Conscious THAT Comparative Mythology is not very generally studied even in England, where some of the earliest and ablest expositions of its principles have appeared, I foresee that this work is likely to fall into the hands of many who have not the preliminary intellectual training necessary to an appreciation of its principles. If anyone takes up the book with an idea that it will settle anything in the history of the Jews, he will be disappointed. Its aim is not theological nor historical, but mythological; and Mythology precedes History and Theology, and has nothing to do with them, except as a factor that may to a certain extent determine their form. To understand this book fully, some previous knowledge of what has already been done on the field of Comparative Mythology is essential. This is easily obtained by reference to the various works of Prof. Max Miiller and Rev. G. W. Cox, which are frequently quoted.[1] Such studies will enable the reader to see how far Dr. Goldziher is merely treading in the foot
- ↑ Especially Max Miiller’s essay on Comparative Mythology (Chips etc., II. 1), and the ninth in the second series of his Lectures on the Science of Language; and Cox’s introductions to his Manual of Mythology, Tales of the Gods and Heroes, and Tales of Thebes and Argos.
