CHAPTER I. 1

Ophiolatreia an extraordinary subject--Of mysterious origin-- Of universal prevalence--The Serpent, a common symbol in mythology--Serpent Worship, natural but irrational--Bacchic orgies--Olympias, mother of Alexander, and the Serpent Emblem-- Thermuthis, the sacred Serpent--Asps--Saturn and his children-- Sacrifices at altar of Saturn--Abaddon--Ritual of Zoroaster-- Vulcan--Theology of Ophion--The Cuthites--The Ophiogeneis--The Ophionians--Greek Traditions--Cecrops--Various Serpent worshippers.