CENTURIA IX · QUATRAIN XXXII
The Overturned Column
De fin porphire profond collon trouvee,
Dessoubz la laze escriptz capitolin:
Os, poil retors, Romain force prouvee,
Classe agiter du port de Methelin.
A column of fine porphyry found deep,
beneath the laze, Capitoline inscriptions:
bones, twisted hair, Roman strength proven,
the fleet stirs from the port of Methelin.
THE MASTER SAYS…
It is difficult for me to pronounce this word. “Porphyry” — is it a stone or something like that? Your pronunciation is close enough. It is a substance. It relates to one of the components of the so-called “Greek fire.” He says that it is something similar to what we call “resin or asphalt.” This verse relates to the general political situation at the time when the Antichrist first comes. “A column of fine porphyry with capitals carved at the base” indicates how the basic state and moral structures will, so to speak, be turned upside down. Everyone will be in confusion, and into this confusion the Antichrist will enter. And this will make it easier for him to seize power. What do “bones and twisted hair” symbolize? It symbolizes old values that were discarded but should have been preserved: things like honesty and integrity. Everything will be turned upside down, and it will be so difficult to find an honest person who can be trusted. And does “the testing of Roman strength” refer to Italy? He says that this refers to how he will advance from the south into Europe. Yes, we have already considered other quatrains describing his battle plans [in the first volume]. Why did he use the symbolism of porphyry? He says that one of the key issues of the conflict will be control over oil fields. They did not even try to translate this.