The first stanza is about ancient man, the primitive. The primitive has enlightenment, illumination. That is, he understands the truth. The Mother of Liberty, fire, illumination are all gnostic images of enlightenment. Along comes organized religion, with it's lies. There is a reference to the Frazer argument that the death of Christ is just a retelling of the Osiris myth. The person who has been tainted by the lies of organized religion, finally gains enlightenment, and transcends his ego, with the knowledge that he will be reborn after his body dies.
The first stanza is about ancient man, the primitive. The primitive has enlightenment, illumination. That is, he understands the truth. The Mother of Liberty, fire, illumination are all gnostic images of enlightenment. Along comes organized religion, with it's lies. There is a reference to the Frazer argument that the death of Christ is just a retelling of the Osiris myth. The person who has been tainted by the lies of organized religion, finally gains enlightenment, and transcends his ego, with the knowledge that he will be reborn after his body dies.