The Evolution of the Dragon by G. Elliot Smith is a groundbreaking exploration of the origins, symbolism, and diffusion of dragon myths across cultures. Blending anthropology, mythology, and comparative religion, Smith investigates how the archetype of the dragon emerged from ancient serpent-worship traditions and spread globally through cultural contact and migration. With meticulous research and a cross-cultural lens, Smith connects Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, and Mesoamerican traditions, revealing a unifying thread behind legends of dragons, sea serpents, and monstrous deities. This work challenges the assumption that similar myths arose independently, arguing instead for a diffusionist model of civilization and storytelling. Ideal for scholars, esoteric enthusiasts, and mythology lovers, this audiobook offers a deep, intellectual journey into humanity’s ancient imagination and shared symbols. It’s not just about dragons—it’s about how culture, religion, and myth evolve and intertwine across time and geography.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – PREFACE
21:23 – CHAPTER 1. INCENSE AND LIBATIONS.
48:48 – THE BEGINNING OF STONE-WORKING
1:01:39 – THE ORIGIN OF EMBALMING
1:04:16 – EARLY MUMMIES
1:24:05 – THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LIBATIONS
1:35:10 – EARLY BIOLOGICAL THEORIES
2:01:23 – INCENSE
2:15:23 – THE BREATH OF LIFE
2:47:25 – THE POWER OF THE EYE
2:57:06 – THE MOON AND THE SKY-WORLD
3:08:20 – THE WORSHIP OF THE COW
3:14:21 – THE DIFFUSION OF CULTURE
3:40:31 – SUMMARY
3:46:14 – APPENDIX A, B, and C
3:53:04 – CHAPTER 2. DRAGONS AND RAIN GODS
4:12:31 – THE DRAGON IN AMERICA AND EASTERN ASIA
5:12:24 – THE EVOLUTION OF THE DRAGON
5:28:06 – THE DRAGON MYTH
6:01:31 – THE THUNDER-WEAPON
6:25:24 – THE DEER
6:35:44 – THE RAM, THE PIG
6:37:45 – CERTAIN INCIDENTS IN THE DRAGON MYTH
6:42:05 – THE ETHICAL ASPECT
6:49:31 – CHAPTER 3. THE BIRTH OF APHRODITE
7:03:54 – THE SEARCH FOR THE ELIXIR OF LIFE. BLOOD AS LIFE
7:16:31 – THE COWRY AS A GIVER OF LIFE
7:27:07 – THE ORIGIN OF CLOTHING
7:36:03 – PEARLS
7:40:06 – SHARKS AND DRAGONS
8:02:05 – THE OCTOPUS
8:25:00 – THE SWASTIKA
8:40:23 – THE MOTHER POT
8:56:02 – ARTEMIS AND THE GUARDIAN OF THE PORTAL
9:26:19 – THE MANDRAKE
10:07:17 – THE MEASUREMENT OF TIME
10:22:53 – THE SEVEN-HEADED DRAGON
10:34:21 – THE PIG
10:50:30 – GOLD AND THE GOLDEN APHRODITE
11:00:37 – APHRODITE AS THE THUNDER-STONE
11:09:03 – THE SERPENT AND THE LIONESS
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