Symbolism
A snake is basically an elongate reptile of the suborder Serpentes. Similar to all reptiles, snakes are covered in scales. All snakes are strictly carnivorous and can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of limbs, eyelids, vestiges of forelimbs and external ears.
Snakes usually eat small animals like lizards, small mammals, other snakes, birds, fish, eggs, insects or snails. As snakes cannot tear or bite their food into pieces, a snake swallows its prey wholly. The size of body of a snake has a main influence on its habits of eating.
In Egyptian history, the snake takes up a main role with Nile cobra beautifying the crown of the pharaoh in ancient times. It was worshipped as one of the Gods and was also utilized for evil purposes.
In Greek Mythology snakes are habitually related to dangerous and deadly antagonists. The nine headed Hydra Hercules defeated and the 3 gorgon sisters are the best examples. Medusa was one the 3 gorgon sisters who Perseus defeated. Medusa is explained as a hideous human, with snakes instead of power and the hair to turn men into stone with her gaze.
Two medical symbols involving snakes that are still used today are Bowl of Hygieia, representing pharmacy, and the Rod of Asclepius and Caduceus, which are symbols signifying medicine.
India is often called as the land of snakes. Snakes are worshipped as gods even today with several women pouring milk on the pits of snake. The cobra is basically seen on the neck of Vishnu and Shiva is portrayed habitually as sleeping only on a seven headed snake. There are also many temples in India only for cobras at times called as Nagraj and it is thought that snakes are symbols of fertility. There is a Hindu festival called as Nagpanchami every year. On that day snakes are respected and prayed as well.
In the initial book of Bible, a snake appears from before Eve and Adam and appeals to them with the prohibited fruit. It is also seen in Moses and Exodus, as a symbol of God’s power, turning his stick into a snake. Snakes are in the same manner produced by the pharaoh’s magic-practicing priests, but Moses snake consumes them.
The Ouroboros is a symbol which is related to many different customs and religions, and is also believed to be related to Alchemy. The Ouroboros or Oroboros is basically a snake manifesting its own tall in a clock-wise direction in the form of a circle, symbolizing manifestation of one’s own rebirth and life, causing immortality.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 6:21 am and is filed under Interactions with Humans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.