And one intriguing perspective comes to us from the writings attributed to Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher who lived in Egypt during the time of the Second Temple. In "The Midrash of Philo," he grapples with this very geographical puzzle.
Philo notes that the Tigris and Euphrates are said to spring from the mountains of Armenia. Okay, sounds straightforward enough. But then he throws a curveball: "…but there is no paradise there at this day, nor do both the sources of both these rivers remain there." So, what gives? Did Paradise move? Did the rivers shift course?
Philo proposes a fascinating solution. Maybe, just maybe, the earthly location we associate with the rivers isn't the actual source of Paradise at all. Perhaps, he suggests, Paradise exists in a place "at a distance from this part of the world which we inhabit." Maybe there's a hidden river, flowing beneath the earth, feeding these mighty waterways. This subterranean river, according to Philo, sends forth countless streams that eventually burst forth in various locations, including – but not limited to – the mountains of Armenia.
Think of it like an underground spring system so vast that its tendrils reach far and wide.
So, are the mountains of Armenia the true source? Philo hedges a bit. He suggests that what we consider the sources of the rivers might actually be just part of their course. Or, he adds, we can still consider them "correctly looked upon as sources," because we must consider the scriptures infallible, which point out the fact of four rivers.
But here's where it gets really interesting. Philo hints at another layer of understanding. Maybe this isn't just about physical geography at all. Perhaps, "this passage also contains an allegorical meaning."
The four rivers, he says, could represent four virtues: The Pishon, he connects to prudence, linking it to the idea of parsimony, or careful management. The Gihon symbolizes sobriety, reflecting restraint and moderation in our appetites. The Tigris embodies fortitude, the strength to control our anger and passions. And finally, the Euphrates represents justice, the quality that brings the greatest joy to humankind.
Isn't that a beautiful idea? That these rivers, these life-giving forces of the earth, could also be seen as symbols of the virtues that sustain our inner lives?
So, what do we take away from Philo’s midrash? Is it a geographical puzzle, a mystical journey, or a moral lesson? Maybe it’s all three. Perhaps the true location of Paradise isn't a place on a map, but a state of being – a place where prudence, sobriety, fortitude, and justice flow freely within us.
Maybe that's the Paradise we should be searching for.