo wookumkani bokuqala baseTshayina. Ngenxa yoko, kuyabonakala ukuba eyona nto siyihlolisisayo apha isenokuba kukuhlaziywa kwasekuhlaleni kongcelele lookumkani bamandulo baseSumer.” Wandula ke lo kaCampbell wacaphula ezinye iinkcukacha kumabali aseTshayina awayebonakala “exhasa ibango lokuba anemvelaphi yaseMesopotami.” Oko kusibuyisela emva kwakumthombo osisiseko weentsomi ezininzi. Noko ke, ibali elingoMkhukula likwakho nakumazwe aseMerika, ngokomzekelo, lalikho eMexico ebudeni bexesha lama-Aztec ngenkulungwane ye-15 neye-16 C.E.

17. Ngawaphi amabali omkhukula anawo ama-Aztec?

¹⁷ Intsomi yama-Aztec yayibalisa ngezizukulwana ezine zangaphambili, ekwathi ebudeni besokuqala umhlaba wamiwa zizigebenga. (Oku kukwasikhumbuza ngeeNgxilimbela, izigebenga ekubhekiselwa kuzo eBhayibhileni kwiGenesis 6:4.) Yaquka ibali lomkhukula wamandulo ekwathi kuwo “amanzi angasentla adibana nalawo angaphantsi, ebangela ukuba kungabonakali elundini phayaa yaye esenza ukuba yonke into esemhlabeni igutyungelwe lulwandlekazi olungaphele ndawo.” Uthixo owayelawula imvula namanzi yayinguTlaloc. Phofu ke, imvula yakhe yayingafunyanwa nje ngokulula kodwa yayiniswa “ngokunanisa ngegazi lamaxhoba abingelelwayo ezazisithi iinyembezi zawo eziqukuqelayo ukuhla zibangele ukuna kwemvula.” (Mythology—An Illustrated Encyclopedia) Elinye ibali libonisa ukuba kwisizukulwana sesine kwalawula uChalchiuhtlicue, uthixokazi wamanzi, eyathi indalo yakhe iphela yatshayelwa ngumkhukula. Abantu basindiswa kukusuka babe ziintlanzi!

18. Ziziphi iingxelo eziqhelekileyo kwiintsomi zaseMzantsi Merika? (Thelekisa iGenesis 6:7, 8; 2 Petros 2:5.)

¹⁸ Ngokufanayo, amaInca nawo ayenamabali awo angoMkhukula. Umbhali waseBritani uHarold Osborne uthi: “Mhlawumbi ezona mbalasane zaziwa ngokubanzi zentsomi yaseMzantsi Merika zingamabali asekelwe kunogumbe . . . Iintsomi ezingonogumbe zisasazeke kubantu abahlala kwimimandla eneentaba nakwizizwe zabo bakwimimandla engenazintaba ekwinjiko. Unogumbe udla ngokunxityelelaniswa nendalo kwakunye nomfuziselo wothixo ongumdali. . . . Maxa wambi ugqalwa njengesohlwayo esivela kuThixo elutshayela kuthi tu uluntu olukhoyo elungiselela ukuvela kohlanga olutsha.”

19. Chaza ibali lomkhukula lamaMaya.

¹⁹ Ngokukwanjalo, amaMaya aseMexico nakuMbindi Merika ayenebali lawo loMkhukula elaliquka unogumbe wendalo iphela, okanye ihaiyococab, gama elo elithetha “amanzi agubungela umhlaba.” Ubhishopu wamaKatolika uLas Casas wabhala ukuba amaIndiya aseGuatemala “ayewubiza ngokuthi Butic, gama elo elithetha isikhukula samanzi amaninzi nelikwathetha umgwebo wokugqibela, ibe ke ngoko akholelwa ekubeni sekumbovu ukuba kufike enye iButic, engomnye umkhukula nomgwebo, kungekhona owamanzi, kodwa owomlilo.” Kukho amanye amabali omkhukula amaninzi ngakumbi ehlabathini, kodwa la ambalwa sele siwacaphule anceda ekuqinisekiseni umongo oyintloko weli bali, osisiganeko esingokwembali esichazwe kwincwadi yeGenesis.

Inkolelo Exhaphakileyo Yokungafi Komphefumlo

20. Yayiyintoni inkolelo yabemi baseAsiriya nabaseBhabhiloni ngokubhekisele kubomi basemva kokufa?

²⁰ Noko ke, asizizo zonke iintsomi ezisekelwe kwizibakala eziyinyaniso okanye eBhayibhileni. Kwiphulo lakhe lokufuna uThixo, umntu uye wenza iinzame ezibe lilize, ekhohliswa yinkolelo engamampunge yokungafi komphefumlo. Njengoko siza kubona kuyo yonke le ncwadi, inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo okanye ezinye iinkolelo ezinokuthanani nayo ziye zanwenwa ukutyhubela amawaka eminyaka ukuza kuthi ga kweli xesha lethu. Abantu ababeneenkolelo zesithethe zaseAsiriya nezaseBhabhiloni yamandulo babekholelwa kubomi basemva kokufa. INew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology icacisa isithi: “Ngaphantsi komhlaba, ngaphaya kwenzonzobila yeApsu [ezaliswe ngamanzi ahlaziyayo najikeleze umhlaba], kukho elemimoya apho bahla baye khona abantu emva kokufa. Elo ‘yayiliLizwe ekwakungayi lubuyayo kulo’ . . . Kule mimandla yobumnyama bukanaphakade imiphefumlo yabafileyo—iedimmu—‘eyambathiswe ngeempiko njengeentaka,’ yonke iqokelelana ndawonye.” Ngokutsho kwale ntsomi, eli lizwe lingaphantsi komhlaba lalilawulwa nguthixokazi uEreshkigal, “Inkosazana yomhlaba omkhulu.”

21. Ngokwenkolelo yamaYiputa yintoni eyayisenzeka kwabafileyo?

²¹ Ngokukwanjalo nabemi baseYiputa babeneyabo ingcamango yokungafi komphefumlo. Ngaphambi kokuba umphefumlo ufike kwizulu lolonwabo, wawufanele uhlolwe nguMaat, uthixokazi wenyaniso nokusesikweni, owayefuziselwa lusiba lwenyaniso. UAnubis, uthixo onentloko kadyakalashe, okanye uHorus, ongukhetshe, babefaka igxalaba kule nkqubo. Ukuba wamkelwe nguOsiris, loo mphefumlo wawusiya kuqhubeka unandipha ulonwabo kunye noothixo. (Bona umfanekiso, kwiphepha 50.) Njengoko kusoloko kunjalo, apha sifumana umzila ofanayo wengcamango yaseBhabhiloni yokungafi komphefumlo eyayilawula unqulo lwabantu, ubomi babo nezenzo zabo.

22. Yayiyintoni ingcamango yamaTshayina ngabafileyo, yaye yintoni eyayisenziwa ukuze bancedwe?

²² Iintsomi zamandulo zaseTshayina zaziquka inkolelo yokuphila emva kokufa nemfuneko yokugcina iminyanya yonwabile. Iminyanya “yayigqalwa njengemimoya ephilayo nenamandla, yonke iyixhalabele ngokwenene impilontle yenzala yayo esaphilayo, kodwa ikwazi nokukhupha isohlwayo somsindo xa icatshukisiwe.” Abafileyo kwakufuneka banikwe zonke izinto ezaziza kuba luncedo kubo, kuquka namaqabane abaphelekayo ekufeni. Ngaloo ndlela, “bambi ookumkani bamaShang . . . babengcwatywa nabantu abangamaxhoba abasusela ekhulwini ukusa kumakhulu amathathu, ababeza kuba ngamaphakathi abo kwihlabathi elizayo. (Olu qheliselo luyibopha ngabande linye iTshayina, iYiputa, iAfrika, iJapan, namanye amazwe, apho kwakusenziwa imibingelelo efanayo.)” (Man’s Religions, nguJohn B. Noss) Kwezi meko inkolelo ekungafini komphefumlo yakhokelela ekubeni kubingelelwe ngabantu.—Thelekisa INtshumayeli 9:5, 10; Isaya 38:18, 19.

23. (a) Kwintsomi yamaGrike, yayingubani uHades ibe wayeyintoni? (b) Iyintoni iHadesi ngokweBhayibhile?

²³ AmaGrike, ekubeni enoothixo abaninzi kwiintsomi zawo, nawo ayeyixhalabele imeko yabafileyo nekamva labo. Ngokutsho kwezi ntsomi, lowo wabekwa njengomongameli wommandla wesithokothoko sobumnyama yayingunyana kaCronus owayekwangumntakwabothixo uZeyus noPoseidon. Igama lakhe lalinguHades, yaye ummandla wakhe wawuthiywe ngaye. Imiphefumlo yabafileyo yayisiya njani eHadesi?d

24. (a) Ngokwentsomi yamaGrike, yintoni eyayisenzeka kwelemimoya? (b) Intsomi yamaGrike yayifana njani noMbongo kaGilgamesh?

²⁴ Umbhali uEllen Switzer ucacisa esithi: “Kwakukho . . . izidalwa ezoyikekayo kwelemimoya. Kwakukho uCharon, owayebheqa iphenyane elalithutha abo babesandul’ ukufa ukusuka kummandla wabaphilayo ukuya kwelemimoya. UCharon wayefuna ukuhlawulwa ngalo msebenzi wakhe wokubheqa iphenyane [ewela kumlambo iStyx], ibe ngokufuthi amaGrike ayebafaka ingqekembe yemali ngaphantsi kolwimi abantu abafileyo xa ebangcwaba ukuze aqiniseke ukuba babenemali yokuhlawula eyaneleyo. Imiphefumlo yabafileyo eyayingenamali yokuhlawula yayigcinwa kwicala elingakhuselekanga lomlambo, kwindawo efana nakwabhadakazi, ibe yayisenokubuya ukuza kuporhela abaphilayo.”e

25. Ngoobani abaphenjelelwa yingcamango yamaGrike ngokubhekisele kumphefumlo?

²⁵ Intsomi yamaGrike engomphefumlo yaphembelela ingcamango yamaRoma, yaye izithandi zobulumko zamaGrike, ezinjengoPlato (malunga nowama-427-347 B.C.E.), zaziphembelela ngamandla iinkcuba-buchopho ezingamaKristu okuqala awayewexukile nezathi zamkela imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo kwimfundiso yazo esisiseko, nakubeni yayingasekelwanga eBhayibhileni.

26, 27. Ama-Aztec, amaInca namaMaya ayekujonga njani ukufa?

²⁶ Kwakhona ama-Aztec, amaInca, namaMaya ayekholelwa ekungafini komphefumlo. Ayekujonga ukufa njengemfihlelo njengokuba kwakunjalo nakwabanye abantu bempucuko. Ayenemisitho ethile neenkolelo zawo zokuwanceda axolelaniswe nayo imiphefumlo. Kunjengokuba umbhali-mbali ongumembi wezinto zakudala uVictor W. von Hagen ecacisa kwincwadi yakhe ethi The Ancient Sun Kingdoms of the Americas: “Abafileyo babephila ngokwenene: babesuka nje kwenye imo baye kwenye; babengabonakali, bengenakuchukunyiswa, bengenakwenzakaliswa. Abafileyo . . . baye baba ngamalungu angabonakaliyo esizwe.”—Thelekisa Abagwebi 16:30; Hezekile 18:4, 20.

²⁷ Kwalo mthombo mnye usixelela ukuba “umIndiya [ongumInca] wayekholelwa ekungafini komphefumlo; enyanisweni wayekholelwa ukuba akukho mntu wakha wafa, . . . isidumbu sasisuka nje sibe ngumzimba ongafanga size siphenjelelwe ngamandla angabonakaliyo.” AmaMaya nawo ayekholelwa kumphefumlo ongafiyo nakumazulu ali-13 nakwizihogo ezisithoba. Ngaloo ndlela, naphi na apho sinokuphethukela khona, abantu baye bafuna iindlela zokusiphikisa isibakala sokuba ukufa kuyinto yokwenene, yaye baye bathembela ngokupheleleyo kwinkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo.—Isaya 38:18; IZenzo 3:23.

28. Ziziphi ezinye zeenkolelo ezesameleyo eAfrika?

²⁸ Ngokukwanjalo iintsomi zaseAfrika ziquka iimbekiselo ezinokuthanani nokungafi komphefumlo. Abemi abaninzi baseAfrika bayatyhwatyhwa kukoyika imiphefumlo yabafileyo. INew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology ithi: “Le nkolelo ingumgubo wengxow’ enye nenye inkolelo—eyokuqhubeka komphefumlo uphila emva kokufa. Abantu abasebenzisa umlingo bayakwazi ukucela imiphefumlo ukuba ibanike amandla angakumbi. Ngokufuthi imiphefumlo yabafileyo ifudukela kwimizimba yezilwanyana, okanye isenokude iguqukele ekubeni zizityalo.” Ngenxa yoko, amaZulu awazibulali ezinye iinyoka akholelwa ekubeni zingoomoya bezalamane.

29. Chaza amabali ezinye izizwe ezisemazantsi eAfrika. (Thelekisa iGenesis 2:15-17; 3:1-5.)

²⁹ AmaMasai asemzantsi-mpuma Afrika akholelwa kumdali obizwa ngokuba ngu-’Ng ai, omisa ingelosi engumlindi ukuba ikhusele umMasai ngamnye. Ngethuba lokufa, ingelosi leyo iyawuthabatha umphefumlo waloo mphumi-mkhosi iwuse kummandla wobomi basemva kokufa. ILarousse ecatshulwe ngaphambilana ichaza ngentsomi yamaZulu ephathelele ukufa equka umntu wokuqala, uNkulunkulu, owathi ngokutsho kwale ntsomi waba ngumntu owongamileyo. Wathuma ulovane ukuba luxelele uluntu ukuba, “Abantu abasayi kufa!” Ulovane lwalucothoza lwaza lwalibaziseka endleleni. Ngoko uNkulunkulu wathumela isigidimi esahlukileyo ngecikilishe, esithi, “Abantu baya kufa!” Icikilishe lafika kuqala apho, “yaye ukususela ngoko akukho mntu wakhe wakusaba ukufa.” Eli bali likho nakwisizwe sabeTswana, sabeSuthu, nesamaRonga, nangona libaliswa ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo.

30. Kule ncwadi yintoni esiza kuyibona ngokubhekele phaya ngokuphathelele umphefumlo?

³⁰ Njengoko sihlolisisa iphulo loluntu lokufuna uThixo, siza kubona kwanangokubhekele phaya indlela eye yabaluleka ngayo intsomi yokungafi komphefumlo nendlela esabaluleke ngayo kuluntu.

Ukunqula Ilanga Nokubingelela Ngabantu

31. (a) AmaYiputa ayekholelwa entwenini ngokubhekisele kuthixo welanga uRa? (b) Oko kuchasene njani noko kutshiwo yiBhayibhile? (INdumiso 19:4-6)

³¹ Iintsomi zaseYiputa ziquka intlaninge yoothixo noothixokazi abazalise iitempile. Njengoko yenzayo eminye imibutho emininzi yamandulo, ngoxa amaYiputa ayefuna uThixo, atyekela ekunquleni loo nto yayizimasa ubomi bawo bemihla ngemihla—ilanga. Ngaloo ndlela, egameni likaRa (Amon-Ra), ayenqula inkosi eyongamileyo yesibhakabhaka, eyayihamba ngephenyane suku ngalunye ukusuka empuma ukuya entshona. Xa kwakuqalisa ukurhatyela, yayihamba ngendlela enobungozi enqumla kwelemimoya.

32. Chaza omnye wemithendeleko yothixo womlilo uXiuhtecutli (Huehueteotl).

³² Ukubingelela ngabantu kwakuyinto eqhelekileyo ekunqulweni kwelanga okuqheliselwa kwiinkonzo zama-Aztec, zamaInca, nezamaMaya. Ama-Aztec ayesoloko esenza imigidi yonqulo engaphele ndawo, ebingelela ngabantu koothixo bawo abahlukahlukeneyo, ngokukodwa xa kunqulwa uthixo welanga uTezcatlipoca. Kwakhona, kumthendeleko wothixo womlilo uXiuhtecutli (Huehueteotl), “amabanjwa athinjwe ngexesha lemfazwe ayengqungqa kunye nabo bawabambileyo aze . . . abalekiswe kujikelezwa umlilo odangazelayo aze emva koko aphoselwe emalahleni, aphinde akhutshwe ngoxa esaphila ukuze aqangqululwe kuze kukhutshwe iintliziyo zawo ezisangongozayo kuze kunikelwe ngazo koothixo.”—The Ancient Sun Kingdoms of the Americas.

33. (a) Unqulo lwamaInca lwaluquka ntoni? (b) Ithini iBhayibhile ngokubingelela ngabantu? (Thelekisa eyesi-2 yooKumkani 23:5, 11; Yeremiya 32:35; Hezekile 8:16.)

³³ Kummandla osemazantsi phayaa, unqulo lwamaInca lwalunemibingelelo yalo neentsomi zalo. Kunqulo lwamandulo lwamaInca, abantwana nezilwanyana kwakunikelwa ngabo kuthixo welanga uInti nakuViracocha, umdali.

Oothixo Noothixokazi Basentsomini

34. Ngoobani ababumba oyena thixo udumileyo koothixo baseYiputa abangoobathathu emnye, ibe yiyiphi indima abayiphumezayo?

³⁴ Oyena thixo udumileyo koothixo baseYiputa abangoobathathu emnye ngulowo ubunjwa nguIsis, ofanekisela uthixo ongumama; uOsiris, umntakwabo okwangumyeni wakhe; noHorus unyana wabo, odla ngokumelwa ngukhetshe. Maxa wambi uIsis udla ngokuboniswa kwimifanekiso eqingqiweyo yaseYiputa encancisa umntwana wakhe ehleli ngendlela efanayo naleyo ehlala ngayo intombi enyulu ephethe umntwana kwimifanekiso eqingqiweyo nakwimizobo yeNgqobhoko, eyabakho ngaphezu kwamawaka amabini eminyaka kamva. Ekuhambeni kwexesha umyeni kaIsis, uOsiris, waduma njengothixo wabafileyo ngenxa yokuba wayenikela ithemba lobomi bolonwabo lukanaphakade kwimiphefumlo yabafileyo kubomi basemva kokufa.

35. Wayengubani uHathor, ibe nguwuphi owona mthendeleko wakhe mkhulu waminyaka le?

³⁵ UHathor waseYiputa wayenguthixokazi wothando novuyo, womculo nomngqungqo. Waba ngukumkanikazi wabafileyo, ebanceda ngeleli ukuba banyukele ezulwini. Njengokuba iNew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology icacisa, wayebhiyozelwa ngemithendeleko emikhulu, “owona mkhulu kunayo yonke ngowoSuku Lonyaka Omtsha, owawusisikhumbuzo saminyaka le sosuku lokuzalwa kwakhe. Ngaphambi kokuthi qheke kokusa abefundisikazi babekhupha umfanekiso oqingqiweyo kaHather bawubeke ebaleni elithe tyaba ukuze ugqatswe yimitha yelanga njengoko liphuma. Intswahla yemincili eyayibakho emva koko yayisenzelwa ukufihla isibakala sokwenene sokuba babeqhuba umbhiyozo, yaye usuku babeluqukumbela ngengoma yaye benxilile.” Ngaba ngoku izinto ziye zaguquka ngokuphawulekayo kwindlela eqhutywa ngayo imibhiyozo yoNyaka Omtsha kwiminyaka emininzi kamva?

36. (a) Yayinjani imekobume yonqulo amaSirayeli awayekuyo ngenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E.? (b) Yintoni ekhethekileyo ezazibalasele ngayo iZibetho Ezilishumi?

³⁶ Abemi baseYiputa babekwanoothixo noothixokazi bezilwanyana abaninzi kwiitempile zabo zezithixo, abanjengoApis oyinkunzi yenkomo, uBanaded oyinkunzi yegusha, uHeqt olisele, uHathor oyimazi yenkomo noSebek oyingwenya. (Roma 1:21-23) Kwakule mekobume yonqulo awathi amaSirayeli athinjelwa kuyo njengamakhoboka ngenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E. Ukuze awakhulule kwimpatho engqwabalala kaFaro, kwafuneka ukuba, uYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli, ayithwaxe ngezibetho ezilishumi ezahlukeneyo iYiputa. (Eksodus 7:14–12:36) Ezo zibetho zabahlazisa oothixo basentsomini baseYiputa.—Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 62.

37. (a) Babeluhlobo luni loothixo abanye boothixo bamaRoma? (b) Ihambo yoothixo yabachaphazela njani abalandeli babo? (c) Ngawaphi amava uPawulos noBharnabhas ababa nawo eListra?

³⁷ Ngoku makhe siphethukele koothixo beGrisi nabeRoma yamandulo. IRoma yathabatha oothixo abaninzi beGrisi yamandulo, kwakunye nemikhwa yabo yehambo entle neyehambo elihlazo yokuziphatha. (Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 43 nelama-66.) Ngokomzekelo, uVenus noFlora babengamahenyukazi angenazintloni; uBacchus wayelinxila yaye ekholiswa ngamatheko obundlobongela; uMercury wayeyinkuntsela yesihange; ibe uApollo wayengumlukuhli wamabhinqa. Kunikelwa ingxelo yokuba uJupiter, onguyise woothixo, waye wakrexeza okanye wahenyuza namabhinqa amalunga nama-59 kuquka nazizalamane zakhe! (Enjani yona into ukusikhumbuza ngezithunywa zezulu ezaba neentlobano zesini namabhinqa ngaphambi koMkhukula!) Ekubeni abanquli betyekele ekuxeliseni ihambo yoothixo babo, ngaba iyamangalisa into yokuba abalawuli baseRoma abanjengoTiberius, uNero noCaligula babe babephila ubomi bokuziphatha vakalala njengabakrexezi, abahenyuzi nababulali?

38. (a) Chaza uhlobo lonqulo olwaluqheliselwa eRoma. (b) Unqulo lwaluliphembelela njani ijoni laseRoma?

³⁸ Kunqulo lwawo, amaRoma aquka oothixo bezithethe ezininzi. Ngokomzekelo, alwamkela ngenzondelelo unqulo lukaMithras, uthixo wamaPersi wokukhanya, owathi waba nguthixo wawo welanga (bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 60-1), nolukathixokazi wama-Asiriya uAtargatis (uIshtar). Amguqula uArtemis wamaGrike owayengumzingelikazi amenza uDiana aze azenzela ezabo iintlobo zothixo waseYiputa uIsis. Kwakhona amkela oothixokazi bokuvelisa inzala bamaCelts abaziziqu ezithathu.—IZenzo 19:23-28.

39. (a) Ngubani owayelawula abefundisi baseRoma? (b) Chaza omnye wemibhiyozo yonqulo lwaseRoma.

³⁹ Ukwenzela uqheliselo lwezithethe zawo zasesidlangalaleni kwizibingelelo zokuthandazela nakwiitempile ezingamakhulukhulu, babenabefundisi abahlukahlukeneyo, bonke “bengaphantsi kwegunya likaPontifex Maximus [uBhishopu Owongamileyo], owayeyintloko yonqulo lwesizwe.” (Atlas of the Roman World) Kwale atlasi ithi omnye wemibhiyozo yamaRoma wawubizwa ngokuba yitaurobolium, ekwakuthi kuwo “umnquli eme emhadini aze ahlanjwe ngegazi lenkunzi yenkomo ekubingelelwe ngayo ngenxa yakhe. Emva kokuba kwenziwe esi sithethe wayesiba msulwa yaye ahlambuluke.”

Kuthekani Ngeentsomi Namabali ObuKristu?

40. Abaphengululi abaninzi bazijonga njani iziganeko zobuKrisu bokuqala?

⁴⁰ Ngokutsho kwabahlalutyi abathile bale mihla, nobuKristu bunazo iintsomi namabali. Ngaba oko kunjalo ngokwenene? Abaphengululi abaninzi bayigatya njengeyintsomi ingxelo yokuzalwa kukaYesu yintombi enyulu, imimangaliso awayenzayo, nokuvuka kwakhe. Bambi bade bathi akazange abekho kwaukubakho nto nje intsomi engaye isuka kwiintsomi zamandulo nakunqulo lwelanga. Kunjengokuba ingcali yeentsomi uJoseph Campbell wabhala oku: “Ngoko ke, abaphengululi abaliqela baye bema ngelithi akazange abekho uYohane [uMbhaptizi], engazange abekho noYesu, kodwa kwakukho nje kuphela uthixo wamanzi nothixo welanga.” Kodwa kufuneka sikhumbule ukuba abaninzi baba baphengululi ababukholelwa ubukho bukaThixo ibe ngaloo ndlela bayicekisa ngokupheleleyo nayiphi na inkolelo engoThixo.

41, 42. Bubuphi ubungqina obukhoyo obuxhasa isibakala sokuba ubuKristu bokuqala babukho ngokwenene embalini?

⁴¹ Noko ke, le ngcamango yokuthandatyuzwa kweemfundiso ezisisiseko zonqulo iye yanwenwa ukutyhubela imbali. Ngokomzekelo, umbhali-mbali ongumYuda uJosephus (malunga nowama-37 ukusa malunga nowe-100 C.E.) wabhala oku: “Amanye amaYuda akugqala ukutshatyalaliswa komkhosi kaHerode njengempindezelo evela kuThixo, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo njengempindezelo efanelekileyo, ngenxa yendlela awamphatha ngayo uYohane, okwabizwa ngokuba nguMbhaptizi. Kuba uHerode wambulala, nangona wayeyindoda elungileyo.”—Marko 1:14; 6:14-29.

⁴² Kwalo mbhali-mbali ukwamnye wakwangqinela isibakala sobukho bukaYesu Kristu obungokwembali, xa wabhala ukuba kwavela “uYesu othile umntu owayesebenzisa imilingo, ukuba ngokwenene usenokubizwa ngokuba ngumntu . . . lowo abafundi bakhe bambiza ngokuba ngunyana kaThixo.” Wahlabela mgama esithi “uPilato wamwisela isigwebo . . . Ibe kwanangoku lusekho uhlanga lwabo babizwa ngokuba ‘Ngabalandeli bakaMesiya’.”f—Marko 15:1-5, 22-26; IZenzo 11:26.

43. Kungokwasiphi isizinzi awathi umpostile uPetros wakholelwa kuKristu?

⁴³ Ngoko ke, umpostile uPetros ongumKristu wayenokubhala ngokuqiniseka okupheleleyo njengengqina lokuzibonela ukwenziwa kumila kumbi kukaYesu, esenjenje: “Kuba sithe, singalandelanga zintsomi zabuqhinga [myʹthos, ngesiGrike], sanazisa amandla nokufika kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu; sithe saba ngababoneli bobungangamsha bakhe. Kuba wamkela kuThixo uYise imbeko nozuko, ekuzisweni kuye, bubuqaqawuli obubalaseleyo, izwi elinjengeli: Lo nguNyana wam oyintanda, endikholisiweyo mna nguye. Nelo zwi ke saliva thina, lisiza liphuma ezulwini, sinaye entabeni leyo ingcwele.”—2 Petros 1:16-18.g

44. Nguwuphi umgaqo weBhayibhile ofanele wesamele nanini na iingcamango zabantu zingqubana neLizwi likaThixo?

⁴⁴ Njengoko ingcamango “yeengcali” ezingabantu ingqubana neLizwi likaThixo, simele sisebenzise lo mgaqo ukhankanywe ngaphambilana: “Kuyini na khona, ukuba abathile abakholwanga? Ukungakholwa kwabo kokuphuthisa na ukuthembeka kukaThixo? Nakanye! UThixo yena makabe nenyaniso, bonke abantu ke babe ngamaxoki; njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Ukuze ube nokugwetyelwa emazwini akho, weyise ekumangalelweni kwakho.”—Roma 3:3, 4.

Imizila Efanayo

45. Yiyiphi eminye yemizila efanayo efumaneka kwiintsomi zehlabathi?

⁴⁵ Olu hlolisiso lufutshane lweentsomi ezithile zehlabathi luye lwanceda ukubonisa iimbalasane ezithile ezaziwayo, ezininzi zazo ezinemvelaphi yaseBhabhiloni, unozala wenkoliso yeenkonzo zaseMesopotami. Kukho imizila efanayo, enoba kukwizibakala eziyinyaniso ngendalo okanye kukwiingxelo ezingexesha laxa oothixo abangabantu nezigebenga zaziphila emhlabeni nasekutshatyalalisweni kwabangendawo, ngonogumbe, okanye kwiingcamango zonqulo ezisisiseko eziphathelele ukunqulwa kwelanga nokungafi komphefumlo.

46, 47. (a) Yiyiphi inkcazelo yeBhayibhile esinokuyinikela kwimvelaphi nakwimizila efanayo yeentsomi? (b) Ziziphi iinkalo ezibhekele phaya eziphathelele unqulo lwamandulo esiza kuzigubungela?

⁴⁶ Ngokwembono yeBhayibhile, sinokuyicacisa le mizila ifanayo xa sikhumbula ukuba emva koMkhukula, ngokomyalelo kaThixo uluntu lwasasazeka ukusuka eBhabheli kwelaseMesopotami ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-4 200 eyadlulayo. Nangona lwahlukanayo, lusiba ngamaqela eentsapho nawezizwe ezithetha iilwimi ezahlukeneyo, ukuqonda kwalo kwakusekelwe kwimbali nakwiingcamango zonqulo ezifanayo zangaphambili. (Genesis 11:1-9) Ukutyhubela iinkulungwane, oku kuqonda kwagqwetheka kwaza kwafakelwa amasolotyana athile ngokwesithethe ngasinye, nto leyo eyaphumela ekubeni kubekho amabali neentsomi ezininzi ezathi zanwenwela kuthi namhlanje. Ezi ntsomi, ziyicezelayo inyaniso yeBhayibhile, zasilela ukusondeza uluntu kuThixo oyinyaniso.

⁴⁷ Phofu ke, uluntu lukwazibonise iingcamango zalo zonqulo nangezinye iindlela ezahlukahlukeneyo—ngokusebenzelana nemimoya, ngobushaman, ngokusebenzisa umlingo, ngokunqula iminyanya, njalo njalo. Ngaba ezi ndlela zisixelela okuthile ngephulo loluntu lokufuna uThixo?

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 43]

Oothixo BamaGrike NabamaRoma

Oothixo noothixokazi abaninzi beentsomi zamaGrike bakwizigxina ezifanayo kwiintsomi zamaRoma. Kuluhlu olungezantsi kudweliswe abanye babo.

AbamaGrike AbamaRoma Indima Yabo

UAphrodite UVenus Uthixokazi wothando

UAres UMars Uthixo wemfazwe

UAsclepius UAesculapius Uthixo wokuphilisa

UDemeter UCeres Uthixokazi wezinto ezikhulayo

UEros UCupid Uthixo wothando

UHestia UVesta Uthixokazi weziko lomlilo

UHypnos USomnus Uthixo wobuthongo

URhea UOps Umfazi okwangudade boCronus

UZeyus UJupiter Umlawuli woothixo

Oku kuthatyathwe kwiThe World Book Encyclopedia, 1987, Umqulu 13.

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 45]

Oothixo Noothixokazi BaseAsiriya NabaseBhabhiloni

UAnu—uthixo owongamileyo, olawula amazulu; uyise kaIshtar

UAsshur—uthixo ongumphumi-mkhosi wohlanga lwama-Asiriya; okwanguthixo wenzala

UEa—uthixo wamanzi. Uyise kaMarduk. Walumkisa u-Utnapishtim ngomkhukula

UEnlil (uBel)—inkosi yesibhakabhaka; kamva kwintsomi yamaGrike wafaniswa noZeyus. AmaBhabhiloni amfanisa noMarduk (uBel)

UIshtar—sisijikelezi-langa uVenus esimntwisiweyo senziwa uthixo; ukuhenyuza okungcwele kuyinxalenye yesithethe sakhe. WayenguAstarte ePhoenicia, enguAtargatis eSiriya, enguAshtoreti eBhayibhileni (1 Kumkani 11:5, 33), enguAphrodite eGrisi, enguVenus eRoma

UMarduk—ungowokuqala koothixo baseBhabhiloni; “wabatshabalalisa bonke abanye oothixo waza wathabatha imisebenzi yabo eyahlukahlukeneyo.” Wayebizwa ngokuba nguMerodaki ngamaSirayeli

UShamash—uthixo welanga, wokukhanya nokusesikweni. Ungumanduleli ka-Apollo wamaGrike

USin—uthixo wenyanga, olilungu lothixo ongubathathu emnye owayequka uShamash (ilanga) noIshtar (isijikelezi-langa uVenus)

UTammuz (uDumuzi)—uthixo wesivuno. Isithandane sikaIshtar

(Oku kusekelwe kwiNew Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology)

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 60, 61]

Oothixo Bejoni LaseRoma

IRoma yayidume ngomkhosi wayo oqeqeshekileyo. Ukuba yimbumba yamanyama kobukhosi bayo kwakuxhomekeke ekuziphatheni nasekomeleleni komkhosi wokulwa. Ngaba oku kwakunokuthanani nonqulo? Ewe, yaye ngethamsanqa, amaRoma asishiyela ubungqina obucacileyo bobuchule awayenabo obubonakala koohola beendlela, kwiinqaba, kwimisele yamanzi, kumabala ezemidlalo nakwiitempile. Ngokomzekelo, eNorthumbria, emantla eNgilani, kukho uDonga lukaHadrian, oludumileyo, olwakhiwa malunga nowe-122 C.E. Yintoni izinto ezivunjululweyo eziyityhilileyo ngezinto ezazisenzeka kwiikampu zomkhosi wamaRoma nangendima olwalunayo unqulo?

KwiMuziyam iHousesteads, ethe zinzi kufuphi namabhodlo avunjululweyo eekampu zomkhosi wamaRoma kufuphi noDonga lukaHadrian, kukho umbhalo othi: “Ubomi obungokonqulo bejoni laseRoma babahlulahlulwe baziinxalenye ezintathu. Okokuqala . . . sisithethe sabaLawuli Abagqalwa Njengoothixo nokunqulwa koothixo baseRoma abakhuselayo njengoJupiter, uVictory noMars. Isibingelelo sasinikelwa kuJupiter nyaka ngamnye kwibala lenqaba nganye ekwakuhlolwa kulo umkhosi. Onke amajoni ayelindeleke ukuba abe nenxaxheba kwimisitho yokubhiyozela imihla yokuzalwa, imihla yokumiselwa neyokoyisa kwabaLawuli Abagqalwa Njengoothixo.” Hayi indlela oko okufana ngayo namasiko emikhosi yanamhlanje, ekuthi kuyo abefundisi bomkhosi, izibingelelo nezindwe zibe zizinto eziqhelekileyo kunqulo lwasemkhosini.

Kodwa yayiyintoni inkalo yesibini yobomi obungokonqulo bejoni laseRoma? Yayikukunqulwa koothixo abakhuselayo nomoya olondoloza umkhosi wawo ngokukhethekileyo “kwakunye noothixo abathatyathwe kumazwe awo omthonyama.”

“Okokugqibela kwakukho nezithethe ezazilandelwa ngabantu ngabanye. Lo gama nje ijoni laliyiphumeza indima yalo eyimfanelo ekugcineni izithethe ezisemthethweni lalikhululekile ukuba linganqula nawuphi na uthixo elimthandayo.” Oko kuvakala njengenkululeko egqithiseleyo yonqulo, kodwa “kwakukho iinkonzo ezazingahambisani noko, njengeyobuDruid eyayinoqheliselo olwalugqalwa njengolwenkohlakalo, nobuKristu.”—Thelekisa uLuka 20:21-25; 23:1, 2; IZenzo 10:1, 2, 22.

Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, ngowe-1949 itempile kaMithras yafunyanwa kumgxobhozo waseCarrawburgh, kufutshane noDonga lukaHadrian. (Bona umfanekiso.) Abembi bezinto zakudala baqikelela ukuba yakhiwa malunga nowama-205 C.E. Inomfanekiso oqingqiweyo wothixo welanga, izibingelelo nombhalo okroliweyo wesiLatini othi, ngokuyinxenye, “Kuthixo ongenakoyiswa uMithras.”

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 62]

Oothixo BaseYiputa Nezibetho Ezilishumi

UYehova waphumeza umgwebo koothixo abangento baseYiputa ngeZibetho Ezilishumi.—Eksodus 7:14–12:32.

Isibetho Inkcazelo

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 66]

Iintsomi NobuKristu

Ukunqulwa koothixo basentsomini beGrisi nabeRoma yamandulo kwakubalasele xa kwavela ubuKristu malunga namawaka amabini eminyaka edluleyo. EAsiya Mayina amagama esiGrike asabalasele, acacisa isizathu sokuba abantu baseListra (eyiTurkey namhlanje) bababiza abaphilisi abangamaKristu ngokuthi ‘bangoothixo,’ bebhekisela kuPawulos njengoHermes nakuBharnabhas njengoZeyus, endaweni yokubabiza ngoothixo baseRoma uMercury noJupiter. Ingxelo ithi “umbingeleli kaZeyus, obephambi komzi wabo, wazisa iinkunzi zeenkomo nezidanga zeentyatyambo emasangweni, wafuna ukubingelela, kunye neendimbane.” (IZenzo 14:8-18) Kuphela kwaba sebunzimeni awathi uPawulos noBharnabhas baseyisela eso sihlwele kwisibakala sokuba babengafanelwanga kukwenzelwa imibingelelo. Oku kubonisa indlela abo bantu ababezigqala ngokunzulu ngayo iintsomi zabo emva apho.

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 42]

INtaba iOlympus, yaseGrisi, ekucingelwa ukuba ilikhaya loothixo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 47]

Icwecwe lomdongwe ekubhalwe kulo ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo uMbongo kaGilgamesh

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 50]

UAnubis, uthixo onentloko yempungutye, ulinganisa umphefumlo oyintliziyo, kwicala elingasekhohlo lesikali, ewuthelekisa noMaat, uthixokazi wenyaniso nokusesikweni, ofuziselwa lusiba; uThoth ubhala imiphumo elucwecweni ngaphambi kokuba azise uOsiris ngayo

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 55]

UChalchiuhtlicue, uthixokazi wama-Aztec wamanzi ahlaziyayo; ingqayi emile okwesikhova ekukholelwa ukuba kufakwa kuyo iintliziyo ekubingelelwa ngazo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 57]

Ubathathu emnye wamaYiputa: ukususela ekhohlo, nguHorus, uOsiris noIsis

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 58]

Unqulo lwelanga lwamaInca lwaluqheliselwa eMachu Picchu, ePeru

I-Intihuatana, umfanekiso ohlonyelweyo, “indawo yokumisa” ilanga, mhlawu-mbi eyayisetyenziswa ngokunxulumene nokunqula ilanga eMachu Picchu

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 63]

Umfuziselo kaHorus ongukhetshe, uApis oyinkunzi noHeqt olisele. Aba thixo baseYiputa abakwazanga ukuthintela izibetho uYehova awazithumelayo, kuquka nesokujika uMnayile ube ligazi

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 64]

Oothixo bamaGrike, ukususela ekhohlo, nguAphrodite; nguZeyus ofunqule uGanymede, umngcamli woothixo; noArtemis