Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/110

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Reviews.

Encylopxdia Britannica have been freely utilised after being thoroughly revised and brought up to date by the labours of the present editors. It is not too much to say that they have pro- vided us with the most valuable contribution to the knowledge of the Bible which has hitherto appeared m English. With theo- logical controversy the Folk-Lore Society has no concern ; but it may be said that this Encyclopaedia frankly accepts the critical methods of the most advanced school of Biblical scholars, while the list of contributors includes the most eminent authorities in England, the Continent, and America.

To us the book is chiefly interesting for its acceptance of anthropology and folklore as aids to study of the Bible, and all students of primitive religion will find it indispensable. In the articles on Creation and the Deluge, for instance, by Professors Zimmern and Cheyne, there will be found admirable summaries of the Babylonian legends and a discussion of their influence on Hebrew belief. Among other notable contributions may be men- tioned the exhaustive accounts of the history and religions of Assyria and Babylon, by Mr. L. W, King, and the treatise on Apocalyptic Literature, by Dr. R. H. Charles.

The attention of folklore students may be specially directed to the articles on Adonis ; Angel ; Asherah (which was not originally a sacred tree) ; Asmodeus and his connection with Lilith ; Azazel and the literature of the Scapegoat ; Baal ; Babel (" Not to be able to understand one's neighbours seemed to primitive men a curse. It is said that there are many such myths elsewhere, and some of them, e.g. that reported by Livingstone from Lake Ngami, and that mentioned in the Bengal Census Report for 1872, have a certain similarity to the Hebrew story ") ; Beelzebul, not a god of flies, but " lord of the nether world " ; Behemoth and Leviathan, forms of the Babylonian Tiamat ; the Burning Bush (" a fusion of two beliefs — that fire indicated the divine presence, and that certain trees were the permanent abode of deities ") ; Tubal Cain (" a humanised god, like Chousor, the Phoenician Hephaistos " ; the Golden Calf and bull-worship ; the Canticles based on Syrian marriage ritual ; the Cherub and the Griflin ; the traditions of the Cross ; Dagon and his kinsfolk ; Demons and Dragons.

Those interested in primitive ritual will learn much from the articles on Altar, Ark of the Covenant, Circumcision, Cuttings of the Flesh and Tattooing, and Divination.