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?