Mephistopheles

The Tragedy of Doctor Faust -The various tales that gathered about Faust's name first appeared in literature in Historia von Dr. Johann Fausten (1587), published in Frankfurt. According to this narrative, the scholar Faust made a compact with the devil, called Mephistopheles, by the terms of which the devil increased Faust's knowledge of magic and also gave him 24 years of pleasure and power, after which Faust's soul was to belong to the devil. At the end of the 24 years the devil carried Faust off to hell, and Faust repented having bartered his soul for illusory knowledge and pleasure. -The narrative appeared in English verse in 1587 and in German verse in 1588. In 1592 it appeared in French and English prose versions. It provided the basis for the powerful drama The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (1588?) by the English playwright Christopher Marlowe. -The greatest and most famous version of the Faust legend and the one on which nearly all subsequent versions were based was the poetic drama Faust (first part, 1808; second, 1832) by the German poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This work differs from most earlier versions in that Goethe's Faust makes a compact with the devil because he genuinely desires to extend the boundaries of his knowledge; in the end he is not damned. -Among the literature based on the legend and appearing after the publication of Goethe's drama are three works in German, the dramatic epic Faust (1835), by NikolausLenau; Heinrich Heine's ballad Faust (1851), and the novel Doktor Faustus (1947) by Thomas Mann.

Mephistopheles and Faust An illustration from an early edition of the 1832 poetic drama Faust, by German playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, depicts Mephistopheles, the devil, tempting Faust with a bargain for his soul. Who is Mephistopheles? -Subordinate of Satan: in medieval legends, a subordinate to the devil, one of the seven archangels cast out of heaven, to which Faust sold his soul. -He who destroys by lies -It would seem that it was Mephistopheles passion for sardonic wit and sneering cynicism that caused him to turn from God to find more entertaining past times in the form of relentlessly pursuing human souls on Earth. -It is said that being an angel bored him.

Who is Faust? -Faust (Latin Faustus) (1480-1540), German fortune-teller and magician. He is noted not for the actual events of his life but for the legends concerning him that formed the basis for numerous literary and musical works. He was reputedly a schoolteacher in various university cities in Germany and traveled about performing tricks of magic and telling fortunes. Several scholars of his own time depicted him as an unscrupulous charlatan; according to other accounts he came under the patronage of the archbishop of Cologne in 1532 and thereafter was a prominent and respected citizen. Stories of his supernatural powers were believed by contemporary scholars and divines, including Melanchthon and Martin Luther, leaders of the Reformation in Germany. By the late 16th century such stories were widely told and credited, and other legends about the powers of pseudo scientists and magicians of medieval times were associated with Faust's name. Quotations:

Mephistopheles: Besides, civilization, which now licks Us all so smooth, has taught even the Devil tricks; The northern fiend's becoming a lost cause Where are his horns these days, his tail, his claws? Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) German poet, playwright, and Scientist [Faust] 

Scene from Doctor Faustus -In this scene from the play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (1588?) by Christopher Marlowe, the figure of Faust, or Faustus, appears on the right, and the devil Mephistopheles on the left. Faustus is a German scholar who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. In Marlowes version of the legend, Faustus progresses from seeker of divine power to desperate penitent. But he is too late in his repentance to save himself from hell.

FAUSTUS And what are you that live with Lucifer? MEPHISTOPHELES Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspired against our God with Lucifer, and are forever damned with Lucifer.

Christopher Marlowe(1564-1593) English play right and poet  Omniscient am I not, but wellinformed. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) German poet, playwright, and scientist. Said by Mephistopheles

[Faust]

Antaeus
Pollaiuolos Hercules et Antaeus In a wrestling match, Hercules triumphed over the mighty giant Antaeus, who received his strength from his mother, the Earth goddess Gaia. By lifting the giant off the Earth, Hercules caused him to lose his strength. This sculpture of Hercules and Antaeus (Bargello Museum, Florence) by Renaissance artist Antonio Pollaiuolo dates from about 1475.

The Legend of Antaeus -Antaeus, in Greek mythology, a mighty giant of Libya, son of the sea god Poseidon and Gaea (Mother Earth). Antaeus wrestled with the Greek hero Hercules over possession of Antaeuss wife Deianira. Perceiving that Antaeuss strength was renewed by contact with his mother Earth, Hercules lifted Antaeus into the air and crushed him to death. -A celebrated exploit of Hercules was his victory over Antus. Antus, the son of Terra, the Earth, was a mighty giant and wrestler, whose strength was invincible so long as he remained in contact with his mother Earth. He compelled all strangers who came to his country to wrestle with him, on condition that if conquered (as they all were) they should be put to death. Hercules encountered him, and finding that it was of no avail to throw him, for he always rose with renewed strength from every fall, he lifted him up from the earth and strangled him in the air.

Budapest

prominent suburbs include Vc and Gdll on the east side of the Danube, and Budars and Budakeszi on the west side. The Danube is nearly 1 km (0.6 mi) wide at Budapests northern limit. A little farther south, the river encircles two islands, buda Island and Margaret Island. At its narrowest point in the city, the river is only 230 m (750 ft) wide. The two sections of the city separated by the river are markedly different. Pest sprawls across flat terrain while Buda is very hilly. The hills of Buda are between 150 and 500 m (500 and 1,600 ft) high. Historically the seat of government, Buda has an elegance derived from its beautiful Gothic churches and public buildings and its exclusive residential neighborhoods. Pest possesses monumental government buildings and the citys most popular shopping thoroughfare, Vci Avenue. Pest is generally more industrial than Buda. Residential and industrial neighborhoods sprawl beyond the historic central areas of Buda and Pest in all directions. The grand monuments that distinguish Buda are concentrated on Castle Hill, in central Buda, and on Gellrt Hill, to the south. The Royal Palace atop Castle Hill, restored as a museum complex after World War II (19391945), still has fortifications that date to the 13th century, when the first fortress was built there. Over the centuries a series of palaces were built and destroyed on the site. The much-admired neo-Gothic Matthias Church, also on Castle Hill, was constructed at the end of the 19th century, based on a much simpler original dating to the 15th century. The Citadel was built on top of Gellrt Hill in 1851 by the Austrians, who then ruled Hungary, but it was never used for military purposes. Liberation Monument, also atop Gellrt Hill, was erected by the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1947 but was left in place even after Hungarys Communist regime collapsed in 1990.

Budapest, capital and by far the largest city of Hungary, located in northern Hungary on both banks of the Danube River. Home to about 20 percent of Hungarys population, Budapest is the countrys cultural and industrial center. Three townsPest, Buda, and budacombined in 1873 to form the capital of newly autonomous Hungary. Hungarians use the nickname Pest to refer to the city. Budapest has a temperate climate. Spring usually arrives in early April, followed by hot, humid summers. The temperature in July averages 22 C (72 F). It is often cloudy and damp during the short winters; the average January temperature is -2 C (29 F). Snowfall can be heavy. Budapest and its Metropolitan Area Budapest, within city limits, covers 525 sq km (203 sq mi). Buda, now a section of Budapest located on the western side of the Danube, occupies one-third of the citys area, while Pest, the city section on the eastern side of the river, occupies the remaining two-thirds. The metropolitan area, which spans 2,250 sq km (869 sq mi), encompasses eight other cities and 70 villages, some of which have recently become popular suburbs for affluent peoplemoving out of Budapest. The most

Eight bridges connect Buda and Pest, seven of which date from before World War II. All of these were damaged in the war and had to be rebuilt. The older bridges are considered marvels of civic engineering, particularly the Chain Bridge (built in 1849) and Liberty Bridge (1896). The Elizabeth Bridge (completed in 1903) was not rebuilt in its original form, but rather a new, contemporary design was substituted in 1964. Pests layout is determined by two concentric semicircular boulevards. The Small Boulevard (Kiskrt) encircles the historic inner city of Pest, and the Great Boulevard (Nagy krt), is located farther out. Wide avenues, including Vci and Andrssy, radiate out from the boulevards. Outside the Great Boulevard, Pest is densely populated and has a great deal of industry. Remarkable buildings in the inner city include Town Hall (originally Old Soldiers Home, built in 1749), the Hungarian National Museum (1802), the Basilica of Saint Stephen (completed in 1905), the neoRenaissance State Opera House (1884), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences building (completed in 1865), and the Parliament building (completed in 1904). City Park, located in northeastern Pest beyond the Great Boulevard, is home to several beautiful museums, including the architecturally varied Vajdahunyad Castle. Constructed out of canvas for an exhibition in 1896, then built in stone in 1904, the castle has Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque wings.