Contents
Abbreviations x
Note on Translations Quoted xiii
Introduction 1
The Indo-Europeans in space and time. Chronological parameters.
–– Sources. –– Considerations of method. –– Conclusion.- Poet and Poesy 26
The poet. Status, training, rewards. –– Concepts of poetry. Poetry
as recall. Poesy as construction. Poesy as weaving. Poesy as
carpentry. The ship of song. The chariot of song. The song takes
off.––Versification. Graeco-Aryan metre. Other Indo-European
metre. Alliteration. Metrical terminology. Poetic prose. Verse in
a prose setting. –– Occasions and genres. Hymns and praise
poetry. Narrative poetry. Personation. Invectives? Codifications.
Assemblies and contests. - Phrase and Figure 75
Vocabulary and phraseology. Compound words. Kennings.
Epitheta ornantia. Various idioms. –– Narrative gambits. ––
Similes. –– Figures. Polar expressions (‘merisms’). Positive re-
inforced by negated opposite. Epanadiplosis. Epanalepsis. Ques-
tioner’s suggestions negated in turn. Anaphora. Anaphora of first
element of compounds. Juxtaposition of opposed terms. Juxta-
position of like terms (polyptoton). The priamel. Behaghel’s
Law; the Augmented Triad. - Gods and Goddesses 120
Upper and lower gods. Gods and men: two races. Characteristics
of divinity. Relations with mankind. –– Gods’ names. –– Female
deities. ‘Mothers’. –– Some individuals. *Aryomen. Some Western
goddesses. Velesu ̆, Ve ̃linas, and others: a dubious equation.
Heteronymous homologues. –– Mythical themes. The mighty
infant; the typical weapon. The gods’ assembly. Getting about. El
Dorado. The divine smith. The food of the gods. The language of
the gods. Predecessors and antagonists. Assaults on heaven.