head of "The Symbolism," will be found the great mass of evidence which seems to point so unmistakably to some common origin of the dogma and ritual of the world's religions.

Whatever may be thought at first sight of the theory propounded in the chapters on "The Interpretation," it may at least legitimately claim full and earnest consideration, for it offers a reasonable explanation of world-wide myths, and correlates rites and customs in far separated lands.

Nor can the object in view be materially affected even though errors in the presentation may have crept in. The symbolism may have been imperfectly and even faultily stated, but it is by the reasonableness and the comprehensiveness of the interpretation, which is one that has never previously been offered in its entirety, that this work must win its way.

CONTENTS

BOOK I

THE SYMBOLISM

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

A science of religion the need of the future. Failure of science

Care

Logical theory obtain-

Illumination supplied

and guardianship of

hitherto to provide for that need.

able from analysis of old religions.

by the Theosophic teaching.

humanity from its earliest years. Teaching given in the

form of symbols. Appropriateness of symbols even at the

present day. Universality of the symbolic idea. Intimate

association of symbolism with every form of religion.

Relative appropriateness of languages in the expression of

ideas. Religious systems not always a necessity for man.

Adepts of the Fourth Race the founders of religious systems.

Dispersion of the Adepts. Symbolism of their archaic

teachings. The solar symbolism. Symbolism connected

with rites of initiation. Interweaving of the two systems.

Discrimination between the religions whose founders were

historical persons and those whose deities were solely sun-

gods. Advisability of dividing the subject under the heads

of Ceremonies, Sacraments, and Dogmas. Primary import-

ance of the rites connected with the winter solstice and the

vernal equinox. Interpretation of the symbolism reserved

for the concluding chapters
Pp. 3-20

CHAPTER II

BIRTH OF THE SAVIOUR

Universality of the festival of the winter solstice. Comparison
of the Birth Stories. Krishna in India, and his virgin-
mother Devaki. Similarity in the life episodes of Krishna

and of Jesus. Egyptian celebration of the birth of Horus.

Osiris born of a virgin at the winter solstice. Isis and the

Virgin Mary similarly represented. Birth of Osiris and of

Jesus similarly announced. The Babylonian Tammuz and

his virgin-mother Ishtar. Tammuz also the husband of

Ishtar. Parallel story of the Christian nativity. The

Persian Mithra born at the winter solstice. Birth of

Zoroaster described as immaculate. Supernatural birth at

the winter solstice of the Mexican Quetzalcoatl. Transla-

tion to heaven of the mother of the god. Similar legend of

Huitzilopochtli. Aztec cycles and fire-festivals. Analogous

Celtic customs. The virgin goddess Ceredwyn and her ark.

The Scandinavian Freyr. The Greek Bacchus and the

Syrian Adonis. Chinese traditions about Buddha and his

virgin-mother Maya. Parallel passages in the life of Jesus.

Dates recognised as the birth-day of Jesus. Final fixing of

the date by Pope Julius I.
Pp. 21-42

CHAPTER III

DEATH AND RESURRECTION

The idea of sacrifice at the root of all religion. Sacrifice in-

volved in creation. Ancient forms of the legend in India

and Chaldea. World-wide character of the death and

resurrection legend. Intimate association with initiation

rites. The vernal equinox the usual date. The story of

Krishna. The man crucified in space. The Osiris-Horus

myth. Babylonian and Syrian versions of the death and

resurrection. Origin of the word Easter. Persian legend

of Mithra. The Phrygian Attis and the Greek Bacchus

or Dionysus. The Scandinavian Baldur and the Celtic

Samhein. Yucatan and Mexican versions of the death and

resurrection. Chinese tradition of Buddha. Death and

resurrection of Jesus. Date of the earliest Christian crucifix

on record. Association of the Lamb with the Cross. Anti-

quity and universality of the Cross-symbol. Epitome of

death and resurrection festivals
Pp. 43-70

CHAPTER IV

THE ARK IN ITS THREE ASPECTS

The Ark of the Druids. The Ark sacred to Isis, to Astarte,

and to Venus. Intimate association of the Ark with the

Moon, the Egg, and the Lotus. The Egg symbolism in

India, in Egypt, and among the Druids. The Easter Egg

of Christendom. Pure and simple glyphs of past ages.

Ark of the Jews, Mexicans, and Indians. The Ark in its

second aspect. Indian Deluge - legends. The Ark of

Deucalion and Noah. The Babylonian Seisithros and the

Chaldean Xisuthros. Mexican legend of Cox-Cox. Flood

traditions in America and in China. Involved symbolism

of the Druidic legends. The Ark in its third aspect. The

burial-place of the Initiate. The Ark of Osiris. The Ark

of the Bacchic and Eleusinian Mysteries. The Ark in the

king's chamber of the Great Pyramid. The sepulchre

of Jesus.
Pp. 71-89

CHAPTER V

SOLAR SYMBOLS

Dual aspect of the Serpent symbol. Emblem of the principle
of evil in India, Egypt, Babylon, Mexico, and Christendom.
Symbolic also of the sun-god. In India associated with
Vishnu. The Egyptian Uræus. Emblem of the Chaldean
Ea. Jewish worship of the serpent. Serpents in Mexico
and Central America. A leading feature in Druidic rites.
St. Patrick and serpents in Ireland. Serpent mounds in
Argyleshire and in Ohio. Common origin of Gaelic and
Guatemalan names. The serpent associated with Æsculapius.
Intertwined serpents on the Caduceus of Hermes. Moses'
brazen serpent in the wilderness. Prophetic emblem of
Jesus on the cross. The sun-disk or circle. Glyph of the
sun-god Rā. Sun-faces of Bethshemesh. Prayer of Queen
Nefer Thii. Sun-disks on mitres of Druidic and Jewish
high priests. Sun-disks in Persia, China, and Mexico.
Sun-temples of Peru. Irish "sun-burst" and Scandinavian
banners. Monstrance in Roman Catholic churches. Round
towers of Ireland, and other countries. Their antiquity