This triune image—a majestic king, a child, and a crucified god—represents the complete cycle of divine manifestation and sacrifice as concentrated in Tiphareth, the sixth Sephirah on the Tree of Life. The king symbolizes sovereignty and the fullness of solar power; the child embodies innocence, potential, and the promise of renewal; the crucified god signifies voluntary self-sacrifice for the redemption of the cosmos. Together, they form a single glyph of the solar hero who descends into matter, suffers, and is reborn.

Position on the Tree of Life

Tiphareth, meaning "Beauty," is the central Sephirah on the Middle Pillar, harmonizing the forces of the upper and lower Sephiroth. As the heart of the Tree, it receives and balances the energies of Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Severity). The image of the king, child, and crucified god reflects Tiphareth's role as the point of equilibrium, where the divine light becomes fully conscious of itself through sacrifice.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

Tiphareth is attributed to the Sun, the source of life and light in the solar system. The solar hero myths—from Osiris to Christ to Mithras—all echo this triune image: the king rules the day, the child is the newborn sun at the winter solstice, and the crucified god is the sun descending into the underworld at the autumnal equinox. The Sun's annual journey through the zodiac mirrors the cycle of birth, death, and resurrection inherent in this symbol.

Historical Context

The image of a majestic king, a child, and a crucified god draws from multiple esoteric and religious traditions. In Egyptian mythology, Osiris is both a king and a slain god, while his son Horus is the child avenger. In Christianity, Christ is hailed as King of Kings, born as a child in a manger, and crucified for humanity's sins. The Hermetic and Qabalistic traditions synthesize these figures into a single archetype: the solar hero who undergoes the "sacrifice of the self" to achieve spiritual illumination. In the Golden Dawn system, this image is used as a magical visualization for Tiphareth, representing the Adept who has attained the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel through the ordeal of self-surrender.

Closing

In Liber 777, this triune image appears as the magical image for Tiphareth on the scale of the Sephiroth, encapsulating the essence of solar divinity in its most complete and paradoxical form.