Our new, award-winning book, The Mythology of Eden, analyzes the biblical Garden of Eden story from the perspective of the story's natural genre, that of myth. While our point of departure is the rich results of mainstream biblical studies, we then add the perspectives of mythological studies and depth psychology as well as recent findings in biblical archaeology to provide new and revealing insights into the true, original meaning of the story, which differs markedly from what we have been taught in our Christian tradition. We cover the full range of mythological symbols in the story, including the nature and meaning of the Garden itself, the creations of Adam and Eve, the trees of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, the serpent, the Goddess lurking in the background, and others. We conclude by discussing the story's meaning and relevance to us in our contemporary world, both for our spiritual lives as individuals and for our society at large.
Winner, 2015 International Book Awards (Religion-General category).
Award-Winning Finalist in the 2014 USA Best Book Awards (Religion-General category).
Winner, 2015 International Book Awards (Religion-General category).
Award-Winning Finalist in the 2014 USA Best Book Awards (Religion-General category).
tic Praise for our Book:
Endorsements for our Book
"A rich and well-illustrated work viewing the Eden story in its own natural genre as myth, against the background of ancient Near Eastern mythology from which the mythological symbols in the story came. The book successfully clarifies many important aspects of the story that have eluded earlier interpreters, including the full meaning of the symbols used in the story, the goddess lurking in the background, and the cosmic nature of evil and sin."
William G. Doty, Emeritus Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, University of Alabama, author of Mythography: The Study of Myths and Myth: A Handbook
"A work of impeccable scholarship and interdisciplinary expertise that unfolds like a gripping detective story, systematically examining the archetypal symbolism of the Eden myth and the biblical author’s intentions in creating it, affording us one illuminating insight after another. The Mythology of Eden is essential reading for anyone wanting to gain a clearer understanding of the mythic and psychological dynamics that have shaped Western civilization."
Keiron Le Grice, Professor of Depth Psychology in the Jungian and Archetypal Studies program, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, author of The Archetypal Cosmos and The Rebirth of the Hero
"A comprehensive, illuminating and profound exploration of the primary myth of Western civilization, which explores its far-reaching effects on our culture, including the radical imbalance between the masculine and feminine and the conscious and unconscious aspects of our nature. It addresses the great question of our time: how to recognize and control our capacity for evil, originating in the unrecognized shadow aspect of our psyche and how that greatly feared and repressed shadow could become our teacher and guide. In the end, the book shows how, in both its positive and negative aspects, The Mythology of Eden has led us to the threshold from which we may and must evolve further."
Anne Baring, author of The Dream of the Cosmos: a Quest for the Soul, co-author of The Myth of the Goddess, and Jungian analyst
"The Mythology of Eden is important to the mythology sector in many ways. As a well-researched and illustrated treatise on the history of the Garden of Eden, it is well worth the read. But as a source and segue to more contemporary issues concerning the old vs. new myth argument now percolating, it may prove even more important."
Willi Paul, Writer and Publisher at NewMythologist.com and PlanetShifter.com Magazine
Book Reviews of our Book
"I’ve always admired the focus and rigor of scholars who take a subject and examine it exhaustively, first from one perspective, then another, turning it like a prism in sunlight. This is what Arthur George and his wife, Elena George, have done with The Mythology of Eden. Examining the Eden tale in minute detail — and with numerous footnotes — the Georges employ their combined and considerable knowledge of mythology, archaeology, history, psychology, and religion to parse new meanings from a story that is fundamental in the Christian world."
The Santa Barbara Independent, August 6, 2014
"What a fascinating book! Though it starts with and returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.... I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others."
Judith Laura, Goddess Scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical, and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
What a fascinating book! Though it starts with and returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.… I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others.
Judith Laura, Goddess scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
What a fascinating bo returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.… I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others.
Judith Laura, Goddess scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
Endorsements for our Book
"A rich and well-illustrated work viewing the Eden story in its own natural genre as myth, against the background of ancient Near Eastern mythology from which the mythological symbols in the story came. The book successfully clarifies many important aspects of the story that have eluded earlier interpreters, including the full meaning of the symbols used in the story, the goddess lurking in the background, and the cosmic nature of evil and sin."
William G. Doty, Emeritus Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, University of Alabama, author of Mythography: The Study of Myths and Myth: A Handbook
"A work of impeccable scholarship and interdisciplinary expertise that unfolds like a gripping detective story, systematically examining the archetypal symbolism of the Eden myth and the biblical author’s intentions in creating it, affording us one illuminating insight after another. The Mythology of Eden is essential reading for anyone wanting to gain a clearer understanding of the mythic and psychological dynamics that have shaped Western civilization."
Keiron Le Grice, Professor of Depth Psychology in the Jungian and Archetypal Studies program, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, author of The Archetypal Cosmos and The Rebirth of the Hero
"A comprehensive, illuminating and profound exploration of the primary myth of Western civilization, which explores its far-reaching effects on our culture, including the radical imbalance between the masculine and feminine and the conscious and unconscious aspects of our nature. It addresses the great question of our time: how to recognize and control our capacity for evil, originating in the unrecognized shadow aspect of our psyche and how that greatly feared and repressed shadow could become our teacher and guide. In the end, the book shows how, in both its positive and negative aspects, The Mythology of Eden has led us to the threshold from which we may and must evolve further."
Anne Baring, author of The Dream of the Cosmos: a Quest for the Soul, co-author of The Myth of the Goddess, and Jungian analyst
"The Mythology of Eden is important to the mythology sector in many ways. As a well-researched and illustrated treatise on the history of the Garden of Eden, it is well worth the read. But as a source and segue to more contemporary issues concerning the old vs. new myth argument now percolating, it may prove even more important."
Willi Paul, Writer and Publisher at NewMythologist.com and PlanetShifter.com Magazine
Book Reviews of our Book
"I’ve always admired the focus and rigor of scholars who take a subject and examine it exhaustively, first from one perspective, then another, turning it like a prism in sunlight. This is what Arthur George and his wife, Elena George, have done with The Mythology of Eden. Examining the Eden tale in minute detail — and with numerous footnotes — the Georges employ their combined and considerable knowledge of mythology, archaeology, history, psychology, and religion to parse new meanings from a story that is fundamental in the Christian world."
The Santa Barbara Independent, August 6, 2014
"What a fascinating book! Though it starts with and returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.... I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others."
Judith Laura, Goddess Scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical, and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
What a fascinating book! Though it starts with and returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.… I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others.
Judith Laura, Goddess scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
What a fascinating bo returns to an analysis of the second creation story in Genesis, The Mythology of Eden is about far more than that particular myth.… I consider The Mythology of Eden to be overall a very valuable book and expect it to be especially useful to people researching or teaching the Bible, the history of the Ancient Near East, Goddess history, and to the intellectually curious and many others.
Judith Laura, Goddess scholar, blogger, and author of Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical and Controversial, and Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century
