Worship of the Serpent

Special Reprint!

The Serpent, a world-wide symbol, according to each culture is either an omen of good, or evil. This book reveals the serpent's place in mythology and religion and how its symbolism varies from culture to culture.

Excerpt:
...One of (the) five builders of Thebes was named after the serpent-god of the Phoenicians, OPHION... The first alter erected to Cecrops at Athens, was to "Ops", the serpent-deity... The symbolical worship of the serpent was so common in Greece, that Justin Martyr accuses the Greeks of introducing it into the mysteries of all their gods... The Chinese... are said to be 'superstitious in choosing a plot of ground to erect a dwelling-house or sepulcher: conferring it with the head, tail and feet of diverse dragons which live UNDER OUR EARTH.'"

Page 245
The GOLDEN HORNS, which contained the drink offerings, were very probably of the same kind as that found at Tundera, in Denmark, and described in a preceeding page of this chapter : a probability which confirms the Ophiolatreia of the Danes, argued in the same section from historical documents. And conversely, the existence of the Danish horn proves that in the mysteries of Druidical worship, the serpent was a prominent character.

If we refer to the description of the horn of Tundera, we shall find upon it precisely the same impressed history which was pictured "UPon the veil that covered the huge stones." The dragon, "the gliding kind," is seen in the same attitude of pursuing a naked figure, which might be mistaken, from the rude workmanship of the horn, for a boy ; but which is proved by the Bardic poem, above cited, to be a female ; the fair one," as she is, by a figure of poetry, designated.

The got to whom these offerings were made, and whose sacrifices were here celebrated, was Beli ; perhaps the Bel of the Babylonians, and the Obel of primitive worship ; the archetype of Apollo in the name and rites. To Bel, the Bayblonians consecrated, as we have seen, a living serpent ; and living serpents were also preserved in the Fane of Delphi, and in many other places where the deity Oph or Ob was worshipped. The fabulous hero himself, in whose honour these sacrifices are celebrated, was distinguished by the title of "The Wonderful Dragon." Every circumstance, therefore combines to strengthen the conclusion, that the Druids thus engaged were Ophites of the original stock.