The Classical Review http://journals.cambridge.org/CAR Additional services for The Classical Review: Email alerts: Click here Subscriptions: Click here Commercial reprints: Click here Terms of use : Click here Early Zoroastrianism Early Zoroastrianism. By James Hope Moulton. Hibbert Lectures for 1912. Williams and Norgate. 10s. 6d. net. Early Religious Poetry of Persia. By J. H. Moulton. Cambridge: University Press. W. H. D. Rouse The Classical Review / Volume 30 / Issue 5-6 / August 1916, pp 163 - 165 DOI: 10.1017/S0009840X00010489, Published online: 27 October 2009 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0009840X00010489 How to cite this article: W. H. D. Rouse (1916). Review of Michael Fine, and James W. Peters 'The Nature of Health: How America Lost, and Can Regain, A Basic Human Value' The Classical Review, 30, pp 163-165 doi:10.1017/S0009840X00010489 Request Permissions : Click here Downloaded from http://journals.cambridge.org/CAR, IP address: 132.239.1.231 on 13 Apr 2015 THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 163 ness is primarily to build up the history restoration of buildings or objects no of his site and so, indirectly, the history one of account any longer sympathises, of the country in which that site lies: but the ' faker' should be anathema in if he turns up good ' loot' in the process, as much as he is falsifying historical or so much the better; but the intrinsic artistic material. It is useless to urge importance of objects must never make that in some cases the restoration is him overlook the contribution such certain: Thorwaldsen did irreparable things may make towards material his- mischief to the Aeginetan marbles, yet tory. Equally true is it (as Mr. Droop probably he regarded his restorations points out) that objects of slight value as, at least, hignly probable. The must not be overlooked : here in Eng- best plan in restoring an object or land, thanks to Mr. Bushe-Fox, we are a statue is to make the restore3 por- learning that even the commonest Ro- tion easily distinguishable but not offen- man pottery is often valuable dating sively so. Thus a piece of pottery material. may be restored in plaster coloured to Another point on which Mr. Droop resemble the original, but without re- very rightly insists is the obligation to production of the ornamentation; or go down to virgin-soil. This duty was the gaps in a fresco may be filled in overlooked by nearly all early excavators, either in some neutral tint or by sketch- and even (I am informed) in one im- ing on in outline the missing parts of the portant ' dig' of recent times in England. design. Such methods deceive no one, To neglect to do this may mean that but—as Mr. Droop says—they help the the whole early history of a site is left imagination. unread. As an example I would cite In conclusion, while heartily welcom- the Roman Villa at Northleigh. The ing this book, I would venture to assure excavators of the early nineteenth cen- Mr. Droop that the account of the tury cleared down to the floor levels of photographic activities of the expedition the ' villa' and there stopped : in the referred to on p. 50 is somewhat exag- recent excavations carried out by Pro- gerated. To photograph aimlessly and fessor Haverfield it was ascertained that mechanically would indeed be absurd, the foundations of an earlier building but the practice of the expedition in underlay the floors of the later ' villa,' question is to photograph adequately and so the history of the site can now be and without stint in cases where the carried back, from the era of the Con- photograph will be a valuable record— stantine dynasty to, perhaps, the second as for example to show the relation century A.D. between (let us say) three layers of It is to be hoped that Mr. Droop's occupation. plea against deception in restoration HUGH G. EVELYN WHITE. (pp. 54-55) will carry weight. With the fanatic who dislikes any sort of No. f3 Camp, Ccdford. EARLY ZOROASTRIANISM. Early Zoroastrianism. By JAMES HOPE that homely room where our master, MOULTON. Hibbert Lectures for E. B. Cowell, greater in spirit even than 1912. Williams and Norgate. 10s. 6d. he was in learning, gave of his abundant net. stores to a small group of young Early Religious Poetry of Persia. By disciples, of whom Dr. Moulton was one. J. H. MOULTON. Cambridge: Uni- If he can look down upon us from versity Press. his serene abode, he will know that the seed he planted has once more borne EHEU, FUGACES ! This book is full of fruit. ghosts. Like Odysseus standing by This particular fruit was much the trench, I think I see once again needed. Few are the workers in this 164 THE CLASSICAL REVIEW field, and it so happens that not all of maybe metaphorical language, implying them have been conspicuous for judg- that good and evil were co-eternal in ment. One could never be sure that the the past, although the good is to destroy author of a theory would hold it until the evil in the end. A chance epithet, the next issue of the Oriental journals, once applied to the Evil Spirit in the and the Avesta offered good opportuni- Gathas, later came to be his name, but ties for the favourite Teutonic feat of Zarathrustra gave him no name. He building a pyramid upon its apex. identifies Evil with the Lie, not the only Darmsteter's paradox is perhaps an ex- remarkable parallel to Christian treme example, dealing as it did with doctrine. The Good Spirit whom he principles while most scholars were preached was not delighted with incense debating details. But the labours of or sacrifice, but with a good life in his thirty years have done much to clear the worshippers : truth, ' right belief, right rubbish away; England and America speech, and right action,' these were his have co-operated in the work, and Dr. delight. In the doctrine there is neither Moulton's sober judgment has set before ntysticism nor asceticism. us a good summary of results. One In the later documents a great change thing we might have wished to be other- is seen. Not only is there a return to wise; there is too much allusion in Iranian polytheism, but there is some- some parts of this book, for those who thing new. The Magi, which Prof. do not carry in mind all points of doubt Moulton takes to be a contemptuous and controversy. But the subject is epithet for a formidable tribe, when con- complex, points of doubt are many, and quered, captured the Zoroastrian re- the patient student can always find ligion, and grafted upon it their own what he wants in the end. ritual and doctrine. The chapter in Dr. Moulton's task has been to dis- which the history of the Magi is dis- entangle the real Zoroaster and his cussed is one of the best in the book; it doctrines from later accretions. He contains an original investigation of a does succeed in presenting a human very difficult subj ect. They made Zoroas- figure, a reformer and preacher, no trianism into a mechanical system. mystic, no magician, nor a materialist It is impossible to discuss all the such as the superficial reader sometimes questions which come under considera- thinks he sees. Zarathrustra was a real tion : not only are they many and com- person, ' already ancient when the plex, but most of them are outside the Greeks first heard his name,' who scope of this Review. The book is of preached a reformed religion in Bactria. the greatest interest for the Christian The Gathas, which embody his doctrine, theologian, whether for comparison, or are written in a language which was the problem of origins, or for direct once spoken, according to the author in illustration of the Old Testament; in Saiistan. The notion that the language particular, the book of Tobit is Median was invented by late archaists is easily in its atmosphere, while passages in disproved, and Prof. Moulton does it. Ezekiel and Micah, even in the New The Reformer found a tribal god, Testament, are illustrated. But it Ahura Mazda, worshipped ; and of him touches classical study in several points. he made an only god, having conceived Herodotus is one, and Prof. Moulton is the idea of monotheism. His concep- warm in his praise of the value of tion was spiritual in essence, and any Herodotus's evidence. The book may physical traits that may be alluded to be called in many parts a commentary here and there are survivals of the on Herodotus. Another is Strabo; and popular conception. God created all there is the ingenious theory that Virgil things, he knows all things, even the in his fourth Eclogue alludes to the story future ; his sovereignly is supreme, but that Zarathrustra laughed when he was limited by the activities of the Evil born: Spirit. Later doctrine regarded these Good and Evil Spirits as twins, and one incipe, parve puer, risu cognoscere tnatrem. Gatha (quoted on p. 132) uses language An Appendix contains the documents which suggests the same idea; but it on which the study of early Zoroastri- THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 165 anism is based: a new translation of the treated in a different manner, in wide Gathas; Greek texts (translated) from outline; and it contains much which in Herodotus, Plutarch, Strabo, and the larger work is assumed as known. Diogenes; and excursus on foreign Thus there is a general description of forms of Zoroastrian names, with the the Avesta, and an analysis of the Cappadocian Calendar.