Demonology and Devil-Lore (1879) - Page 20

CHAPTER V.

APOPHIS.

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The naturalistic theory The idea that myths originated from ancient people observing natural phenomena like weather or stars of Apophis The ancient Egyptian personification of chaos and darkness, often depicted as a giant serpent—The Serpent of Time—The Epic of the Worm—The Asp of Melite Ancient name for the island of Malta—Vanquishers of Time—Nachash-Beriach original Hebrew: נָחָשׁ בָּרִיחַ; "the fleeing serpent," a biblical term for a celestial or primeval dragon—The Serpent-Spy—Treading on serpents . . .	340

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The naturalistic theory The idea that myths originated from ancient people observing natural phenomena like weather or stars of Apophis The ancient Egyptian personification of chaos and darkness, often depicted as a giant serpent—The Serpent of Time—The Epic of the Worm—The Asp of Melite Ancient name for the island of Malta—Vanquishers of Time—Nachash-Beriach original Hebrew: נָחָשׁ בָּרִיחַ; "the fleeing serpent," a biblical term for a celestial or primeval dragon—The Serpent-Spy—Treading on serpents . . .

340

CHAPTER VI.

THE SERPENT IN INDIA.


The Kankato na A term from the Vedas referring to a specific kind of venomous creature—The Vedic serpents were not worshipful—Ananta and Sesha Primordial serpent deities in Hindu mythology associated with eternity—The Healing Serpent—The guardian of treasures—Miss Buckland’s theory referring to A.W. Buckland, a 19th-century anthropologist who wrote on serpent worship—Primitive rationalism—Underworld plutocracy The rule of the wealthy in the spirit world, often associated with hidden minerals and riches—Rain and lightning—Vritra The Vedic demon of drought and personification of resistance—History of the word Ahi Sanskrit for "serpent" or "snake"—The Adder—Zohak An evil figure in Persian mythology with snakes growing from his shoulders—A Teutonic Laocoön original: Laokoon; referring to the Greek priest strangled by sea serpents, here applied to Germanic legend . . .	348

The Kankato na A term from the Vedas referring to a specific kind of venomous creature—The Vedic serpents were not worshipful—Ananta and Sesha Primordial serpent deities in Hindu mythology associated with eternity—The Healing Serpent—The guardian of treasures—Miss Buckland’s theory referring to A.W. Buckland, a 19th-century anthropologist who wrote on serpent worship—Primitive rationalism—Underworld plutocracy The rule of the wealthy in the spirit world, often associated with hidden minerals and riches—Rain and lightning—Vritra The Vedic demon of drought and personification of resistance—History of the word Ahi Sanskrit for "serpent" or "snake"—The Adder—Zohak An evil figure in Persian mythology with snakes growing from his shoulders—A Teutonic Laocoön original: Laokoon; referring to the Greek priest strangled by sea serpents, here applied to Germanic legend . . .

348

CHAPTER VII.

THE BASILISK.


The serpent’s gem A legendary stone or jewel believed to be found inside a snake's head—The Basilisk’s eye—Basiliscus mitratus The crested or helmeted basilisk lizard—House-snakes in Russia and Germany—King-snakes—Heraldic Dragon—Henry III—Melusina A female water spirit of European folklore, often depicted as a serpent or mermaid from the waist down—The Laidley Worm A legendary dragon from Northumbrian folklore—Victorious Dragons—Pendragon—Merlin and Vortigern—Medicinal dragons The use of dragon-derived substances in historical pharmacy . .	361

The serpent’s gem A legendary stone or jewel believed to be found inside a snake's head—The Basilisk’s eye—Basiliscus mitratus The crested or helmeted basilisk lizard—House-snakes in Russia and Germany—King-snakes—Heraldic Dragon—Henry III—Melusina A female water spirit of European folklore, often depicted as a serpent or mermaid from the waist down—The Laidley Worm A legendary dragon from Northumbrian folklore—Victorious Dragons—Pendragon—Merlin and Vortigern—Medicinal dragons The use of dragon-derived substances in historical pharmacy . .

361

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DRAGON’S EYE.


The Eye of Evil—Turner’s Dragons Referring to the dragon paintings of the English artist J.M.W. Turner—Cloud-phantoms—Paradise and the Snake—Prometheus and Jove The Roman name for the Greek god Zeus—Art and Nature—Dragon forms: Anglo-Saxon, Italian, Egyptian, Greek, German—The modern conventional Dragon . . . .	372

CHAPTER IX.

THE COMBAT.


The pre-Munchausenite referring to a time before the exaggerated "tall tales" of Baron Munchausen became famous world—The Colonial Dragon—Io’s journey—Medusa—British Dragons—The Communal Dragon—Savage Saviours—A Mi’kmaq original: Mimac; an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands of North America helper—The Brutal Dragon—Woman protected—The Saint of the Mikados Referring to the Japanese title for the Emperor . . . .	384

The pre-Munchausenite referring to a time before the exaggerated "tall tales" of Baron Munchausen became famous world—The Colonial Dragon—Io’s journey—Medusa—British Dragons—The Communal Dragon—Savage Saviours—A Mi’kmaq original: Mimac; an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands of North America helper—The Brutal Dragon—Woman protected—The Saint of the Mikados Referring to the Japanese title for the Emperor . . . .

384