Through the influence of Delilah, Samson is at last made a prisoner. He tells her the secret of his strength, the _seven_ locks of hair are shaven off, and his strength leaves him. The shearing of the locks of the Sun must be followed by darkness and ruin.
From the shoulders of Phoibos Lykêgênes flow the sacred locks, over which no razor might pass, and on the head of Nisos they become a palladium, invested with a mysterious power.[72:2] The long locks of hair which flow over his shoulders are taken from his head by Skylla, while he is asleep, and, like another Delilah, she thus delivers him and his people into the power of Minos.[72:3]
"His hair is a figure of increase and luxuriant fullness. In Winter, when nature appears to have lost all strength, the god of growing young life has lost his hair. In the Spring the hair grows again, and nature returns to life again. Of this original conception the Bible story still preserves a trace. Samson's hair, after being cut off, grows again, and his strength comes back with it."[72:4]
Towards the end of his career, Samson's eyes are put out. Even here, the Hebrew writes with a singular fidelity to the old mythical speech. The tender light of evening is blotted out by the dark vapors; the light of the _Sun_ is quenched in gloom. _Samson's eyes are put out._
Œdipus, whose history resembles that of Samson and Hercules in many respects, tears out his eyes, towards the end of his career. In other words, the _Sun_ has blinded himself. Clouds and darkness have closed in about him, and the clear light is blotted out of the heaven.[72:5]
The final act, Samson's death, reminds us clearly and decisively of the Phenician Hercules, as Sun-god, who died at the Winter Solstice in the furthest West, where his _two pillars_ are set up to mark the end of his wanderings.
Samson also died at the _two pillars_, but in his case they are not the Pillars of the World, but are only set up in the middle of a great banqueting-hall. A feast was being held in honor of Dagon, the Fish-god; the Sun was in the sign of the Waterman, _Samson, the Sun-god, died_.[73:1]
The ethnology of the _name_ of Samson, as well as his adventures, are very closely connected with the _Solar_ Hercules. _"Samson" was the name of the Sun._[73:2] In Arabic, "_Shams-on_" means the _Sun_.[73:3] Samson had _seven_ locks of hair, the number of the planetary bodies.[73:4]