Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/235

Rh have naturally given rise to no myths, whereas the ritual in the case of Europa and Pasiphaë required explanation. Since Roscher has resolutely declined to seek the explanation of any piece of Greek moon-lore in primitive ritual, just as he has refused to refer to the possibility that Artemis, Hera, and Pan may be spirits of vegetation, it is perhaps allowable to point out that ritual may possibly afford the explanation of that practice of drawing down the moon which appears in both modern and ancient Greek folk-lore. Indeed, it is as certain as things of this kind can be that on the occasion of a sacred marriage the Moon-spirit must have been conjured into the cow which represented the goddess ; and it is not improbable that this way of bringing down the Moon survives in later folk-lore as a piece of witchcraft (cf Lucian, Philops., 14). But if this were all the evidence, there would be nothing more than a presumption in favour of the supposition. The presumption, however, may be strengthened. To begin with, there is a difference between bringing down the moon for the purpose of a sacred marriage, and bringing her down as a piece of witchcraft. In the former case the object is to ensure fertility to field and flock ; in the latter usually to gain information not otherwise to be obtained. Now in folk-tales spirits may be caught, as the sea-spirit, Proteus, was caught by Menelaus, in order that questions may be answered by them; and the moon-spirit may have been caught by primitive man for the same purpose. The question is, whether primitive man did as a matter of fact (and not merely in tales) bring the moon-spirit down to earth and obtain information from him. It is possible, fortunately, to show that he did. Strabo (503) tells us that the Albanians of the Caucasus worshipped Selene above all other gods. The priest of her temple was the most honourable man in the country next to the king, and was ruler both over the land dedicated to the temple, which was extensive and populous, and over the sacred slaves, who at times became possessed, and who frequently