ATDDTA (8) Towers of Silence (209:26)

[Ya Sam]

The vision of the Towers is synthetic, eclectic if you please. Pynchon 
combines many elements. As has already been mentioned they not only refer to 
the Zoroastrian tradition but also to the Tibetan sky burial. Maybe there is 
some portal to Shambhala in Jeshimon, the last place you would be looking 
for it? Don't forget also the way Webb is murdered, it reminds one of the 
medieval execution of breaking on the wheel, his extremities are broken in a 
similar manner. The broken (but still alive) people were 'weaved' between 
the stokes of the wheels which were subsequently raised on poles for the 
crows and vultures to prey. Breughel very luridly depicted this execution on 
'The Triumph of Death'.

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