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Indo-European Mythology and Religion: Essays
The essays presented in this collection are based on Alexander Jacob's earlier works, Ā A Reconstruction of the Solar Cosmology of the Indo-Europeans , Georg Olms, 2005 and A Study of the Solar Rituals of the Indo-Europeans , Georg Olms, 2012. They expand on the cosmological and religious themes discussed in these books with special reference to the origins and development of the Indic and European spiritual traditions. Those familiar with the earlier works will not be surprised that Dr. Jacob's view of the term 'Indo-European' is rather more comprehensive than the more restricted term 'Āryan' that has hitherto been widely used as a synonym of it. And those interested in the Āryan ethos itself - chiefly on account of the German use of the term during the last war - may be surprised to learn that it does not consist in nationalistic virtues so much as in spiritual discipline and development - and that this development is characteristic of the religions of very extended and diversified branches of the Indo-European family. I. The Origins of the Indo-European Religions II. Cosmic Floods, the Sun and the First Man III. Sāmkhya-Yoga, Shramana, Brāhmana, The religious traditions of the ancient Indians IV. Vedic and Tantric A comparison V. Reviving The sacrificial rituals of the Indo- Ā ryans and the early Christians VI. Dionysus and Notes on the Dionysiac religion VII. On the Germanic gods Wotan and Thor
278 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 23, 2023
It's completely out of my expertise to determine if the proposals in this text are correct. However, given the extensive foot-noting and the obvious depth of Jacob's reading in texts both ancient modern, one gets the feeling that one could disagree with all his conclusions and come away greatly more educated than reading a more restrained text with conventional conclusions.
June 27, 2025
Review of Indo-European Mythology and Religion: Essays by Alexander Jacob
by Edward James Gay
I picked up this book hoping to learn more about the spiritual roots of Western religious traditions—and was not disappointed. Dr. Alexander Jacob, an intellectual historian of Natural Philosophy, presents a provocative collection of essays exploring the symbolic and ritual foundations of Indo-European religion.
One of the book’s central themes is that European Paganism did not arise independently, but drew heavily from older Oriental cosmologies—especially Indian and Mesopotamian traditions. Jacob traces parallels in solar worship, sacrificial rites, and mythic cycles that suggest a diffusion of religious forms from East to West. This challenges the mainstream academic view that Indo-European mythology developed largely from within.
The essays are dense but rich with comparative insight. I came away with a deepened appreciation for the cosmological and symbolic architecture that underlies early religious thought.
That said, I took issue with Chapter V, “Reviving Adam,” where Jacob appears open to the view that Christ is primarily a mythological figure. While he stops short of denying the historicity of Jesus, his framing leans toward interpreting the Gospels as symbolic constructions rather than grounded accounts of a unique historical person. For those of us who take the historical reality of Christ seriously—as Albert Schweitzer did in The Quest of the Historical Jesus—such a view risks flattening what is, in truth, a radical and singular event in human history.
Nonetheless, this is an intellectually stimulating and often original work—especially for readers interested in Indo-European studies, comparative mythology, or the deep currents shaping religious thought in the West.
by Edward James Gay
I picked up this book hoping to learn more about the spiritual roots of Western religious traditions—and was not disappointed. Dr. Alexander Jacob, an intellectual historian of Natural Philosophy, presents a provocative collection of essays exploring the symbolic and ritual foundations of Indo-European religion.
One of the book’s central themes is that European Paganism did not arise independently, but drew heavily from older Oriental cosmologies—especially Indian and Mesopotamian traditions. Jacob traces parallels in solar worship, sacrificial rites, and mythic cycles that suggest a diffusion of religious forms from East to West. This challenges the mainstream academic view that Indo-European mythology developed largely from within.
The essays are dense but rich with comparative insight. I came away with a deepened appreciation for the cosmological and symbolic architecture that underlies early religious thought.
That said, I took issue with Chapter V, “Reviving Adam,” where Jacob appears open to the view that Christ is primarily a mythological figure. While he stops short of denying the historicity of Jesus, his framing leans toward interpreting the Gospels as symbolic constructions rather than grounded accounts of a unique historical person. For those of us who take the historical reality of Christ seriously—as Albert Schweitzer did in The Quest of the Historical Jesus—such a view risks flattening what is, in truth, a radical and singular event in human history.
Nonetheless, this is an intellectually stimulating and often original work—especially for readers interested in Indo-European studies, comparative mythology, or the deep currents shaping religious thought in the West.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews