L'Éternel Retour : le temps cyclique dans le mythe

From the deepest ancient wisdom to modern cosmological theories, the concept of The Eternal Return the idea that time is cyclical and that all events endlessly repeat holds profound, unsettling power.

Unlike the linear, beginning-to-end perspective dominating Western thought, cyclical time systems offer a universe where creation is inseparable from destruction.

This philosophical bedrock, rooted in countless mythologies, dictates how ancient societies viewed fate, morality, and the very meaning of existence.

We delve into the structural frameworks that support this pervasive mythic theme. We explore how different cultures, separated by geography and era, arrived at the same cosmic conclusion: that history is not a line, but a repeating spiral. Understanding these mythic cycles illuminates human attempts to find meaning in an unpredictable cosmos.

The Cosmic Clockwork: Ancient Foundations of Repetition

The structure of The Eternal Return is not abstract; it is built into the very observation of the natural world and the heavens. Ancient mythologies derived their sense of time from observable, repeating patterns.

Mesopotamian and Hellenic Cycles

The earliest codified examples come from Mesopotamian astronomy, where the precise movements of planets and stars suggested cosmic regularity. This inspired the idea of a Great Year, a vast cycle culminating in a global catastrophe, followed by complete renewal.

The Stoics and Pythagoras later formalized this concept in Hellenic philosophy. They posited that at the end of a vast, repeating cycle, the universe would undergo an Apokatastasis (restoration), returning everything to its original state. The universe would then repeat the exact same events, down to the smallest detail.

For these thinkers, individual free will became a paradox within a fated, repeating sequence. This belief system offered comfort by imposing order, but also existential dread through the elimination of genuine newness.

++ Mythologie chez Marvel : Dieux nordiques contre Marvel

The Dance of Creation and Destruction

In many mythologies, the creation of the cosmos is tied directly to its future destruction, forming a complete circle. This means destruction is not an end, but the necessary condition for the next beginning.

Consider the Norse myth of Ragnarök. It is the destined “Twilight of the Gods,” ending in fire and flood, yet it immediately promises the emergence of a new, green world from the ocean.

This event is not a final judgment but a cosmic reset button, affirming The Eternal Return. This cyclical destruction and rebirth provided a powerful model for understanding agricultural seasons and life itself.

Eastern Philosophy: Time as a Spiral, Not a Line

Eastern traditions perhaps most fully embrace the spiritual and cosmological implications of cyclical time, viewing reality itself as an endless, rotating mechanism.

The Kalpas and Yugas of Hinduism

Hindu cosmology presents time in truly staggering dimensions, built upon repeating cycles known as Kalpas et Yugas.

En savoir plus: Mythes de la création à travers le monde : comparaison des contes grecs, nordiques, hindous et autochtones

The Four Ages and Deterioration

UN Kalpa represents one day in the life of Brahma, containing thousands of repeating Mahayugas. Each Mahayuga comprises four descending Yugas (Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali). Each age sees a moral and physical deterioration of humanity.

We are currently believed to be in the Kali Yuga, the Age of Conflict, which is the shortest and most degraded period. This system implies that progress is an illusion; the universe is continuously falling away from a Golden Age, only to be entirely reset when the cycle concludes. This cyclical decline is an integral part of The Eternal Return.

This cosmic framework influences spiritual goals, shifting focus away from worldly achievements. The goal becomes escaping the cycle of Samsara (reincarnation) itself, rather than improving conditions within a predetermined, decaying reality.

Lire aussi : Pourquoi les mythes du déluge apparaissent dans tant de civilisations

Buddhist and Mayan Recurrence

Buddhism also operates on vast, cyclical periods, reinforcing the principle of impermanence (anicca) by showing that even the grandest cosmic structures are subject to birth and decay. The historical Buddha is one of many; others have appeared and will appear in future cycles.

Similarly, the Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures built their calendars around precise, interlocking cycles, with certain periods holding special mythological significance for ritual repetition.

The famed Long Count calendar demonstrated their belief in the repeating nature of historical eras, emphasizing that all events belong to a larger, recurring pattern.

The Mythic Function: Creating Meaning Through Repetition

Why did ancient societies universally adopt this profoundly repetitive view of time? The answer lies in the psychological and social function it served.

The Sacralization of Time

Cyclical time allows for the sacralization of time. By performing rituals at the same point in the annual or agricultural cycle, humans could reenact the original, perfect mythical creation moment (in illo tempore).

Ritual and Moral Renewal

The repetition of ancient myths and ceremonies served as a powerful mechanism for moral and communal renewal. Every new year was, spiritually, a new creation. This allowed the society to symbolically erase the errors and decay of the past year and begin again, restored to its original, sacred integrity.

This reliance on repetition instilled a sense of profound stability and predictability in a chaotic world. It assured people that disaster was temporary and that the foundational cosmic order would inevitably restore itself. This mechanism provided psychological resilience, an essential function of The Eternal Return in turbulent times.

Analogy: The belief in The Eternal Return is like understanding a symphony. The music isn’t a single, linear note; it consists of repeating motifs, movements, and themes that constantly reappear and transform, creating a larger, cohesive, and predictable structure.

The Challenge to Modernity

The concept poses a challenge to modern, linear-time societies. We focus on historical progress and perpetual innovation. The mythic cycle, however, suggests that our current achievements are temporary.

The philosopher Mircea Eliade noted in his seminal work, The Myth of the Eternal Return, that modern man suffers from the “terror of history” the fear that events are unique and irreversible.

Ancient man was protected from this terror by the assurance that all suffering was merely a temporary, repeating moment within a grand, cosmic structure.

Table: Comparative Time Scales in Cyclical Mythology

Conclusion: Finding Meaning in the Loop

The Eternal Return is far more than an ancient superstition; it is a sophisticated, deeply embedded cultural mechanism for survival and meaning-making.

It tells us that our lives, while seemingly finite, are part of something infinitely larger and repeating. By accepting the cycles of birth and decay, ancient cultures found solace and stability.

Whether viewed through the spiritual lens of Kali Yuga or the devastating grandeur of Ragnarök, the message is the same: nothing is truly lost, only transformed and scheduled for recurrence.

This mythic framework reminds us that our obsession with linear progress might obscure a deeper, more fundamental reality of endless cosmic recurrence.

Should we worry less about where history is going and instead focus on how we live the present moment, knowing it might recur eternally?

What aspect of cyclical time do you find most compelling the promise of renewal or the elimination of true novelty? Share your thoughts below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is The Eternal Return a literal belief in modern times?

UN: While most modern societies adhere to a linear view of time, the concept of The Eternal Return remains a crucial philosophical and cultural tool.

It is studied literally within Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmologies. Philosophers like Nietzsche used it as a thought experiment about moral choice would you live your life differently if you knew you had to repeat it endlessly?

Q: How does The Eternal Return differ from reincarnation?

UN: Reincarnation (Samsara in Hinduism/Buddhism) refers to the cyclical rebirth of the individual soul (Atman or consciousness).

The Eternal Return refers to the cyclical repetition of the entire cosmos, including time, space, and all events within it. An individual may be reborn, but the entire universe also dies and is reborn repeatedly.

Q: Which modern scientific theory most closely resembles cyclical time?

UN: While purely speculative, the cosmological model of the Cyclic or Oscillating Universe (a variation of the Big Bounce theory) suggests that the universe undergoes an infinite series of expansions (Big Bangs) and contractions (Big Crunches).

Each cycle creates a new universe, offering a highly abstract, scientific parallel to the mythological idea of The Eternal Return.

Juscilene Alves 7 de octobre de 2025