From celestial phenomena the myth of the Apollo Serpent descended to impersonate the phenomena of earth, of which we have examples in the Greek fable of the Python, and others.  Apollo again appears as the god which agitates and dissolves the waters, and the serpent as the winding course of a river, and also as other sources of water.  The sun causes the river water to evaporate, which is symbolized by the dragon’s conflict with Apollo, and the victory of the latter.  The monster, as Forchhammer observes, is formed during the childhood of Apollo, that is, at a time of year when the sun has not attained his full force.  When the serpent’s body begins to putrefy, the reptile, in mythical language, takes the new name of Python, or he who becomes putrid.  The serpent Python, in accordance with the continual transformations of myth, becomes the Hydra of Lerna, and Hercules, another solar myth, is substituted for Apollo.  This Hydra is transformed again into Typhon, a fresh personification of the forces of nature and of the atmosphere, conspiring against heaven.  The seven-headed Hydra reappears in another form in the Rig-Veda, where the rain cloud is compared to the serpent whom head rests on seven springs.  I have Max Mueller’s authority for the vigorous alternation of myths in those primitive ages, their extreme mobility, their resolution into vivified physical forms, and the slight consistency of specific types.  Aurora and Night are often substituted for each other, and although in the original conception of the birth of Apollo and Artemis they were certainly both considered to be children of the night, Leto and Latona, yet even so the place or island where, according to the fable, they were born is Ortygia or Delos, or sometimes called by both names at once.  Delos means the land of light, but Ortygia, although the name is given to different places, is Aurora, or the land of Aurora. (Gerhard, Griechische Mythologie.) Ortygia is derived from Ortyx, a quail.  In Sanscrit the quail is called Vartika, the bird which returns, because it is one of the birds to return in spring.  This name Vartika is given in the Veda to one of the numerous beings which are set free and brought to life by the Ascini, that is, by day and night, and Vartika is one of several names for the dawn. Vartika’s story is very short:  she was swallowed, but delivered by the Asvini.  She was drawn by them from the wolf’s throat.  Hence we have Ortygia, the land of quails, the east; the isle which issued miraculously from the floods, where Leto begot his solar twins, and also Ortygia, a name given to Artemis, the daughter of Leto, because she was born in the east.  The Druh, crimes and darkness may in their subsequent development be contrasted with these ancient myths.  Aurora is represented by them as driving away the odious gloom of the Druh.  The powers of darkness, the Druh and Rakshas were called Adeva, and the shining gods were called Adruh.  Kuhn believes that the German words truegen and luegen are derived from Druh.