Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 1): Zeus god of the bright sky (Cambridge, 1914)

XIV

Preface

gathered, sometimes on doubtful authority, from the ends of the
habitable earth.

Mention must here be made of sundry minor points in method
and arrangement. I have as far as possible refrained from mottling
my text with Greek and Latin words, and have relegated the
necessary quotations to foot-notes, which can be ' skipped' by the
expeditious. The perennial problem of orthography I have solved
along arbitrary, but I trust consistent, lines. My plan is to trans-
literate all Greek names (Aischylos, Phoinike, etc.) except those
that have been so far Englished as to possess forms differing not
only from the Greek but also from the Latin (Homer and Aristotle,
the Achaeans and Thessaly). Greek words and phrases cited in
the text are further italicised and accentuated. References in the
foot-notes have the author's name transliterated, but the title of his
work given in Latin to suit prevailing custom, unless that title
includes the name of a Greek deity {e.g. Aisch. P.v., Plout. v. Aem.
Paul., but Kallim. h. Zeus, Orph. h. Dem. Eleus.). To facilitate
occasional usage I have provided two Indexes at the end of
Volume I, the first dealing in detail with Persons, Places, and
Festivals, the second more summarily with Subjects and Authorities.
On the other hand, considerations of space have led me to reserve
the Appendixes to the end of Volume II. I may add that the
manuscript of that volume is already far advanced : its publication
will not, I hope, be unduly delayed.

There remains the pleasant task of thanking those that have in
a variety of ways helped towards the making of this book. It was
Sir James G. Frazer who first advised me to put together in perma-
nent form the materials that I had collected : he has seen about a
third of the present volume, and, though well aware that I differ
from him on certain vital issues, he has with characteristic generosity
more than once encouraged me to persist in my undertaking. I am
conscious that I owe much also, both directly and indirectly, to
Dr O. Gruppe, who in his Handbuch and elsewhere has set up a
standard of thoroughness that must for many a long day be kept
in viewr by all writers on the subject of classical religion. Prof. G.
Murray, with proofs of his own on hand, has yet given time to
reading mine and has sent me a flight of pencilled marginalia,
which I have been glad here and there to incorporate. Most of
this book has been perused, either in manuscript or in slip, by
Miss J. E. Harrison, to whose wide range and quick synthetic
powers I am indebted for several valuable suggestions : I am the