The Life-Giving Myth

<p>Myths are the expression of a form of knowledge essential to life. Including mainly previously unpublished work by A.M. Hocart the book examines such issues as:<br> Why a queen should not have been married before; why a guest is sacred; why people are believed to have been turned into stone; how money originated. <br> These issues are considered as part of a socio-religious complex embraced in many parts of the world, both East and West. (There are chapters on the UK, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, Fiji, Egypt, and Ancient Greece).</p> Chapter 1 The Life-giving Myth; Chapter 2 Flying Through the Air; Chapter 3 Turning Into Stone; Chapter 4 The Common Sense of Myth; Chapter 5 The Purpose of Ritual; Chapter 6 Ritual and Emotion; Chapter 7 The Origin of Monotheism; Chapter 8 The Divinity of the Guest; Chapter 9 Yakshas and Väddas; Chapter 10 Money; Chapter 11 Modern Critique; Chapter 12 In the Grip of Tradition; Chapter 13 Snobbery; Chapter 14 Chastity; Chapter 15 Saviours; Chapter 16 The Age-Limit; Chapter 17 Childhood Ceremonies; Chapter 18 Baptism by Fire; Chapter 19 Initiation and Manhood; Chapter 20 Initiation and Healing; Chapter 21 Tattooing and Healing; Chapter 22 Kinship Systems; Chapter 23 Blood-Brotherhood; Chapter 24 Covenants; Chapter 25 The Uterine Nephew; Chapter 26 Why Study Savages ?; Chapter 27 Are Savages Custom-bound?; Chapter 28 From Ancient to Modern Egypt; Chapter 29 India and the Pacific; Chapter 30 Decadence in India;