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Cambridge Archaeological and Ethnological Series

THE THUNDERWEAPON IN RELIGION AND FOLKLORE

The Cambridge Archaeological and Ethnological Series is supervised by an Editorial Committee consisting of WILLIAM RIDGEWAY, SC.D., F.B.A., Disney Professor of Archaeology, A. C. HADDON, Sc.D., F.R.S., University Reader in Ethnology, M. R. JAMES, Litt.D., F.B.A., Provost of King's College, and C. WALDSTEIN, Litt.D., Slade Professor of Fine Art.

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PREFACE

HIS study has its origin in an attempt to set out the

weapon which are known to have prevailed on Greek soil at various periods: in the Mycenæan age (the double-axe of bronze), in the early historical ages (the classical keraunos, the thunderweapon of Zeus), and in modern ages (the stone axes). It proved, however, impossible to arrive at any well-grounded opinion from a consideration of Greek territory only, for the evolution in Greece did not become intelligible until seen in its connection with the corresponding ideas among other peoples.

With regard to the Greek subject-matter, the form in which the result of the investigation is here put forward has been influenced by the appearance of Usener's treatise, Keraunos (in the Rheinisches Museum 1905) and Jacobsthal's book, Der Blitz in der orientalischen und griechischen Kunst (1906).

The main reason why the ideas of Scandinavia, and not those of ancient Greece, were made the starting-point in the exposition, was the fact that no publication concerning them had hitherto appeared in literature. The greater part of the matter had first to be collected from the existing popular tradition. For all kind help rendered to him in this task, the author now gives his best thanks. Many communications have been received through the Dansk Folkemindesamling (Danish Folklore Collection) in answer to an appeal in the papers. Another part of the material, which proved to be of the first importance in regard to the questions treated here, had also to be brought before the public from collections made at first hand, viz. the objects belonging to the thunderstone worship in southern India, procured by Mr Löventhal, a missionary, and sent by

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