S. H. Hooke (1874–1968)

MIDDLE EASTERN MYTHOLOGY

The role of mythology in ritual and its place in the origins of customs, cults, and hero worship are the fascinating subjects of this comparative survey. Based on firsthand sources, it recounts legends of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites, and Canaanites, in addition to discussing the mythological elements of Jewish apocalyptic literature and the New Testament.
S. H. Hooke, a distinguished scholar who taught at the University of London and served as Speaker's Lecturer at Oxford University, presents a well-documented commentary. Accessible and informative, his text highlights the similarities between a variety of Middle Eastern legends and offers revealing citations from documents, tablets, and inscriptions recovered by archaeological excavations. Familiar stories such as the events described in Genesis and those surrounding Noah's flood and Christ's nativity and resurrection — whatever their basis in fact — have parallels in other cultures. Professor Hooke provides a broad perspective on these and other tales, encompassing the roots of Greek, Roman, and even Celtic mythology.… (más)

MIDDLE-EASTERN MYTHOLOGY:FROM THE ASSYRIANS TO THE HEBREWS

This book is a fascinating, very high-level description of the interrelationship of the mythology of the ancient Middle East, concentrating on the Sumerians, Assyrians, Canaanites, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Christians. I particularly enjoyed the brief descriptions of the myths themselves, and how these myths appear to have been made a part of the people's lives. The interconnection of mythology in the area was carefully related, although in places the Hebrew myths didn't seem to line up as well as the others. I also found it fascinating that the author labors to show how all these different myths influenced each other, but still feels the need to acknowledge his own, as well as his reader's unshakeable belief in Christianity.… (más)