DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0007
PREFACE v
te, no doubt stimulated thought and promoted culture
:er settied conditions were secured, as was undoubtedly
e result of the mingling of races elsewhere.
" It may be put down as an axiom", says Professor
trow, " that nowhere does a high form of culture arise
ithout the commingling of diverse ethnic elements,
ivilization, like the spark emitted by the striking of
:eel on flint, is everywhere the result of stimulus evoked
jby the friction of one ethnic group upon another": and
t supports his theory with the evidence afforded by
,. gypt, Babylonia, Greece, Rome, France, Germany, and
Great Britain, as well as the present-day United States
of America, "the melting pot" of many peoples.
Throughout this volume comparative evidence is
rovided to assist the reader towards the study of this
most interesting aspect of the Aryan problem. We trace
the cremation custom, which has prevailed in India since
Vedic times, to countries as wide apart as Great Britain,
into which it was introduced during the Bronze Age, and
Southern Siberia, where it is still practised by the Mon-
golian Buriats. Over the areas occupied by representa-
tives of the Mediterranean race it was unknown prior
to the invasions of unidentified fire-worshippers. Special
interest also attaches to the horse sacrifice, which was
also an Aryo-Indian ceremony even in Vedic times. It
is not yet unknown among the Buriats. At one time
the horse sacrifice was widely prevalent. White horses
were sacrificed to the sun in Ancient Greece; the sun
horses are referred to with horror by Ezekiel; the cere-
mony was also connected with the mysteries of Aricia
grove. Indeed, as is pointed out in Chapter V, various
ancient peoples offered up this domesticated and historic
animal. In the Indian epics and religious treatises there
are illuminating references to the horse sacrifice which
te, no doubt stimulated thought and promoted culture
:er settied conditions were secured, as was undoubtedly
e result of the mingling of races elsewhere.
" It may be put down as an axiom", says Professor
trow, " that nowhere does a high form of culture arise
ithout the commingling of diverse ethnic elements,
ivilization, like the spark emitted by the striking of
:eel on flint, is everywhere the result of stimulus evoked
jby the friction of one ethnic group upon another": and
t supports his theory with the evidence afforded by
,. gypt, Babylonia, Greece, Rome, France, Germany, and
Great Britain, as well as the present-day United States
of America, "the melting pot" of many peoples.
Throughout this volume comparative evidence is
rovided to assist the reader towards the study of this
most interesting aspect of the Aryan problem. We trace
the cremation custom, which has prevailed in India since
Vedic times, to countries as wide apart as Great Britain,
into which it was introduced during the Bronze Age, and
Southern Siberia, where it is still practised by the Mon-
golian Buriats. Over the areas occupied by representa-
tives of the Mediterranean race it was unknown prior
to the invasions of unidentified fire-worshippers. Special
interest also attaches to the horse sacrifice, which was
also an Aryo-Indian ceremony even in Vedic times. It
is not yet unknown among the Buriats. At one time
the horse sacrifice was widely prevalent. White horses
were sacrificed to the sun in Ancient Greece; the sun
horses are referred to with horror by Ezekiel; the cere-
mony was also connected with the mysteries of Aricia
grove. Indeed, as is pointed out in Chapter V, various
ancient peoples offered up this domesticated and historic
animal. In the Indian epics and religious treatises there
are illuminating references to the horse sacrifice which