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Ere Babylon was dust, The Magus Zoroaster, my dead child…

“Ere Babylon was dust, The Magus Zoroaster, my dead child, Met his own image walking in the garden, That apparition, sole of men, he saw.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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“Ere Babylon was dust, The Magus Zoroaster, my dead child, Met his own image walking in the garden, That apparition, sole of men, he saw.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poet imagines a primordial figure confronting his own reflection, symbolizing humanity’s search for identity.

In simple terms: A mythic figure meets his reflection.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on self‑identity and origins.

Themes

mythology identity reflection

Mood

mysterious reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal introspection
  • creative writing
  • philosophical debate

Key Concepts

existentialism self‑discovery literature

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the reflection represent for you?
  • How does myth help us understand self?
A Different Perspective

Mythic imagery can be obscure to modern readers.

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