The Worship of the Serpent Traced Throughout the World

St. Paul's, and Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London: J. G. & F. Rivington, 1833. Stated at title page: "Second Edition, Considerably Enlarged." Rare original material. Title continued: "Attesting the Temptation and Fall of Man by the Instrumentality of a Serpent Tempter." Dark blue-green full-cloth boards, gilt spine titles, light shelf wear; freshly rebound including grey endpapers. Pages very good; some toning to first few. Several impressive fold-out diagrams, illustration plates. Bind fine; hinges fully intact. A sharp rebound rare original edition of this intriguing work. Deane presents a full investigative and studied treatise into related patterns in cultures across the world. This is the original highly illuminating 1833 study of snake worship, especially the serpent in the Book of Genesis that convinced Eve to eat of the fruit of 'The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,' and then convinced Adam to do the same. A number of Gnostic texts and others referenced, expound on the idea of knowledge, and how the serpent gave this to humans. Deane includes mythical reptilian creatures such as dragons and the leviathan. The theme of this veneration is traced from Babylonia, East and West, through Persia, Hindûstan - Persian name for India, China, Mexico, Britain, Scandinavia, Italy, Illyricum - the western Balkans, Thrace, Greece, Asia Minor - Turkish, and Phoenicia - Lebanon area of the Levant. At colophon: "Gilbert & Rivington, Printers, St. John's Square, London". 475 pages. Insured post.. Second Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.