On the other hand, the interest of the subject from the human point of view is great; for, as an indispensable rite at all the crises of life, it was evidently a means of emotional outlet. From the psychological standpoint, therefore, its prevalence is not without importance. Indeed, it will probably be thought that from the psychological side the subject is inadequately treated in the following pages. And this is true, though it does receive some attention; but in extenuation it must be said that the writer’s main object has been merely to give some account of the Sacred Dance as a widespread rite; and he feels that its treatment from the psychological aspect would best be left to one who is an expert in psychology. That the Old Testament figures somewhat prominently in the following pages is partly due to the fact that the writer has made a special study of this body of literature, and it seemed wise to start from that with which he was most conversant; but there is the further reason, as is pointed out in the introductory chapter, that the Old Testament offers, in most cases, an exceedingly convenient starting-point from which to study the various “types” of sacred dance. The writer desires to express his thanks to Dr Jevons, Dr Lukyn Williams, and Dr S. A. Cook for a number of helpful suggestions, to Miss Bevan for reading through the proofs, and his warm appreciation of the kindness and courtesy of the Secretary of the University Press. The minute care taken in pointing out oversights in the correction of proofs, as well as other slips, is most gratefully acknowledged. Finally, the writer would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Curator of the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities in the British Museum for his ready help in arranging for the photographing of the Greek Vase, representing a Maenad dancing in honour of Dionysos, which is reproduced on the cover of this book. W. O. E. O. ST ALBAN’S VICARAGE, BEDFORD PARK. _February 1923._ CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRED DANCE 1 II. THE MEANING OF THE SACRED DANCE 5 III. THE REASON FOR USING THE OLD TESTAMENT AS THE STARTING-POINT IN THE INVESTIGATION 8 IV. THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION: 9 (1) Inscriptions 10 (2) Pottery, etc. 10 (3) Ancient Literature 11 (4) Modern Literature 11 CHAPTER II THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSES OF THE SACRED DANCE I. THE ORIGIN OF THE SACRED DANCE 13