[Footnote 1: Translated from the Dutch of Prof. J.H. Scholten, by F.T. Washburn. This constitutes the first part of Prof. Scholten's History of Religion and Philosophy. (_Geschiedenis der Godsdienst en Wijsbegeerte._) Third edition. Leyden, 1863. Of this work there is a translation in French by M. Albert Reville (Paris, 1861); but this translation, which was made from an earlier edition, is very defective in the first part, Prof. Scholten having added a great deal in his last edition. There is also a translation of it in German, by D.E.R. Redepenning (Elberfeld, 1868). This German translation has been revised and enlarged by Prof. Scholten, and is therefore superior in some respects to the original Dutch. The present translation has been revised upon it.] [Footnote 2: According to Buusen 3000 or 2500 B.C., Haug 2000 B.C., Max Mueller 1200 B.C., Max Duncker 1300 or 1250 B.C., and according to Roeth. I. p. 348, who still puts Vistaspa before Darius Hystaspes, between 589 and 512 B.C.] [Footnote 3: The doctrine of the _Zervana akarana_ (infinite time) as the original One, from which the opposition between Ormuzd and Ahriman was held to spring, dates from a later period.] [Footnote 4: [Greek: Zeus kelainephes, ahidheri nahion, nephelegerheta Zeus, Here bohopis, glaukhopis Hathhene].] [Footnote 5: Of the Germans Tacitus writes, _Germ._, c. 9, "Eos nec cohibere parietibus Deos neque in ullam humanioris speciem assimilare, ex magnitudine coelestium arbitrantur. Lucos ac nemora consecrant deorumque nominibus appellant secretum illud, quod sola reverentia vident."] [Footnote 6: Among the Roman writers who furnish us with information upon the religion of the Germans, Tacitus deserves mention, in his "Germania," as well as in his "Annales" _passim_. The chief source with regard to the Norse religion is the older Edda, under the title "Edda Saemundar hin Froda."] [Footnote 7: Numb. xxii. 41; xxiii. 28; 2 Kings, xxiii. 5.] [Footnote 8: Judges, ii. 13; 1 Sam. vii. 4; xii. 10; 1 Kings, xi. 5, 7, 33; 2 Kings, xxiii. 13; Jer. vii. 18; xliv. 17, 19.] [Footnote 9: Levit. xviii. 21; xx. 2; 2 Kings, iii. 26, 27; xvi. 3; xxiii. 10; Ps. cvi. 38; Jer. vii. 31; xix. 5; xxxii. 35; Micah, vi. 7; Ezek. xv. 4, 6; [?] xvi. 20, Comp. I Kings, xviii: 28.] [Footnote 10: Numb. xxv. I, _et seq_; Josh. xxii. 17; Baruch, vi. 41, 43.] [Footnote 11: Judges, vi. 32. and elsewhere.] [Footnote 12: 1 Chron. viii. 33; ix. 39.] [Footnote 13: 1 Chron. viii. 34; ix. 40.] [Footnote 14: 2 Sam. xi. 21.] [Footnote 15: 2 Sam. ii. 8, and elsewhere.] [Footnote 16: 2 Sam. iv. 4, and elsewhere.] [Footnote 17: Judges, viii. 33; ix. 4. Comp. with ix. 46.] [Footnote 18: 1 Chron. xiv. 7.] [Footnote 19: 1 Chron. iii. 8; 2 Sam. v. 16.] [Footnote 20: Gen. xxii.] [Footnote 21: Gen. xvii. 23-27.] [Footnote 22: Ex. iv. 24-26.] [Footnote 23: Ex. xiii. 2, 12-16; xxii. 28, 29; xxx. 11-16; xxxiv. 19, 20.]