Cauldron- the Archetypal Symbol

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Synopsis Mythology as a discipline is very subtle in the way it operates. On the surface level it appears to be a mere collection of stories; however that is just the latent form of its existence. When read in a given socio-cultural milieu, it becomes truly functional, reasoning and explaining almost everything pertaining to life – creation, rituals, culture, spirituality, destruction through natural calamities and so on. Every aspect of mythology carries this inherent quality of having an explicit meaning and purpose, while suggesting multifold at a deeper level. The cauldron, an image or object which recurrently appears in mythology, is no exception to the aforesaid notion. It has various manifestations in cultures across the globe, and comes with a purpose of its own in different realms and times. Yet, interestingly it has never been subjected to a critical inquiry to understand the scope of its vitality in the area of Mythology. The objective of this project, therefore, is to study cauldrons from world mythology in their varied forms and delve deeper into understanding the reasons for their repetitive and common appearance in them. The project, subsequently, seeks to analyze the symbolic quality of a cauldron and finally contend that it is a prospective archetypal symbol. Hypothesis Statement The hypothesis of this project can be stated as follows: * Cauldrons are available in World Mythology in various forms. Hence a cross-cultural study of the same is feasible and relevant. * Cauldrons are very significant as symbols in Mythology with varying purposes across cultures. * Cauldrons are symbolic representations of the various myths pertaining to the cycle of life and not passive objects figuring in them. * Cauldron is a prospective archetypal symbol in Mythology CHAPTER 1. CAULDRON : AN INTRODUCTION This chapter of the
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