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Using what he has learned in his thirty years of travel in the study of archaeological sites around the world, Kreger offers a comprehensive work that traces the origin of many of our holiday traditions to Neolithic beliefs. The author constructs a "Wheel of Time"—"a complete and concise model of all the special days of the year observed by our ancestors and what they might have meant to them." He discusses ancient sites across the world erected to mark the changing of seasons by following the movements of the sun and moon. Such sites as Stonehenge, Kokino Observatory, and Machu Picchu are discussed, as are places in North America. Many illustrations of the wheel which emphasize and explain his premise are included. Kreger also refers to literature, such as the writings of Julius Caesar, the Venerable Bede, and the various legends of King Arthur to further expound upon his conclusions.
Kreger's systematic approach of defining the Wheel of Time fully explains how ancient beliefs and practices have been incorporated into modern traditions. The book is filled with fascinating facts culled from the author's work in and knowledge of archeology and ancient mysticism. From its beginning, the book draws the reader into Kreger's methodology of building his argument in this step-by-step fashion that is fully illustrated and explained, making it easy to comprehend. Especially of interest is the examination of the similar ideas which arose in the ancient world across the globe. This book offers surprising information concerning how our ancestors thought and worshipped and how those ancient rites and practices are now incorporated into modern religious celebrations. This is not only a fascinating read but a fully researched reference book and a valuable resource for study.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review