Bollingen Tower
Encyclopedia
Bollingen Tower is a structure built by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung
, in appearance a small castle with several towers, located in Bollingen, on the shore of the Obersee basin of Lake Zürich
, canton of St. Gallen
, Switzerland
.
Jung bought the estate in 1922, following the death of his mother. He began building a primitive stone dwelling which was ultimately to develop into his Turm ("tower"). Over a twelve-year period, he added three lateral buildings to the central structure, aiming at a representation in stone of his understanding of the structure of the psyche
.
In 1950, on the occasion of his 75th birthday, Jung set up a stone cube on the lakeshore, just west of the tower, inscribing it on three sides.
One side contains a quote of the Rosarium philosophorum, hic lapis exilis extat, pretio quoque vilis, spernitur a stultis, amatur plus ab edoctis ("this stone is poor, and cheap in price; it is disdained by fools, but it is loved all the more by the wise"),
and the dedication
"in memory of his 75th birthday C.G. Jung out of gratitude made and set up [this stone], in the year 1950."
On the second side, Jung Telesphorus
figure, a dwarf or homunculus
bearing a lantern and wearing a hooded cape, surrounded by a Greek inscription.
«Ὁ Αἰὼν παῖς ἐστι παίζων, πεττεύων· παιδὸς ἡ βασιληίη» · Τελεσφόρος διελαύνων τοὺς σκοτεινοὺς τοῦ κόσμου τόπους, καὶ ὡς ἀστὴρ ἀναλάμπων ἐκ τοῦ βάθους, ὁδηγεῖ «παρ' Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων».
The central figure is Homunculus
-Mercurius
-Telesphorus
, wearing a hooded cape and carrying a lantern. He is surrounded by a quaternary Mandala
of alchemical significance, with the top quarter dedicated to Saturn
, the bottom quarter to Mars, the left quarter to Sol-Jupiter ("male") and the right quarter to Luna-Venus ("female"). The Greek inscription translates to approximately:
"Aion (Time, Eternity, the Eon) is a child at play, gambling; a child's is the kingship. Telesphorus ("the Accomplisher") traverses the dark places of the world, like a star flashing from the deep, leading the way to the Gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams"
Time is a child at play, gambling; a child's is the kingship is a fragment attributed to Heraclitus
.
to the Gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams is a quote of the Odyssey
(24.11), referring to Hermes
the psychopomp
leading the spirits of the slain suitors away.
The third side contains a Latin inscription.
A second story was added after the death of Jung's wife in 1955, symbolising an "extension of consciousness achieved in old age".
For much of his life Jung spent several months a year living at Bollingen, and here he accomplished much of his writing, painting, and sculpture.
Jung's residence is now owned by a family trust and is not open to the public.
The Bollingen Foundation
, founded in 1945, was named after Jung's residence.
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
, in appearance a small castle with several towers, located in Bollingen, on the shore of the Obersee basin of Lake Zürich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
, canton of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Jung bought the estate in 1922, following the death of his mother. He began building a primitive stone dwelling which was ultimately to develop into his Turm ("tower"). Over a twelve-year period, he added three lateral buildings to the central structure, aiming at a representation in stone of his understanding of the structure of the psyche
Psyche (psychology)
The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...
.
In 1950, on the occasion of his 75th birthday, Jung set up a stone cube on the lakeshore, just west of the tower, inscribing it on three sides.
One side contains a quote of the Rosarium philosophorum, hic lapis exilis extat, pretio quoque vilis, spernitur a stultis, amatur plus ab edoctis ("this stone is poor, and cheap in price; it is disdained by fools, but it is loved all the more by the wise"),
and the dedication
"in memory of his 75th birthday C.G. Jung out of gratitude made and set up [this stone], in the year 1950."
On the second side, Jung Telesphorus
Telesphorus (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Telesphorus was a son of Asclepius. He frequently accompanied his sister, Hygieia. He was a dwarf whose head was always covered with a hood or cap....
figure, a dwarf or homunculus
Homunculus
Homunculus is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being. Historically, it referred specifically to the concept of a miniature though fully formed human body, for example, in the studies of alchemy and preformationism...
bearing a lantern and wearing a hooded cape, surrounded by a Greek inscription.
«Ὁ Αἰὼν παῖς ἐστι παίζων, πεττεύων· παιδὸς ἡ βασιληίη» · Τελεσφόρος διελαύνων τοὺς σκοτεινοὺς τοῦ κόσμου τόπους, καὶ ὡς ἀστὴρ ἀναλάμπων ἐκ τοῦ βάθους, ὁδηγεῖ «παρ' Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων».
The central figure is Homunculus
Homunculus
Homunculus is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being. Historically, it referred specifically to the concept of a miniature though fully formed human body, for example, in the studies of alchemy and preformationism...
-Mercurius
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
-Telesphorus
Telesphorus (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Telesphorus was a son of Asclepius. He frequently accompanied his sister, Hygieia. He was a dwarf whose head was always covered with a hood or cap....
, wearing a hooded cape and carrying a lantern. He is surrounded by a quaternary Mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
of alchemical significance, with the top quarter dedicated to Saturn
Saturn (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. His reign was depicted as a Golden Age of abundance and peace by many Roman authors. In medieval times he was known as the Roman god of agriculture, justice and strength. He held a sickle in...
, the bottom quarter to Mars, the left quarter to Sol-Jupiter ("male") and the right quarter to Luna-Venus ("female"). The Greek inscription translates to approximately:
"Aion (Time, Eternity, the Eon) is a child at play, gambling; a child's is the kingship. Telesphorus ("the Accomplisher") traverses the dark places of the world, like a star flashing from the deep, leading the way to the Gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams"
Time is a child at play, gambling; a child's is the kingship is a fragment attributed to Heraclitus
Heraclitus
Heraclitus of Ephesus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, a native of the Greek city Ephesus, Ionia, on the coast of Asia Minor. He was of distinguished parentage. Little is known about his early life and education, but he regarded himself as self-taught and a pioneer of wisdom...
.
to the Gates of the Sun and the Land of Dreams is a quote of the Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
(24.11), referring to Hermes
Hermes
Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
the psychopomp
Psychopomp
Psychopomps are creatures, spirits, angels, or deities in many religions whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls to the afterlife. Their role is not to judge the deceased, but simply provide safe passage...
leading the spirits of the slain suitors away.
The third side contains a Latin inscription.
A second story was added after the death of Jung's wife in 1955, symbolising an "extension of consciousness achieved in old age".
For much of his life Jung spent several months a year living at Bollingen, and here he accomplished much of his writing, painting, and sculpture.
Jung's residence is now owned by a family trust and is not open to the public.
The Bollingen Foundation
Bollingen Foundation
The Bollingen Foundation was an educational foundation set up along the lines of a university press in 1945. It was named for Bollingen Tower, Carl Jung's country home in Bollingen, Switzerland. Funding was provided by Paul Mellon and his wife Mary Conover Mellon...
, founded in 1945, was named after Jung's residence.