Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Avenel Books: New York, NY (c1960), Hardcover, 853 pages
Description
G. A. Gaskell's Dictionary of the Sacred Language of All Scriptures and Myths, first published in 1923, examines several different aspects of religion, including examples from Ancient Egyptian religion and mythology to modern-day Christianity, providing explanations of gods, events, and symbols in alphabetical order. This is a perfect reference book for students of theology or the history of religion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member waltzmn
If ever there was an instance of a book you should not judge by its cover, this is it. Read the blurbs and you would be inclined to think that it is an encyclopedia of the beliefs of various faiths, and of the practices and of the gods and goddesses involved.
That is, essentially, a lie.
All of those
The book contains occasional useful quotations from ancient and recent authorities. But the interpretations are about as sensible as a fever dream. If you are an empiricist in any degree at all, flatly, don't go near this piece of absurdity.
That is, essentially, a lie.
All of those
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practices and deities are mentioned -- and assigned some absurd spiritual meaning. Zeus is not "A symbol of the Higher Self"; Zeus is the boss in Greek mythology. Midgard is not "A symbol of the mind or mental plane"; it's the mortal world in Eddic mythology.The book contains occasional useful quotations from ancient and recent authorities. But the interpretations are about as sensible as a fever dream. If you are an empiricist in any degree at all, flatly, don't go near this piece of absurdity.
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LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
What can you truly say about this book? It's an Encyclopedic Dictionary. Plot, storyline, and the desire to hold your attention IS NOT it's theme.
As an Encyclopedia, it has a wide variety of entries, most of them are fairly long.
Would have to study both the book and the God/dess they are speaking
Maybe someday, but not today.
The rating I gave it is based on the ability of the book to hold your interest, NOT the quality of the information which appears to deserve ****
As an Encyclopedia, it has a wide variety of entries, most of them are fairly long.
Would have to study both the book and the God/dess they are speaking
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of to be able to judge the accuracy of their information. Maybe someday, but not today.
The rating I gave it is based on the ability of the book to hold your interest, NOT the quality of the information which appears to deserve ****
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Language
Original publication date
1923
Physical description
853 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
051734663X / 9780517346631