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The Origins of the World's Mythologies Paperback – 4 Jan 2013

by E.J. Michael Witzel (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars 6 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 688 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, Usa (4 Jan. 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0199812853
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199812851
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 5.1 x 15.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 458,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

A radical idea. (Steve Connor, The Independent)

His novel approach brings a different perspective to the myths he analyzes. By all rights, this book should provoke debate and is, therefore, indispensable to any research library ... Essential. (G.J. Reece, CHOICE)

About the Author


E.J. Michael Witzel is Wales Professor of Sanskrit at Harvard University.

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsProfessor Witzel, a revolutionary genius in both mythological historical-inquiry and large-scale literary comparative analysis:
By Christopher on 17 Sept. 2014
Format: Paperback
I'm currently an archaeology student in the UK and naturally found myself drawn to Professor Witzel's revolutionary diachronic analysis, concerning the simultaneous evolution, propagation and diffusion of world myth. I had recently come across an article from "The Independent" here in London, which portrays Witzel, an esteemed Harvard Linguist proposing his theory that all myth and legend diffused like a bottle-neck from upper-palaeolithic Africa, and so shares intimate mythemes and structure with one another. His brilliant findings, the article maintains, flow directly from his holistic approach in entertaining archaeology, molecular biology, social anthropology, linguistics, philology, history, palaeoanthropology - and these just the most prominent sources for Witzel's hypothesis. A note by prominent Palaeo-Anthropologist Chris Stringer at the end, gives his view that although a radical position, such an Afrocentric diffusionist model for legend and myth could be valid (no doubt supporting the recent out of Africa model). The article maintains the reason why "convergent evolution/independent multilinear evolution" coming up with similar legends (and so the structure they entail) is thought unlikely, stems from the belief that such finely tuned, intimately similar, and far-flung legends and myths cannot be formed independently by chance. A type of Demic-Diffusionism then, is the only way in Witzel's opinion, categorized by three levels of myth/legend evolution occurring diachronically (through time and space, so still within a diffusionist framework): Pangaean,Gondwanan,Laurasian - each with slightly different objects of emphasis (either beginning of universe/beginning of humanity/the Gods purge on living/end of the world etc).Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn engaging thesis
By DK on 31 July 2014
Format: Paperback
This book brought to mind the work of the great German philologists and folklorists, the Grimm brothers, whose pioneering studies in the evolution of languages became enshrined in Grimm's Law. In suggesting that the world's legends and folklore are linked to a common origin, passed on over thousands of generations by word of mouth Witzel is taking this diffusionist view to a whole new level.

Ambitious, but with more than a ring of truth about it. When another German scholar of the nineteenth century, Julius Wellhausen, suggested a similar thing about the composition of the Bible - that far from being a unitary creation it was a combination of various ancient story cycles and literary traditions - he was widely ridiculed by pompous prelates. Later he was proved correct.

In fact support for Witzel's theory is to be found in many places, such as the observations of missionaries when they first arrived on the remote Pacific islands and were surprised to find that the Polynesians already had many of their bible stories such as the Flood, the fratricidal twins, the primal parents. They concluded, wrongly, that the only explanation could be that the islands had been visited by previous missionaries when what they were witnessing was Witzel's theory in practice.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA fascinating, thought-provoking read!
By Ric on 7 July 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I started delving into this book and suddenly found myself reading the entire opus, it is that sort of a book. The author has important insights into the mythic mind of contemporary and ancient human beings, and makes the point that even the non-religious in a secular society persist in inventing new myths or recycling old ones. I commend this book, whether you agree with it or not, it deserves to be read and then thought over at length I feel.
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