[563]. Compare later the moon as gathering place of souls (the devouring mother).
[564]. Compare here what Abraham has to say in reference to pupilla (“Dreams and Myths”).
[565]. Retreat of Rê upon the heavenly cow. In a Hindoo rite of purification, the penitent must creep through an artificial cow in order to be born anew.
[566]. Schultze: “Psychologie der Naturvölker.” Leipzig 1900, p. 338.
[567]. Brugsch: Ibid., p. 290.
[568]. One need not be amazed at this formula because it is the animal in us, the primitive forces of which appear in religion. In this connection Dieterich’s words (“Mithrasliturgie,” p. 108) take on an especially important aspect. “The old thoughts come from below in new force in the history of religion. The revolution from below creates a new life of religion in primitive indestructible forms.”
[569]. Dispute between Mary and the Cross in R. Morris: “Legends of the Holy Rood.” London 1871.
[570]. A very beautiful representation of the blood-red sun sinking into the sea.
[571]. Jesus appears here as branch and bud in the tree of life. Compare here the interesting reference in Robertson: “Evangelical Myths,” p. 51, in regard to “Jesus, the Nazarene,” a title which he derives from Nazar or Netzer = branch.
[572]. In Greece, the pale of torture, on which the criminal was stretched or punished, was termed ἑκάτη (Hecate), the subterranean mother of death.