ThesubjectofReligiousOriginsisafascinatingone，asthegreatmultitudeofbooksuponit，publishedinlateyears，tendstoshow。Indeedthegreatdifficultyto-dayindealingwiththesubject，liesintheverymassofthematerialtohand——andthatnotonlyonaccountofthelaborinvolvedinsortingthematerial，butbecausetheabundanceitselfoffactsopensuptemptationtoastudentinthisdepartmentofAnthropologyashappensalsoinotherbranchesofgeneralSciencetorushintoohastilywithwhatseemsaplausibletheory。Themorefacts，statistics，andsoforth，thereareavailableinanyinvestigation，theeasieritistopickoutaconsiderablenumberwhichwillfitagiventheory。Theotherfactsbeingneglectedorignored，theviewsputforwardenjoyforatimeagreatvogue。Theninevitably，andatalatertime，neworneglectedfactsaltertheoutlook，andanewperspectiveisestablished。
ThereisalsointhesemattersofSciencethoughmanyscientificmenwoulddoubtlessdenythisagreatdealof“Fashion“。SuchhasbeennotoriouslythecaseinPoliticalEconomy，Medicine，Geology，andeveninsuchdefinitestudiesasPhysicsandChemistry。Inacomparativelyrecentscience，likethatwithwhichwearenowconcerned，onewouldnaturallyexpectvariations。Ahundredandfiftyyearsago，andsincethetimeofRousseau，the“NobleSavage“wasextremelypopular；andhelingersstillinthestorybooksofourchildren。Thenthereactionfromthisextremeviewsetin，andoflateyearsithasbeenthepopularcuelargely，itmustbesaid，among“armchair“
travelersandexplorerstorepresentthereligiousritesandcustomsofprimitivefolkasasenselessmassofsuperstitions，andtheearlymanasquitedevoidofdecentfeelingandintelligence。Again，whenthestudyofreligiousoriginsfirstbeganinmoderntimestobeseriouslytakenup——sayintheearlierpartoflastcentury——
therewasagreatboominSungods。EverydivinityinthePantheonwasanimpersonationoftheSun——unlessindeediffeminineoftheMoon。Apollowasasungod，ofcourse；Herculeswasasungod；Samsonwasasungod；
IndraandKrishna，andevenChrist，thesame。
C。F。DupuisinFranceOriginedetouslesCultes，1795，F。NorkinGermanyBiblischeMythologie，1842，RichardTaylorinEnglandTheDevil\'sPulpit，[1]1830，wereamongthefirstinmoderntimestoputforwardthisview。AlittlelaterthePHALLICexplanationofeverythingcameintofashion。Thedeitieswereallpolitenamesfortheorgansandpowersofprocreation。R。P。KnightAncientArtandMythology，1818andDr。ThomasInmanAncientFaithsandAncientNames，1868popularizedthisideainEngland；sodidNorkinGermany。ThenagaintherewasaperiodofwhatissometimescalledEuhemerism——thetheorythatthegodsandgoddesseshadactuallyoncebeenmenandwomen，historicalcharactersroundwhomahaloofromanceandremotenesshadgathered。Laterstill，aschoolhasarisenwhichthinkslittleofsungods，andpaysmoreattentiontoEarthandNaturespirits，tognomesanddemonsandvegetation-sprites，andtotheprocessesofMagicbywhichthesesoitwassupposed
couldbeenlistedinman\'sserviceiffriendly，orexorcisedifhostile。
[1]Thisextraordinarybook，thoughcarelesslycomposedandcontainingmanyunprovenstatements，wasonthewholeontherightlines。Butitraisedastormofopposition——themoresobecauseitsauthorwasaclergyman！Hewasejectedfromtheministry，ofcourse，andwassenttoprisontwice。
ItiseasytoseeofcoursethatthereissometruthinALLtheseexplanations；butnaturallyeachschoolforthetimebeingmakesthemostofitsowncontention。Mr。
J。M。RobertsonPaganChristsandChristianityandMythology，whohasdonesuchfineworkinthisfield，[1]
relieschieflyonthesolarandastronomicalorigins，thoughhedoesnotaltogetherdenytheothers；Dr。Frazer，ontheotherhand——whosegreatwork，TheGoldenBough，isamonumentalcollectionofprimitivecustoms，andwillbeaninexhaustiblequarryforallfuturestudents——isapparentlyverylittleconcernedwiththeoriesabouttheSunandthestars，butconcentrateshisattentiononthecollectionofinnumerabledetails[2]ofrites，chieflymagical，connectedwithfoodandvegetation。Stilllaterwriters，likeS。Reinach，JaneHarrisonandE。A。Crowley，beingmainlyoccupiedwithcustomsofveryprimitivepeoples，likethePelasgianGreeksortheAustralianaborigines，haveconfinedthemselvesnecessarilyevenmoretoMagicandWitchcraft。
[1]Ifonlyhedidnotwastesomuchtime，andsoneedlessly，inslaughteringopponents！
[2]Tosuchadegree，indeed，thatsometimestheconnectingclueoftheargumentseemstobelost。
MeanwhiletheChristianChurchfromthesespeculationshaskeptitselfseverelyapart——asofcourserepresentingauniqueanddivinerevelationlittleconcernedorinterestedinsuchheathenisms；andmoreoverinthiscountryatanyratehasmanagedtopersuadethegeneralpublicofitsowndivineuniquenesstosuchadegreethatfewpeople，evennowadays，realizethatithassprungfromjustthesamerootasPaganism，andthatitsharesbyfarthemostpartofitsdoctrinesandriteswiththelatter。TillquitelatelyitwasthoughtinBritainthatonlysecularistsandunfashionablepeopletookanyinterestinsungods；andwhileitwastruethatlearnedprofessorsmightpointtoabeliefinMagicasoneofthefirstsourcesofReligion，itwaseasyinreplytosaythatthisobviouslyhadnothingtodowithChristianity！TheSecularists，too，ratherspoilttheircasebyassuming，intheirwrathagainsttheChurch，thatallpriestssincethebeginningoftheworldhavebeenfraudsandcharlatans，andthatalltheritesofreligionweremerelydevil\'sdevicesinventedbythemforthepurposeofpreyinguponthesuperstitionsoftheignorant，totheirownenrichment。TheytheSecularists
overleapedthemselvesbygrosslyexaggeratingathingthatnodoubtispartiallytrue。
Thusthesubjectofreligiousoriginsissomewhatcomplex，andyieldsmanyaspectsforconsideration。Itisonly，Ithink，bykeepingabroadcourseandadmittingcontributionstothetruthfromvarioussides，thatvaluableresultscanbeobtained。Itisabsurdtosupposethatinthisoranyotherscienceneatsystemscanbefoundwhichwillcoverallthefacts。NatureandHistorydonotdealinsuchthings，orsupplythemforasoptoMan\'svanity。
Itisclearthattherehavebeenthreemainlines，sofar，alongwhichhumanspeculationandstudyhaverun。OneconnectingreligiousritesandobservationswiththemovementsoftheSunandtheplanetsinthesky，andleadingtotheinventionofandbeliefinOlympianandremotegodsdwellinginheavenandrulingtheEarthfromadistance；
thesecondconnectingreligionwiththechangesoftheseason，ontheEarthandwithsuchpracticalthingsasthegrowthofvegetationandfood，andleadingtoormingledwithavaguebeliefinearth-spiritsandmagicalmethodsofinfluencingsuchspirits；andthethirdconnectingreligionwithman\'sownbodyandthetremendousforceofsexresidinginit——emblemofundyinglifeandallfertilityandpower。Itisclearalso——andallinvestigationconfirmsit——thatthesecond-mentionedphaseofreligionaroseonthewholeBEFOREthefirst-mentioned——thatis，thatmennaturallythoughtabouttheverypracticalquestionsoffoodandvegetation，andthemagicalorothermethodsofencouragingthesame，beforetheyworriedthemselvesabouttheheavenlybodiesandthelawsofTHEIR
movements，oraboutthesinisterorfavorableinfluencesthestarsmightexert。Andagainitisextremelyprobablethatthethird-mentionedaspect——thatwhichconnectedreligionwiththeprocreativedesiresandphenomenaofhumanphysiology——reallycameFIRST。Thesedesiresandphysiologicalphenomenamusthaveloomedlargeontheprimitivemindlongbeforethechangesoftheseasonsoroftheskyhadbeenatalldefinitelyobservedorconsidered。Thuswefinditprobablethat，inordertounderstandthesequenceoftheactualandhistoricalphasesofreligiousworship，wemustapproximatelyreversetheorderabove-giveninwhichtheyhavebeenSTUDIED，andconcludethatingeneralthePhalliccultscamefirst，thecultofMagicandthepropitiationofearth-divinitiesandspiritscamesecond，andonlylastcamethebeliefindefiniteGod-figuresresidinginheaven。
Atthebaseofthewholeprocessbywhichdivinitiesanddemonswerecreated，andritesfortheirpropitiationandplacationestablished，layFear——fearstimulatingtheimaginationtofantasticactivity。PrimusinorbedeosfecitTimor。Andfear，asweshallsee，onlybecameamentalstimulusatthetimeof，orafter，theevolutionofself-consciousness。Beforethattime，intheperiodofSIMPLEconsciousness，whenthehumanmindresembledthatoftheanimals，fearindeedexisted，butitsnaturewasmorethatofamechanicalprotectiveinstinct。TherebeingnofigureorimageofSELFintheanimalmind，therewerecorrespondinglynofiguresorimagesofbeingswhomightthreatenordestroythatself。SoitwasthattheimaginativepoweroffearbeganwithSelf-consciousness，andfromthatimaginativepowerwasunrolledthewholepanoramaofthegodsandritesandcreedsofReligiondownthecenturies。
TheimmenseforceanddominationofFearinthefirstself-consciousstagesofthehumanmindisathingwhichcanhardlybeexaggerated，andwhichisevendifficultforsomeofusmodernstorealize。ButnaturallyassoonasManbegantothinkabouthimself——afrailphantomandwaifinthemidstoftremendousforcesofwhosenatureandmodeofoperationhewasentirelyignorant——hewasBESETwithterrors；dangersloomeduponhimonallsides。
Evento-dayitisnoticedbydoctorsthatoneofthechiefobstaclestothecureofillnessamongsomeblackornativeracesissheersuperstitiousterror；andThanatomaniaistherecognizedwordforastateofmind“obsessionofdeath“whichwilloftencauseasavagetoperishfromamerescratchhardlytobecalledawound。Thenaturaldefenceagainstthisstateofmindwasthecreationofanenormousnumberoftaboos——suchaswefindamongallracesandoneveryconceivablesubject——andthesetaboosconstitutedpracticallyagreatbodyofwarningswhichregulatedthelivesandthoughtsofthecommunity，andultimately，aftertheyhadbeenweededoutandtosomedegreesimplified，hardeneddownintoverystringentCustomsandLaws。Suchtaboosnaturallyinthebeginningtendedtoincludetheavoidancenotonlyofactswhichmightreasonablybeconsidereddangerous，liketouchingacorpse，butalsothingsmuchmoreremoteandfancifulintheirrelationtodanger，likemerelylookingatamother-
in-law，orpassingalightning-strucktree；andwhatisespeciallytobenoticedtheytendedtoincludeactswhichofferedanyspecialPLEASUREortemptation——likesexormarriageortheenjoymentofameal。Taboossurroundedthesethingstoo，andthepsychologicalconnectioniseasytodivine:butIshalldealwiththisgeneralsubjectlater。
Itmaybeguessedthatsocomplexasystemofregulationsmadelifeanythingbuteasytoearlypeoples；but，preposterousandunreasonableassomeofthetabooswere，theyundoubtedlyhadtheeffectofcompellingthegrowthofself-control。Feardoesnotseemaveryworthymotive，butinthebeginningitcurbedtheviolenceofthepurelyanimalpassions，andintroducedorderandrestraintamongthem。Simultaneouslyitbecameitself，throughthegradualincreaseofknowledgeandobservation，transmutedandetherealizedintosomethingmorelikewonderandaweandwhenthegodsroseabovethehorizonintoreverence。
AnyhowweseemtoperceivethatfromtheearlybeginningsintheStoneAgeofself-consciousnessinMantherehasbeenagradualdevelopment——fromcrasssuperstition，senselessandaccidental，torudimentaryobservation，andsotobeliefinMagic；thencetoAnimismandpersonificationofnature-powersinmoreorlesshumanform，asearth-divinitiesorsky-godsorembodimentsofthetribe；andtoplacationofthesepowersbyriteslikeSacrificeandtheEucharist，whichintheirturnbecamethefoundationofMorality。Graphicrepresentationsmadefortheencouragementoffertility——asonthewallsofBushmen\'srock-dwellingsortheceilingsofthecavernsofAltamira——
becamethenurseofpictorialArt；observationsofplantsoroftheweatherorthestars，carriedonbytribalmedicine-menforpurposesofwitchcraftorprophecy，suppliedsomeofthematerialofScience；andhumanityemergedbyfalteringandhesitatingstepsontheborderlandofthosefinerperceptionsandreasoningswhicharesupposedtobecharacteristicofCivilization。
Theprocessoftheevolutionofreligiousritesandceremonieshasinitsmainoutlinesbeenthesameallovertheworld，asthereaderwillpresentlysee——andthiswhetherinconnectionwiththenumerouscreedsofPaganismorthesupposedlyuniquecaseofChristianity；andnowthecontinuityandcloseintermixtureofthesegreatstreamscannolongerbedenied——norISitindeeddeniedbythosewhohavereallystudiedthesubject。ItisseenthatreligiousevolutionthroughtheageshasbeenpracticallyOnething——thattherehasbeeninfactaWorld-
religion，thoughwithvariousphasesandbranches。
Andsointhepresentdayanewproblemarises，namelyhowtoaccountfortheappearanceofthisgreatPhenomenon，withitsorderlyphasesofevolution，anditsownspontaneous[1]
growthsinallcornersoftheglobe——thisphenomenonwhichhashadsuchastrangeswayovertheheartsofmen，whichhasattractedthemwithsoweirdacharm，whichhasdrawnouttheirdevotion，loveandtenderness，whichhasconsoledtheminsorrowandaffliction，andyetwhichhasstainedtheirhistorywithsuchhorriblesacrificesandpersecutionsandcruelties。Whathasbeentheinstigatingcauseofit?
[1]Forthequestionofspontaneityseechap。xandelsewhere。
TheanswerwhichIproposetothisquestion，andwhichisdevelopedtosomeextentinthefollowingchapters，isapsychologicalone。Itisthatthephenomenonproceedsfrom，andisanecessaryaccompanimentof，thegrowthofhumanConsciousnessitself——itsgrowth，namely，throughthethreegreatstagesofitsunfoldment。Thesestagesare1thatofthesimpleoranimalconsciousness，2thatofSELF-consciousness，and3thatofathirdstageofconsciousnesswhichhasnotasyetbeeneffectivelynamed，butwhoseindicationsandprecursivesignswehereandthereperceiveintheritesandpropheciesandmysteriesoftheearlyreligions，andinthepoetryandartandliteraturegenerallyofthelatercivilizations。ThoughIdonotexpectorwishtocatchNatureandHistoryinthecarefulnetofaphrase，yetIthinkthatinthesequencefromtheabove-mentionedfirststagetothesecond，andthenagaininthesequencefromthesecondtothethird，therewillbefoundahelpfulexplanationoftheritesandaspirationsofhumanreligion。Itisthisidea，illustratedbydetailsofceremonialandsoforth，whichformsthemainthesisofthepresentbook。Inthissequenceofgrowth，Christianityentersasanepisode，butnomorethananepisode。
Itdoesnotamounttoadisruptionordislocationofevolution。
Ifitdid，orifitstoodasanuniqueorunclassifiablephenomenonassomeofitsvotariescontend，thiswouldseemtobeamisfortune——asitwouldobviouslyrobusofatanyrateonepromiseofprogressinthefuture。AndthepromiseofsomethingbetterthanPaganismandbetterthanChristianityisveryprecious。Itissurelytimethatitshouldbefulfilled。
Thetracing，therefore，ofthepartthathumanself-
consciousnesshasplayed，psychologically，intheevolutionofreligion，runslikeathreadthroughthefollowingchapters，andseeksillustrationinavarietyofdetails。Theideahasbeenrepeatedunderdifferentaspects；sometimes，possibly，ithasbeenrepeatedtoooften；butdifferentaspectsinsuchacasedohelp，asinastereoscope，togivesoliditytothethingseen。ThoughtheworshipofSun-godsanddivinefiguresintheskycamecomparativelylateinreligiousevolution，1haveputthissubjectearlyinthebookchaptersiiandiii，partlybecauseasIhavealreadyexplaineditwasthephasefirststudiedinmoderntimes，andthereforeistheonemostfamiliartopresent-
dayreaders，andpartlybecauseitsastronomicaldatagivegreatdefinitenessand“proveability“toit，inrebuttaltothecommonaccusationthatthewholestudyofreligiousoriginsistoovagueanduncertaintohavemuchvalue。
GoingbackwardsinTime，thetwonextchaptersivandv
dealwithTotem-sacramentsandMagic，perhapstheearliestformsofreligion。AndthesefourleadoninchaptersvitoxitotheconsiderationofritesandcreedscommontoPaganismandChristianity。XIIandxiiidealespeciallywiththeevolutionofChristianityitself；xivandxvexplaintheinnerMeaningofthewholeprocessfromthebeginning；
andxviandxviilooktotheFuture。
TheappendixonthedoctrinesoftheUpanishadsmay，Ihope，servetogiveanidea，intimateeventhoughinadequate，ofthethirdStage——thatwhichfollowsonthestageofself-consciousness；andtoportraythementalattitudeswhicharecharacteristicofthatstage。Hereinthisthirdstage，itwouldseem，onecomesupontherealFACTSoftheinnerlife——incontradistinctiontothefanciesandfigmentsofthesecondstage；andsoonereachesthefinalpointofconjunctionbetweenScienceandReligion。
II。SOLARMYTHSANDCHRISTIANFESTIVALS
Totheordinarypublic——notwithstandingtheimmenseamountofworkwhichhasoflatebeendoneonthissubject——
theconnectionbetweenPaganismandChristianitystillseemsratherremote。IndeedthecommonnotionisthatChristianitywasreallyamiraculousinterpositionintoanddislocationoftheoldorderoftheworld；andthatthepagangodsasinMilton\'sHymnontheNativityfledawayindismaybeforethesignoftheCross，andatthesoundofthenameofJesus。DoubtlessthiswasaviewmuchencouragedbytheearlyChurchitself——ifonlytoenhanceitsownauthorityandimportance；yet，asiswellknowntoeverystudent，itisquitemisleadingandcontrarytofact。ThemainChristiandoctrinesandfestivals，besidesagreatmassofaffiliatedlegendandceremonial，arereallyquitedirectlyderivedfrom，andrelatedto，precedingNatureworships；andithasonlybeenbyagooddealofdeliberatemystificationandfalsificationthatthisderivationhasbeenkeptoutofsight。
IntheseNature-worshipstheremaybediscernedthreefairlyindependentstreamsofreligiousorquasi-religiousenthusiasm:1thatconnectedwiththephenomenaoftheheavens，themovementsoftheSun，planetsandstars，andtheaweandwondermenttheyexcited；2thatconnectedwiththeseasonsandtheveryimportantmatterofthegrowthofvegetationandfoodontheEarth；and3
thatconnectedwiththemysteriesofSexandreproduction。
Itisobviousthatthesethreestreamswouldmingleandinterfusewitheachotheragooddeal；butasfarastheywereseparablethefirstwouldtendtocreateSolarheroesandSun-myths；thesecondVegetation-godsandpersonificationsofNatureandtheearth-life；whilethethirdwouldthrowitsglamourovertheothertwoandcontributetotheprojectionofdeitiesordemonsworshippedwithallsortsofsexualandphallicrites。Allthreesystemsofcoursehavetheirspecialritesandtimesandceremonies；
but，as，Isay，theritesandceremoniesofonesystemwouldrarelybefoundpureandunmixedwiththose。belongingtothetwoothers。Thewholesubjectisaverylargeone；butforreasonsgivenintheIntroductionIshallinthisandthefollowingchapter——whilenotignoringphases2and3——laymoststressonphase1
ofthequestionbeforeus。
AtthetimeofthelifeorrecordedappearanceofJesusofNazareth，andforsomecenturiesbefore，theMediterraneanandneighboringworldhadbeenthesceneofavastnumberofpagancreedsandrituals。TherewereTempleswithoutenddedicatedtogodslikeApolloorDionysusamongtheGreeks，HerculesamongtheRomans，MithraamongthePersians，AdonisandAttisinSyriaandPhrygia，OsirisandIsisandHorusinEgypt，BaalandAstarteamongtheBabyloniansandCarthaginians，andsoforth。Societies，largeorsmall，unitedbelieversandthedevoutintheserviceorceremonialsconnectedwiththeirrespectivedeities，andinthecreedswhichtheyconfessedconcerningthesedeities。Andanextraordinarilyinterestingfact，forus，isthatnotwithstandinggreatgeographicaldistancesandracialdifferencesbetweentheadherentsofthesevariouscults，aswellasdifferencesinthedetailsoftheirservices，thegeneraloutlinesoftheircreedsandceremonialswere——ifnotidentical——somarkedlysimilaraswefindthem。
Icannotofcoursegoatlengthintothesedifferentcults，butImaysayroughlythatofallornearlyallthedeitiesabove-mentioneditwassaidandbelievedthat:
1TheywerebornonorverynearourChristmasDay。
2TheywerebornofaVirgin-Mother。
3AndinaCaveorUndergroundChamber。
4TheyledalifeoftoilforMankind。
5AndwerecalledbythenamesofLight-bringer，Healer，Mediator，Savior，Deliverer。
6TheywerehowevervanquishedbythePowersofDarkness。
7AnddescendedintoHellortheUnderworld。
8Theyroseagainfromthedead，andbecamethepioneersofmankindtotheHeavenlyworld。
9TheyfoundedCommunionsofSaints，andChurchesintowhichdiscipleswerereceivedbyBaptism。
10AndtheywerecommemoratedbyEucharisticmeals。
Letmegiveafewbriefexamples。
Mithrawasborninacave，andonthe25thDecember。[1]
HewasbornofaVirgin。[2]Hetraveledfarandwideasateacherandilluminatorofmen。HeslewtheBullsymbolofthegrossEarthwhichthesunlightfructifies。
HisgreatfestivalswerethewintersolsticeandtheSpringequinoxChristmasandEaster。Hehadtwelvecompanionsordisciplesthetwelvemonths。Hewasburiedinatomb，fromwhichhoweverheroseagain；andhisresurrectionwascelebratedyearlywithgreatrejoicings。HewascalledSaviorandMediator，andsometimesfiguredasaLamb；andsacramentalfeastsinremembranceofhimwereheldbyhisfollowers。Thislegendisapparentlypartlyastronomicalandpartlyvegetational；andthesamemaybesaidofthefollowingaboutOsiris。
[1]ThebirthfeastofMithrawasheldinRomeonthe8thdaybeforetheKalendsofJanuary，beingalsothedayoftheCircassiangames，whichweresacredtotheSun。SeeF。Nork，DerMystagog，Leipzig。
[2]ThisatanyratewasreportedbyhislaterdisciplesseeRobertson\'sPaganChrists，p。338。
OsiriswasbornPlutarchtellsusonthe361stdayoftheyear，saythe27thDecember。Hetoo，likeMithraandDionysus，wasagreattraveler。AsKingofEgypthetaughtmencivilarts，and“tamedthembymusicandgentleness，notbyforceofarms“；[1]hewasthediscovererofcornandwine。ButhewasbetrayedbyTyphon，thepowerofdarkness，andslainanddismembered。“Thishappened，“
saysPlutarch，“onthe17thofthemonthAthyr，whenthesunentersintotheScorpion“thesignoftheZodiacwhichindicatestheoncomingofWinter。Hisbodywasplacedinabox，butafterwards，onthe19th，cameagaintolife，and，asinthecultsofMithra，Dionysus，Adonisandothers，sointhecultofOsiris，animageplacedinacoffinwasbroughtoutbeforetheworshipersandsalutedwithgladcriesof“Osirisisrisen。”[1]“Hissufferings，hisdeathandhisresurrectionwereenactedyearbyyearinagreatmystery-playatAbydos。”[2]
[1]SeePlutarchonIsisandOsiris。
[2]AncientArtandRitual，byJaneE。Harrison，chap。i。
ThetwofollowinglegendshavemoredistinctlythecharacterofVegetationmyths。
AdonisorTammuz，theSyriangodofvegetation，wasaverybeautifulyouth，bornofaVirginNature，andsobeautifulthatVenusandProserpinethegoddessesoftheUpperandUnderworldsbothfellinlovewithhim。
Toreconciletheirclaimsitwasagreedthatheshouldspendhalftheyearsummerintheupperworld，andthewinterhalfwithProserpinebelow。HewaskilledbyaboarTyphonintheautumn。Andeveryyearthemaidens“weptforAdonis“seeEzekielviii。14。Inthespringafestivalofhisresurrectionwasheld——thewomensetouttoseekhim，andhavingfoundthesupposedcorpseplaceditawoodenimageinacoffinorhollowtree，andperformedwildritesandlamentations，followedbyevenwilderrejoicingsoverhissupposedresurrection。AtAphacaintheNorthofSyria，andhalfwaybetweenByblusandBaalbec，therewasafamousgroveandtempleofAstarte，nearwhichwasawildromanticgorgefulloftrees，thebirthplaceofacertainriverAdonis——thewaterrushingfromaCavern，underloftycliffs。HereitwassaideveryyeartheyouthAdoniswasagainwoundedtodeath，andtheriverranredwithhisblood，[1]whilethescarletanemonebloomedamongthecedarsandwalnuts。
[1]Adiscolorationcausedbyredearthwashedbyrainfromthemountains，andwhichhasbeenobservedbymoderntravelers。ForthewholestoryofAdonisandofAttisseeFrazer\'sGoldenBough，partiv。
ThestoryofAttisisverysimilar。HewasafairyoungshepherdorherdsmanofPhrygia，belovedbyCybeleorDemeter，theMotherofthegods。HewasbornofaVirgin——Nana——whoconceivedbyputtingaripealmondorpomegranateinherbosom。Hedied，eitherkilledbyaboar，thesymbolofwinter，likeAdonis，orself-castratedlikehisownpriests；andhebledtodeathatthefootofapinetreethepineandpine-conebeingsymbolsoffertility。
Thesacrificeofhisbloodrenewedthefertilityoftheearth，andintheritualcelebrationofhisdeathandresurrectionhisimagewasfastenedtothetrunkofapine-
treecomparetheCrucifixion。ButIshallreturntothislegendpresently。TheworshipofAttisbecameverywidespreadandmuchhonored，andwasultimatelyincorporatedwiththeestablishedreligionatRomesomewhereaboutthecommencementofourEra。
ThefollowingtwolegendsdealingwithHerculesandwithKrishnahaverathermoreofthecharacterofthesolar，andlessofthevegetationalmythaboutthem。Bothheroeswereregardedasgreatbenefactorsofhumanity；buttheformermoreonthematerialplane，andthelatteronthespiritual。
HerculesorHeracleswas，likeotherSun-godsandbenefactorsofmankind，agreatTraveler。Hewasknowninmanylands，andeverywherehewasinvokedasSaviour。
HewasmiraculouslyconceivedfromadivineFather；eveninthecradlehestrangledtwoserpentssenttodestroyhim。
Hismanylaborsforthegoodoftheworldwereultimatelyepitomizedintotwelve，symbolizedbythesignsoftheZodiac。
HeslewtheNemxanLionandtheHydraoffspringofTyphonandtheBoar。HeovercametheCretanBull，andcleanedouttheStablesofAugeas；heconqueredDeathand，descendingintoHades，broughtCerberusthenceandascendedintoHeaven。Onallsideshewasfollowedbythegratitudeandtheprayersofmortals。
AstoKrishna，theIndiangod，thepointsofagreementwiththegeneraldivinecareerindicatedabovearetoosalienttobeoverlooked，andtoonumeroustobefullyrecorded。
HealsowasbornofaVirginDevakiandinaCave，[1]
andhisbirthannouncedbyaStar。Itwassoughttodestroyhim，andforthatpurposeamassacreofinfantswasordered。
Everywhereheperformedmiracles，raisingthedead，healinglepers，andthedeafandtheblind，andchampioningthepoorandoppressed。Hehadabeloveddisciple，Arjuna，cf。
Johnbeforewhomhewastransfigured。[2]Hisdeathisdifferentlyrelated——asbeingshotbyanarrow，orcrucifiedonatree。Hedescendedintohell；androseagainfromthedead，ascendingintoheaveninthesightofmanypeople。
Hewillreturnatthelastdaytobethejudgeofthequickandthedead。
[1]Cox\'sMythsoftheAryanNations，p。107。
[2]BhagavatGita，ch。xi。
Sucharesomeofthelegendsconcerningthepaganandpre-Christiandeities——onlybrieflysketchednow，inorderthatwemaygetsomethinglikeatrueperspectiveofthewholesubject；buttomostofthem，andmoreindetail，Ishallreturnastheargumentproceeds。
Whatwechieflynoticesofararetwopoints；ontheonehandthegeneralsimilarityofthesestorieswiththatofJesusChrist；ontheothertheiranalogywiththeyearlyphenomenaofNatureasillustratedbythecourseoftheSuninheavenandthechangesofVegetationontheearth。
1ThesimilarityoftheseancientpaganlegendsandbeliefswithChristiantraditionswasindeedsogreatthatitexcitedtheattentionandtheundisguisedwrathoftheearlyChristianfathers。Theyfeltnodoubtaboutthesimilarity，butnotknowinghowtoexplainitfellbackupontheinnocenttheorythattheDevil——inordertoconfoundtheChristians——had，CENTURIESBEFORE，causedthepaganstoadoptcertainbeliefsandpractices！Verycrafty，wemaysay，oftheDevil，butalsoveryinnocentoftheFatherstobelieveit！JustinMartyrforinstancedescribes[1]theinstitutionoftheLord\'sSupperasnarratedintheGospels，andthengoesontosay:“WhichthewickeddevilshaveIMITATEDinthemysteriesofMithra，commandingthesamethingtobedone。For，thatbreadandacupofwaterareplacedwithcertainincantationsinthemysticritesofonewhoisbeinginitiatedyoueitherknoworcanlearn。”Tertullianalsosays[2]that“thedevilbythemysteriesofhisidolsimitateseventhemainpartofthedivinemysteries。”……“Hebaptizeshisworshippersinwaterandmakesthembelievethatthispurifiesthemfromtheircrimes。”……“Mithrasetshismarkontheforeheadofhissoldiers；hecelebratestheoblationofbread；
heoffersanimageoftheresurrection，andpresentsatoncethecrownandthesword；helimitshischiefpriesttoasinglemarriage；heevenhashisvirginsandascetics。”[3]
Cortez，too，itwillberememberedcomplainedthattheDevilhadpositivelytaughttotheMexicansthesamethingswhichGodhadtaughttoChristendom。
[1]IApol。c。66。
[2]DePraescriptioneHereticorum，c。40；DeBapt。c。3；DeCorona，c。15。
[3]ForreferencetoboththeseexamplesseeJ。M。Robertson\'sPaganChrists，pp。321，322。
JustinMartyragain，intheDialoguewithTryphosaysthattheBirthintheStablewastheprototype！ofthebirthofMithraintheCaveofZoroastrianism；andboaststhatChristwasbornwhentheSuntakesitsbirthintheAugeanStable，[1]comingasasecondHerculestocleanseafoulworld；andSt。Augustinesays“weholdthisChristmasdayholy，notlikethepagansbecauseofthebirthoftheSun，butbecauseofthebirthofhimwhomadeit。”ThereareplentyofotherinstancesintheEarlyFathersoftheirindignantascriptionofthesesimilaritiestotheworkofdevils；butweneednotdwelloverthem。ThereisnoneedforUStobeindignant。OnthecontrarywecannowseethattheseanimadversionsoftheChristianwritersaretheevidenceofhowandtowhatextentinthespreadofChristianityovertheworldithadbecomefusedwiththePagancultspreviouslyexisting。
[1]TheZodiacalsignofCapricornus，iii。。
ItwasnottilltheyearA。D。530orso——fivecenturiesafterthesupposedbirthofChrist——thataScythianMonk，DionysiusExiguus，anabbotandastronomerofRome，wascommissionedtofixthedayandtheyearofthatbirth。
Aniceproblem，consideringthehistoricalscienceoftheperiod！Foryearheassignedthedatewhichwenowadopt，[2]
andfordayandmonthheadoptedthe25thDecember——adatewhichhadbeeninpopularusesinceabout350B。C。，andtheverydate，withinadayortwo，ofthesupposedbirthofthepreviousSungods。[3]Fromthatfactalonewemayfairlyconcludethatbytheyear530
orearliertheexistingNature-worshipshadbecomelargelyfusedintoChristianity。InfactthedatesofthemainpaganreligiousfestivalshadbythattimebecomesopopularthatChristianitywasOBLIGEDtoaccommodateitselftothem。[1]
[1]As，forinstance，thefestivalofJohntheBaptistinJunetooktheplaceofthepaganmidsummerfestivalofwaterandbathing；theAssumptionoftheVirgininAugusttheplaceofthatofDianainthesamemonth；andthefestivalofAllSoulsearlyinNovember，thatoftheworld-widepaganfeastsofthedeadandtheirghostsatthesameseason。
[2]SeeEncycl。Brit。art。“Chronology。”
[3]“Thereishoweveradifficultyinacceptingthe25thDecemberastherealdateoftheNativity，DecemberbeingtheheightoftherainyseasoninJudaea，whenneitherflocksnorshepherdscouldhavebeenatnightinthefieldsofBethlehem“！。Encycl。
Brit。art。“ChristmasDay。”AccordingtoHastings\'sEncyclopaedia，art。“Christmas，““UsenersaysthattheFeastoftheNativitywasheldoriginallyonthe6thJanuarytheEpiphany，butin353-4thePopeLiberiusdisplacedittothe25thDecember……butthereisnoevidenceofaFeastoftheNativitytakingplaceatall，beforethefourthcenturyA。D。”Itwasnottill534A。D。thatChristmasDayandEpiphanywerereckonedbythelaw-courtsasdiesnon。
Thisbringsustothesecondpointmentionedafewpagesback——theanalogybetweentheChristianfestivalsandtheyearlyphenomenaofNatureintheSunandtheVegetation。
LetustakeChristmasDayfirst。Mithra，aswehaveseen，wasreportedtohavebeenbornonthe25thDecemberwhichintheJulianCalendarwasreckonedasthedayoftheWinterSolsticeANDoftheNativityoftheSun；
PlutarchsaysIsisandOsiris，c。12thatOsiriswasbornonthe361stdayoftheyear，whenaVoicerangoutproclaimingtheLordofAll。Horus，hesays，wasbornonthe362ndday。Apolloonthesame。
Whywasallthis?WhydidtheDruidsatYuleTidelightroaringfires?WhywasthecocksupposedtocrowallChristmasEve“Thebirdofdawningsingethallnightlong“?WhywasApollobornwithonlyonehairtheyoungSunwithonlyonefeebleray?WhydidSamsonnamederivedfromShemesh，thesunloseallhisstrengthwhenhelosthishair?Whyweresomanyofthesegods——Mithra，Apollo，Krishna，Jesus，andothers，bornincavesorundergroundchambers?[1]Why，attheEasterEvefestivaloftheHolySepulchreatJerusalemisalightbroughtfromthegraveandcommunicatedtothecandlesofthousandswhowaitoutside，andwhorushforthrejoicingtocarrythenewgloryovertheworld?[2]Whyindeed?
exceptthatolderthanallhistoryandallwrittenrecordshasbeenthefearandwondermentofthechildrenofmenoverthefailureoftheSun\'sstrengthinAutumn——thedecayoftheirGod；andtheanxietylestbyanymeansheshouldnotreviveorreappear?
[1]Thissamelegendofgodsoridolsbeingbornincaveshas，curiouslyenough，beenreportedfromMexico，Guatemala，theAntilles，andotherplacesinCentralAmerica。SeeC。F。P。vonMartius，EtknographieAmerika，etc。Leipzig，1867，vol。i，p。
758。
[2]ComparetheAztecceremonialoflightingaholyfireandcommunicatingittothemultitudefromthewoundedbreastofahumanvictim，celebratedevery52yearsattheendofonecycleandthebeginningofanother——theconstellationofthePleiadesbeingintheZenithPrescott\'sConquestofMexico，Bk。I，ch。
4。
ThinkforamomentofatimefarbackwhentherewereabsolutelyNOAlmanacsorCalendars，eithernicelyprintedorotherwise，whenallthattimidmortalscouldseewasthattheirgreatsourceofLightandWarmthwasdailyfailing，dailysinkinglowerinthesky。Aseveryonenowknowsthereareaboutthreeweeksatthefagendoftheyearwhenthedaysareattheirshortestandthereisverylittlechange。Whatwashappening?Evidentlythegodhadfallenuponeviltimes。Typhon，theprinceofdarkness，hadbetrayedhim；Delilah，thequeenofNight，hadshornhishair；thedreadfulBoarhadwoundedhim；
HerculeswasstrugglingwithDeathitself；hehadfallenundertheinfluenceofthosemalignconstellations——theSerpentandtheScorpion。Wouldthegodgrowweakerandweaker，andfinallysuccumb，orwouldheconquerafterall?Wecanimaginetheanxietywithwhichthoseearlymenandwomenwatchedforthefirstindicationofalengtheningday；andtheuniversaljoywhenthePriesttherepresentativeofprimitivesciencehavingmadesomesimpleobservations，announcedfromtheTemplestepsthatthedayWASlengthening——thattheSunwasreallybornagaintoanewandgloriouscareer。[1]
[1]ItwassuchthingsasthesewhichdoubtlessgavethePriesthooditspower。
Letuslookattheelementaryscienceofthosedaysalittlecloser。HowwithoutAlmanacsorCalendarscouldtheday，orprobableday，oftheSun\'srebirthbefixed?
GooutnextChristmasEvening，andatmidnightyouwillseethebrightestofthefixedstars，Sirius，blazinginthesouthernsky——nothoweverduesouthfromyou，butsomewhattotheleftoftheMeridianline。SomethreethousandyearsagoowingtothePrecessionoftheEquinoxesthatstaratthewintersolsticedidnotstandatmidnightwhereyounowseeit，butalmostexactlyONthemeridianline。
ThecomingofSiriusthereforetothemeridianatmidnightbecamethesignandassuranceoftheSunhavingreachedtheverylowestpointofhiscourse，andthereforeofhavingarrivedatthemomentofhisre-birth。WherethenwastheSunatthatmoment?Obviouslyintheunderworldbeneathourfeet。Whateverviewstheancientsmayhavehadabouttheshapeoftheearth，itwasevidenttothemassofpeoplethattheSungod，afterilluminatingtheworldduringtheday，plungeddownintheWest，andremainedthereduringthehoursofdarknessinsomecavernundertheearth。HereherestedandafterbathinginthegreatoceanrenewedhisgarmentsbeforereappearingintheEastnextmorning。
Butinthislongnightofhisgreatestwinterweakness，whenalltheworldwashopingandprayingfortherenewalofhisstrength，itisevidentthatthenewbirthwouldcome——ifitcameatall——atmidnight。ThisthenwasthesacredhourwhenintheunderworldtheStableortheCaveorwhateveritmightbecalledthechildwasbornwhowasdestinedtobetheSaviorofmen。AtthatmomentSiriusstoodonthesouthernmeridianandinmoresouthernlandsthanoursthiswouldbemorenearlyoverhead；andthatstar——thereislittledoubt——istheStarintheEastmentionedintheGospels。
Totheright，asthesupposedobserverlooksatSiriusonthemidnightofChristmasEve，standsthemagnificentOrion，themightyhunter。Therearethreestarsinhisbeltwhich，asiswellknown，lieinastraightlinepointingtoSirius。TheyarenotsobrightasSirius，buttheyaresufficientlybrighttoattractattention。AlongtraditiongivesthemthenameoftheThreeKings。Dupuis[1]says:
“Orionatroisbellesetoilesverslemilieu，quisontdesecondegrandeuretposeesenlignedroite，l\'unepresdel\'autre，lepeuplelesappellelestroisrois。OndonneauxtroisroisMagislesnomsdeMagalat，Galgalat，Saraim；
etAthos，Satos，Paratoras。LesCatholiqueslesappellentGaspard，Melchior，etBalthasar。”Thelast-mentionedgroupofnamescomesintheCatholicCalendarinconnectionwiththefeastoftheEpiphany6thJanuary；andthename“TroisRois“iscommonlyto-daygiventothesestarsbytheFrenchandSwisspeasants。
[1]CharlesF。DupuisOriginedeTouslesCultes，Paris，1822
wasoneoftheearliestmodernwritersonthesesubjects。
ImmediatelyafterMidnightthen，onthe25thDecember，theBelovedSonorSun-godisborn。Ifwegobackinthoughttotheperiod，somethreethousandyearsago，whenatthatmomentoftheheavenlybirthSirius，comingfromtheEast，didactuallystandontheMeridian，weshallcomeintotouchwithanothercuriousastronomicalcoincidence。
ForatthesamemomentweshallseetheZodiacalconstellationoftheVirginintheactofrising，andbecomingvisibleintheEastdividedthroughthemiddlebythelineofthehorizon。
TheconstellationVirgoisaY-shapedgroup，ofwhich，thestaratthefoot，isthewell-knownSpica，astarofthefirstmagnitude。Theotherprincipalstars，atthecentre，andandattheextremities，areofthesecondmagnitude。Thewholeresemblesmoreacupthanthehumanfigure；butwhenwerememberthesymbolicmeaningofthecup，thatseemstobeanobviousexplanationofthenameVirgo，whichtheconstellationhasbornesincetheearliesttimes。[Thethreestars，and，lieverynearlyontheEcliptic，thatis，theSun\'spath——afacttowhichweshallreturnpresently。]
AtthemomentthenwhenSirius，thestarfromtheEast，bycomingtotheMeridianatmidnightsignalledtheSun\'snewbirth，theVirginwasseenjustrisingontheEasternsky——thehorizonlinepassingthroughhercentre。AndmanypeoplethinkthatthisastronomicalfactistheexplanationoftheverywidespreadlegendoftheVirgin-birth。I
donotthinkthatitisthesoleexplanation——forindeedinallornearlyallthesecasestheacceptanceofamythseemstodependnotuponasingleargumentbutupontheconvergenceofanumberofmeaningsandreasonsinthesamesymbol。Butcertainlythefactmentionedaboveiscurious，anditsimportanceisaccentuatedbythefollowingconsiderations。
IntheTempleofDenderahinEgypt，andontheinsideofthedome，thereisorWASanelaboratecircularrepresentationoftheNorthernhemisphereoftheskyandtheZodiac。[1]HereVirgotheconstellationisrepresented，asinourstar-maps，byawomanwithaspikeofcorninherhandSpica。Butonthemarginclosebythereisanannotatingandexplicatoryfigure——afigureofIsiswiththeinfantHorusinherarms，andquiteresemblinginstyletheChristianMadonnaandChild，exceptthatsheissittingandthechildisonherknee。Thisseemstoshowthat——whateverothernationsmayhavedoneinassociatingVirgowithDemeter，Ceres，Diana[2]etc——theEgyptiansmadenodoubtoftheconstellation\'sconnectionwithIsisandHorus。ButitiswellknownasamatterofhistorythattheworshipofIsisandHorusdescendedintheearlyChristiancenturiestoAlexandria，whereittooktheformoftheworshipoftheVirginMaryandtheinfantSavior，andsopassedintotheEuropeanceremonial。WehavethereforetheVirginMaryconnectedbylinearsuccessionanddescentwiththatremoteZodiacalclusterinthesky！AlsoitmaybementionedthatontheArabianandPersianglobesofAbenezraandAbuazaraVirginandChildarefiguredinconnectionwiththesameconstellation。[3]
[1]CarefullydescribedandmappedbyDupuis，seeop。cit。
[2]Fortheharvest-festivalofDiana，theVirgin，andherparallelismwiththeVirginMary，seeTheGoldenBough，vol。i，14andii，121。
[3]SeeF。Nork，DerMystagogLeipzig，1838。
AcuriousconfirmationofthesameastronomicalconnectionisaffordedbytheRomanCatholicCalendar。ForifthisbeconsulteditwillbefoundthatthefestivaloftheAssumptionoftheVirginisplacedonthe15thAugust，whilethefestivaloftheBirthoftheVirginisdatedthe8thSeptember。I
havealreadypointedoutthatthestars，，andofVirgoarealmostexactlyontheEcliptic，orSun\'spaththroughthesky；andabriefreferencetotheZodiacalsignsandthestar-mapswillshowthattheSuneachyearentersthesignofVirgoaboutthefirst-mentioneddate，andleavesitabouttheseconddate。AtthepresentdaytheZodiacalsignsowingtoprecessionhaveshiftedsomedistancefromtheconstellationsofthesamename。
ButatthetimewhentheZodiacwasconstitutedandthesenamesweregiven，thefirstdateobviouslywouldsignalizetheactualdisappearanceoftheclusterVirgointheSun\'srays——i。e。theAssumptionoftheVirginintothegloryoftheGod——whiletheseconddatewouldsignalizethereappearanceoftheconstellationortheBirthoftheVirgin。TheChurchofNotreDameatParisissupposedtobeontheoriginalsiteofaTempleofIsis；anditissaidbutIhavenotbeenabletoverifythismyselfthatoneofthesideentrances——that，namely，ontheleftinenteringfromtheNorthcloisterside——isfiguredwiththesignsoftheZodiacEXCEPTthatthesignVirgoisreplacedbythefigureoftheMadonnaandChild。
Sostrangeisthescriptureofthesky！InnumerablelegendsandcustomsconnecttherebirthoftheSunwithaVirginparturition。Dr。J。G。FrazerinhisPartIVofTheGoldenBough[1]says:“IfwemaytrusttheevidenceofanobscurescholiasttheGreeks[intheworshipofMithrasatRome]usedtocelebratethebirthoftheluminarybyamidnightservice，comingoutoftheinnershrinesandcrying，\'TheVirginhasbroughtforth！Thelightiswaxing！\'