Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by Grafton Elliot Smith and published by Library of Alexandria. This book was released on 1919-01-01 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is commonly assumed that many of the elementary practices of civilization, such as the erection of rough stone buildings, whether houses, tombs, or temples, the crafts of the carpenter and the stonemason, the carving of statues, the customs of pouring out libations or burning incense, are such simple and obvious procedures that any people might adopt them without prompting or contact of any kind with other populations who do the same sort of things. But if such apparently commonplace acts be investigated they will be found to have a long and complex history. None of these things that seem so obvious to us was attempted until a multitude of diverse circumstances became focussed in some particular community, and constrained some individual to make the discovery. Nor did the quality of obviousness become apparent even when the enlightened discoverer had gathered up the threads of his predecessor's ideas and woven them into the fabric of a new invention. For he had then to begin the strenuous fight against the opposition of his fellows before he could induce them to accept his discovery. He had, in fact, to contend against their preconceived ideas and their lack of appreciation of the significance of the progress he had made before he could persuade them of its "obviousness". That is the history of most inventions since the world began. But it is begging the question to pretend that because tradition has made such inventions seem simple and obvious to us it is unnecessary to inquire into their history or to assume that any people or any individual simply did these things without any instruction when the spirit moved it or him so to do. The customs of burning incense and making libations in religious ceremonies are so widespread and capable of being explained in such plausible, though infinitely diverse, ways that it has seemed unnecessary to inquire more deeply into their real origin and significance. For example, Professor Toy disposes of these questions in relation to incense in a summary fashion. He claims that "when burnt before the deity" it is "to be regarded as food, though in course of time, when the recollection of this primitive character was lost, a conventional significance was attached to the act of burning. A more refined period demanded more refined food for the gods, such as ambrosia and nectar, but these also were finally given up." This, of course, is a purely gratuitous assumption, or series of assumptions, for which there is no real evidence. Moreover, even if there were any really early literature to justify such statements, they explain nothing. Incense-burning is just as mysterious if Prof. Toy's claim be granted as it was before. But a bewildering variety of other explanations, for all of which the merit of being "simple and obvious" is claimed, have been suggested. The reader who is curious about these things will find a luxurious crop of speculations by consulting a series of encyclopædias. I shall content myself by quoting only one more. "Frankincense and other spices were indispensable in temples where bloody sacrifices formed part of the religion. The atmosphere of Solomon's temple must have been that of a sickening slaughter-house, and the fumes of incense could alone enable the priests and worshippers to support it. This would apply to thousands of other temples through Asia, and doubtless the palaces of kings and nobles suffered from uncleanliness and insanitary arrangements and required an antidote to evil smells to make them endurable."
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by G. Elliot Smith and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2020-08-11 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reproduction of the original: The Evolution of the Dragon by G. Elliot Smith
Download or read book Dragons of Eden written by Carl Sagan and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 1986-12-12 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billion years ago, to the day before yesterday . . . It's a delight.”—The New York Times Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offering his vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast, the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most haunting legends—and their amazing links to recent discoveries. “How can I persuade every intelligent person to read this important and elegant book? . . . He talks about all kinds of things: the why of the pain of human childbirth . . . the reason for sleeping and dreaming . . . chimpanzees taught to communicate in deaf and dumb language . . . the definition of death . . . cloning . . . computers . . . intelligent life on other planets. . . . Fascinating . . . delightful.”—The Boston Globe “In some lost Eden where dragons ruled, the foundations of our intelligence were laid. . . . Carl Sagan takes us on a guided tour of that lost land. . . . Fascinating . . . entertaining . . . masterful.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by Grafton Elliot Smith (Sir) and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by Elliot G. Smith and published by IndyPublish.com. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by G. Elliot Smith, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016-12-28 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dragon has always been a mysterious creature that has captivated young and old people for hundreds of years. In this work the history of the dragon and where the story emerged from come to light. Delving into the ancient stories all over the world the descriptions and influence the story of the dragon had on the ancient cultures will enlighten anyone's thinking on this topic.
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by Grafton Elliot Smith and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by G. Elliot Smith and published by . This book was released on 1919 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Dragons Or Dinosaurs written by Darek Isaacs and published by Bridge Logos Foundation. This book was released on 2010 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dragon legends are found in nearly every culture around the globe. They have been thought to be myths. Yet, mysteriously, these dragons sound a lot like the other giant scaled reptiles, dinosaurs. Could they be one and the same? Surprisingly enough, the answer to this question is a powerful truth that confirms biblical authority and demolishes the theory of evolution. This book brings forth many new theories and evidence that are sure to fascinate the reader.
Download or read book Slaying the Dragon The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America written by William L. White and published by . This book was released on 2014-07-01 with total page 558 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This is the remarkable story of America's personal and instituional responses to alcoholism and other addictions. It is the story of mutual aid societies: the Washingtonians, the Blue Ribbon Reform Clubs, the Ollapod Club, the United Order of Ex-Boozers, the Jacoby Club, Alcoholics Anonymous and Women for Sobriety. It is a story of addiction treatment institutions from the inebriate asylums and Keeley Institutes to Hazelden and Parkside. It is the story of evolving treatment interventions that range from water cures and mandatory sterilization to aversion therapies and methadone maintenance. William White has provided a sweeping and engaging history of one of America's most enduring problems and the profession that was birthed to respond to it" -- BACK COVER.
Download or read book The Dragon in the West written by Daniel Ogden and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-09-09 with total page 478 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exploration of how the image and idea of the dragon has evolved through history How did the dragon get its wings? Everyone in the modern West has a clear idea of what a dragon looks like and of the sorts of stories it inhabits, not least devotees of the fantasies of J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, and George R. R. Martin. A cross between a snake and some fearsome mammal, often sporting colossal wings, they live in caves, lie on treasure, maraud, and breathe fire. They are extraordinarily powerful, but even so, ultimately defeated in their battles with humans. What is the origin of this creature? The Dragon in the West is the first serious and substantial account in any language of the evolution of the modern dragon from its ancient forebears. Daniel Ogden's detailed exploration begins with the drakōn of Greek myth and the draco of the dragon-loving Romans, and a look at the ancient world's female dragons. It brings the story forwards though Christian writings, medieval illustrated manuscripts, and the lives of dragon-duelling saints, before concluding with a study of dragons found in the medieval Germanic world, including those of the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and the Norse sagas.
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by G. Elliot Smith and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2017-01-15 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dragon has always been a mysterious creature that has captivated young and old people for hundreds of years. In this work the history of the dragon and where the story emerged from come to light. Delving into the ancient stories all over the world the descriptions and influence the story of the dragon had on the ancient cultures will enlighten anyone's thinking on this topic.
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon written by G. Elliot Smith and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-08-13 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Evolution of the Dragon: Large print by G. Elliot Smith When I put forward the suggestion that the annual inundation of the Nile provided the information for the first measurement of the year, I was not aware of the fact that Sir Norman Lockyer ("The Dawn of Astronomy," 1894, p. 209), had already made the same claim and substantiated it by much fuller evidence than I have brought together here. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
Download or read book An Instinct for Dragons written by David E. Jones and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-05-06 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Download or read book The Evolution of the Dragon Classic Reprint written by G. Elliot Smith and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2018-01-14 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from The Evolution of the Dragon But the enemy of Osiris became an evil dragon, and was identified with Set. The dragon-myth, however, did not really begin to develop until an ageing king refused to be slain, and called upon the Great Mother, as the giver of life, to rejuvenate him. Her only elixir was human blood and to obtain it she was compelled to make a human sacrifice. I'ier murderous act led to her being compared with and ultimately identified with a man-slaying lioness or a cobra. The story of the slaying of the dragon is a much distorted rumour of this incident and in the process of elaboration the incidents were subjected to every kind of interpretation and also confusion with the legendary account of the conflict between Horus and Set. When a substitute was Obtained to replace the blood the slaying of a human victim was no longer logically necessary but an explanation had to be found for the persistence of this incident in the story. Man kind (no longer a mere individual human sacrifice) had become sinful and rebellious (the act of rebellion being complaints that the king or god was growing Old) and had to be destroyed as a punishment for this treason. The Great Mother continued to act as the avenger of the king or god. But the enemies of the god were also punished by Horus in the legend of Horus and Set. The two stories hence be came confused the one with the other. The king Horus took the place of the Great Mother as the avenger of the gods. As she was identified with the moon, he became the Sun-god, and assumed many of the Great Mother's attributes, and also became her son. In the further development of the myth, when the Sun-god had completely usurped his mother's place, the infamy Of her deeds of destruction seems to have led to her being confused with the rebellious men who were now called the followers of Set, Horus's enemy. Thus an evil dragon emerged from this blend of the attributes Of the Great Mother and Set. This is the Babylonian Tiamat. From the amazingly com plex jumble of this tissue of confusion all the incidents of the dragon myth were derived. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Download or read book The Flight of Dragons written by Peter Dickinson and published by Collins & Brown. This book was released on 1998 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining fact with fantasy and science with romance, Peter Dickinson, an award-winning novelist, sets out to prove that dragons really did exist, whilst Wayne Anderson's illustrations bring these creatures to life.
