An Introduction to Mythology (1921) - Couverture souple

Spence, Lewis

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1564596036 ISBN 13 : 9781564596031

Editeur : Kessinger Publishing Co, 1995

Synopsis

An Introduction to Mythology by Lewis Spence is a comprehensive guide to the world of mythology. The book covers a wide range of mythological traditions from all over the world, including Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, and many more. The author explores the origins of myths, their significance in different cultures, and their enduring appeal to people of all ages.The book is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the reader to the concept of mythology and its role in human culture. The second part delves into the myths of the ancient world, including the creation myths, the stories of the gods and goddesses, and the epic tales of heroes and monsters. The third part examines the myths of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, including the Arthurian legends and the tales of the troubadours. The final part explores the myths of the modern world, including science fiction and fantasy literature.Throughout the book, Spence provides detailed analysis and interpretation of the myths, as well as historical context and cultural background. He also includes illustrations and photographs to help bring the myths to life for the reader.An Introduction to Mythology is an essential resource for anyone interested in the study of mythology. It is a fascinating and informative guide that will appeal to students, scholars, and general readers alike.1921. The Progress of Mythic Science; Evolution of the Gods; Various Types of Deity; Various Classes of Myth; Making of the World and of Man; Paradise and the Place of Punishment; Folklore and Myth; Ritual and Myth; Written Sources of Myth; Great Mythic Systems of the World; Index.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

In the preface to his “Introduction to Mythology” Mr. Spence remarks: “Thirty years ago, if a student of myth had been asked who Janus was, he would probably have replied: ‘A Roman god of origins.’ To-day he might see in him a development of the ‘kirn-baby!'" It is thus that relativity is becoming the keyword in the sciences; and in this instance mythology ceases to be the recording of specific myths for their informative or documentary value, and becomes the comparison of myths to determine their common denominators.
It is a short step, however, from the grouping of myths by parallelisms or recurrences to the explanation of these parallelisms by the formulation of some underlying principle; for these comparisons show “a regularity of development not to be accounted for by motiveless fancy, but by laws of formation." One finds, for instance, the continual recurrence of the Deluge in the myths of peoples scattered over the entire earth; and if the Hebrew myth is explained as a borrowing from the Babylonian, how is the prevalence of the same subject accounted for in the American Indian? Is this due to some purely physical relationship? Or does it testify to a certain broad similarity in all human brains?
On this phase of the subject Mr. Spence is at great pains to maintain no thesis at all; although he does summarize what has been done in the way of establishing monistic principles, while he himself holds to the opinion that such efforts have been more invigorating than true, and that the interrelations of mythology should be formulated on a less wholesale basis. In his ‘chapter dealing with the bearing of myth on folklore, he gives some interesting material relating to the metamorphosis of the former into the latter. The belief in the power of iron, for instance, to ward off evil fairies may be connected with the times of the pre-historic bronze-users, whose weapons were shivered to pieces by the users of iron; iron thus coming to be looked upon as a magic power. If the writer of this note could be permitted to add his mite to knowledge, may not this old iron-spirit be traced in a modest form even to present-day America? In the children's game of “iron-tag," the person who stands on iron can not he tagged by the person who is “it."
–The Freeman, Vol. 4 [1921]

Présentation de l'éditeur

The following computer-generated description may contain errors and does not represent the quality of the book.

Hand in hand with the sister sciences of folklore and comparative religion, it has advanced so rapidly within the last twenty years and altered so greatly from its ancient aspect that it seems an entirely new science. Thirty years ago, if a student of myth had been asked who Janus was, he would probably have replied: A Roman god of origins. To-day he might see in him a development of the kirn-baby. So does the study of collected facts and analogies enable us to make broad generalizations. Quite recently, for example. Dr Rendel Harris advanced the theory that Aphrodite was originally a mandrake, while Professor Elliot Smith contends that her larval form was that of the cowrie-shell. Apollo, according to some writers, was originally an apple, Bacchus a sprig of ivy, and Zeus himself a flint-stone fetish. With such metamorphoses of the elder gods a rather longsuffering public has become somewhat ruefully acquainted. But with the value of the new scientific machinery which has discovered these analogies, which has laid bare the true nature of myth, they are not so intimate. The purpose of this book is to provide them with a review of mythic science from its beginnings down to the latest guesses of contemporary authorities. This plan may appear too ambitious, in the present chaotic condition of the science, but a real necessity exists for some such elementary study in order to cast light into the popular darkness on the subject.

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally-enhance the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Tags: myth god gods myths mythology earth deity indians world place creation spirit religion life fire mythic dead religious men primitive

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Kessinger Publishing Co
• Date d'édition: 1995
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1564596036
• ISBN 13: 9781564596031
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 336
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: KreGa Onlinehandel GmbH; 4950000000000; info@krega-onlinehandel.de; ; Birkenweg 31; Brakel; 33034; Allemagne