The Mysteries of All Nations | Page 2

Bodies--Power of Witches--Wizards--Necromancers' Power to call up the Dead 1
CHAPTER II.
Men endowed with Prophetic Spirits--The Jews forbidden to consult the Oracles of the Heathen--Schools of Prophets--Influence of Music--The Prophetic Mantle--Way Revelations were made--Bath Kol--Urim and Thummim--False Prophets Strangled or Stoned--Diabolical Art--Moloch--Seething a Kid in its Mother's Milk--The Smooth Stones mentioned by Isaiah--Sheep-head and Sheep-head Broth--Casting Sins into the Sea--Fasting among the Pharisees--Dust of Heathen Countries--The number 10--Angels that had the Care of Men--Predictions by Hebrew Women--Punishment in the Grave 10
CHAPTER III.
Egypt steeped in Superstition--Power of Magicians--Obtaining Visions--Demons--Departed Heroes--Gods and Demi-gods--Altars or Living Stones--Sacred Animals--Isis searching for Osiris--Leeks and Onions--Priests, Physicians, and Interpreters of Oracles--Sacrificing Human Victims--Wax Figures--Magic--Teaching of the Egyptian Priests--Transmigration 14
CHAPTER IV.
Babylon--The Chaldeans--Downfall of Babylon predicted--Worship of the Medes and Persians--Sacred Fire--The Gaures--Births and Deaths in Early Times--A Narrow Bridge--An Immense Tree--Creation of Prophets--A Stone to which Abraham tied his Camel--Adam and Eve's Trysting Place--Black Art--Ways of discovering whether a supposed Criminal was Guilty or Innocent--Looking into Futurity--Canaanites, Syrians, and Arabians--Strange Fables--Abraham breaking Heathen Idols--Altars--Religion of the Carthagenians and Tyrians--Supremacy of the Gods 20
CHAPTER V.
Greek Religion and Superstition--Jupiter regarded as the President of the Law and Protector of Cities--Dreams and Charms--Sacred Stones--Omens of Evil--Sacrificing the Hair--Flight of Birds--Compassing the Altar to the Right--Love secured by Magic--Marriage Ceremonies--Way of protecting a Child from Evil Spirits--Divers Magical Ceremonies--Laws as to Dead Bodies--Fingers and Toes of Dead Men worn as Charms--Preparing a Body for Burial--Swine and Swine's Flesh--Drinking Toasts--Prophets consulted before Armies marched to Battle--Certain Words avoided--Sneezing--Evil Omens--Throwing a Person overboard to save a Ship 26
CHAPTER VI.
Roman Delusions and Customs--Tokens of Futurity--Drawing of Lots--Events foretold by reading the first passage that turned up on opening a Book--Lucky and Unlucky Stars--Fortune-tellers--Dreams--Omens drawn from the Appearance of parts of Animals offered in Sacrifice--Sibylline Books, Charms, and Incantations--Spirits observers of Men's Actions--Unlucky Days--Dress of a Bride--Anointing Door-posts and crossing the Threshold--Fire and Water--Bridal Feast and Nuptial Songs--Funeral Rites--Souls of Unburied Persons--Customs at a Deathbed, and Funeral Observances--Hobgoblins--Purifying with Water and Fire--Appeasing the Manes--Dead Bodies used for Magical purposes 34
CHAPTER VII.
Ethiopian Superstition--Heathen Indian Gods--Superstitious Observances at Marriages--Disposal of Dead Bodies--Different Degrees of Glory after Death--Reverence for the Cow--Detecting Criminals--Addressing Oracles--Astronomy--Eclipse of the Moon--Magic--John Gondalez 39
CHAPTER VIII.
Wizard and Man-tiger--Man-lion--Sacrificing Children--Offerings to the Ganges--A Rajah offering himself as a Sacrifice--Various Superstitious Ceremonies--King's Wives and Retainers going with the Dead Monarch into another World--An eternal Succession of Worlds--Apes supposed to have Human Souls--Worshipping Demons--Drinking Blood--Prognosticating from the Cries of Beasts--Witchcraft and Magic--Singular Opinions and Customs--Foretelling Future Events at the New Moon--Discovering a False Swearer--Offerings to the Sea and Winds--Superstition in China--Superstition in Japan 48
* * * * *
HEATHEN GODS AND GODDESSES.
CHAPTER IX.
Classification of Gods and Goddesses--Primeval Parent Chaos--Creation--Influence of Ether--Celestial Fire--Birth and Banishment of Cupid--Fate--Eternal Decrees--Throne of Jove--Fortune and Happiness--Misfortune and Misery--Rewards and Punishments--First Man and Woman--Pan the Emblem of all Things--Power of Heathen Gods--Descriptions of Juno--Venus the Goddess of Love and Beauty--Rustics turned into Frogs--Vulcan--?olus--Momus the Jester--The Carping God 59
CHAPTER X.
Satyrs described--Diana's Retirement--Pallas, the Goddess of Shepherds--The vile Flora--Pomona deceived--Nymphs--River Gods and Goddesses--Sirens--Witch Circe--Infernal Deities--Passage to Tartarus--Palace of Pluto--Judges of Hell--Goddesses of Destiny--Furies--Night, Death, and Sleep--Tartarian Regions--Delights of the Elysian Fields--Festivals of Heathens--Sacrifices to Deities--Things sacred to Gods 65
CHAPTER XI.
Achilles--Taking of Troy--Acrisius's Daughter--Danae and her son Perseus--Ardea changed into a Bird--Pluto's Invisible Helmet--Minerva's Buckler--Mercury's Wings--Medusa deprived of Life--Sea Monster--A Gorgon's Head--Stheno and Euryale--Minerva's Revenge--Serpents and Pegasus produced by Medusa's Blood--Tales by the Daughters of Minyas--Punishment by Bacchus--The Search of Cadmus for his sister Europa--Halcyon's Sorrow--Transmigration--Exploits of Hercules--Love Potion--Hymen--Jason's Adventures--Power and Cruelty of Medea--How a Favourable Wind was procured--Manner in which Orion came into Existence--False Swearer punished--Palladium--Deeds of Paris--Golden Apple--Marriage of Peleus and Thetis--Impiety of Pentheus--Rhea and her Sons--Scylla turned into a Sea Monster 71
* * * * *
MYTHOLOGY OF GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, SCANDINAVIA, ETC.
CHAPTER XII.
Mythology of Germany, Great Britain, and Scandinavia--The world Niflheim--The world Muspelheim--How Ymir was created--The cow Aedhumla--Ymir's Offspring--Odin, the chief God--Valhalla--Queen Frigga--How the Seas, Waters, Mountains, and Heavens were made--Chariots and Horses in Heaven--Night and Day--Evil-disposed Maidens--Creation of New Beings--Bridge between Midgard and Asgard--Sacred Fountain--Roots of the ash Yggdrasil--Baldur's Dreams and sad End--Loki, the Evil Spirit--Hel and her Brothers--Worship of Scandinavian Gods--Norsemen and their Ancient Gods and Goddesses--The Volsung Tale--Odin, Loki, and H?nir's Wanderings--The Sword Gram--Sigurd's Exploits--What the Worshippers of Odin believed--Frodi's Maidens and Quern--Gods of the Laplanders--Sale of Winds--Lucky and Unlucky Days--Other Superstitions 85
* * * * *
NAMES OF DAYS, WHENCE DERIVED.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Calendar--Names of Days, whence derived--The Power of Jupiter--Influence of Zeus--The God Indra--Origin of the term "Hours"--Hours under Planetary Control--Coronation of a Persian King--Evils transferred to the Turks and Kafirs--The Moon's Controlling Power--Time reckoned by Moons--A Strange Story--Heathen Gods--Thor's Palace--Thor's Power--Frigga's Abilities--Description of Seater or Crodo 99
* * * * *
NAMES OF MONTHS, WHENCE DERIVED.
CHAPTER XIV.
Names of Months, whence derived--January--First of January, how kept--New Year Gifts--February--Sacrifices for purging Souls--Second of February--Virtue of Candles--Shrove Tuesday--Eating Pancakes--Partaking of Brose--Choosing a Valentine--March--April dedicated to Venus--First