Antipator of Sidon, calls the god Ammon, the
"Renowned Serpent."[491:7] The Grecian Hercules--the Sun-god--was
symbolized as a serpent; and so was AEsculapius and Apollo. The Hebrews,
who, as we have seen in Chapter XI., worshiped the god Sol, represented
him in the form of a serpent. This is the _seraph_--spoken of above--as
set up by Moses (Num. xxi. 3) and worshiped by the children of Israel.
SE RA PH is the singular of seraphim, meaning _Semilice_--_splendor_,
_fire_, _light_--emblematic of the fiery disk of the Sun, and which,
under the name of _Nehush-tan_, "Serpent-dragon," was broken up by the
reforming Hezekiah.

The principal god of the _Aztecs_ was _Tonac_-atlcoatl, which means the
_Serpent Sun_.[491:8]

The Mexican virgin-born Lord and Saviour, Quetzalcoatle, was represented
in the form of a serpent. In fact, his name signifies "_Feathered
Serpent_." Quetzalcoatle was a personification of the _Sun_.[491:9]

Under the aspect of the _active principle_, we may rationally connect
the _Serpent_ and the _Sun_, as corresponding symbols of the
_reproductive_ or _creative power_. Figure No. 40 is a symbolical sign,
representing the disk of the _Sun_ encircled by the serpent _Uraeus_,
meaning the "KING SUN," or "ROYAL SUN," as it often surmounts the
persons of Egyptian monarchs, confirmed by the _emblem of_ LIFE
depending from the serpent's neck.[492:1]

[Illustration: Fig. No. 40]

The mysteries of Osiris, Isis, and Horus, in _Egypt_; Atys and Cybele,
in _Phrygia_; Ceres and Proserpine, at _Eleusis_; of Venus and Adonis,
in _Phenicia_; of Bona Dea and Priapus, in _Rome_, are all susceptible
of one explanation. They all set forth and illustrated, by solemn and
impressive rites, and _mystical symbols_, the grand phenomenon of
_nature_, especially as connected with the creation of things and the
perpetuation of life. In all, it is worthy of remark, the SERPENT was
more or less conspicuously introduced, and always as symbolical of the
invigorating or active energy of nature, the SUN.

We have seen (in Chapter XX.) that in early Christian art Christ Jesus
also was represented as a _crucified Lamb_. This crucified lamb is "the
Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world, and slain from the
foundation of the world."[492:2] In other words, the crucified lamb
typifies the _crucified Sun_, for the lamb was another symbol of the
Sun, as we shall presently see.

We find, then, that the stories of the crucifixions of t