Walking on water

This article is about the general act. For the biblical account, see Jesus walking on water. For other uses, see Walk on Water.
Walking on water float design by Leonardo da Vinci, late 15th century

Walking on water is at times used as an example of an impossible task. The phrase is widely used to refer to the performance of extraordinary tasks, as in the titles of books that aim to show individuals how to break through their personal limitations and achieve dramatic success.[1]

There are reports of miraculous acts of walking on water in several religions, such as in Buddhist texts, some Hindu stories, the Huang-Po story, the stories of Orion, the Aeneid and some Native American myths,[2][3] in addition to the accounts of Jesus walking on water in the New Testament. Islamic belief also include accounts of Jesus walking on water.[4]

Leonardo da Vinci, in the Codex Atlanticus manuscripts, sketched designs for floats to allow a man to walk on water.[5]

On 25 June 2011, English illusionist Steve Frayne reportedly walked across the Thames River, as "[c]rowds lining London’s Westminster Bridge gasped as he strode from the Thames shore and carried on across the surface of the choppy river towards the Houses of Parliament, with every step filmed for his new TV series."[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Summerhill, Claire (2005). Walking on Water: A Step-by-Step Guide. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse, Inc. ISBN 0-595-34191-8.
  2. ↑ "The Mythology of the Constellations: Orion". Comfychair.org. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  3. ↑ "Walking On Water". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  4. ↑ http://www.islamonline.com/news/articles/120/The-Muslim-View-of-Jesus.html
  5. ↑ "Studies - Floats for walking on water". Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia "Leonardo da Vinci". Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  6. ↑ Cox, Emma (1 July 2011). "No this picture ISN'T faked - it's a master magician's greatest stunt: Meet Steve 'Dynamo' Frayne, the man who can walk on water". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 March 2013.