Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions by T. W. Doane

have been selected and impregnated by the Holy Ghost. In some cases, a serpent was supposed to be the form which it assumed. This was the incarnation of the Logos. The serpent was held in great veneration by the ancients, who, as we have seen, considered it as the symbol of the beneficent Deity, and an emblem of eternity. As such it has been variously expressed on ancient sculptures and medals in various parts of the globe. Although generally, it did not always, symbolize the god _Sun_, or the power of which the Sun is an emblem; but, invested with various meanings, it entered widely into the primitive mythologies. As Mr. Squire observes: "It typified wisdom, power, duration, the _good_ and _evil_ principles, life, reproduction--in short, in Egypt, Syria, Greece, India, China, Scandinavia, America, everywhere on the globe, it has been a prominent emblem."[491:1] The serpent was the symbol of Vishnu, the preserving god, the Saviour, the _Sun_.[491:2] It was an emblem of the _Sun_-god Buddha, the Angel-Messiah.[491:3] The Egyptian _Sun_-god Osiris, the Saviour, is associated with the snake.[491:4] The Persian Mithra, the Mediator, Redeemer, and Saviour, was symbolized by the serpent.[491:5] The Phenicians represented their beneficent _Sun_-god Agathodemon, by a serpent.[491:6] The serpent was, among the Greeks and Romans, the emblem of a _beneficent genius_. Antipator of Sidon, calls the god Ammon, the "Renowned Serpent."[491:7] The Grecian Hercules--the Sun-god--was symbolized as a serpent; and so was Æsculapius and Apollo. The Hebrews, who, as we have seen in Chapter XI., worshiped the god Sol, represented him in the form of a serpent. This is the _seraph_--spoken of above--as set up by Moses (Num. xxi. 3) and worshiped by the children of Israel. SE RA PH is the singular of seraphim, meaning _Semilicé_--_splendor_, _fire_, _light_--emblematic of the fiery disk of the Sun, and which, under the name of _Nehush-tan_, "Serpent-dragon," was broken up by the reforming Hezekiah. The principal god of the _Aztecs_ was _Tonac_-atlcoatl, which means the _Serpent Sun_.[491:8] The Mexican virgin-born Lord and Saviour, Quetzalcoatle, was represented in the form of a serpent. In fact, his name signifies "_Feathered Serpent_." Quetzalcoatle was a personification of the _Sun_.[491:9] Under the aspect of the _active principle_, we may rationally connect the _Serpent_ and the _Sun_, as corresponding symbols of the _reproductive_ or _creative power_. Figure No. 40 is a symbolical sign, representing the disk of the _Sun_ encircled by the serpent _Uraeus_, meaning the "KING SUN," or "ROYAL SUN," as it often surmounts the persons of Egyptian monarchs, confirmed by the _emblem of_ LIFE depending from the serpent's neck.[492:1] [Illustration: Fig. No. 40] The mysteries of Osiris, Isis, and Horus, in _Egypt_; Atys and Cybele, in _Phrygia_; Ceres and Proserpine, at _Eleusis_; of Venus and Adonis, in _Phenicia_; of Bona Dea and Priapus, in _Rome_, are all susceptible of one explanation. They all set forth and illustrated, by solemn and impressive rites, and _mystical symbols_, the grand phenomenon of _nature_, especially as connected with the creation of things and the perpetuation of life. In all, it is worthy of remark, the SERPENT was more or less conspicuously introduced, and always as symbolical of the invigorating or active energy of nature, the SUN. We have seen (in Chapter XX.) that in early Christian art Christ Jesus also was represented as a _crucified Lamb_. This crucified lamb is "the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world, and slain from the foundation of the world."[492:2] In other words, the crucified lamb typifies the _crucified Sun_, for the lamb was another symbol of the Sun, as we shall presently see. We find, then, that the stories of the crucifixions of the different so-called SAVIOURS of mankind _all melt into ONE_, and that they are _allegorical_, for "_Saviour_" was only a title of the _Sun_,[492:3] and his being put to death on the cross, signifies no more than the restriction of the power of the Sun in the winter quarter. With Justin Martyr, then, we can say: "There exists not a people, whether Greek or barbarian, or any other race of men, by whatsoever appellation or manners they may be distinguished, however ignorant of arts or agriculture, whether they dwell under the tents, or wander about in crowded wagons, among whom prayers are not offered up in the name of A CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR[493:1] to the Father and creator of all things."[493:2]