Part IV: Chapters 1-8 Summary and Analysis

Although the presence of the hero is important, one cannot overlook the significance of places and objects in the myths. Objects and places are almost always associated with sacred properties which correlate with the fact that most myths are religious in nature. Each place or object has an archetypal significance, from the femme fatale to the devil to the Supreme Being. As one might suspect, the objects and places are typically metaphors and not actual places that can be found on a map. Often times these metaphors refer to various aspects in religion as well as culture and politics. For example, the mythological motif of the cross on which Jesus was crucified or the sacred tree on which Odin and Attis were hanged are all metaphors for the bridge between death and eternity. The rocks...