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The mythical serpents of Hebrew literature

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There seems to be no limit to human credulity as to the forms which animals may assume, or the attributes which they may possess.^ Three stages in the development of fabulous creatures may be traced: The animal is first credited with (pertain powers it does not, and probably cannot have;^ then animals altogether fabulous, but still belonging to a definite and well-known class, are supposed to exist ;^ and the third stage is to imagine monsters of no certain class, but possessing parts and attributes of several, and all greatly exaggerated. Various kinds of these last-named creatures, popularly called dragons, have been believed in, but with rare exceptions the basal form has been the serpent or the crocodile, and they have often been known as serpents or even as worms.* They dwelt in secluded or desert spots, and were of hideous shape with glowing eyes, fiery breath and impenetrable scales. Their hunger was insatiable, man being their favorite food, and young, beautiful maidens seemingly their greatest delicacy.

When primitive man began to seek causes for the phenomena of nature, these monsters being already the most hideous things he had imagined, such phenomena as were regarded as evil came naturally to be conceived of as being the work of some dragon of similar form. The first thing to suggest the monster serpent was probably the eclipse, which being rare is the more mysterious, and it also attacks the moon, which is the great friend of the savage because it lights up the dreaded darkness. The shadow creeping gradually over the face of the moon must be the work of some monster of evil who has seized it and is gradually swallowing it as a serpent swallows its victim.^ The lightning flashing across the sky suggested the winding snake, the thunder cloud creeping up as if seeking to blot out the sun became a monster, and the long extended raiiibow looked like a serpent stretched across the heavens."

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Series Title

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Call Number

nrlf_ucb:GLAD-117547907

Publisher

: ., 2024

Collation

cdl; americana

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

80232599

Classification

NONE

Content Type

text

Media Type

computer

Carrier Type

online resource

Edition

-

Subject(s)

mythical serpents
Hebrew literature

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Statement of Responsibility

Murison, Ross G

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Cataloger

Suwardi

Source

https://archive.org/details/mythicalserpents00muririch/page/3/mode/1up

Validator

Suwardi

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

urn:oclc:record:1049881543

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