Let there be light
Let there be light is a common English translation of the Latin phrase fiat lux, which describes the creation of light by God near the beginning of Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. Fiat lux is adapted from the Greek phrase γενηθήτω φώς (or genēthētō phōs), which in turn comes from the Hebrew יְהִי אוֹר (or yehiy 'or). It is one of the most famous phrases in the English language due to its presence in the third verse of the King James Bible:
1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 - And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
1:4 - And God saw the light, that it was good:
Contents
1 Fiat lux
2 Use
2.1 In literature
3 External links
Fiat lux
The Latin phrase fiat lux, from the Latin Vulgate Bible, is typically translated as "let there be light" when relating to Genesis 1:3 (Hebrew: "יְהִי אוֹר"). The full phrase is "dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux" ("And said God let there be light, and there was light"), from the Greek "και είπεν ο Θεός γενηθήτω φως και εγένετο φως" (or kai eipen ho Theos genēthētō phōs kai egeneto phōs), from the Hebrew "וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר" (or vayo'mer 'Elohiym yehiy 'or vayehiy 'or).
Since fiat lux would be more literally translated as "let light be made" (fiat is from fieri, the passive form of the verb facere, "to make" or "to do"), an alternative Latinization of the original Greek and Hebrew, lux sit ("light - let it exist" or "let light exist") has been used occasionally, such as in the motto of the University of Washington.
Use
Fiat lux is the motto of the University of California, Angelo State University, University of Akron, Rollins College, and Albion College and appears on the seals of the four universities. It is also the motto of the University of Lethbridge in southern Alberta, Canada; Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts; Alfred University, Alfred, N.Y. and has been referred to in multiple movies, books, and games—often for its metaphorical meaning of dispelling ignorance. It also appears on the outside of Kerns Religious Life Center at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Fiat Lux is also on the seal of the University of Liverpool in England, as well as the Jacksonville University. Et facta est lux appears on the seal of Morehouse College.
Fiat Lux is the name of a Masonic research lodge in Alberta, Canada.
Fiat Lux is also the name of a controversial cult of some 500 members, based in Switzerland and Germany, led by the prophetess "Uriella". It is relatively unknown outside of German-speaking countries.
Fiat Lux is also the name of an independent animated short shown on Eye Drops.
Fiat Lux was also a very obscure British 80s band, quite similar to Depeche Mode. Today, it has a small but dedicated following, although it never enjoyed much mainstream success. It was formed in Yorkshire, England in 1982. They had a slightly popular single named 'Secrets', which many people today might recognize without being able to name the band. They also released three other singles and a mini-LP called 'Hired History'. They enjoyed more success away from the UK touring Europe with the likes of Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Blancmange, The Sound and Level 42. A number four chart position was achieved in New Zealand with 'Secrets' and 'Blue Emotion' was a top ten single in countries in Europe.
Fiat Lux is also the name of a Paducah, Kentucky based punk rock band.
Fiat Lux is a Brazilian matchstick trademark.
Fiat Lux is also a film recording the pilgrimage of the World Peace Flame in the footsteps of St Francis from Assisi to Rome. Carried by Mansukh Patel, Lalita Doerstel, Andrew Wells and Savitri MacCuish, the pilgrimage concludes when the World Peace Flame is presented to HH Pope John Paul II.
Fiat Lux is also the name of a collection of photographs of the University of California campuses taken by American photographer Ansel Adams.
Fiat Lux is the name of a declaration within the Kingdom of Lochac in the Society for Creative Anachronism to preserve the status of Light Combatants in the face of proposed rule changes. (Archers and Banner-Bearers)
In literature
Let There Be Light is an elegantly written comic diary by the English humourist Tony Gillan, published in 2001. The title refers to the Stadium of Light, the home of Sunderland A.F.C., a football club. Despite the fact that the diaries are based on the time the author spent as an employee of the club, the book is not really concerned with football, but provides a vehicle for comic descriptions of modern life. The book has given cult status to the Ivy House pub in Sunderland, now a minor tourist attraction.
"Let There Be Light" is a short story Robert A. Heinlein wrote and published in Super Science Stories magazine in May 1940 under the pseudonym Lyle Monroe.
Fiat Lux is a science fiction novella by Walter M. Miller, Jr, published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1956. It appears as the middle part of the book A Canticle for Leibowitz, published in 1959.
The phrase concludes Isaac Asimov's science fiction short story The Last Question, symbolizing the godlike growth in power of an extremely advanced computer.
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fiat lux先说,facta est lux才有,故而声先于光。
- Re: dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est luxposted on 12/20/2006
xw also knows about Latin,Greek and Hebrew?
i just know about the Italian car brand FIAT.:) - Re: dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est luxposted on 12/20/2006
想写一首光的诗,便想到Fiat lux了。
不懂西伯莱希腊,正在学拉丁。昨晚读到罗马人的野蛮,却有些后悔
了。好在有卢克莱修、西塞罗、维吉尔、还有老普林尼在。
- Re: dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est luxposted on 12/20/2006
xw wrote:
想写一首光的诗,便想到Fiat lux了。
不懂西伯莱希腊,正在学拉丁。昨晚读到罗马人的野蛮,却有些后悔
了。好在有卢克莱修、西塞罗、维吉尔、还有老普林尼。
我上学那阵儿学过半年拉丁,现在全都忘了。
老外教到最后就剩3、4个学生。:)
xw的文风和自立有些像。 - Re: dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est luxposted on 12/21/2006
青冈的拉丁再捡起来吧。
你不是正在学习自然观鸟吗,其实自然学是很需要拉丁的,比如花鸟
草虫的名称,在外语里大多用拉丁,因为通俗名容易误会。
林奈和达尔文都是学神学,他们都通拉丁。
Credere est scire, scire est intellegere, intellerere est credere...
Non quaero intellegere ut credam, sed credo ut intellegam.
- Re: dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est luxposted on 12/21/2006
xw wrote:我那本拉丁书倒是一直没丢。但是现在捡不起来了,记忆力下降,尤其拉丁那些变格什么的,很难背。
青冈的拉丁再捡起来吧。
现在时间很少,几乎什么都做不成,只能仰望满天星空了。:)
xw倒是很让我钦佩,还能像小孩一样对许多事情有兴趣,真是难得。
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