The Masks of God : Primitive Mythology by Campbell, Joseph - 1976

New York: Penguin Books, 1976. 504 Pages Indexed. Very light moisture exposure (coffee?) to the bottom front corner. No pages stuck - does not affect page turning. Firt published by Penguin in 1959 and followed by numerous reprints. Illustrated with drawings and designs in black & white. In this, the first volume of Campbell's monumental Masks of God series, we are given a look at the earliest myths and beliefs of man, from the cave dwellers to surviving indigenous tribes of today, and how these myths changed and developed over time, influencing later myths. This is a superb and well-researched book and is among the greatest of Joseph Campbell's work. Early on, the work goes into the development of animistic world views, followed by some information on the religion of the Neolithic agriculture societies. From this, we are given insight into both the "sacred kings" and the ritual of love-death, both central to agriculture people to this very day. The beliefs of the Polynesians, Native Americans, peoples of the ancient Near East and many other societies were given to show the relationships of these myths. Following this was another section on hunting societies, which explained the role of the shaman in great detail.. Reprint. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 5 "x 8".