The Israelite world-view was essentially a western Semitic world-view in origin. This view drew deeply on influences from Egypt and Mesopotamia and produced - by a process of synthesis and reaction - its own distinctive character. The Mythic Mind explores this process, historically and cosmologically, arguing for the necessity of comparative study in any assessment of ancient Israel and challenging orthodox views largely based on understanding Israel in isolation. The study particularly highlights the importance of Ugaritic texts in reflecting the cultural context in which ancient Israel developed into two symbiotic kingdoms, heirs to a common 'Canaanite' tradition.

"Every student of either Old Testament topics or Ugaritic literature would benefit from reading these essays, and they should be required reading for those interested in correlations between the two literatures and the cultures of which they were an important expression.'"

Source: Review of Biblical Literature

"The studies advance the case for the place of El in early Israelite religion, and they pay considerable attention to symbolic dimensions of the texts, which are at times downplayed in other studies. Indeed, all too often symbolic worldviews expressed in the ancient texts are insufficiently explored by scholars, and it is to Wyatt's great credit that he takes these seriously.'"

Source: Journal of Hebrew Scriptures