Thicker Than Water: The Origins of Blood as Ritual And Symbol Book

Blood is more than a fluid solution of cells, platelets and plasma. Blood is a symbol for the most basic of human concerns; life, death and family find expression in rituals surrounding everything from menstruation to human sacrifice. From ancient cave paintings to modern research into the coevolution of genes and culture, Melissa Meyer traces the development of blood culture from pre-historic times to the present day. Comprehensive in its scope and provocative in its argument, the book examines beliefs and rituals about blood in a range of regional and religious contexts throughout human history. Meyer reveals the origins of a wide range of blood rituals, from the earliest surviving human symbolism of the hunt and fertility to the Jewish bris and clitoridectomy in parts of Africa today; from ideas about the role of blood in conception to human sacrifice among Mesoamericans. The book also explores how cultural practices influence gene selection as "epigenetic rules" channel physical, cognitive or behavioral traits in particular directions. Meyer also makes a connection with the natural sciences as she explores how color perception influences the human proclivity to create blood symbols and rituals. Thicker Than Water will fascinate as it fills a large gap in literature on aspects of the human body.Read More