The Deer Goddess of Ancient Siberia: A Study in the Ecology of Belief (Studies in the History of Religions) [Hardcover]

Esther Jacobson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004096280 | ISBN-13: 978-9004096288 | Publication Date: January 1993

This study concerns the ecology of belief in prehistoric Siberia. Central to this study is the image of the deer within the iconography of the Early Nomads of South Siberia. By examining the symbolic structures revealed in the art and archaeology of the Early Nomads, the author challenges existing theories regarding Early Nomadic cosmology. The reconstruction of meanings embedded in the deer image carries the investigation back to rock carvings, paintings and monolithic stelea of South Siberia and northern Central Asia, from the Neolithic period down to through the eraly Iron Age. The succession of images dominating that artistic tradition is considered against the background of cultures - including the Baykal Neolithic Afanasevo, Okunev, Andronovo, and Karasuk - evolving from a hunting-fishing dependency to a dependency on livestock. The archaic mythic tradition of specific Siberian groups are also found to lend critical detail to the changing symbolic systems of South Siberia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'..".a most important work, a valuable introduction to South Siberian religions. It is a must for every student who wants to pave his/her way into this extremely difficult, but fascinating area of research.'
Eke Hultkrantz, "Numen, 1994.
'..".un livre abondamment documenti et trhs stimulant pour l'esprit...itude vaste et novatrice...'
Henri-Paul Francfort.
'"With this book the author [...] has made a great contribution to the study of ancient Siberian religious history...an impressive performance...a rewarding introduction to a most difficult religious area.'
Ake Hultkrantz, "History of Religions, 1996.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004096280
• ISBN-13: 978-9004096288
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,367,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Work, September 10, 2009

By 

Kathleen Jenks (SW Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Deer Goddess of Ancient Siberia: A Study in the Ecology of Belief (Studies in the History of Religions) (Hardcover)

I am astonished to find that this book is no longer available. The data on ancient shamanism alone should have garnered a huge and very receptive worldwide audience. The book is rich, evocative, meticulously researched and beautifully written. As a cross-cultural mythologist, what first caught my attention when I read this book in late 2003 were the potent archetypal mythic themes -- amazing data on the larch as world tree; ritual burial dolls (the forerunners of Vasilisa's wise doll-guide in much later Russian fairy tales); Deer Mother/Elk Mother/Bear Mother themes (FYI: were it not for the fact that ancient Bear Mother-worshipping peoples influenced the West before Deer/Elk Mother-worshipping peoples, the Great Bear (Ursa Major) constellation would be called the Great Deer (or Elk). Jacobson explores pre-shamanic cults with a wealth of engrossing data. These cults involved female-power as the Goddess or Mistress of the Hearth and Animals. As later male-focused shamanism developed, Jacobson explores the continuing strong role of the feminine in, for example, decorative, ritual female garb worn by males along with many other unusual elements (Jacobson is especially brilliant in comparing and contrasting female and male power in Other Worldly realms). Finally, the book concludes with 21 B&W plates depicting a wide variety of detailed archaeological finds. I do hope Brill will make this book available again. It's too good to vanish.