Symbolism in Mythology: The Snake

Snakes have been represented in almost all cultures since the beginning of time. From its portrayal of the ultimate sin in The Bible to a symbol of deception in Norse mythology, each culture has a different interpretation of what a snake symbolizes. Each culture has studied snakes and concluded a different representation of its symbolic meaning, here are the important ones:

• Duality: many people believe that a snake represents the duality between good and evil. This is partially due to the fact that a snake is beautiful and elegant, but can also be poisonous and lethal.
• Revenge, Betrayal, and Vindictiveness: some cultures take the duality of snakes to the next level and associate them with revenge and betrayal. This is because a snake’s attack is quick, unexpected and deadly, surprising many of its victims. It’s because of this that many people don’t trust snakes and as a result appropriated them as symbols of distrust and vindictiveness, associated to people that don’t aim to negotiate and instead have ulterior motives.
• Fertility and rebirths: many cultures, especially in the East, view the snake as a symbol of fertility, rebirth and life creation. The origins of this symbolism are based on a snakes ability to shed skin, viewing this as natures ritual to rebirth. Some cultures even view snakes as symbols of sexual desire and passion.
• Guardianship: there’s a reason Indiana Jones fears snakes, and that’s usually because they are always guarding temples, tombs, and sacred places. Cultures observed that when threatened snakes would instead fold, stand their ground and defend their turf. This inspired them to use them as guardians of sacred places where you can find valuable things that are hard to move.
• Poison and medicine: snakes are regarded the same way plants and fungi are in some cultures. Their poison has the same versatility as some plants and fungi, where they can heal but also fundamentally kill. There is also some hallucinogenic properties that have given snakes a reputation as a divine being and their poison as the elixir of life.

In general, snakes will continue to have representation in anything that is mystic. Versatile, beautiful and lethal animals that they are,  they will carry on fascinating different cultures. To look into myths and their interpretations of snakes, check out our online library www.mediavex.com.