Learning · Article or course
The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History
Seminal study of cyclical time, archetypes, and archaic religious consciousness.
This foundational work by religious historian Mircea Eliade examines how traditional cultures perceived time and reality through recurring sacred archetypes rather than linear history. It contrasts modern historical consciousness with archaic rituals that continuously reenacted primordial myths to generate meaning and withstand suffering. It is a core text for understanding mythology, anthropology, and the psychology of religious thought.
What it's for
- Study how traditional societies conceptualized cyclical time versus linear history
- Examine the psychological and ritual functions of sacred archetypes across civilizations
- Deepen foundational knowledge in comparative religion, mythology, and cultural anthropology
Features
- Comparative analysis drawn from diverse archaic cultures and global mythologies
- Investigation of cyclical time, regeneration rites, and cosmic renewal
- Critique contrasting modern historicism with traditional mythical consciousness
- English translation by Willard R. Trask with an introduction by Jonathan Z. Smith
Pricing
Paid. $22.95 paperback / ebook
Details
- Type
- Article or course
- Category
- Learning
- Topic
- Books
- Open source
- No
- Platforms
- other
- For
- Readers and researchers interested in mythology, religious history, philosophy, and anthropology.
- Alternative to
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, The Golden Bough by James George Frazer
- Tags
- mythology, religion, philosophy, anthropology, history, books
Why it was saved
- @yepicurus: Explains how traditional societies found meaning through sacred archetypes and the reenactment of primordial mythical events.
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