s regarded as one, or as a dual entity, they should have recognized
its manifold expressions or manifestations.

To primitive man, the visible sources whence proceeded his daily
sustenance doubtless constituted the first objects of his regard and
adoration. Hence, in addition to the homage paid to the earth, in due
course of time would be added the worship of trees, upon which the
early race was directly dependent for food. At a time when the art of
agriculture had not been attained, all such trees as yielded their
fruit for the support of the human race, and which afforded to mankind
pleasant beverages or cooling shade, would come to be regarded as
embodying the universal beneficent principle--the great creating
and preserving agency of Nature, and therefore as proper objects of
veneration.

According to the Phoenician theogony, "the first gods which were
worshipped by oblations and sacrifices were the fruits of the earth, on
which they and their descendants lived as their forefathers had done."

Although, after the art of agriculture had been developed, mankind was
gradually relieved from its past dependence on the tree as a means of
support, it nevertheless continued to be regarded with veneration as an
emblem of creative power or of productive energy.

Among the traditions and monuments of nearly every country of the globe
are to be found traces of a sacred tree--a Tree of Life. In various
countries there appear two traditional trees, the one typical of the
continuation of physical life, the other representing spiritual life, or
the life of the soul. After the age of pure Nature-worship had passed,
however, and serpent, fire, and phallic faiths had been introduced, the
original signification of the tree, like that of all other religious
emblems, became considerably changed. Through its energies, or
life-giving properties, existence had long been maintained, and for this
reason, as has already been observed, it became an object of veneration;
but, after the reproductive power in man had risen to the dignity of a
supreme God, the tree, to the masses of the people, became a symbol of
the physical, life-giving energy in mortals and in animals. In other
words, it became a phallic emblem representing the continuation of
existence, or the power to reproduce or continue life on the earth. As a
religious symbol it became the traditional Tree of Life.

The tree, like nearly every other object in nature, was and still is,