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The Cosmological Origins of Myth and Symbol: From the Dogon and Ancient Egypt to India, Tibet, and China
Reconstructs a theoretic parent cosmology that underlies ancient religion
• Shows how this parent cosmology provided the conceptual origins of written language
• Uses techniques of comparative cosmology to synchronize the creation traditions of the Dogon, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Buddhists
• Applies the signature elements of this parent cosmology to explore and interpret the creation tradition of a present-day Tibetan/Chinese tribe called the Na-Khi--the keepers of the world’s last surviving hieroglyphic language
Great thinkers and researchers such as Carl Jung have acknowledged the many broad similarities that exist between the myths and symbols of ancient cultures. One largely unexplored explanation for these similarities lies in the possibility that these systems of myth all descended from one common cosmological plan. Outlining the most significant aspects of cosmology found among the Dogon, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Buddhists, including the striking physical and cosmological parallels between the Dogon granary and the Buddhist stupa, Laird Scranton identifies the signature attributes of a theoretic ancient parent cosmology--a planned instructional system that may well have spawned these great ancient creation traditions.
Examining the esoteric nature of cosmology itself, Scranton shows how this parent cosmology encompassed both a plan for the civilized instruction of humanity as well as the conceptual origins of language. The recurring shapes in all ancient religions were key elements of this plan, designed to give physical manifestation to the sacred and provide the means to conceptualize and compare earthly dimensions with those of the heavens. As a practical application of the plan, Scranton explores the myths and language of an obscure Chinese priestly tribe known as the Na-Khi--the keepers of the world’s last surviving hieroglyphic language. Suggesting that cosmology may have engendered civilization and not the other way around, Scranton reveals how this plan of cosmology provides the missing link between our macroscopic universe and the microscopic world of atoms.
• Shows how this parent cosmology provided the conceptual origins of written language
• Uses techniques of comparative cosmology to synchronize the creation traditions of the Dogon, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Buddhists
• Applies the signature elements of this parent cosmology to explore and interpret the creation tradition of a present-day Tibetan/Chinese tribe called the Na-Khi--the keepers of the world’s last surviving hieroglyphic language
Great thinkers and researchers such as Carl Jung have acknowledged the many broad similarities that exist between the myths and symbols of ancient cultures. One largely unexplored explanation for these similarities lies in the possibility that these systems of myth all descended from one common cosmological plan. Outlining the most significant aspects of cosmology found among the Dogon, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Buddhists, including the striking physical and cosmological parallels between the Dogon granary and the Buddhist stupa, Laird Scranton identifies the signature attributes of a theoretic ancient parent cosmology--a planned instructional system that may well have spawned these great ancient creation traditions.
Examining the esoteric nature of cosmology itself, Scranton shows how this parent cosmology encompassed both a plan for the civilized instruction of humanity as well as the conceptual origins of language. The recurring shapes in all ancient religions were key elements of this plan, designed to give physical manifestation to the sacred and provide the means to conceptualize and compare earthly dimensions with those of the heavens. As a practical application of the plan, Scranton explores the myths and language of an obscure Chinese priestly tribe known as the Na-Khi--the keepers of the world’s last surviving hieroglyphic language. Suggesting that cosmology may have engendered civilization and not the other way around, Scranton reveals how this plan of cosmology provides the missing link between our macroscopic universe and the microscopic world of atoms.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2010
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237 people want to read
About the author
Laird Scranton
28 books56 followersHe is an independent software designer who became interested in Dogon mythology and symbolism in the early 1990s. He has studied ancient myth, language, and cosmology since 1997 and has been a lecturer at Colgate University. He also appears in John Anthony West’s Magical Egypt DVD series.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2018
When I started this book, little did I know I'd be reading about Dogon comparisons to string theory.
Dogon cosmology was being upheld by the breakdown of Egyptian words and concepts - okay, the Dogon are supposedly descendants of ancient Egypt - as well as being the foundation of Buddhist beliefs, Chinese and Tibetan older religions. Wait. What??
Then there was the Dogon granery tied to the Buddhist stupas and MesoAmerican pyramids.
The work is extensively researched and likely, if I knew more about the basis of hieroglyphics as well as early Buddhist traditions, I would be able to appreciate the in depth knowledge Mr. Scranton is trying to convey.
I will say, he refers back to previous books in the series - apparently this is the third - and for those who have read them, he moves on without reiterating what too much of what was already published. But for those unfamiliar with those books, you feel like you may be missing out on some information that might be necessary to better understand this book.
Dogon cosmology was being upheld by the breakdown of Egyptian words and concepts - okay, the Dogon are supposedly descendants of ancient Egypt - as well as being the foundation of Buddhist beliefs, Chinese and Tibetan older religions. Wait. What??
Then there was the Dogon granery tied to the Buddhist stupas and MesoAmerican pyramids.
The work is extensively researched and likely, if I knew more about the basis of hieroglyphics as well as early Buddhist traditions, I would be able to appreciate the in depth knowledge Mr. Scranton is trying to convey.
I will say, he refers back to previous books in the series - apparently this is the third - and for those who have read them, he moves on without reiterating what too much of what was already published. But for those unfamiliar with those books, you feel like you may be missing out on some information that might be necessary to better understand this book.
November 14, 2014
I enjoyed this book because it broke down and explained a lot of questions I had about the cosmology of the Dogon peoples. I definitely will not say this book is definitive, but it opens up the space to allow one to question their own cosmological structure as well as patterns and symbols. I would recommend this to people interested in ancient astronaut or panspermia.
October 27, 2012
Stay with it...well worth it.
March 12, 2013
Fascinating information while the dry writing style does sap some of the joy out of it, but it's well worth the read :-)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews