Mysteries of All Nations

James Grant

Description

Join archaeologist James Grant on a global tour of cultures to discover the often unusual origins behind common beliefs and practices, ranging from fairies and magical creatures, to funerary practices, to the ancient roots of current-day celebrations and observances such as Halloween.

Sujets

• Anthropology
• Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 avril 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776598779
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE MYSTERIES OF ALL NATIONS
RISE AND PROGRESS OF SUPERSTITION, LAWS AGAINST AND TRIALS OF WITCHES, ANCIENT AND MODERN DELUSIONS TOGETHER WITH STRANGE CUSTOMS, FABLES, AND TALES
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JAMES GRANT
 
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The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales First published in 1880 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-877-9 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-878-6 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface The Rise and Progress of Superstition Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII The Gods and Goddesses of Heathen Nations Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Mythology of Germany, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Etc. Chapter XII Names of Days, Whence Derived Chapter XIII Names of Months, Whence Derived Chapter XIV Miracles Performed by Saints and Other Holy Persons, and the Influenceof Sacred Relics Chapter XV How the Poets Have Fanned the Flame of Superstition Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Chapter XXI Chapter XXII Monarchs, Priests, Philosophers, and Superstition Chapter XXIII Chapter XXIV Chapter XXV The Druids Chapter XXVI Chapter XXVII Demonology Chapter XXVIII Chapter XXIX Chapter XXX Chapter XXXI Chapter XXXII Chapter XXXIII Chapter XXXIV Chapter XXXV Chapter XXXVI Magic and Astrology Chapter XXXVII Chapter XXXVIII Chapter XXXIX Divination and Oracles Chapter XL Signs, Omens, and Warnings Chapter XLI Chapter XLII Chapter XLIII Chapter XLIV Amulets and Charms Chapter XLV Chapter XLVI Chapter XLVII Chapter XLVIII Chapter XLIX Trials by Ordeal Chapter L Chapter LI Curses and Evil Wishes Chapter LII Chapter LIII Dreams and Visions of the Night Chapter LIV Chapter LV Laws Against and Trials of Witches Chapter LVI Chapter LVII Chapter LVIII Chapter LIX Chapter LX Chapter LXI Chapter LXII Chapter LXIII Chapter LXIV Chapter LXV Chapter LXVI Chapter LXVII Superstition in the Nineteenth Century Chapter LXVIII Chapter LXIX Chapter LXX Chapter LXXI Chapter LXXII Chapter LXXIII
Preface
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In whatever light this work may be regarded by archæologists andgeneral readers, the writer submits it to the public, chiefly as theresult of antiquarian research, and actual observation during a periodof nearly forty years. The writer does not attempt to define whatsuperstition is, either in its broadest or most literal sense; but, ashe desires the expression to be understood, it may be considered toimply a fear of the Evil One and his emissaries, a trust in benignspirits and saints, a faith in occult science, and a belief that aconjunction of certain planets or other inanimate bodies is capable ofproducing supernatural effects, either beneficial or prejudicial toman. Superstition, generally so called, has run through a course ofages from sire to son, leaving it still deeply rooted in the minds ofmany of the present generation.
Not a few seeming repetitions in this work are not such in reality,but are instances brought forward to mark the resemblance between theopinions prevalent in past and present times, and to illustrate thesimilarity of perverted views in various parts of the world.
The examples of superstition herein given are taken from an almostunlimited number, yet the writer confesses to have omitted manyinteresting particulars. In proof of this it may be stated, that whilethe last sheet of these pages was being revised, an esteemed friendwrote, saying: "I can quite corroborate what you say of Ireland; forlately, on my way from Macroom to Glengariff, at a weird mountainpass, the coach stopped to enable us to visit the hermitage of St.Finbar. There, beside a lonely lake, I saw a number of devotees,afflicted with various ailments, expecting to be healed through thegood offices of the departed saint."
In spite of a determination to omit unimportant matter and to beconcise, this volume has swelled out far beyond what was originallyintended. The more the subject of superstition is studied, the moreinteresting it becomes. One judges of a nation's strength by itsvictories, of its industry by its products, of its wealth by its minesand cultivated fields, of its domestic condition by its diet anddress, of its moral condition by its laws, of its religion andintelligence by its literature; but before obtaining full knowledge ofa people's convictions, it is necessary to search into theirsuperstitions. In these are discovered the secrets of man's innerlife, and by these also have been forged strong fetters, which havekept his soul in thraldom for ages.
If the author has succeeded in pointing out, that, notwithstanding theprogress of science and the advancement of civilisation andChristianity, some of the darker shadows that have disfigured pastages are still floating over a portion of our social horizon, he feelshis labour will not have been altogether in vain. Like many of theghosts alluded to in the following pages, that of superstition needsonly the continued light of day to shine upon it, in order to make itvanish for ever.
January 1880.
The Rise and Progress of Superstition
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Chapter I
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Rise and Progress of Superstition—The Serpent—Cain's Departure from the true Worship—Worship of the Sun, Moon, and Stars—Strange Story of Abraham—The Gods of Antiquity—Ether, Air, Land, and Water filled with living Souls—Guardian Angel—Cause of the Flood—Magic—How the Jews deceived the Devil—A Witch not permitted to live—Diviners, Enchanters, Consulters with familiar Spirits and Necromancers proved a Snare to Nations—Charms worn by the Jews—Singular Customs and Belief—Prognostication—Allegorical Emblems—Marriage Customs—Divers Ceremonies at Death and Burials—Divination among all Nations—Observers of Times—Opinion concerning the Celestial Bodies—Power of Witches—Wizards—Necromancers' Power to call up the Dead.
Superstition has prevailed in every generation and country in theworld. There are people who think that even Adam and Eve were taintedwith this hateful delusion, and that their offspring of the secondgeneration entertained opinions opposed to true religion. That man,soon after the Creation, became acquainted with and yielded to thedoctrine of devils, scarcely admits of doubt. Those who conversed withour first parents must have learned from them the circumstancesconnected with the temptation, fall, and expulsion from the Garden ofEden. It is not unreasonable, then, to suppose that the serpent waslooked upon at an early period as something more than an ordinaryearthly reptile. One can imagine Adam and Eve, when wandering inperplexity and fear, after their first great sin, starting at thesight of a serpent,—not being certain whether they beheld a reptileof flesh merely, or looked upon their old enemy that had betrayed themin their days of innocency. If they looked with suspicion on theserpent, it is natural to suppose that their children would learn toview this creeping animal as a creature endowed with supernaturalpowers, by which it could bring about evil, and perhaps good.
Cain, there is reason to conclude, departed from the true worship ofthe Most High before his offering was refused, and ere he dipped hishands in his brother's blood. In Genesis iv. 26 there is animplication that man had forsaken the right and holy religion prior tothe days of Seth. There is an opinion that men soon began to worshipthe sun, moon, and stars, and that subsequently they paid homage toobjects which contributed to their preservation and to things thatmight do them injury. The wandering Jew, Benjamin, one of the greatesttravellers in the East, gives an interesting account of solar worshipin early times. The posterity of Cush, he tells us, were addicted tothe contemplation of the stars, and worshipped the sun as a god. Theirtowns were filled with altars dedicated to this orb. At early morn thepeople rose, and ran out of the cities to await the rising sun, towhich on every altar there was a consecrated image, not in thelikeness of a man, but after the fashion of the solar orb, formed bymagic art. These artificial orbs, as soon as the sun rose, took fire,and resounded with a great noise, to the joy of the deluded devotees.
Many Jewish doctors have condescended upon the precise time when manbegan to commit idolatry, and they name Enos as the firststar-worshipper. Arabian divines tell a story of Abraham being broughtup in a dark cave, and at his first coming forth he was so much struckwith the appearance of the sun, moon, and stars, that he worshippedthem; and there are people who imagine that in the Book of Job theydiscover evidence of the heavenly host being adored in the time of theold patriarch of Uz.
Some suppose that all the gods of antiquity were Egyptian kings,others that they were Thessalian princes, others that they were Jewishpatriarchs; while not a few are of opinion that they were kings of theseveral countries where they were worshipped. It has been supposedthat Saturn represented Adam; Rhea, Eve; Jupiter, Cain; Prometheus,Abel; Apollo, Lamech; Mercury, Jabal; Bacchus, Noah; and Phaeton,Elias. Others imagine that Saturn came in place of Noah; Pluto, ofSem; Neptune, of Japheth; Bacchus, of Nimrod; and Apollo, of Phut. Athird class of thinkers maintain that all the heathen gods centre inMoses, and the goddesses in Zipporah his wife, or in Miriam hissister. A fourth class hold that Saturn was Ab