第2章

类别:其他 作者:Carpenter, Edward字数:29135更新时间:18/12/20 10:59:07
ItwouldappearthenthatatRomeinthequietearlydaysoftheChristianChurch,theritesandceremonialsofMithraandCybele,probablymuchintermingledandblended,wereexceedinglypopular。BothreligionshadbeenrecognizedbytheRomanState,andtheChristians,persecutedanddespisedastheywere,foundithardtomakeanyheadwayagainstthem——themoresoperhapsbecausetheChristiandoctrinesappearedinmanyrespectstobemerelyfaintreplicasandcopiesoftheoldercreeds。Robertsonmaintains[1]thatahe-lambwassacrificedintheMithraicmysteries,andhequotesPorphyryassaying[2] that“aplaceneartheequinoctialcirclewasassignedtoMithraasanappropriateseat;andonthisaccounthebearstheswordoftheRam[Aries]whichisasignofMars[Ares]。”SimilarlyamongtheearlyChristians,itissaid,aramorlambwassacrificedinthePaschalmystery。 [1]PaganChrists,p。336。 [2]DeAntro,xxiv。 ManypeoplethinkthattheassociationoftheLamb-godwiththeCrossarosefromthefactthattheconstellationAriesatthattimeWASontheheavenlycross(thecrosswaysoftheEclipticandEquator-seediagram,ch。 iii),andintheveryplacethroughwhichtheSungodhadtopassjustbeforehisfinaltriumph。AnditiscurioustofindthatJustinMartyrinhisDialoguewithTrypho[1] (aJew)alludestoanoldJewishpracticeofroastingaLambonspitsarrangedintheformofaCross。“Thelamb,“ hesays,meaningapparentlythePaschallamb,“isroastedanddressedupintheformofacross。Foronespitistransfixedrightthroughthelowerpartsuptothehead,andoneacrosstheback,towhichareattachedthelegs[forelegs]ofthelamb。” [1]Ch。xl。 To-dayinMoroccoatthefestivalofEid-el-Kebir,correspondingtotheChristianEaster,theMohammedanssacrificeayoungramandhurryitstillbleedingtotheprecinctsoftheMosque,whileatthesametimeeveryhouseholdslaysalamb,asintheBiblicalinstitution,foritsfamilyfeast。 Butitwillperhapsbesaid,“Youaregoingtoofastandprovingtoomuch。IntheanxietytoshowthattheLamb-godandthesacrificeoftheLambwerehonoredbythedevoteesofMithraandCybeleintheRomeoftheChristianera,youareforgettingthatthesacrificeoftheBullandthebaptisminbull\'sbloodwerethesalientfeaturesofthePersianandPhrygianceremonials,somecenturiesearlier。Howcanyoureconciletheexistencesidebysideofdivinitiesbelongingtosuchdifferentperiods,orascribethembothtoanastronomicalorigin?“Theanswerissimpleenough。AsIhaveexplainedbefore,thePrecessionoftheEquinoxescausedtheSun,atitsmomentoftriumphoverthepowersofdarkness,tostandatoneperiodintheconstellationoftheBull,andataperiodsometwothousandyearslaterintheconstellationoftheRam。 Itwasperfectlynaturalthereforethatachangeinthesacredsymbolsshould,inthecourseoftime,takeplace; yetperfectlynaturalalsothatthesesymbols,havingoncebeenconsecratedandadopted,shouldcontinuetobehonoredandclungtolongafterthetimeoftheirastronomicalappropriatenesshadpassed,andsotobefoundsidebysideinlatercenturies。ThedevoteeofMithraorAttisontheVaticanHillatRomeintheyear200A。D。probablyhadaslittlenotionorcomprehensionoftherealoriginofthesacredBullorRamwhichheadored,astheChristianinSt。Peter\'sto-dayhasoftheoriginoftheLamb-godwhosevicegerentonearthisthePope。 ItisindeedeasytoimaginethatthechangefromtheworshipoftheBulltotheworshipoftheLambwhichundoubtedlytookplaceamongvariouspeoplesastimewenton,wasonlyaritualchangeinitiatedbythepriestsinordertoputonrecordandharmonizewiththeastronomicalalteration。AnyhowitiscuriousthatwhileMithraintheearlytimeswasspeciallyassociatedwiththebull,hisassociationwiththelambbelongedmoretotheRomanperiod。SomewhatthesamehappenedinthecaseofAttis。 IntheBiblewereadoftheindignationofMosesatthesettingupbytheIsraelitesofaGoldenCalf,AFTERthesacrificeoftheram-lambhadbeeninstituted——asifindeedtherebelliouspeoplewerereturningtotheearliercultofApiswhichtheyoughttohaveleftbehindtheminEgypt。InEgyptitself,too,wefindtheworshipofApis,astimewenton,yieldingplacetothatoftheRam- headedgodAmun,orJupiterAmmon。[1]SothatbothfromtheBibleandfromEgyptianhistorywemayconcludethattheworshipoftheLamborRamsucceededtotheworshipoftheBull。 [1]Tacitus(Hist。v。4)speaksofram-sacrificebytheJewsinhonorofJupiterAmmon。SeealsoHerodotus(ii。42)onthesameinEgypt。 Finallyithasbeenpointedout,andtheremaybesomerealconnectioninthecoincidence,thatinthequiteearlyyearsofChristianitytheFISHcameinasanacceptedsymbolofJesusChrist。ConsideringthatafterthedominationofTaurusandAries,theFish(Pisces)comesnextinsuccessionastheZodiacalsignfortheVernalEquinox,andisnowtheconstellationinwhichtheSunstandsatthatperiod,itseemsnotimpossiblethattheastronomicalchangehasbeenthecauseoftheadoptionofthisnewsymbol。 Anyhow,andallowingforpossibleerrorsorexaggerations,itbecomesclearthatthetravelsoftheSunthroughthebeltofconstellationswhichformstheZodiacmusthavehad,fromearliesttimes,aprofoundinfluenceonthegenerationofreligiousmythsandlegends。Tosaythatitwastheonlyinfluencewouldcertainlybeamistake。 Othercausesundoubtedlycontributed。Butitwasamainandimportantinfluence。TheoriginsoftheZodiacareobscure;wedonotknowwithanycertaintythereasonswhythevariousnamesweregiventoitscomponentsections,norcanwemeasuretheexactantiquityofthesenames;but——pre-supposingthenamesofthesignsasoncegiven——itisnotdifficulttoimaginethegrowthoflegendsconnectedwiththeSun\'scourseamongthem。 OfalltheancientdivinitiesperhapsHerculesistheonewhoseroleasaSungodismostgenerallyadmitted。Thehelperofgodsandmen,amightyTraveller,andinvokedeverywhereastheSaviour,hislaborsforthegoodoftheworldbecameultimatelydefinedandsystematizedastwelveandcorrespondinginnumbertothesignsoftheZodiac。Itistruethatthissystematizationonlytookplaceatalateperiod,probablyinAlexandria;alsothattheidentificationofsomeoftheLaborswiththeactualsignsaswehavethematpresentisnotalwaysclear。ButconsideringthewideprevalenceoftheHerculesmythovertheancientworldandtheveryvariousastronomicalsystemsitmusthavebeenconnectedwithinitsorigin,thislackofexactcorrespondenceishardlytobewonderedat。 TheLaborsofHerculeswhichchieflyinterestusare: (1)ThecaptureoftheBull,(2)theslaughteroftheLion,(3)thedestructionoftheHydra,(4)oftheBoar,(5)thecleansingofthestablesofAugeas,(6)thedescentintoHadesandthetamingofCerberus。ThefirstoftheseisinlinewiththeMithraicconquestoftheBull;theLionisofcourseoneofthemostprominentconstellationsoftheZodiac,anditsconquestisobviouslytheworkofaSaviourofmankind;whilethelastfourlaborsconnectthemselvesverynaturallywiththeSolarconflictinwinteragainstthepowersofdarkness。TheBoar(4)wehaveseenalreadyastheimageofTyphon,theprinceofdarkness; theHydra(3)wassaidtobetheoffspringofTyphon; thedescentintoHades(6)——generallyassociatedwithHercules\'strugglewithandvictoryoverDeath——linksontothedescentoftheSunintotheunderworld,anditslonganddoubtfulstrifewiththeforcesofwinter;andthecleansingofthestablesofAugeas(5)hasthesamesignification。ItappearsinfactthatthestablesofAugeaswasanothernameforthesignofCapricornthroughwhichtheSunpassesattheWintersolstice[1]——thestableofcoursebeinganundergroundchamber——andthemythwasthatthere,inthislowesttractandbackwateroftheEclipticallthemalariousandevilinfluencesoftheskywerecollected,andtheSungodcametowashthemaway(DecemberwastheheightoftherainyseasoninJudaea)andcleansetheyeartowardsitsrebirth。 [1]SeediagramofZodiac。 ItshouldnotbeforgottentoothatevenasachildinthecradleHerculesslewtwoserpentssentforhisdestruction—— theserpentandthescorpionasautumnalconstellationsfiguringalwaysasenemiesoftheSungod——towhichmaybecomparedthepowergiventohisdisciplesbyJesus[1] “totreadonserpentsandscorpions。”HerculesalsoasaSungodcomparescuriouslywithSamson(mentionedabove,ii),butweneednotdwellonalltheelaborateanalogiesthathavebeentraced[2]betweenthesetwoheroes。 [1]Lukex。19。 [2]SeeDoane\'sBibleMyths,ch。viii,(NewYork,1882。) TheJesus-story,itwillnowbeseen,hasagreatnumberofcorrespondenceswiththestoriesofformerSungodsandwiththeactualcareeroftheSunthroughtheheavens——somanyindeedthattheycannotwellbeattributedtomerecoincidenceoreventotheblasphemouswilesoftheDevil!Letusenumeratesomeofthese。Thereare(1) thebirthfromaVirginmother;(2)thebirthinastable(caveorundergroundchamber);and(3)onthe25thDecember(justafterthewintersolstice)。Thereis(4)theStarintheEast(Sirius)and(5)thearrivaloftheMagi(the“ThreeKings“);thereis(6)thethreatenedMassacreoftheInnocents,andtheconsequentflightintoadistantcountry(toldalsoofKrishnaandotherSungods)。TherearetheChurchfestivalsof(7)Candlemas(2ndFebruary),withprocessionsofcandlestosymbolizethegrowinglight;of(8)Lent,orthearrivalofSpring;of(9)EasterDay(normallyonthe25thMarch)tocelebratethecrossingoftheEquatorbytheSun;and(10)simultaneouslytheoutburstoflightsattheHolySepulchreatJerusalem。Thereis(11)theCrucifixionanddeathoftheLamb-God,onGoodFriday,threedaysbeforeEaster;thereare(12)thenailingtoatree,(13)theemptygrave,(14)thegladResurrection(asinthecasesofOsiris,Attisandothers); thereare(15)thetwelvedisciples(theZodiacalsigns); and(16)thebetrayalbyoneofthetwelve。Thenlaterthereis(17)MidsummerDay,the24thJune,dedicatedtotheNativityofJohntheBaptist,andcorrespondingtoChristmasDay;therearethefestivalsof(18)theAssumptionoftheVirgin(15thAugust)andof(19)theNativityoftheVirgin(8thSeptember),correspondingtothemovementofthegodthroughVirgo;thereistheconflictofChristandhisdiscipleswiththeautumnalasterisms,(20)theSerpentandtheScorpion;andfinallythereisthecuriousfactthattheChurch(21)dedicatestheverydayofthewintersolstice(whenanyonemayverynaturallydoubttherebirthoftheSun)toSt。Thomas,whodoubtedthetruthoftheResurrection! Thesearesomeof,andbynomeansall,thecoincidencesinquestion。Buttheyaresufficient,Ithink,toprove—— evenallowingforpossiblemarginsoferror——thetruthofourgeneralcontention。TogointotheparallelismofthecareersofKrishna,theIndianSungod,andJesuswouldtaketoolong;becauseindeedthecorrespondenceissoextraordinarilycloseandelaborate。[1]Ipropose,however,atthecloseofthischapter,todwellnowforamomentontheChristianfestivaloftheEucharist,partlyonaccountofitsconnectionwiththederivationfromtheastronomicalritesandNature-celebrationsalreadyalludedto,andpartlyonaccountofthelightwhichthefestivalgenerally,whetherChristianorPagan,throwsontheoriginsofReligiousMagic——asubjectIshallhavetodealwithinthenextchapter。 [1]SeeRobertson\'sChristianityandMythology,PartII,pp。 129-302;alsoDoane\'sBibleMyths,ch。xxviii,p。278。 Ihavealready(Ch。II)mentionedtheEucharisticriteheldincommemorationofMithra,andtheindignantascriptionofthisbyJustinMartyrtothewilesoftheDevil。 JustinMartyrclearlyhadnodoubtabouttheresemblanceoftheMithraictotheChristianceremony。ASacramentalmeal,asmentionedafewpagesback,seemstohavebeenheldbytheworshipersofAttis[1]incommemorationoftheirgod;andthe\'mysteries\'ofthePagancultsgenerallyappeartohaveincludedrites—— sometimeshalf-savage,sometimesmoreaesthetic——inwhichadismemberedanimalwaseaten,orbreadandwine(thespiritsoftheCornandtheVine)wereconsumed,asrepresentingthebodyofthegodwhomhisdevoteesdesiredtohonor。ButthebestexampleofthispracticeisaffordedbytheritesofDionysus,towhichIwilldevoteafewlines。Dionysus,likeotherSunorNaturedeities,wasbornofaVirgin(SemeleorDemeter)untaintedbyanyearthlyhusband;andbornonthe25th。December。HewasnurturedinaCave,andevenatthatearlyagewasidentifiedwiththeRamorLamb,intowhoseformhewasforthetimebeingchanged。AttimesalsohewasworshipedintheformofaBull。[2]Hetravelledfarandwide;andbroughtthegreatgiftofwinetomankind。[3] HewascalledLiberator,andSaviour。Hisgrave“wasshownatDelphiintheinmostshrineofthetempleofApollo。 Secretofferingswerebroughtthither,whilethewomenwhowerecelebratingthefeastwokeupthenew-borngod……Festivalsofthiskindincelebrationoftheextinctionandresurrectionofthedeitywereheld(bywomenandgirlsonly)amidthemountainsatnight,everythirdyear,aboutthetimeoftheshortestday。Therites,intendedtoexpresstheexcessofgriefandjoyatthedeathandreappearanceofthegod,werewildeventosavagery,andthewomenwhoperformedthemwerehenceknownbytheexpressivenamesofBacchae,Maenads,andThyiades。Theywanderedthroughwoodsandmountains,theirflyinglockscrownedwithivyorsnakes,brandishingwandsandtorches,tothehollowsoundsofthedrum,ortheshrillnotesoftheflute,withwilddancesandinsanecriesandjubilation。 [1]SeeFrazer\'sGoldenBough,PartIV,p。229。 [2]TheGoldenBough,PartII,BookII,p。164。 [3]“IamtheTRUEVine,“saystheJesusofthefourthgospel,perhapswithanimplicitandhostilereferencetothecultofDionysus——inwhichRobertsonsuggests(ChristianityandMythology,p。357)therewasaritualmiracleofturningwaterintowine。 Oxen,goats,evenfawnsandroesfromtheforestwerekilled,torntopieces,andeatenraw。ThisinimitationofthetreatmentofDionysusbytheTitans“[1]——whoitwassupposedhadtornthegodinpieceswhenachild。 [1]Seeart。Dionysus。DictionaryofClassicalAntiquities,NettleshipandSandys3rdedn。,London,1898)。 Dupuis,oneoftheearliestwriters(atthebeginningoflastcentury)onthissubject,says,describingthemysticritesofDionysus[1]:“ThesacreddoorsoftheTempleinwhichtheinitiationtookplacewereopenedonlyonceayear,andnostrangermighteverenter。Nightlenttotheseaugustmysteriesaveilwhichwasforbiddentobedrawnaside——forwhoeveritmightbe。[2]ItwasthesoleoccasionfortherepresentationofthepassionofBacchus[Dionysus] dead,descendedintohell,andrearisen——inimitationoftherepresentationofthesufferingsofOsiriswhich,accordingtoHerodotus,werecommemoratedatSaisinEgypt。Itwasinthatplacethatthepartitiontookplaceofthebodyofthegod,[3]whichwastheneaten—— theceremony,infact,ofwhichourEucharistisonlyareflection;whereasinthemysteriesofBacchusactualrawfleshwasdistributed,whicheachofthosepresenthadtoconsumeincommemorationofthedeathofBacchusdismemberedbytheTitans,andwhosepassion,inChiosandTenedos,wasrenewedeachyearbythesacrificeofamanwhorepresentedthegod。[4]PossiblyitisthislastfactwhichmadepeoplebelievethattheChristians(whosehocestcorpusmeumandsharingofanEucharisticmealwerenomorethanashadowofamoreancientrite)didreallysacrificeachildanddevouritslimbs。” [1]SeeCharlesF。Dupuis,“TraitedesMysteres,“ch。i。 [2]Pausan,Corinth,ch。37。 [3]Clem,Prot。Eur。Bacch。 [4]SeePorphyry,DeAbstinentia,lii,Section56。 ThatEucharisticriteswereveryveryancientisplainfromtheTotem-sacramentsofsavages;andtothissubjectweshallnowturn。 IV。TOTEM-SACRAMENTSANDEUCHARISTS MuchhasbeenwrittenontheoriginoftheTotem-system——thesystem,thatis,ofnamingatribeoraportionofatribe(sayaCLAN)aftersomeANIMAL——orsometimes——alsoaftersomeplantortreeorNature-element,likefireorrainorthunder;butatbestthesubjectisadifficultoneforusmodernstounderstand。AcarefulstudyhasbeenmadeofitbySalamonReinachinhisCultes,MythesetReligions,[1]whereheformulateshisconclusionsintwelvestatementsordefinitions;butevenso——thoughhissuggestionsarehelpful——hethrowsverylittlelightontherealoriginofthesystem。[2] [1]SeeEnglishtranslationofcertainchapters(publishedbyDavidNuttin1912)entitledCults,MythsandReligions,pp。 1-25。TheFrenchoriginalisinthreelargevolumes。 [2]ThesamemaybesaidoftheformulatedstatementofthesubjectinMorrisJastrow\'sHandbooksoftheHistoryofReligion,vol。iv。 Therearethreemaindifficulties。ThefirstistounderstandwhyprimitiveManshouldnamehisTribeafterananimalorobjectofnatureatall;thesecond,tounderstandonwhatprincipleheselectedtheparticularname(alion,acrocodile,aladybird,acertaintree);thethird,whyheshouldmakeofthesaidtotemadivinity,andpayhonorandworshiptoit。Itmaybeworthwhiletopauseforamomentoverthese。 (1)ThefactthattheTribewasoneoftheearlythingsforwhichManfounditnecessarytohaveanameisinteresting,becauseitshowshowearlythesolidarityandpsychologicalactualityofthetribewasrecognized;andastotheselectionofanamefromsomeanimalorconcreteobjectofNature,thatwasinevitable,forthesimplereasonthattherewasnothingelseforthesavagetochoosefrom。Plainlytocallhistribe“TheWayfarers“or“ThePioneers“orthe“Pacifists“orthe“Invincibles,“orbyanyofthethousandandonenameswhichmodernassociationsadopt,wouldhavebeenimpossible,sincesuchabstracttermshadlittleornoexistenceinhismind。Andagaintonameitafterananimalwasthemostobviousthingtodo,simplybecausetheanimalswerebyfarthemostimportantfeaturesoraccompanimentsofhisownlife。AsIamdealinginthisbooklargelywithcertainpsychologicalconditionsofhumanevolution,ithastobepointedoutthattoprimitivemantheanimalwasthenearestandmostcloselyrelatedofallobjects。Beingofthesameorderofconsciousnessashimself,theanimalappealedtohimverycloselyashismateandequal。Hemadewithregardtoitlittleornodistinctionfromhimself。Weseethisveryclearlyinthecaseofchildren,whoofcourserepresentthesavagemind,andwhoregardanimalssimplyastheirmatesandequals,andcomequicklyintorapportwiththem,notdifferentiatingthemselvesfromthem。 (2)AstotheparticularanimalorotherobjectselectedinordertogiveanametotheTribe,thiswouldnodoubtbelargelyaccidental。Anyunusualincidentmightsuperstitiouslyprecipitateaname。WecanhardlyimaginetheTribescratchingitscongregatedheadinthedeliberateefforttothinkoutasuitableemblemforitself。Thatisnotthewayinwhichnicknamesareinventedinaschooloranywhereelseto-day。Atthesametimetheheraldicappealofacertainobjectofnature,animateorinanimate,wouldbedeeplyandwidelyfelt。Thestrengthofthelion,thefleetnessofthedeer,thefood-valueofabear,theflightofabird,theawfuljawsofacrocodile,mighteasilymesmerizeawholetribe。Reinachpointsout,withgreatjustice,thatmanytribesplacedthemselvesundertheprotectionofanimalswhichweresupposed(rightlyorwrongly)toactasguidesandaugurs,foretellingthefuture。 “Diodorus,“hesays,“distinctlystatesthatthehawk,inEgypt,wasveneratedbecauseitforetoldthefuture。” [Birdsgenerallyactasweather-prophets。]“InAustraliaandSamoathekangaroo,thecrowandtheowlpremonishtheirfellowclansmenofeventstocome。AtonetimetheSamoanwarriorswentsofarastorearowlsfortheirpropheticqualitiesinwar。”[Thejackal,or\'pathfinder\'—— whosetrackssometimesleadtotheremainsofafood- animalslainbyalion,andmanybirdsandinsects,haveavalueofthiskind。]“Theuseofanimaltotemsforpurposesofauguryis,inalllikelihood,ofgreatantiquity。 Menmustsoonhaverealizedthatthesensesofanimalswereacuterthantheirown;norisitsurprisingthattheyshouldhaveexpectedtheirtotems——thatistosay,theirnaturalallies——toforewarnthembothofunsuspecteddangersandofthoseprovisionsofnature,WELLSespecially,whichanimalsseemtoscentbyinstinct。”[1]Andagain,beyondallthis,Ihavelittledoubtthattherearesubconsciousaffinitieswhichunitecertaintribestocertainanimalsorplants,affinitieswhoseoriginwecannotnowtrace,thoughtheyareveryreal——thesameaffinitiesthatwerecognizeasexistingbetweenindividualPERSONSandcertainobjectsofnature。W。H。Hudson——himselfinmanyrespectshavingthisdeepandprimitiverelationtonature—— speaksinaveryinterestingandautobiographicalvolume[2]oftheextraordinaryfascinationexerciseduponhimasaboy,notonlybyasnake,butbycertaintrees,andespeciallybyaparticularflowering-plant“notmorethanafootinheight,withdownysoftpalegreenleaves,andclustersofreddishblossoms,somethinglikevalerian。”……“Oneofmysacredflowers,“hecallsit,andinsistsonthe“inexplicableattraction“whichithadforhim。Invariouswaysofthiskindonecanperceivehowparticulartotemscametobeselectedbyparticularpeoples。 [1]SeeReinach,Eng。trans。,op。cit。,pp。20,21。 [2]FarawayandLongago(1918)chs。xviandxvii。 (3)Astothetendencytodivinizethesetotems,thisarisesnodoubtpartlyoutofquestion(2)。Theanimalorotherobjectadmiredonaccountofitsstrengthorswiftness,oradoptedasguardianofthetribebecauseofitskeensightorpropheticquality,orinfinitelyprizedonaccountofitsfood-value,orfeltforanyotherreasontohaveapeculiarrelationandaffinitytothetribe,isbythatfactSETAPART。Itbecomestaboo。Itmustnotbekilled——exceptundernecessityandbysanctionofthewholetribe——norinjured;andalldealingswithitmustbefencedroundwithregulations。Itisoutofthistabooorsystemoftaboosthat,accordingtoReinach,religionarose。“Ipropose(hesays)todefinereligionas:A SUMOFSCRUPLES(TABOOS)WHICHIMPEDETHEFREEEXERCISEOF OURFACULTIES。”[1]Obviouslythisdefinitionisgravelydeficient,simplybecauseitispurelynegative,andleavesoutofaccountthepositiveaspectofthesubject。InMan,thepositivecontentofreligionistheinstinctivesense——whetherconsciousorsubconscious——ofaninnerunityandcontinuitywiththeworldaround。Thisisthestuffoutofwhichreligionismade。Thescruplesortabooswhich“impedethefreedom“ofthisrelationarethenegativeforceswhichgiveoutlineandformtotherelation。 ThesearethethingswhichgeneratetheRITESANDCEREMONIALS ofreligion;andasfarasReinachmeansbyreligionMERELY ritesandceremoniesheiscorrect;butclearlyheonlycovershalfthesubject。Thetendencytodivinizethetotemisatleastasmuchdependentonthepositivesenseofunitywithit,asonthenegativescrupleswhichlimittherelationineachparticularcase。ButIshallreturntothissubjectpresently,andmorethanonce,withtheviewofclarifyingit。JustnowitwillbebesttoillustratethenatureofTotemsgenerally,andinsomedetail。 [1]SeeOrpheusbyS。Reinach,p。3。 AswouldbegatheredfromwhatIhavejustsaid,thereisfoundamongallthemoreprimitivepeoples,andinallpartsoftheworld,animmensevarietyoftotem-names。 TheDinkas,forinstance,arearatherintelligentwell-grownpeopleinhabitingtheupperreachesoftheNileinthevicinityofthegreatswamps。AccordingtoDr。Seligmantheirclanshavefortotemsthelion,theelephant,thecrocodile,thehippopotamus,thefox,andthehyena,aswellascertainbirdswhichinfestanddamagethecorn,someplantsandtrees,andsuchthingsasrain,fire,etc。“Eachclanspeaksofitstotemasitsancestor,andrefrains[asarule]frominjuringoreatingit。”[1]ThemembersoftheCrocodileclancallthemselves“brothersofthecrocodile。”ThetribesofBechuana-landhaveaverysimilarlistoftotem-names——thebuffalo,thefish,theporcupine,thewildvine,etc。TheytoohaveaCrocodileclan,buttheycallthecrocodiletheirFATHER!ThetribesofAustraliamuchthesameagain,withthedifferencessuitabletotheircountry;andtheRedIndiansofNorthAmericathesame。Garcilasso,dellaVega,theSpanishhistorian,sonofanIncaprincessbyoneoftheSpanishconquerorsofPeruandauthorofthewell-knownbookCommentariasReales,saysinthatbook(i,57),speakingofthepre-Incaperiod,“AnIndian(ofPeru)wasnotconsideredhonorableunlesshewasdescendedfromafountain,riverorlake,orevenfromthesea,orfromawildanimal,asabear,lion,tiger,eagle,orthebirdtheycallcuntur(condor),orsomeotherbirdofprey。”[2]AccordingtoLewisMorgan,theNorthAmericanIndiansofvarioustribeshadfortotemsthewolf,bear,beaver,turtle,deer,snipe,heron,hawk,crane,loon,turkey,muskrat;pike,catfish,carp;buffalo,elk,reindeer,eagle,hare,rabbit,snake; reed-grass,sand,rock,andtobacco-plant。 [1]SeeTheGoldenBough,vol。iv,p。31。 [2]SeeAndrewLang,CustomandMyth,p。104,alsoMyth,RitualandReligion,vol。i,pp。71,76,etc。 Sowemightgoonratherindefinitely。Ineedhardlysaythatinmoremodernandcivilizedlife,relicsofthetotemsystemarestilltobefoundintheformsoftheheraldiccreaturesadoptedfortheircrestsbydifferentfamilies,andinthebears,lions,eagles,thesun,moonandstarsandsoforth,whichstilladorntheflagsandareflauntedastheinsigniaofthevariousnations。ThenamesmaynothavebeenORIGINALLYadoptedfromanydefinitebeliefinblood-relationshipwiththeanimalorotherobjectinquestion;butwhen,asRobertsonsays(PaganChrists,p。104),a“savagelearnedthathewas\'aBear\'andthathisfatherandgrandfatherandforefathersweresobeforehim,itwasreallyimpossible,afteragesinwhichtotem- namesthuspassedcurrent,thatheshouldfailtoassumethathisfolkwereDESCENDEDfromabear。” Asarule,asmaybeimagined,thesavagetribesmanwillonnoaccountEAThistribaltotem-animal。Suchwouldnaturallybedeemedakindofsacrilege。Alsoitmustberemarkedthatsometotemsarehardlysuitableforeating。Yetitisimportanttoobservethatoccasionally,andguardingtheceremonywithgreatprecautions,ithasbeenanalmostuniversalcustomforthetribalelderstocallafeastatwhichananimal(eitherthetotemorsomeother)ISkilledandcommonlyeaten——andthisinorderthatthetribesmenmayabsorbsomevirtuebelongingtoit,andmayconfirmtheiridentitywiththetribeandwitheachother。Theeatingofthebearorotheranimal,thesprinklingwithitsblood,andthegeneralritualinwhichtheparticipantsshareditsflesh,ordressedanddisguisedthemselvesinitsskin,orotherwiseidentifiedthemselveswithit,wastothemasymboloftheircommunityoflifewitheachother,andameansoftheirrenewalandsalvationintheholyemblem。Andthiscustom,asthereaderwillperceive,becametheoriginoftheEucharistsandHolyCommunionsofthelaterreligions。 ProfessorRobertson-Smith\'scelebratedCamelaffordsaninstanceofthis。[1]ItappearsthatSt。Nilus(fifthcentury) hasleftadetailedaccountoftheoccasionalsacrificeinhistimeofaspotlesswhitecamelamongtheArabsoftheSinairegion,whichcloselyresemblesatotemiccommunion- feast。Theuncookedbloodandfleshoftheanimalhadtobeentirelyconsumedbythefaithfulbeforedaybreak。“Theslaughterofthevictim,thesacramentaldrinkingoftheblood,anddevouringinwildhasteofthepiecesofstillquiveringflesh,recallthedetailsoftheDionysiacandotherfestivals。”[2]Robertson-Smithhimselfsays:——“Theplainmeaningisthatthevictimwasdevouredbeforeitslifehadleftthestillwarmbloodandflesh……andthatthusinthemostliteralway,allthosewhosharedintheceremonyabsorbedpartofthevictim\'slifeintothemselves。Oneseeshowmuchmoreforciblythananyordinarymealsuchariteexpressestheestablishmentorconfirmationofabondofcommonlifebetweentheworshipers,andalso,sincethebloodissheduponthealtaritself,betweentheworshipersandtheirgod。Inthissacrifice,then,thesignificantfactorsaretwo:theconveyanceofthelivingbloodtothegodhead,andtheabsorptionofthelivingfleshandbloodintothefleshandbloodoftheworshippers。Eachoftheseiseffectedinthesimplestandmostdirectmanner,sothatthemeaningoftheritualisperfectlytransparent。” [1]SeehisReligionoftheSemites,p。320。 [2]TheyalsorecalltheritesofthePassover——thoughinthislatterthebloodwasnolongerdrunk,northeflesheatenraw。 Itseemsstrange,ofcourse,thatmenshouldeattheirtotems;anditmustnotbyanymeansbesupposedthatthispracticeis(orwas)universal;butitundoubtedlyobtainsinsomecases。AsMissHarrisonsays(Themis,p。123);“youdonotasaruleeatyourrelations,“andasaruletheeatingofatotemistabuandforbidden,but(MissHarrisoncontinues)“atcertaintimesandundercertainrestrictionsamannotonlymay,butMUST,eatofhistotem,thoughonlysparingly,asofathingsacrosanct。” Theceremonialcarriedoutinacommunalwaybythetribenotonlyidentifiesthetribewiththetotem(animal),butisheld,accordingtoearlymagicalideas,andwhentheanimalisdesiredforfood,tofavoritsmanipulation。 Thehumantribepartakesofthemanaorlife-forceoftheanimal,andisstrengthened;theanimaltribeissympatheticallyrenewedbytheceremonialandmultipliesexceedingly。 Theslaughterofthesacredanimaland(often)thesimultaneousoutpouringofhumanbloodsealsthecompactandconfirmsthemagic。Thisiswellillustratedbyaceremonyofthe\'Emu\'tribereferredtobyDr。 Frazer:—— “InordertomultiplyEmuswhichareanimportantarticleoffood,themenoftheEmutotemintheAruntatribeproceedasfollows:Theyclearasmallspotoflevelground,andopeningveinsintheirarmstheyletthebloodstreamoutuntilthesurfaceofthegroundforaspaceofaboutthreesquareyardsissoakedwithit。Whenthebloodhasdriedandcaked,itformsahardandfairlyimpermeablesurface,onwhichtheypaintthesacreddesignoftheemutotem,especiallythepartsofthebirdwhichtheylikebesttoeat,namely,thefatandtheeggs。Roundthispaintingthemensitandsing。Afterwardsperformerswearinglonghead-dressestorepresentthelongneckandsmallheadoftheemu,mimictheappearanceofthebirdasitstandsaimlesslypeeringaboutinalldirections。”[1] [1]TheGoldenBoughi,85——withreferencetoSpencerandGillen\'sNativeTribesofCentralAustralia,pp。179,189。 Thusbloodsacrificecomesin;and——(whetherthishaseveractuallyhappenedinthecaseoftheCentralAustraliansIknownot)——wecaneasilyimagineamemberoftheEmutribe,anddisguisedasanactualemu,havingbeenceremoniallyslaughteredasafirstfruitsandpromiseoftheexpectedandprayed-foremu-crop;justasthesamecertainlyHAShappenedinthecaseofmenwearingbeast-masksofBullsorRamsorBearsbeingsacrificedinpropitiationofBull-gods,Ram-godsorBear-godsorsimplyinpursuanceofsomekindofmagictofavorthemultiplicationofthesefood-animals。 “Inthelightoftotemisticwaysofthinkingweseeplainlyenoughtherelationofmantofood-animals。Youneedoratleastdesirefleshfood,yetyoushrinkfromslaughtering\'yourbrothertheox\';youdesirehismana,yetyourespecthistabu,forinyouandhimalikerunsthecommonlife-blood。Onyourownindividualresponsibilityyouwouldneverkillhim;butforthecommonweal,ongreatoccasions,andinafashionconductedwithscrupulouscare,itisexpedientthathedieforhispeople,andthattheyfeastuponhisflesh。”[1] [1]Themis,p。140。 InherlittlebookAncientArtandRitual[1]JaneHarrisondescribesthededicationofaholyBull,asconductedinGreeceatElis,andatMagnesiaandothercities。“ThereattheannualfairyearbyyearthestewardsofthecityboughtaBull\'thefinestthatcouldbegot,\'andatthenewmoonofthemonthatthebeginningofseed-time[?April]theydedicateditforthecity\'swelfare……TheBullwasledinprocessionattheheadofwhichwentthechiefpriestandpriestessofthecity。Withthemwentaheraldandsacrificer,andtwobandsofyouthsandmaidens。SoholywastheBullthatnothingunluckymightcomenearhim。Theheraldpronouncedaloudaprayerfor\'thesafetyofthecityandtheland,andthecitizens,andthewomenandchildren,forpeaceandwealth,andforthebringingforthofgrainandallotherfruits,andofcattle。\'Allthislongingforfertility,forfoodandchildren,focusesroundtheholyBull,whoseholinessishisstrengthandfruitfulness。”TheBullissacrificed。 Thefleshisdividedinsolemnfeastamongthosewhotakepartintheprocession。“Theholyfleshisnotofferedtoagod,itiseaten——toeverymanhisportion——byeachandeverycitizen,thathemaygethisshareofthestrengthoftheBull,oftheluckoftheState。”ButatAthenstheBouphonia,asitwascalled,wasfollowedbyacuriousceremony。 “Thehidewasstuffedwithstrawandsewedup,andnextthestuffedanimalwassetonitsfeetandyokedtoaploughasthoughitwereploughing。TheDeathisfollowedbyaResurrection。Nowthisisallimportant。 Weareaccustomedtothinkofsacrificeasthedeath,thegivingup,therenouncingofsomething。ButSACRIFICE doesnotmean\'death\'atall。ItmeansMAKINGHOLY,sanctifying;andholinesswastoprimitivemanjustspecialstrengthandlife。WhattheywantedfromtheBullwasjustthatspeciallifeandstrengthwhichalltheyearlongtheyhadputintohim,andnourishedandfostered。Thatlifewasinhisblood。Theycouldnoteatthatfleshnordrinkthatbloodunlesstheykilledhim。Sohemustdie。Butitwasnottogivehimuptothegodsthattheykilledhim,notto\'sacrifice\'himinoursense,buttohavehim,keephim,eathim,liveBYhimandthroughhim,byhisgrace。” [1]HomeUniversityLibrary,p。87。 Wehavealreadyhadtodealwithinstancesoftheceremonialeatingofthesacredhe-LamborRam,immolatedintheSpringseasonoftheyear,andpartakenofinakindofcommunalfeast——notwithoutreference(atanyrateinlatertimes)toasupposedLamb-god。AmongtheAinosintheNorthofJapan,asalsoamongtheGilyaksinEasternSiberia,theBearisthegreatfood-animal,andisworshippedasthesupremegiverofhealthandstrength。 Therealsoasimilarritualofsacrificeoccurs。AperfectBeariscaughtandcaged。Heisfedupandevenpamperedtothedayofhisdeath。“Fish,brandyandotherdelicaciesareofferedtohim。Someofthepeopleprostratethemselvesbeforehim;hiscomingintoahousebringsablessing,andifhesniffsatthefoodthatbringsablessingtoo。”Thenheisledoutandslain。Agreatfeasttakesplace,thefleshisdivided,cupfulsofthebloodaredrunkbythemen;thetribeisunitedandstrengthened,andtheBear-godblessestheceremony——theidealBearthathasgivenitslifeforthepeople。[1] [1]SeeArtandRitual,pp。92-98;TheGoldenBough,ii,375 seq。;Themis,pp。140,141;etc。 Thattheeatingofthefleshofananimaloramanconveystoyousomeofthequalities,thelife-force,themana,ofthatanimalorman,isanideawhichoneoftenmeetswithamongprimitivefolk。Hencethecommontendencytoeatenemywarriorsslaininbattleagainstyourtribe。Bydoingsoyouabsorbsomeoftheirvalorandstrength。EventheenemyscalpswhichanApacheIndianmighthangfromhisbeltweresomethingmagicaltoaddtotheApache\'spower。AsGilbertMurraysays,[1] “youdevouredtheholyanimaltogetitsmana,itsswiftness,itsstrength,itsgreatendurance,justasthesavagenowwilleathisenemy\'sbrainorheartorhandstogetsomeparticularqualityresidingthere。”Even——asheexplainsontheearlierpage——mereCONTACTwasoftenconsideredsufficient——“wehaveholypillarswhoseholinessconsistsinthefactthattheyhavebeentouchedbythebloodofabull。”AndinthisconnectionwemaynotethatnearlyalltheChristianChurcheshaveagreatbeliefinthevirtueimpartedbythemere\'layingonofhands。\' [1]FourStagesofGreekReligion,p。36。 Inquiteadifferentconnection——weread[1]thatamongtheSpartansawarrior-boywouldoftenbegfortheloveoftheelderwarriorwhomheadmired(i。e。thecontactwithhisbody)inordertoobtaininthatwayaportionofthelatter\'scourageandprowess。Thatthroughthemediationofthelipsone\'sspiritmaybeunitedtothespiritofanotherpersonisanideanotunfamiliartothemodernmind;whiletheexchangeofblood,clothes,locksofhair,etc。,byloversisacustomknownallovertheworld。[2] [1]AelianVII,iii,12:。SeealsoE。Betheon“DieDorischeKnabenliebe“intheRheinischesMuseum,vol。26,iii,461。 [2]SeeCrawley\'sMysticRose,pp。238,242。 Tosupposethatbyeatinganotheryouabsorbhisorhersoulissomewhatnaivecertainly。PerhapsitISmorenative,moreprimitive。YettheremaybeSOMEtrutheveninthatidea。Certainlythefoodthatoneeatshasapsychologicaleffect,andtheflesh-eatersamongthehumanracehaveadifferenttemperamentasarulefromthefruitandvegetableeaters,whileamongtheanimals(thoughothercausesmaycomeinhere)theCarnivoraaredecidedlymorecruelandlessgentlethantheHerbivora。 ToreturntotheritesofDionysus,GilbertMurray,speakingofOrphism——agreatwaveofreligiousreformwhichsweptoverGreeceandSouthItalyinthesixthcenturyB。C——says:[1]“AcuriousrelicofprimitivesuperstitionandcrueltyremainedfirmlyimbeddedinOrphism,adoctrineirrationalandunintelligible,andforthatveryreasonwrappedinthedeepestandmostsacredmystery:abeliefintheSACRIFICEOFDIONYSUSHIMSELF,ANDTHEPURIFICATIONOFMAN BYHISBLOOD。ItseemspossiblethatthesavageThracians,inthefuryoftheirworshiponthemountains,whentheywerepossessedbythegodandbecame\'wildbeasts,\'actuallytorewiththeirteethandhandsanyhares,goats,fawnsorthelikethattheycameacross……TheOrphiccongregationsoflatertimes,intheirmostholygatherings,solemnlypartookofthebloodofabull,whichwasbyamysterythebloodofDionysus- Zagreushimself,theBullofGod,slaininsacrificeforthepurificationofman。”[2] [1]SeeNotestohistranslationoftheBacchofEuripides。 [2]ForadescriptionofthisorgyseeTheocritus,Idyllxxvi; alsoforexplanationsofit,Lang\'sMyth,RitualandReligion,vol。ii,pp,241-260,onDionysus。TheEncyclopdiaBrit。,article“Orpheus,“says:——“Orpheus,inthemannerofhisdeath,wasconsideredtopersonatethegodDionysus,andwasthusrepresentativeofthegodtorntopieceseveryyear——aceremonyenactedbytheBacchaeintheearliesttimeswithahumanvictim,andafterwardswithabull,torepresentthebull-formedgod。A distinctfeatureofthisritualwas(eatingthefleshofthevictimraw),wherebythecommunicantsimaginedthattheyconsumedandassimilatedthegodrepresentedbythevictim,andthusbecamefilledwiththedivineecstasy。”ComparealsotheHindudoctrineofPraj