The Cult of the Seer in the Ancient Middle East: A Contribution to the Current Reasearch on Hallucinations drawn from Coptic and other Texts.
London: Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, 1971. First edition. Hardcover. Small thick quarto. xii + 830pp. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt on spine. Bibliography & index. 'Publications of The Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, New Series, Volume XXI.' "A multifaceted study of the lives, ascetic practices, and visions of a group of seers of the early Christian period, accompanied by a medico- historical commentary which clarifies the practice of self-induced hallucinations." The historical material is drawn largely from the hagiographic literature of Coptic Egypt. Chapter headings: Chapter I. Withdrawal from the Environment of the Senses: 1. The Ascetic way of Life; 2. Self-Isolation; 33. Self-mortification; 4. Food Deprivation; 5. Sleep Deprivation; Conclusion; Chapter II. The Establishment of a Non-Material Environment: 1. Mental Powers; 2. Demonic Visits; 3. Discerning Spirits: Dispelling Evil; Chapter III. Representation of a Non-Material World; 1. Heavenly Visitations; 2. Heavenly Communications; 3 The Death of a Holy Man; 4. The Journey to Paradise; IV. Representation of Negative Experiences; 1 Death and Judgment; 2 Amente; Conclusion; Chapter V: 5 Establishment of Commemorative Ritual, 1. The Martyr Cult; 2. Salvation from Death; 3. Heavenly Signs; Conclusion; Postscript: Archaism in the Twentieth Century, etc. Blue-dyed top-edge is a little faded, spine ends and edges slightly rubbed, else this is a solid, clean & sharp VG+ copy in lightly worn and browned VG price clipped dust jacket. Heavy volume, additional shipping may apply. Item #59192
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