"An Oriental institute essay.""Contains lectures given as a public course in the Division of the humanities of the University of Chicago."-- Pref. Includes bibliographies. Introduction: Myth and reality, by H. and H. A. Frankfort. -- Egypt: The nature of the universe. The function of the state. The values of life. By J. A. Wilson. -- Mesopotamia: The cosmos as a state. The function of the state. The good life. By Thorkild Jacobsen. -- The Hebrews: God. Man. Man in the world. Nation, society, and politics. By W. A. Irwin. Conclusion: The emancipation of thought from myth, by H. and H. A. Frankfort.