VI. ORIENTAL RELIGIONS IN THE WEST. Popularity of the worship of Cybele and Attis in the Roman empire, Effect of Oriental religions in undermining the civilization of Greece and Rome, Popularity of the worship of Mithra, its rivarly with Christianity, The festival of Christmas borrowed by the Church from the Mithraic religion, The festival of Easter apparently adapted to the spring festival of Attis, compromise of Christianity with paganism, parallel wit Buddhism. VII. HYACINTH. Hyacinth interpreted as teh vegetation which blooms with withers, Tomb of Hyacinth at Amyclae, Hyacinth an aboriginal deity, perhaps a dead king, His sister Polyboea perhaps originally his spouse.
