. Greek mythology systematized . itively apprehended as the first greacause of all things, or it may be reached througlgeneralization and reasoning ; but in whatever way th( Zeus-idea was obtained, it must needs have beerso complex that it was subject to constant and greavariations. Central Ideas. Pelasgic Zeus-Wojship.—Dodona, in Epirus, was th(centre of the oldest Zeus-worship, and this had beerpreceded by the worship of a nameless deity. Thougtthe fact of the existence of this latter worship is generally admitted, in reference to it a theory and a state-ment differ from, if they do not cont
. Greek mythology systematized . itively apprehended as the first greacause of all things, or it may be reached througlgeneralization and reasoning ; but in whatever way th( Zeus-idea was obtained, it must needs have beerso complex that it was subject to constant and greavariations. Central Ideas. Pelasgic Zeus-Wojship.—Dodona, in Epirus, was th(centre of the oldest Zeus-worship, and this had beerpreceded by the worship of a nameless deity. Thougtthe fact of the existence of this latter worship is generally admitted, in reference to it a theory and a state-ment differ from, if they do not contradict, each otherThe theory is, that the worship of one unnamed Gocwas a survival of Jewish monotheism, a trace of directrevelation ; the statement is to the effect that the Pelas-gians were in the habit of offering prayers and sacrificesto gods to whom they gave no names. Max Miilleiquotes this statement from Herodotus, and, though he ZEUS. 71 [admits that it may be based upon tradition, does notiseem to think it Head of Zeus (from Dodona). It is generally accepted that this *nameless One wasafterward called Zeus, and was worshipped as the chiefgod at Dodona. Pelasgic cultus was strongly markedby elemental or Nature-worship, and Dodonaean Zeuswas enthroned as ruler of all the great forces of thematerial world, whether manifested in lightnings frommountain-tops or in the blessings of dew, rain, andriver, themselves the source of the richer gifts of vege-tation. It is probable that he was worshipped as su-preme in the regions of upper air and light, for moun-tain-summits and the sky-parting eagle were sacred tohim. Evidence of an exalted conception of the eternal god- T^ GREEK MYTHOLOGY. head of Zeus is found in the song of the Peleiades(priestesses) of Dodona: Zeus was, Zeus is, Zeus will be, a great Zeus. The brief resume given on page jo of the progressivestages of Dodona-worship is condensed from a workrecently pubhshed, which contains the results of ex-cavat
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