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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.
Snakes are a common occurrence in myths for a multitude of cultures. The Hopi people of North America viewed snakes as symbols of healing, transformation, and fertility. Snakes in Mexican folk culture tell about the fear of the snake to the pregnant women where the snake attacks the umbilical cord. [1]
The ouroboros is often interpreted as a symbol for eternal cyclic renewal or a cycle of life, death and rebirth; the snake's skin-sloughing symbolises the transmigration of souls. The snake biting its own tail is a fertility symbol in some religions: the tail is a phallic symbol and the mouth is a yonic or womb-like symbol.
Snakes are symbols of transformation and change. The Asclepius rod, a rod that has two snakes intertwining it, is a common sign for medical institutes because snakes have long been associated with ...
One famous snake that was able to transform back and forth between a snake and a human being was Madam White Snake in the Legend of the White Snake. Other snakes or snake-like beings sometimes include deities, such as Fuxi and Nüwa and Gong Gong. Sometimes, Fuxi and Nuwa are described as snakes with human heads and sometimes as humans with ...
The caduceus is the traditional symbol of Hermes and features two snakes winding around an often winged staff. Ancient sources associate Hermes with a variety of attributes, including wisdom, trade, deception, thievery, eloquence, negotiation, and alchemy. [1] [2] Nevertheless it is often used as a symbol of medicine, especially in the United ...
The serpent was a symbol of evil power and chaos from the underworld as well as a symbol of fertility, life, healing, and rebirth. [2] Nāḥāš (נחש ), Hebrew for "snake", is also associated with divination, including the verb form meaning "to practice divination or fortune-telling".
Bird meanings and symbolism are open to wide interpretation and can vary across cultures and traditions. Popularly, owls are associated with wisdom, and doves are widely associated with peace.