The Great Chain of Being
Finding our place in the cosmic hierarchy
The Great Chain of Being is a schematic organizational structure of the hierarchy of existence as believed by Christians during medieval times.
The diagram above does an excellent job of capturing the concept. On the bottom is a graphic illustration of Hell and its punishments which mirrored the tortures being performed by the Inquisition at the time this illustration was created. In the right margin, fallen angels can be seen falling to Hell.
The main part of the diagram is taken up by various domains. The lowest domain is that of the minerals. Above that is the domain of plants. There are five spheres on the page’s left margin which mark the various domains.
Above the plants is the domain of animals which has been divided into land animals on the lowest level with fish and other aquatic life on the next level, and then birds on the top of the three levels that make up the animal domain. Above the animal domain is the human one. Above the human domain is one of the angels and above that is God.
