314 



AN ANALYSIS OP THE 



viz., the fruit branches, while the Etruscans favored the former, viz., the ram's horn. 

 (See especially Figs. 72 and 73.) In the first of these the larger crescents are appa- 

 rently derived from an Asiatic source, while the smaller would claim for themselves 

 a Greek origin. 



; --. Fig. 80, 



Spjction III. The Serpent. We have abundant evidence that the serpent 

 is an universal object of design with rude people, and a frequent one with advanced 

 races. For consideration of this interesting subject we would refer the reader to the 

 works mentioned below.* The radicals we have selected have been met with among 

 the monuments of Central America and Peru. The motive which we assign to the 

 artists of these countries for reproducing so frequently the ophidian shapes is easily 

 found in their religion. Prescottf tells us that the serpent was an emblem common 

 in sacred sculpture in Anahuac. The image of one of their deities was remarkable 

 for the "huge folds of a serpent, consisting of pearls and precious stones which 

 coiled round his waist." In the Aztec calendar the serpent typified time. J The most 

 common representation of Quetzalcoatl was that of the serpent. 



In Peru, in addition to the figure of the serpent being associated with 

 images of the human form as attributes,§ it was at times of votive significance. 

 When unable to procure an animal for sacrifice, such for example as the puma or 

 serpent, the Peruvians offered a golden or silver image of the same.|| 



We have ill these statements sufficient reason for attempting to bring into a 

 series of derivatives a few outlines which we may term the radicals of the profile 

 serpent-head. 



We find its variants scattered over tropical America in isolated inscriptions, in 

 the florid picture-records, in the yo-t more obscure so-called hieroglyphic system, as 

 well as discerned among the confusing elaboration of carved images. 



*Tlie Serpent Symbol, etc., B. G. Bquier, New York, 1851 ; Myths of the New World, Brmton, I. c; Tree and 

 Serpent Worship, etc., Jas. Ferguson, Lond., 1868. Many other authorities might be quoted in this connection. 

 + Conquest of Mfexico, II, 142. 

 ilbid., I, 92. 



§ Antiquities of Peru, Rievero, 107. 

 II Conquest of Peru, Prescott, I, 523. 



