The mythology of the Aryan nations

With a deep consciousness of its shortcomings, but with confidence not less deep in the security of the foundations Laid by the Science of Comparative Mythology, I submit to the judgment of all whose desire it is to ascertain the truth of facts in every field of inquiry work on a subject as vast as it is important.

The history of mythology is, in a sense far beyond that in which we may apply tlie words to the later de- developments of religious systems, the history of the Imman mind; and the analysis Avhich lays bare the origin and nature of Iranian dualism, and traces the influence of that dualism on the thought and philosophy of other lands, must indefinitely affect our conclusions on many subjects which may not appear to be directly connected with it.

For myself, I confess candidly, and w^ith a feeling of gratitude which lapse of time certainly has not weakened, that
Professor Max Miller's Essay on Comparative Mythology first opened to me thirteen years I ago a path through a labyrinth which, up to that time^ had seemed as repulsive as it was intricate. ^ I well remember the feeling of delight awakened by his ^ analysis of the myths examined in that essay, it is but bare justice to say that by it the ground which it traversed was for the first time effectually broken for English scholars, and the fact established that the myths of a nation are as legitimate a subject for scientific investigation as any other phenomena.

The delight which this investigation has never ceased to impart is strictly the satisfaction which the astronomer or the geologist feels in the ascertainment of new facts: and I have written throughout under a constant sense of the paramount duty of simply and plainly speaking the truth.

Of one fact, the importance of which if it is well ascertained can scarcely be exaggerated, I venture to (claim the discovery. I am not aware that the great writers who have traced the wonderful parallelisms in the myths of the Aryan world have asserted that the epic poems of the Aryan nations are simply different versions of one and the same story and that this story has its origin in the phenomena of the natural world, Land the course of the day and the year.

This position is, in my belief, established by an amount of evidence which not long hence will probably be regarded as excessive.

At the least, I have no fear that it will fail to carry con\dction to all who will weigh the facts without prejudice or partiality, who will carefully survey the whole evidence produced before they form a definite judgment, and who will fairly estimate the cumulative proof of the fact that the mythology of the Vedic and Homeric poets contains the germs, and in most instances more than the germs, of almost all the stories of Teutonic, Scandinavian, and Celtic folk-lore.

This common stock of materials, which supplements the evidence of language for the ultimate affinity' of all the Aryan nations, has been moulded into an infinite variety of shapes by the storytellers of Greeks and Latins, of Persians and Englishmen, of the ancient and modern Hindus, of Germans and Norwegians, Icelanders, Danes,: Frenchmen, and Spaniards. On this common foundation, the epic poets of these scattered and long-separated children of one primitive family have raised their magnificent fabrics or their cumbrous structures, Nav, from this common source they have derived even the most subtle distinctions of feature and character for their portraits of the actors in the great drama which in someone or more of its many scenes is the theme of all Aryan national poetry.

Momentous as this conclusion must be, it is one which seems to me to be strictly involved in the facts registered by all comparative mythologists; and while I wish to claim for myself no more than the honesty which refuses to adopt the statements of others without testing their accuracy, I may feel legitimate confidence in the assurance that in all important points I am supported by the authority of such writers as Grimm, Max Midler, Breal, Kuhn, Preller, Welcker, H. H. AVilson, Cornewall Lewis, Grote, and Thirlwall.

Some contents:

The Ionian Legend of the Birth of Phoibos
The Delphian Story.
The infant Phoibos
Phoibos Delphinios
The Fish-sun.
Phoibos and Hermes.
Phoibos and Helios.
Phoibos and Daphne.
Alpheios and Arethousa
Endymion
The Story of Narkissos
Vamos and Asklepios.
Ixion and Atlas
The Gardens of the Hesperides
Hyperion
Helios and Phaethon.
Patroklos and Telemachos
The Bondage of Phoibos and Herakles
Character of Herakles
Herakles and Eurystheus
The Lions of Kithairon and Nemea
Herakles and Kerberos
The Madness of Herakles
Orthros and Hydra.
The Marathonian and Cretan Bulls
The Girdle of Hippolyte
Myths interspersed among the Legends of the twelve Labours of Herakles
Herakles and Eurytos
Herakles and Auge .
Herakles and Peianeira
The Death of Herakles
The Latin Hercules.
Egyptian Myths
Repetitions of the Myth of neraklc;
The Story of Perseus
Birth and Youth of Theseus.
The six Exploits of his first Journey
Theseus at Athens
Theseus and the Minotauros .
Theseus and the Amazons
Theseus in the Underworld.
Hipponoos Bellerophontes
The Birth of Oidipous
The Career of Oidipous
The blinded Oidipous
Oidipous and Antigone
The Story of Telephones
Twofold Aspect of the Trojan Paris

Judgment of Paris Paris and Helen
Pelias and Neleus Romulus and Remus

. Cyrus and Astyages.

Chandragupta Kadmos and Europe.

Minos and the Minotaur

Rhadamanthys and Aiakos Nestor and Sarpedon.

Memnon the Ethiopian Kephalos and Eos
Baldur and Brond
The Dream of Baldur
The Death of Baldur.
The Avenging of Baldur
The Story of Tell and Gesler
The Myth wholly without Historical Foundation
Utter Impossibility of the Swiss Story
Other Versions of the Myth of Tell.
Tell the far-shooting Apollon
Flexible Character of Vishnu
Vishnu the striding God
Dwarf Incarnation...
The Palace of Vishnu
Avatars of Vishnu...
Emblems associated with the Worship of Vishnu
Sensuous Stage of Language.
Aryan and Semitic Monotheism
Ideas and Symbols of the vivifying Power in Nature
Rods and Pillars ..
Tree and Serpent Worship.
Sacrifices connected with this Worship
Symbols of Wealth ....
The Lotos .....
Goblets and Horns ....
Gradual Refinement of the Myth
Aryan and Semitic Mysteries
The real meaning of Tree and Serpent Worship.

book details :

Author: George William Cox

Publication date: 1870

Company: London, Longmans, Green, and co

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The mythology of the Aryan nations - George William Cox - PDF (1870)