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Tree and Serpent Worship by H. Shepheard M.A. 1871
See also The Mystery Religions and Ancient Gods, 200 Books on DVDrom
“IF a line," says Mr. Fergusson, “were drawn from the shores of the Caspian Sea north of the Caucasus to the mouth of the Vistula or Dwina in the Baltic, it would be coincident with one of the oldest routes of communication between the East and the West, and one that probably was the road by which Serpent and Tree-worship were introduced into the North of Europe.”—“At the far end of this route," Procopius tells us that “in his day the barbarians worshipped forests and groves, and in their barbarous simplicity placed trees among their gods."
Accordingly, Tree and Serpent-worship prevailed from the Caspian Sea to the Baltic. Mr. Fergusson cites the testimony of Olaus Magnus that “the Poles worshipped their gods, Fire, Serpents, and Trees, in woods: and that these superstitions still lingered in remote parts of Norway and Wermelandia as late as the year 1555.” “It seems impossible,” he adds, “to doubt, that both Trees and Serpents were worshipped by the peasantry in Esthonia and Finland within the limits of the present century, and even then with all the characteristics it possessed when we first become acquainted with it."
This is important testimony, especially from one who does not admit the events of Paradise to have been by perversion the origin of Tree and Serpent-worship. According to Mr. Fergusson, the worship of “Fire, Serpents, and Trees, in woods,” was carried from the Caspian Sea to the remotest parts of Norway by one of the oldest routes of communication between the East and West.
But it has been shown above, that the worship of Fire, Serpents, and Trees, was a part of that Babylonian system of the worship of a false Messiah which was the source of the Pagan mythology of the whole world: and also, that this Babylonian system was indissolubly connected with reminiscences of the Cherubim of Eden's gate, and of Eve in the first state of innocence.
The inference is inevitable, that Tree and Serpent-worship was derived from perverted traditions of the events narrated in the first three chapters of Genesis.
Mr. Fergusson himself [Tree and Serpent Worship] considers that the Scandinavian “myth of the Yggdrasil ash is in the first place a reminiscence of the trees of fate and knowledge, in the garden of Eden.”
And in like manner he regards the Persian and Indian Homa tree as having had its origin in the same “myth as the Trees of Life and Knowledge which grew in Paradise."
But if the Trees of Paradise had their origin in nothing but a “myth,” is it to be believed that such a false and idle story would not only have been carried to the farthest regions of the world, but have formed the basis of the religious creed of every nation under heaven?
“In Gaul, or France, and Great Britain, Tree-worship existed among the Celts, as among the Germans, till their conversion to Christianity:” which is the same thing as to say that it prevailed from the Alps and the Danube to the farthest extremities of the British Isles.
With regard to Tree-worship in Africa, what has been already stated from the testimony of Bruce is quoted by Mr. Fergusson—that the Shangalla, an Abyssinian tribe, “worship various trees, serpents, the moon, planets, and stars in certain positions". “It is, however,” he adds, “on the West coast that the worship flourishes in all its pristine vigour.”
As regards America also, Mr. Fergusson quotes authorities which go to prove that both Serpent-worship and Tree-worship prevailed over the whole continent.
Nor is this all--but, in accordance with what has been advanced above on this subject, he states that Tree and Serpent worship was combined with Sun-worship. “The principal deity of the Aztec Pantheon seems Tezcatlipoca, or Tonacatlecoatl, literally the Sun-Serpent.”
“Muller," he adds, “finds traces of Tree-worship all over the continent of America, and generally in juxtaposition, if not in actual connexion, with that of the Serpent.”
Tracing the course of human migration eastwards, we find the same ideas and practices every where prevailing throughout the vast continent of Asia.
Mr. Fergusson’s testimony here also is important:—“Windischmann, who had probably rendered himself more familiar with the spirit of the Zend-Avesta than any other scholar, thus expresses himself on the subject. ‘Homa is the first of the trees planted by Ahura-Mazda (the great god of the Persians) in the fountain of life. He who drinks of its juice never dies. According to the Bundchesh, the Gogard or Gaskerena tree bears the Homa, which gives life and power, and imparts life at the resurrection'."
"In another place he says, 'From this it appears that the White Homa or the Tree Gokard is the Tree of Life whick grew in Paradise."-"The Soma (or Homa) was unquestionably the greatest and holiest offering of ancient Indian worship'."
Other authorities are here cited to show that Tree-worship prevailed from the banks of the Indus to China: that Serpent-worship was cultivated on the grandest scale in Cashmere, and extended southwards to Ceylon: and that in that island Tree-worship is still a custom of national importance. A "Bo Tree" sent from Buddh-gya, and planted there, has been reverenced as the chief and most important "numen," or deity of Ceylon for more than 2000 years, and is honoured to this day by the resort of thousands "to the sacred precincts within which it stands, to offer up those prayers for health and prosperity which are more likely to be answered if uttered in its presence. There is probably no older idol in the world, certainly none more venerated."
See also The Mystery Religions and Ancient Gods, 200 Books on DVDrom
“IF a line," says Mr. Fergusson, “were drawn from the shores of the Caspian Sea north of the Caucasus to the mouth of the Vistula or Dwina in the Baltic, it would be coincident with one of the oldest routes of communication between the East and the West, and one that probably was the road by which Serpent and Tree-worship were introduced into the North of Europe.”—“At the far end of this route," Procopius tells us that “in his day the barbarians worshipped forests and groves, and in their barbarous simplicity placed trees among their gods."
Accordingly, Tree and Serpent-worship prevailed from the Caspian Sea to the Baltic. Mr. Fergusson cites the testimony of Olaus Magnus that “the Poles worshipped their gods, Fire, Serpents, and Trees, in woods: and that these superstitions still lingered in remote parts of Norway and Wermelandia as late as the year 1555.” “It seems impossible,” he adds, “to doubt, that both Trees and Serpents were worshipped by the peasantry in Esthonia and Finland within the limits of the present century, and even then with all the characteristics it possessed when we first become acquainted with it."
This is important testimony, especially from one who does not admit the events of Paradise to have been by perversion the origin of Tree and Serpent-worship. According to Mr. Fergusson, the worship of “Fire, Serpents, and Trees, in woods,” was carried from the Caspian Sea to the remotest parts of Norway by one of the oldest routes of communication between the East and West.
But it has been shown above, that the worship of Fire, Serpents, and Trees, was a part of that Babylonian system of the worship of a false Messiah which was the source of the Pagan mythology of the whole world: and also, that this Babylonian system was indissolubly connected with reminiscences of the Cherubim of Eden's gate, and of Eve in the first state of innocence.
The inference is inevitable, that Tree and Serpent-worship was derived from perverted traditions of the events narrated in the first three chapters of Genesis.
Mr. Fergusson himself [Tree and Serpent Worship] considers that the Scandinavian “myth of the Yggdrasil ash is in the first place a reminiscence of the trees of fate and knowledge, in the garden of Eden.”
And in like manner he regards the Persian and Indian Homa tree as having had its origin in the same “myth as the Trees of Life and Knowledge which grew in Paradise."
But if the Trees of Paradise had their origin in nothing but a “myth,” is it to be believed that such a false and idle story would not only have been carried to the farthest regions of the world, but have formed the basis of the religious creed of every nation under heaven?
“In Gaul, or France, and Great Britain, Tree-worship existed among the Celts, as among the Germans, till their conversion to Christianity:” which is the same thing as to say that it prevailed from the Alps and the Danube to the farthest extremities of the British Isles.
With regard to Tree-worship in Africa, what has been already stated from the testimony of Bruce is quoted by Mr. Fergusson—that the Shangalla, an Abyssinian tribe, “worship various trees, serpents, the moon, planets, and stars in certain positions". “It is, however,” he adds, “on the West coast that the worship flourishes in all its pristine vigour.”
As regards America also, Mr. Fergusson quotes authorities which go to prove that both Serpent-worship and Tree-worship prevailed over the whole continent.
Nor is this all--but, in accordance with what has been advanced above on this subject, he states that Tree and Serpent worship was combined with Sun-worship. “The principal deity of the Aztec Pantheon seems Tezcatlipoca, or Tonacatlecoatl, literally the Sun-Serpent.”
“Muller," he adds, “finds traces of Tree-worship all over the continent of America, and generally in juxtaposition, if not in actual connexion, with that of the Serpent.”
Tracing the course of human migration eastwards, we find the same ideas and practices every where prevailing throughout the vast continent of Asia.
Mr. Fergusson’s testimony here also is important:—“Windischmann, who had probably rendered himself more familiar with the spirit of the Zend-Avesta than any other scholar, thus expresses himself on the subject. ‘Homa is the first of the trees planted by Ahura-Mazda (the great god of the Persians) in the fountain of life. He who drinks of its juice never dies. According to the Bundchesh, the Gogard or Gaskerena tree bears the Homa, which gives life and power, and imparts life at the resurrection'."
"In another place he says, 'From this it appears that the White Homa or the Tree Gokard is the Tree of Life whick grew in Paradise."-"The Soma (or Homa) was unquestionably the greatest and holiest offering of ancient Indian worship'."
Other authorities are here cited to show that Tree-worship prevailed from the banks of the Indus to China: that Serpent-worship was cultivated on the grandest scale in Cashmere, and extended southwards to Ceylon: and that in that island Tree-worship is still a custom of national importance. A "Bo Tree" sent from Buddh-gya, and planted there, has been reverenced as the chief and most important "numen," or deity of Ceylon for more than 2000 years, and is honoured to this day by the resort of thousands "to the sacred precincts within which it stands, to offer up those prayers for health and prosperity which are more likely to be answered if uttered in its presence. There is probably no older idol in the world, certainly none more venerated."
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