Ophiolatreia or Serpent Wordship

120 Pages·7.54 MB·English

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BL 441 .061
Ophiolatreia

OPHIOLATREIA
OR
SERPENT WORSHIP.

Ophiolatreia
:
AN ACCOUNT OF
THE RITES AND MYSTERIES CONNECTED WITH
THE ORIGIN, RISE, AND DEVELOPMENT
OF
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD,
ENRICHED WITH INTERESTING TRADITIONS,
AND A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE CELEBRATED
Serpent fll>ounb8 S. tTemplee,
THE WHOLE FORMING AN EXPOSITION OF ONE
OF THE PHASES OF
Phallic, or Sex Worship.
PRIVATELY PRINTED.
1889.

PREFACE
.
/^TJR words by ivay ofjweface and introduction need be but
few. The follotving volume forms a companion to one
already issued bearing the title '^Phcdlisyn." That ivork, though
complete in itself rneets i7i this a further elucidation of its
subject, since, in the opinion of many, Ophiolatreia, the ivor-
ship of the Serpent, is of Phallic origin. Such a view, and
others of a contra^'y natui'e, have been honestly set forth, and
the best a7id most trustworthy authorities have been consulted
for history, arguments, and illustratioyis by which they may be
understood. No attempt has been made to iyisist upon any
one method of interpi^etation as uiidoubtedJy correct, but simple
facts have been stated, and the reader has been left toform his
oivn independent judgment.