Forlong - Rivers of Life

Serpent and Phallic Worship.
only knew of a Greek “Khi or Khiasm,” which in Eusebius’ day was called of Khiasmos.
So he gives Rho as his emperor’s monogram of “Khristos,” explaining ciaÕ menou toà R kat¦
tÕ mesa…tatoi, “the letter Rho passing exactly through themiddle of the letter Khi.” 1 This
sign was then also, like that of Phallic crosses, called “the cross of salvation,” or of life. 2
The Romans are believed to have got their first standard,--a phallus or pole—
with a spear transversely to it, from the Samothracians, Dacians, and such people; that
Fig. 54.—BARMESE PAGODAS, RANGOON ON PLATEAU OF SHOOE DAGON
is, from the Ugric Etruscans of Asiatic extraction. This transverse object was usually
put in motion by strings as”a wagtail” at all festivals, as at the Phallophoria, Thesmophoria,
&c., just as I have seen this done very frequently in India. When the Linga is
in agitation, all the beholders pray to it, the ceremony thus corresponding to the raising
of the Hostia, or supposed “sacrifice of the victim.” The Boodhists also keep up a
similar waving in the pulling of the serpentine streamers on their temple poles, which
may only be done by young virgins and lads; the sacred Henza or Goose, and Phallic
portion of the pole is thus maade to bow and quiver, when all the people fall on their
knees and worship. I give here a sketch of these poles and ornaments, taken by me
above a dozen years ago, as they then existed around the base of the great Shooe Dagony
Pagoda of Rangoon. A corner of the base of this great and holy shrine is seen
adjoining the figures of the demons who sit here to warn of sceptics, the great enemies of
priests. Wisdom and complacency also sit there urging good men to follow their ways
and to try and pass quietly and tranquilly through life. There are tables for offerings
before the figures, and indeed all about the platform of the great temple, which plateau
1 Life of Const. I. 30.
2 Eccles. Hist. Euseb., III. 20.
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