Occidental Mythology Vol. 3 : The Masks of God, Volume III

A systematic and fascinating comparison of the themes that underlie the art, worship, and literature of the Western world.

Joseph Campbell was interested in mythology since his childhood in New York, when he read books about American Indians, frequently visited the American Museum of Natural History, and was fascinated by the museum's collection of totem poles. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees at Columbia in 1925 and 1927 and went on to study medieval French and Sanskrit at the universities of Paris and Munich. After a period in California, where he encountered John Steinbeck and the biologist Ed Ricketts, he taught at the Canterbury School, then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 1940s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The many books by Professor Campbell include The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Myths to Live By, The Flight of the Wild Gander, and The Mythic Image. He edited The Portable Arabian Nights, The Portable Jung, and other works. He died in 1987.

Part One: The Age of the Goddess Introduction: Myth and Ritual: East and West
Chapter 1. The Serpent's Bride
I. The Mother Goddess Eve
II. The Gorgon's Blood
III. Ultima Thule
IV. Mother Right
Chapter 2. The Consort of the Bull
I. The Mother of God
II. The Two Queens
III. The Mother of the Minotaur
IV. The Victory of the Sons of Light
Part Two: The Age of Heroes Chapter 3. Gods and Heroes of the Levant: 1500-500 B. C.
I. The Book of the Lord
II. The Mythological Age
III. The Age of Abraham
IV. The Age of Moses
Chapter 4. Gods and Heroes of the European West: 1500-500 B. C.
I. The Dialogue of North and South
II. The Marriages of Zeus
III. The Night Sea Journey
IV. The Polis
Part Three: The Age of the Great Classics Chapter 5. The Persian Period: 539-331 B. C.
I. Ethical Dualism
II. The Cosmic Fall and Renovation
III. The King of Kings
IV. The Remnant
V. The God of Love
Chapter 6. Hellenism: 331 B. C.- 324 A. D.
I. The Marriage of East and West
II. Syncretistic and Ethnic Monotheism
III. Mystery Cult and Apocalypse
IV. The Watchers of the Dead Sea
Chapter 7. Great Rome: c. 500 B. C. - c. 500 A. D.
I. The Celtic Province
II. Etruria
III. The Augustan Age
IV. The Risen Christ
V. The Illusory Christ
VI. The Mission of Paul
VII. The Fall of Rome
Part Four: The Age of the Great Beliefs Introduction: The Dialogue of Europe and the Levant

Chapter 8. The Cross and the Crescent
I. The Magi
II. Byzantium
III. The Prophet of Islam
IV. The Garment of the Law
V. The Garment of the Mystic Way
VI. The Broken Spell
Chapter 9. Europe Resurgent
I. The Isle of Saints
II. The Weird of the Gods
III. ROMA
IV. AMOR
Conclusion: At the Close of an Age
Reference Notes
Index