Europe, A Prophecy
Quick Summary
Europe, a Prophecy is a work by William Blake published in 1794. It is one of Blake's "Prophetic Books" and features the character of Urizen, a godlike figure representing reason and law.1
In the work, Urizen is depicted as a scientist creating the Earth with compasses. Blake believed Urizen to be the true deity worshipped by his contemporaries, and the narrative explores the struggle against chaos resulting from the loss of a true human spirit. The frontispiece of Europe is a well-known image sometimes called The Ancient of Days, showing a bearded figure defining the universe with compasses, challenging conventional notions of God.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
