Serpent-Worship, and Other Essays, with a Chapter on Totemism

"Serpent-Worship, and Other Essays" by C. Staniland Wake is a book that analyzes old religions and their symbols. The collection of essays looks into different topics like why ancient people worshiped snakes, what phallic symbols meant to them, and how totemism played a role in what people believed. The writing goes into the history and meaning behind these traditions, questioning how important they were to how spiritual life grew over time. The book starts by comparing religions to rivers, explaining how they change over time. The author talks about how people's worship came from symbols like trees and snakes, which are linked to making new life and cultural practices. Wake focuses on how trees and snakes were both worshiped, saying these beliefs can help us understand how early humans thought about spirituality and set up their societies. This is an introduction to a larger study of old beliefs, especially where these symbols of devotion came from and what they meant.