Hamlet's Mill [Paperback]

The fact that these different stories came from such diverse backgrounds is significant, because it raises a cautionary flag against trying to read too much into the fact that the same "story" can contain such diverse furniture as a wicked uncle, a starry sandal lost while crossing a stream, a dragon guarding an eastern tree, a fatal fall of snow and hail in a mountain pass, and a ship ferrying a set of cosmic weights and measures from Canopus to the ancient Uruk of Gilgamish.

Hamlet's Mill is more of a starting point than a solution. At one point, the authors observe that, as soon as classical Greece comes into view, scholars have a way of thinking that everything is "explained", but then they themselves proceed to make the same mistake with regard to Mesopotamia.

But, that much being said, Hamlet's Mill does introduce the reader to some fascinating strands of mythology.

The important thing to realize is that man's life here on earth is influenced much by psychological forces played out in the heavens. And, by this is meant that the heavens (and what occurs up there) can serve as portents of imminent doom. To the primitive, these astronomical occurrences must have given rise to indescribable emotions. These serve as a guide in understanding the primitive mythologies. Thus, myth is taken to be based on an astronomical (astrological) foundation. And, with the heralding in of new world ages, the psyche of man is greatly affected.

Events taking place in the heavens served a special purpose to the primitive individual. By following the paths of the stars and planets in the sky as they trace out their motions, primitive man was able to briefly observe a small cross-section of the workings of the entire universe. By following along these lines, the primitive individual was capable of projecting the heavenly occurrences onto earthly matters. In this manner, the heavens were mirrored by the daily, mundane earthly events, and this gave rise to myth. To the ancients, the myth represented the corridor between man and the heavenly entities above. By traveling through this corridor, man was enabled to observe the world as it really is, in all its mystery.

Consider the primitive stranded in a world in which he does not understand; in fact, one in which he is incapable of understanding, the daily flux of events as they unwind from the cosmic thread. The playing out of these cosmic events was of enormous significance. Imagine now gazing up at the night sky tens of thousands of years ago, awestruck with wonder. Then, the cryptic message of that enormous cryptogram must play an enormous role in the lives of the ancient individual. And, remember, that to the ancient, the primitive sky is available for all to observe (not just a select few). But, it was only those select, initiated few who were fully aware of these cosmic events.

To the early Hebrew, the heavens were of especial significance. To these people, the heavens marked the location of the Kingdom of God (the one God). The advent of the monotheistic religion of the early Hebrew marked an enormous event in the history of mankind. The philosophical significance of this realization of a single deity is immense. By following along these lines, one can realize the great importance that the heavens must have had for the early diletante in monotheism. These "primitive" individuals gave birth to one of the greatest motivating factors of the modern era.

To the ancient Hebrew, the word of the one God was recorded in the Torah, the Law of Moses. This marked the beginning of the Age of Aries, as demonstrated in the classical scene with the worshipping of the golden calf. This biblical scene illustrates the fall of the Age of Taurus and the progression into the Age of Aries. The molten, golden calf is a representation of the bull, Taurus. And, the God of Moses demands that those worshipping the calf must suffer for their misdeeds.

Later, the birth of Jesus Christ is signified by a brilliant star in the sky (the Star of Bethlehem). What exactly this really is intended to be is obscure. However, notice that Jesus Christ is represented by the fish (pisces) and so his era is associated with the Age of the Fish.

To the ancients, the heavens represented a vast virtual playground upon which the course of history was plotted out. The cryptological significance of this is mindboggling to the modern man, who views ancient man as primitive in both technological advancement and intelligence. The idea that ancient man could have possessed a capable intellect full of the mirth of the intellectual (semiotical) cryptogram is anathema to the modern man. The mere suggestion of this is considered absurd. However, the question that the discerning modern individual must ask is how absurd is it and why should one not attempt to fully appreciate all the events and their significances that have lead up to the psychological and mental development of modern man. Beneath the carpet of modern bias is an historical mystery of vast import awaiting a solution. An attempted solution to this historical puzzle is presented here.