From Ritual to Romance | Page 5

from Rig-Veda.
Dramatic poems and monologues. Professor von Schroeder's theory.
Mysterium und Mimus. Rishyaçriñga drama. Parallels with Perceval

story. Result, the specific task of the Grail hero not a literary invention
but an inheritance of Aryan tradition.
CHAPTER IV
Tammuz and Adonis
General objects to be attained by these Nature Cults. Stimulation of
Fertility, Animal and Vegetable. Principle of Life ultimately conceived
of in anthropomorphic form. This process already advanced in
Rig-Veda. Greek Mythology preserves intermediate stage. The
Eniautos Daimon. Tammuz--earliest known representative of Dying
God. Character of the worship. Origin of the name. Lament for
Tammuz. His death affects not only Vegetable but Animal life. Lack of
artistic representation of Mysteries. Mr Langdon's suggestion. Ritual
possibly dramatic. Summary of evidence. Adonis--Phoenician-Greek
equivalent of Tammuz. Probably most popular and best known form of
Nature Cult. Mythological tale of Adonis. Enquiry into nature of injury.
Importance of recognizing true nature of these cults and of the ritual
observed. Varying dates of celebration. Adonis probably originally
Eniautos Daimon. Principle of Life in general, hence lack of fixity in
date. Details of the ritual. Parallels with the Grail legend examined.
Dead Knight or Disabled King. Consequent misfortunes of Land. The
Weeping Women. The Hairless Maiden. Position of Castle. Summing
up. Can incidents of such remote antiquity be used as criticism for a
Medieval text?
CHAPTER V
Medieval and Modern Forms of Nature Ritual
Is it possible to establish chain of descent connecting early Aryan and
Babylonian Ritual with Classic, Medieval and Modern forms of Nature
worship? Survival of Adonis cult established. Evidence of Mannhardt
and Frazer. Existing Continental customs recognized as survivals of
ancient beliefs. Instances. 'Directly related' to Attis-Adonis cult. Von
Schroeder establishes parallel between existing Fertility procession and

Rig-Veda poem. Identification of Life Principle with King. Prosperity
of land dependent on king as representative of god. Celts. Greeks.
Modern instances, the Shilluk Kings. Parallel between Shilluk King,
Grail King and Vegetation Deity. Sone de Nansai and the Lament for
Tammuz. Identity of situation. Plea for unprejudiced criticism.
Impossibility of such parallels being fortuitous; the result of deliberate
intention, not an accident of literary invention. If identity of central
character be admitted his relation to Waste Land becomes fundamental
factor in criticizing versions. Another African survival.
CHAPTER VI
The Symbols
Summary of results of previous enquiry. The Medieval Stage. Grail
romances probably contain record of secret ritual of a Fertility cult. The
Symbols of the cult--Cup, Lance, Sword, Stone, or Dish. Plea for
treating Symbols as a related group not as isolated units. Failure to do
so probably cause of unsatisfactory result of long research. Essential to
recognize Grail story as an original whole and to treat it in its ensemble
aspect. We must differentiate between origin and accretion. Instances.
The Legend of Longinus. Lance and Cup not associated in Christian
Art. Evidence. The Spear of Eastern Liturgies only a Knife. The
Bleeding Lance. Treasures of the Tuatha de Danann. Correspond as a
group with Grail Symbols. Difficulty of equating Cauldron-Grail.
Probably belong to a different line of tradition. Instances given. Real
significance of Lance and Cup. Well known as Life Symbols. The
Samurai. Four Symbols also preserved as Suits of the Tarot. Origin of
Tarot discussed. Probably reached Europe from the East. Use of the
Symbols in Magic. Probable explanation of these various appearances
to be found in fact that associated group were at one time symbols of a
Fertility cult. Further evidence to be examined.
CHAPTER VII
The Sword Dance

Relation of Sword Dance, Morris Dance, and Mumming Play. Their
Ceremonial origin now admitted by scholars. Connected with seasonal
Festivals and Fertility Ritual. Earliest Sword Dancers, the Maruts. Von
Schroeder, Mysterium und Mimus. Discussion of their nature and
functions. The Kouretes. Character of their dance. Miss J. E. Harrison,
Themis. The Korybantes. Dance probably sacrificial in origin. The Salii.
Dramatic element in their dance. Mars, as Fertility god. Mamurius
Veturius. Anna Perenna. Character of dance seasonal. Modern British
survivals. The Sword Dance. Mostly preserved in North. Variants. Mr
E. K. Chambers, The Medieval Stage. The Mumming Plays.
Description. Characters. Recognized as representing Death and Revival
of Vegetation Deity. Dr Jevons, Masks and the Origin of the Greek
Drama. Morris Dances. No dramatic element. Costume of character
significant. Possible survival of theriomorphic origin. Elaborate
character of figures in each group. Symbols employed. The Pentangle.
The Chalice. Present form shows dislocation. Probability that three
groups were once a combined whole and Symbols united. Evidence
strengthens view advanced in last Chapter. Symbols originally a group
connected with lost form of Fertility Ritual. Possible origin of Grail
Knights to be found in Sword Dancers.
CHAPTER VIII
The Medicine Man
The rôle of the Medicine Man, or Doctor in Fertility Ritual. Its
importance and antiquity. The Rig-Veda poem. Classical evidence, Mr
F. Cornford. Traces of Medicine Man in