Serpent symbolism

The serpent, or snake, is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols. The word is derived from Latin serpens, a crawling animal or snake. Snakes have been associated with some of the oldest rituals known to humankind^[1]^[2] and represent dual expression^[3] of good and evil.^[4]

In some cultures, snakes were fertility symbols. For example, the Hopi people of North America performed an annual snake dance to celebrate the union of Snake Youth (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Underworld spirit) and to renew the fertility of Nature. During the dance, live snakes were handled, and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. "The snake dance is a prayer to the spirits of the clouds, the thunder and the lightning, that the rain may fall on the growing crops."^[5] To the Hopi, snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. The Great Goddess often had snakes as her familiars—sometimes twining around her sacred staff, as in ancient Crete—and they were worshiped as guardians of her mysteries of birth and regeneration.^[6]

^ "Apollon, Python". Apollon.uio.no. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^ Robbins, Lawrence H., Alec C. Campbell, George A. Brook, Michael L. Murphy (June 2007). "World's Oldest Ritual Site? The 'Python Cave' at Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site, Botswana". Nyame Akuma. Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists (67). Retrieved 1 (2010).
^ Malkowski, Edward F. (October 3, 2007). The Spiritual Technology of Ancient Egypt. Inner Traditions/Bear. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-59477-776-9. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^ "Savior, Satan, and Serpent: The Duality of a Symbol in the Scriptures". Mimobile.byu.edu. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^ Monsen, Frederick. Festivals of the Hopi, and dancing and expression in all their national ceremonies (PDF).^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Roderick, Hilda; Davidson, Ellis (1988). Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. U.K.: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-2579-2.

[1] "Apollon, Python". Apollon.uio.no. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.

[2] Robbins, Lawrence H., Alec C. Campbell, George A. Brook, Michael L. Murphy (June 2007). "World's Oldest Ritual Site? The 'Python Cave' at Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site, Botswana". Nyame Akuma. Bulletin of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists (67). Retrieved 1 (2010).

[3] Malkowski, Edward F. (October 3, 2007). The Spiritual Technology of Ancient Egypt. Inner Traditions/Bear. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-59477-776-9. Retrieved December 7, 2012.

[4] "Savior, Satan, and Serpent: The Duality of a Symbol in the Scriptures". Mimobile.byu.edu. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.

[5] Monsen, Frederick. Festivals of the Hopi, and dancing and expression in all their national ceremonies (PDF).^{[permanent dead link]}

[6] Roderick, Hilda; Davidson, Ellis (1988). Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. U.K.: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-2579-2.

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