The mythology of ancient Greece and Italy

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14 MYTHOLOGY OF GREECE.
to its true principles, and brought within the sphere of useful
and necessary knowledge. The scholars of the North, espe-
cially the learned Finn Magnusen, have exerted themselves,
and not without success, in developing the true nature and
character of the venerable mythology of their forefathers, espe-
cially on the physical theory. For the mythology of India
philosophy has as yet done but little ; it has been the sport
of the wildest mysticism, and has led to the degradation of
those of other countries. The Asiatic Researches, and the
works of Polier, Ward and some others, with the various
translations that have been made from the Sanscrit, present
a large mass of materials to the inquirer. Jablonski and
Zoega have laboured diligently in the field of Egyptian my-
thology.
Rules for the Interpretation of Mythes.
The following rules should be attended to in mythological
inquiries.
1 To consider the mythology of each people separately
and independently, and not to suppose any connexion between
it and any other till both have been examined minutely
and carefully, and so many points of resemblance have pre-
sented themselves as to leave no doubt of the original identity
of the systems a . It is to the neglect of this rule that we owe
so much of the absurdity to be found in the works of many
mythologists, and nothing has tended more to the bringing
of the science of mythology into neglect and contempt. The
ancient Greeks were led from ignorance to give credit to the
cunning priesthood of Egypt, and to believe that they had
received their religion from that country ; and it is but too
veil known how, in our own days, Sir William Jones and his
followers have been deceived by their own imaginations, and
the impostures of artful pundits, in their efforts to connect the
religions of Greece and India.
2. In like manner the mythes themselves should be considered
separately, and detached from the system in which
they are placed ;
for the single mythes existed long before the
a Volcker, Myth, der Jap. pp. vi. vii.