zoolatry

[ zoh-ol-uh-tree ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

zoolatry

/ zəʊˈɒlətrɪ /

(esp in ancient or primitive religions) the worship of animals as the incarnations of certain deities, symbols of particular qualities or natural forces, etc
extreme or excessive devotion to animals, particularly domestic pets

First recorded in 1810–20; zoo- + -latry

Clemens Alexandrinus, again, after describing the animal-worship of the Egyptians, mentions cases of zoolatry in Greece.

Remnants of the old Semitic zoolatry perpetuated themselves until the end of paganism and even later.

In these beliefs zoolatry, litholatry and all the other nature worships outlived the savagery that had created them.

Similarly, why resort to an ancestor worship to explain zoolatry?

De Brosses, very unluckily, confused zoolatry with other superstitions under the head of Fetichism.

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