Ancient cultural knowledge is often dismissed as unscientific, outmoded or primitive. Yet much of what is all too often assigned to the realm of poetic invention or altered states of consciousness may be understood more clearly by studying the relationship between such traditional knowledge and natural or celestial phenomena. In this way, ancient myths and folktales regain their rightful place in the cosmic structure, while religious narratives must face up to some uncomfortable questions.Arthur Drews was a German philosopher and scholar of comparative religions. In his writings on "astral mythology," Drews proposed an interpretation of ancient mythology as the allegorical description of celestial phenomena, building on the initial speculations of Dupuis while contributing indirectly to later scholarship by authors such as de Santillana, Tilak, and others. Written as a general introduction to astral mythology, The Firmament is an essential resource in the study of comparative religions.
