Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
4 STRANGE FAITH.


Earthwork Of Unknown Anriqaity Ii
Ohio.
Decidedly one of the most remarkable work.
Of art OF the prehistoric Inhabitants Of thii
country exists in this county. about sixty miles
in northeasterly direction from Cincinnati
says Hillsboro (O.) correspondent Of the Gin
cfnnati Enquirer. The work is known as the
Serpent Mound, and is regarded by scientific
men as indicating that at some remote period
the Mound-builders were serpent worshipers
form of worship that in the early stages OF
religious development appears everywhere
The mound is located on the farm of Mr.
Lovett, about IS miles from this city.
A drive through a beautiful valley bordered
py hlgh NILS surmounted by excellent timber.
Drought the correspondent to the object OF his
search. The mound alone, with l40-acre tract
surrounding it, has recently been purchased
with money subscribed by the ladies OF Boston,
Musuem Of American Archaeology and
Ethnology, of which Prof. F. w. Putnam. Of
harvard College, is director. The under
growth and timber have been entirely removed
from the mound. and a wire lattice fence in
closes the giant earth monster its entire
length, while a cement walk enables the
visitor to make complete circuit Of this work
oIperhaps pre-Adamite age. Prof. Putnam, his
wife and several ladies from the East, are
spending the summer here, engaged in fishing,
photographing and fossil collecting.
A Remarkable Earthwork.
The mouna takes its name from its shape.
1t is not rough piece of work, but bears evil
dence of distinct design and forethought. The
convolutions and sinuosities of the giant earth
serpent are laid out with accuracy and care.
1t is work Of art, and il an earthern embank-
ment Of serpent shape in symmetrical convolu-
tions and coils, the head extremity of which di-
vides in the form of open jaws to inclose an
ha ad ,h.,l; l.,fo xxhin
is GO by l20 feet in width and length. This egg
shaped mound is hollow in the center or ex-
cavated, and incloses a stone mound. The SER
pent mound itself measures along the dorsal
column or curve from the head to the tips Of
the tail ], 1858 feet, or more than a quarter of a
mile, and in a straight line, leaving out the
convolutions, 496 feet. The embankrnent at the
thickesr part of the body of the serpent Is 80
feet in width and 10 feet high. forming hem.
spherical section. In height the embankment
rises from to 10 feet gradually tapering to q
sharp, small point at the tail
OF Unknown Antiquity.
A section across one or two points of the en-
bankment clearly shows its interior construc-
tion. 1t was laid with rock foundation of
sand rock and ashes; the mound is built Of clay,
brought from distance. On top Of this lies
from three to four inches of rich, black soil of
the neighboring country, being the product of
decaying vegetable matter since the mound
was built The situation of the mound is COM
manding and picturesque. 1t lies on a level
plateau at the top Of a cliff of solid rock ele-
waited loo feet high, and which borders on
Brush creek, q small stream flowing at Its base
ON the south. On the other side the
country is gradually rising. to height
the serpent mound is q smaller one supposed
to have been symbolical of serpent eggs. Near
one of the convolutions Is the stump of chest
nut tree that is four feet in diameter, and, ac-
IN ha laaa hon,
900 years old. Long before this tree grew thele
the mound was erected and formed part of a
system Of worship. Yet even this. ancient
the days before Christopher Columbus discov-
cred America.
No Other Like 1t.
This serpent mound has its counterpart no.
where else In Ameaica. There are two similar
in Asia and one has been discovered in
Scotland. The mound is to be reached by the
c., w. q B. road to Hillsboro and q drive of Is
miles, or by the Ohio and Northwestern Rail-
road to PEBBLES station, and drive of nine
miles, Last week DR.. F. W. Langdon, Charles
F. Lowe, Of MadIsonville, Prof. Dyer, Superin-
tendent Of Schools, and Rev. DIR. Cox, rector of
Holy Trinity p. E. Church at Madsonville,
and Mr.. Ed Lowe, all under the chaperonage
Of G. w. Lowe. an enthusiastic student of
American archaeology and history, visited
the mound. They went by the way of Fort
Hill, in Highland county, which Is three
miles In circumference and comprises about 40
or so miles. The evidences Of serpent worship
having been ct one time prevalent over large,
II not the entire, portion Of the inhabitable
globe have long been considered by scientists
as arguing common religious form of belief,
II not common origin. The serpent was the
god of KNOWLEDGE and taught men all the use
full arts In Eden It was tempter more
Sinuous and graceful. wise and tender as the
symbol Of Esculapius, it healed and blessed
men, and by its legitimate progeny, the dragon,
It cured and annihilated them.
Facts About Serpent Worship.
AS an emblem of eternity it encircles the
Brahmin idea of the universe. At the root of
Yggarasil, the world upheaving orb, in the
Morse legends, it lies the enemy of the gods
whom he shall survive. Even Pwan-Kee. the
Chinese Adam, was assisted by dragon in his
mighty work of chiseling world out Of the
chaos in which he was born. The Persians
we're great serpent worshipers. The first prin-
,iples were Ormazd Ahernian, the good and
evil deity whose contention for the universe
was represented by two serpents contending for
the mundane egg. They are standing upon
their tails, and each Of them has fastened upon
The object in dispute with his teeth. The great
Chinese dragon so conspicuous in every public
Ind private edihce was the symbolical serpent
IF ancient mythology. The Chinese god Fohi
has the form of q man which terminates in q
all of q snake. which is not only proof of the
earlv existence Of serpent worship in China,
but also shows that the dragon and the snake
'f Chinese mythology were cognate.
Curious Ancient Beliefs.
The Egyptians used the serpent in their re-
igion as an emblem Of divinity, a charm, an
,racle and god. Harpocrates, an ancient
rod, was symbolized by q serpent. Guelph, who
vas the architect of the universe, was repre-
ented as a serpent with an egg in his mouth.
a 1%c6 ,l.,, ~-1z
ng from him. There are traces of serpent
vorship among the Greeks. Minerva is some |
lines represented with a drogan, and holding a |
'taff. around which serpent coils. In the |
Acropolis at Athens live serpent was kept |
xho was considered the guardian of the place. |
In uncommon event in Grecisn mythology
olympias, Nicoletea and Aristodamia, the |
mothers of Alexander, Aristomenes and |
nto the form of serpent Jupiter himself |
hanged himself into dragon to reduce |
oroserpine.
Asintic and American superstifions.
Every feature in the religion of the new |
world discovered by Cortez and Pizarro indi- |
ate an origin common to- the superstitions of |
Egypt and Asia. The same solar worship the |
anne pyramidal monuments, the came serpent |
Worship. The Temple of vitziliputzli was /
,uilt of great stones in the fashion of snakes |
led togetner, and the circuit was called the |
ircuit Of snakes. The Mexicans kept live SER |
'ents as household gods in their private DWELL |
ngs. The Peruvians worshiped the goddess |
sis and represented her with two serpents at /
Ter side.
Prof. Putnam contemplates the erection of |
n observatory near the mound. from the top /
f which the huge earthen monster. relic of |
y-gone ages-of peoples that we know not Of
I a religion and rites that have long since |
een buried in the debris OF the past-can be
cen in all its convolutions and sinuosities.
Too Small for Two Whistiers.
rom the Syracuse Herald.I
Artist histler is coming to America. Now