Hamlet's Mill

An Essay Investigating the Origins of Human Knowledge and Its Transmission Through Myth

By: Giorgio de Santillana, Hertha von Dechen

Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser

“A book wonderful to read and startling to contemplate....both the history of science and the reinterpretation of myths have been enriched immensely.”―Washington Post

A seminal work of scientific and philosophical exploration. Ever since the Greeks coined the language we commonly use for scientific description, mythology and science have developed separately. But what if we could prove that all myths have one common origin in a celestial cosmology? What if the gods, the places they lived, and what they did are but ciphers for celestial activity, a language for the perpetuation of complex astronomical data?

Drawing on scientific data, historical and literary sources, the authors argue that our myths are the remains of a preliterate astronomy, an exacting science whose power and accuracy were suppressed and then forgotten by an emergent Greco-Roman world view. This fascinating book throws into doubt assumptions of Western science about the unfolding development and transmission of knowledge. This is a truly seminal and original thesis, a book that should be read by anyone interested in science, myth, and the interactions between the two.

This audiobook is expertly read by Madison Niederhauser, with audio engineering by Blake Rook. It was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©1969 Giorgio de Santillana and H. von Dechen (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

That when compared to what we know now, 50 years later, this study has stood the test of time.

The narration was good, the side notes explaining what was quoted very helpful. The introduction very necessary to put things in context.

The understanding

Having heard quotes from this book for years I was not disappointed. I can remember asking why all stories are basically the same

Incomprehensible

I’ve never given this low a rating. I’m not sure what I just listened to. The book made no sense. It didn’t follow any logical pattern. It assumed entirely too much knowledge of ancient history and texts to be useful to the lay person. I was hopeful because of references to it by Graham Hancock and others. Very disappointing