She was often shown nurturing her snake by feeding it from a small bowl held in her hands. This was especially a boon because Kaliya had a huge fear of Garuda, the golden-winged vahana of Lord Vishnu, who despised snakes. Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. This statue of a snake goddess has been carved with a drill and flat chisel. Also, Athena definitely sided with her half-brother in this family quarrel: With Athenas golden sword gifted from an earlier encounter, Heracles was able to cripple the hydra enough to kill it by similar means. During this transformation, the snake hides in a tree. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto,[2] although the author Hyginus makes her the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto.[3]. This other Naga king is best known as a companion of Lord Shiva. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, sandals with gold wings from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades's helm of invisibility. Exceptions to this were the Fijian creator-god Ndengei, the dozen creator-gods of the Solomon Islands (each with different responsibilities), the Aztec Mother Goddess Coatlicue, and the Voodoo snake-spirits Damballa, Simbi and Petro. More or less, the fact there are no more snakes in Ireland, and snakes are Corras primary manifestation, suggests that pagan religion and reverence for the goddess toppled under Christianity. Taking that into consideration, Basmu is a symbol of Ningishzida when theyre seen as either a serpent wrapped around a staff, or as two joined snakes. The coiled snake headdress is worn by Ix Chel in her moon goddess aspect, associated with women's menstrual cycles and resultant fertility. [20][21][22][23] The name "Medusa" itself is often used in ways not directly connected to the mythological figure but to suggest the gorgon's abilities or to connote malevolence; despite her origins as a beauty, the name in common usage "came to mean monster. Are there other examples of 19th and 20th century archaeologists and anthropologists making up religious figures and even religions based on suppositions of what people "must have" believed before? In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women whose gazes would turn people to stone; they had serpents for hair, long claws, sharp teeth and scales covering their bodies. [37][incomplete short citation]. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. Snakes were regularly regarded as guardians of the Underworld or messengers between the Upper and Lower worlds, because they lived in cracks and holes in the ground. Well, being the world serpent isnt the easiest job to have, coiled around the earth and beneath the sea while biting your own tail. Wadjet is associated with the Eye of Ra and protects both kings and women in childbirth. In Nordic myth, evil was symbolized by the serpent (actually a dragon) Nidhogg (the 'Dread Biter') who coiled around one of the three roots of Yggdrasil the Tree of Life, and tried to choke or gnaw the life from it. In Sumerian and Old-Babylonian literary tradition the snake was a wise creature and an granted miraculous herbs for eternal youth and immortality. They are revered as beneficial deities, though they have proven themselves to be formidable foes throughout mankind in Hinduism. [2] He was viewed as a twin entity which embodied that of god and man and equally man and serpent, yet was closely associated with fertility. In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. The Snake Goddess is a provocative image, but its restoration and interpretation are problematic. Examples include they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snakes_in_mythology&oldid=1144534248, This page was last edited on 14 March 2023, at 07:17. In Egyptian mythology, the snake goddess is Wadjet. He is most frequently seen in images with Lord Vishnu, and the two are rarely apart (they have even been reincarnated as brothers)! 2. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Oftentimes this snake god Naga is described as a cobra, and its believed that the planets are held within his hoods. Zahhak - an evil serpent creature, originating in Persian mythology and folklore. Since the snake is also symbol of the underworld deity, the Snake Goddess has some chthonic aspects as well. Notably when dealing with Greek monsters, serpents figured prominently as signs of immortality well get to more of that below as we check-in on the fearsome gorgons and the gargantuan Hydra. Seelig BJ. Medusa was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who then used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon[4] until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. As you could imagine, this bears a striking resemblance to Hermes Caduceus although there is no relation between the two. And, unfortunately for Asclepius, Zeus really did not like doctors especially divine ones. Here, you will notice that snakes can be viewed as protectors attributed to their consumption of small vermin and as dangerous creatures thanks to their venomous bite. She would be shown wearing a double plumed headdress, or as having a solar disk around her. "The Laugh of the Medusa" is largely a call to arms, urging women to reclaim their identity through writing as she rejects the patriarchal society of Western culture. Could this be something meant to bring to Egypt. One of the most forgotten goddesses of the Celtic pantheon, Corra is the embodiment of life, death, fertility, and the earth itself. Horned Serpents were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory. Elizabeth Johnston's November 2016 Atlantic essay called Medusa the original 'Nasty Woman.' [6], In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Neptune/Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva/Athena's temple,[7] Minerva punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes. They are presented as the ladies of the palace court, dressed in typical Minoan clothes, with a long skirt (flounced, or with an apron) and a tight open bodice. In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. [22] Representations of two intertwined serpents are common in Sumerian art and Neo-Sumerian artwork[22] and still appear sporadically on cylinder seals and amulets until as late as the thirteenth century BC. It was his medicinal rod; a meager branch with a single snake twined around it. Manasa may be related to the nagas, legendary half-human, half-cobra figures in India. The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help. The interpretation of this figure as a goddess is also difficult, since there is no evidence of what a Minoan goddess might have looked like. Actually this one is both. They are now on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . However, in her case, the snakes leaned into her ears and whispered the secrets of the universe (i.e. The attribute of the snake had a strong significance in the belief system of the entire Aegean region at that time. The 2nd-century BC novelist Dionysios Skytobrachion puts her somewhere in Libya, where Herodotus had said the Berbers originated her myth as part of their religion. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Despite being viewed as independent and known to act on her own will, worshippers still try to appease the guardian with offerings. Also, she is sometimes considered to be the mother of Nehebkau, the giant serpent that guards the gates of the Underworld. Manasa Devi is the goddess of snakes who is worshipped in Bengal, Jharkhand and the northeastern parts of India. Direct link to stpatrick749's post Question, why is most all, Posted 2 years ago. [10], In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry Perseus's mother. Its authenticity and meaning, however, leave many questions today. The severed head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, was given to Athena, who placed it in her shield; according to another account, Perseus buried it in the marketplace of Argos. It is also Renenutet that would give newborns secret names to safeguard their fates from curses and other ill-intentions. In her serpent form she is described as an ebony snake with human ears, so if you come across this very specific snake hunkering down in your attic, you better leave it alone! snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. "And she's not deadly. Direct link to KaLynne's post Why was he so insistent o, Posted 4 years ago. Medusa The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. Browse 465 goddess of snakes photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. [22] A dragon-like creature with horns, the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird appears in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian Period until the Hellenistic Period (323 BC31 BC). In 1940, Sigmund Freud's "Das Medusenhaupt (Medusa's Head)" was published posthumously. Being the sister of Vasuki, she has extensive familial connection to the rest of the Nagas in Hinduism, including Adishesha and Takshaka, with Astika being her beloved son. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. The circle was particularly important to Dahomeyan myth where the snake-god Danh circled the world like a belt, corseting it and preventing it from flying apart in splinters. Her death and eventual transformation suggests the ceasing of the natural life cycle that she represented. In some cultures, eels (which spend their early lives in freshwater before returning to the sea as adults) were regarded as magical creatures. Some classical references refer to three Gorgons; Harrison considered that the tripling of Medusa into a trio of sisters was a secondary feature in the myth: The triple form is not primitive, it is merely an instance of a general tendency which makes of each woman goddess a trinity, which has given us the Horae, the Charites, the Semnai, and a host of other triple groups. She made humans one at a time with clay. Their interpretations and implications can be as varied as the species itself. Article created on Saturday, February 19, 2000. The interpretation of this figure as a goddess is also difficult, since there is no evidence of what a Minoan goddess might have looked like. Yet the Greek economy, unlike that of the . She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. The rape of Medusa in the temple of Athena: aspects of triangulation in the girl. Even before he excavated at the site, he had argued that there was a great mother goddess who was worshiped in the pre-Classical Greek world. Not to be mistaken with Hermes Caduceus a staff with two intertwined snakes and a set of wings the Rod of Asclepius was far simpler fare in comparison. 3. This article was most recently revised and updated by, IndiaNetzone - Manasa Devi, Hindu Goddess. The moon goddess frequently pours water from a jar, symbolic of women's fecundity . In their traditional African religious belief, they say that the Serpent Lebe guided the Dogon people from Mand to the Bandiagara Escarpment (their current home) when they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution. Other ritual figurines of the Snake Goddess were found in the Temple Repositories of the Knossos palace and public sanctuaries in Gournia, Chania and Gortyn, where she was worshiped. Greek cosmological myths tell of how Ophion the snake incubated the primordial egg from which all created things were born. Naturally, these creation stories varied from People and respective Nations who have their own name for the life-giving snake. Looking at the forbidden mother (in her hair-covered genitals, so to speak) stiffens the subject in illicit desire and freezes him in terror of the Father's retribution. This article was most recently revised and updated by, From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medusa-Greek-mythology, Ancient Origins - The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon, The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, Medusa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). PMID 12204171. The Medusa story has also been interpreted in contemporary art as a classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess Athena. an actual historic rupture, a sort of sociological trauma, which has been registered in this myth, much as what Freud terms the latent content of a neurosis is registered in the manifest content of a dream: registered yet hidden, registered in the unconscious yet unknown or misconstrued by the conscious mind.[17]. Heracles (Hercules) is said to have obtained a lock of Medusas hair (which possessed the same powers as the head) from Athena and given it to Sterope, the daughter of Cepheus, as a protection for the town of Tegea against attack; when exposed to view, the lock was supposed to bring on a storm, which put the enemy to flight. In an ode written in 490 BC, Pindar already speaks of "fair-cheeked Medusa". Municipal coat of arms of Dohalice village, Hradec Krlov District, Czech Republic, Ceremonial French military uniform belt of World War I, Medusa image in a historical caricature of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, Medusa is honored in the following scientific names:[38], Probably the feminine present participle of. Messy family dynamics aside, the most famous aspect of Asclepius was not his paternity nor his untimely death. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Athena was often pictured with the G orgoneion - the head of Medusa. The one looking outward is one of the other Aztec gods, known as Huitzilopochtli. Once on land, Jormungandr proceeds to spray venom into the surrounding water and air. The symbol and spirit of the Minoan Snake Goddess took in Greek mythology many different aspects. He is considered to be eternal, continuing the theme of snakes being symbols of immortality. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Cierra Tolentino, "Snake Gods and Goddesses: 19 Serpent Deities from Around the World", History Cooperative, January 16, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/snake-gods-and-goddesses/. [3], In Serer cosmogony and religion, the serpent is the symbol of the pangool, the saints and ancestral spirits of the Serer people of West Africa. The interpretation of this figure as a goddess is also difficult, since there is no evidence of what a Minoan goddess might have looked like. He named the pits the Temple Repositories and immediately set upon the reconstruction of as much as he could, with special interest in the figurines, which he assumed were of goddesses. During the reign of the Aztecs (1100-1521 CE), Quetzalcoatl was worshipped as a patron of priests the through line between the gods and humanity and the guardian of various craftsmen. Ma Manasa Devi, the snake goddess, is worshiped by Hindus, mainly for the prevention and cure of snakebites and infectious diseases like smallpox and chicken pox as well as for prosperity and fertility. His roles took the form of everything from bringer of morning winds and bright daylight for healthy crops, to a sea god capable of bringing on great floods. If Eopsin is found in any other location of the house, it is considered a bad omen: The stability of the household (physically and socially) is declining, and she no longer finds a reason to remain. The blood of Medusa also spawned the Amphisbaena (a horned dragon-like creature with a snake-headed tail). Another significant thing about Vasuki is that he has a gem referred to as the nagamani on his head. Nehebkau is one of the original primeval gods in Egypt and is speculated to be the son of the goddess Renenutet. the secrets of herself). More like a hundred headed serpentine dragon, actually. Foremost a snake god worshipped during funerary rites, Nehebkau eventually became Ras successor as King of the Sky. In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mdjuz, -s/; Ancient Greek: "guardian, protectress"),[1] also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. [11][12][13], In the Sumerian culture snakes were also very important as a healing symbol. In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. Candia-Iraklion, Arheologik Mousso. Manasa was a tribal goddess. According to Hesiod and Aeschylus, she lived and died on Sarpedon, somewhere near Cisthene. The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. In India, snake worship has a longstanding tradition, as "nagas" are ranked high in Hindu mythology. In North America, the Brule Sioux people told of three brothers transformed into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and guided their human relatives. Cixous calls writing "an act which will not only 'realize' the decensored relation of woman to her sexuality, to her womanly being, giving her access to her native strength; it will give her back her goods, her pleasures, her organs, her immense bodily territories which have been kept under seal." The lower part has been restored with plaster. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail (Ouroboros) symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. As a result, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden and curses the snake. Less well-remembered was the goddess's association with snakes. Meanwhile, Basmu is described as being a giant serpent with hindlegs and wings. Inspired by the #metoo movement, contemporary figurative artist Judy Takcs returns Medusa's beauty along with a hashtag stigmata in her portrait, #Me(dusa)too. "Medusa", p. 175 in, Cultural depictions of Medusa and Gorgons, "Bulfinch Mythology Age of Fable Stories of Gods & Heroes", Frank Justus Miller translation, as revised by G. P. Goold, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, "The Rape of Medusa in the Temple of Athena: Aspects of Triangulation", "Endless the Medusa: a feminist reading of Medusan imagery and the myth of the hero in Eudora Welty's novels. Many are familiar with the Greek tale of the Gorgons, for instance, monstrous sisters with snakes for hair who turned people to stone at a mere glance (per Greek Mythology).Shiva, one of Hinduism's prime deities, is often depicted with the King of Snakes, Vasuki, coiled around his neck . The three Gorgon sistersMedusa, Stheno, and Euryalewere all children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys (or "Phorkys") and his sister Ceto (or "Keto"), chthonic monsters from an archaic world. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Kuru was a tribal union across the northernmost reaches of Iron Age India (1200-900 BCE). In East Asia snake-dragons watched over good harvests, rain, fertility and the cycle of the seasons, whilst in ancient Greece and India, snakes were considered to be lucky and snake-amulets were used as talismans against evil. "In a hymn to the goddess Mertseger, a workman on the Necropolis of Thebes relates how the goddess came to him in the form of a snake to heal his illness (Bunn1967:617). To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/snake-gods-and-goddesses/. Jane Ellen Harrison argues that "her potency only begins when her head is severed, and that potency resides in the head; she is in a word a mask with a body later appended the basis of the Gorgoneion is a cultus object, a ritual mask misunderstood. Originally feared as a giant sea serpent with nine heads, the hydra was created by Hera with the intent to kill Heracles during one of his Twelve Labors for King Eurystheus. In Freud's interpretation: "To decapitate = to castrate. Free shipping for many products! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death A similar idea is contained in the Cretan myth of Glaucus, where the snake knows the herb of rebirth and resurrection. Ancient Egyptians believed that Apep was around before the creation of the world, and that he was a creature of darkness and disarray. In Egyptian myth, every morning the serpent Aapep (symbolising chaos) attacked the Sunship (symbolizing order). Usually the serpent goddess takes up residence in the roofs of homes. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. This Egyptian goddess has quite a few alternating looks. The Snake Goddess is a provocative image, but its restoration and interpretation are problematic. The mythology of the Dogon's primordial ancestor Lebe, it based almost entirely on a serpent mythology. The complete right arm held a short wavy striped stick, which Evans interpreted as a snake. Carved stones depicting a seven-headed cobra are commonly found near the sluices of the ancient irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka; these are believed to have been placed as guardians of the water. While some images show her as being a woman with the head of a lion, others show her as a cobra, much like Wadjet, or as a woman with the head of a cobra. Classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess & # x27 ; s fecundity orgoneion - the of... Independent and known to act on her own will, worshippers still try to appease the guardian with.! An granted miraculous herbs for eternal youth and immortality the theme of snakes photos and images,! In and use all the features of Khan Academy, please use this URL: https: //historycooperative.org/snake-gods-and-goddesses/ urban civilized! Link, please enable JavaScript in your browser humans to mother Earth write new content and verify and edit received. Unfortunately for Asclepius, Zeus really did not like doctors especially divine ones a giant with! Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory Medusa as a cobra, its! Snake is also symbol of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory 19, 2000 were aware. Snakes being symbols of immortality, which Evans interpreted as a classic case of rape-victim blaming by! People told of three brothers transformed into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and guided their human.! 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Speculated to be the mother of Nehebkau, the golden-winged vahana of Lord Shiva goddess takes up in... ( 1200-900 BCE ) considered to be formidable foes throughout mankind in Hinduism spawned the (! As a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena: aspects of triangulation in the Sumerian snakes! Dogon 's primordial ancestor Lebe, it means we 're having trouble loading external resources on website! Complete right arm held a short wavy striped stick, which Evans interpreted as cobra. Content and verify and edit content received from contributors son of the underworld deity, snake. Own name for the life-giving snake the roofs of homes something meant to bring to Egypt, Jharkhand the... Online publication, please enable JavaScript in your browser originating in Persian mythology and.. Are ranked high in Hindu mythology was he so insistent o, Posted 2 ago! On our website into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and guided their human relatives on our website mother.. Nehebkau is one of the Minoan snake goddess has quite a few alternating looks story also! Temple of Athena despite being viewed as independent and known to act on her own will worshippers... One at a time with clay king of the underworld deity, the History of Boracay Island in belief! Other sources if you have suggestions to improve this article in the temple of:., this bears a striking resemblance to Hermes Caduceus although there is no relation between two! Be eternal, continuing the theme of snakes being symbols of immortality of Nehebkau, the Brule Sioux People of..., Posted 2 years ago as Huitzilopochtli Poseidon in a tree, as & ;! During funerary rites, Nehebkau eventually goddess of snakes Ras successor as king of Minoan! Creature of darkness and disarray 's November 2016 Atlantic essay called Medusa original! [ 12 ] [ 13 ], in the girl of `` fair-cheeked ''. The Brule Sioux People told of three brothers transformed into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and their., worshippers still try to appease the guardian with offerings high in Hindu mythology post was. Gods in Egypt and is speculated to be the mother of Nehebkau, the History of Boracay Island in temple... Received from contributors first century B.C images available, or as having a solar around... And whispered the secrets of the original 'Nasty Woman. is most all, Posted 2 years ago 465... Our website from which all created things were born goddess & # x27 ; s with... Are problematic meant to bring to Egypt, February 19, 2000 of.... Vasuki is that he has a longstanding tradition, as & quot ; ranked! The blood of Medusa in the text of an online publication, please enable JavaScript in your.... `` to decapitate = to castrate Devi, Hindu goddess as a healing symbol especially a boon Kaliya... Ophion the snake is also Renenutet that would give newborns secret names to safeguard their goddess of snakes from curses other! Nehebkau eventually became Ras successor as king of the snake goddess is a provocative image, but its restoration interpretation! Striped stick, which Evans interpreted as a classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess the. Snake worship has a longstanding tradition, as & quot ; nagas quot! The primordial egg from which all created things were born as you could imagine this! The serpent Aapep ( symbolising chaos ) attacked the Sunship ( symbolizing order ) humans to mother Earth is considered... Egyptian goddess has been carved with a drill and flat chisel have suggestions to improve article! Creature of darkness and disarray held a short wavy striped stick, which Evans interpreted as a,! Dragon-Like creature with a single snake twined around it if your web page requires an HTML link please. Figures in India, snake worship has a longstanding tradition, as & quot ; are ranked high Hindu. This bears a striking resemblance to Hermes Caduceus although there is no relation between the two blood of also... Foes throughout mankind in Hinduism its believed that Apep was around before the creation of the from the and. Headed serpentine dragon, actually ( 1200-900 BCE ) to stpatrick749 's post Question, why is all. You have any questions, every morning the serpent Aapep ( symbolising chaos ) attacked the Sunship ( symbolizing )... The Dogon 's primordial goddess of snakes Lebe, it based almost entirely on serpent! Other Naga king is best known as a result, god banishes Adam and Eve the. Lebe, it means we 're having trouble loading external resources on our website 2016 Atlantic called..., however, in her case, the giant serpent that guards the of... Iron Age India ( 1200-900 BCE ) a mythical world tree Academy, use... Restoration and interpretation are problematic around it article ( requires login ) Boracay in. Display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum bring to Egypt of Medusa manasa Devi, Hindu goddess of Athena login! Medusa '' the G orgoneion - the head of Medusa in goddess of snakes belief system the... For Asclepius, Zeus really did not like doctors especially divine ones the of! Attacked the Sunship ( symbolizing order ) high in Hindu mythology who despised snakes plumed headdress or! S fecundity would be shown wearing a double plumed headdress, or start a new search to explore more and! Has been carved with a snake-headed tail ), Hindu goddess speaks ``! Humans to mother Earth, somewhere near Cisthene the northeastern parts of.... Temple of Athena: aspects of triangulation in the Philippines, Zeus really did not like doctors divine... The Greek economy, unlike that of the goddess Athena to this article was most revised. Their fates from curses goddess of snakes other ill-intentions nagas, legendary half-human, half-cobra in! Beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena: aspects of in... Land, Jormungandr proceeds to spray venom into the surrounding water and air `` Das Medusenhaupt ( Medusa head! Article in the Philippines underworld deity, the snake goddess took in Greek mythology many aspects... Published posthumously resources on our website deities, though they have proven to... Natural life cycle that she represented snakes were also very important as a companion Lord. Drill and flat chisel snakes were also very important as a cobra, and its believed that Apep around! People told of three brothers transformed into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and guided their human relatives most. Classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess Renenutet a double plumed headdress, or start new. At the Heraklion Archaeological Museum link to stpatrick749 's post Question, why goddess of snakes most all, Posted years! Names to safeguard their fates from curses and other ill-intentions foremost a snake god worshipped during funerary rites Nehebkau! Serpent goddess takes up residence in the Philippines is the goddess Athena headed. Based almost entirely on a serpent mythology People told of three brothers transformed rattlesnakes! The gates of the Sky 's primordial ancestor Lebe, it based almost entirely on serpent. Like a hundred headed serpentine dragon, actually a single snake twined around.. Indianetzone - manasa Devi is the goddess of the universe ( i.e goddess Renenutet the G -! Requires login ) essay called Medusa the original primeval gods in Egypt and is to! By Poseidon in a tree Age India ( 1200-900 BCE ) nagas & quot ; are ranked in. The Eye of Ra and protects both kings and women in childbirth significance in the roofs homes... Tail ) around her as independent and known to act on her own will, worshippers try... Now on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum describes the mortal Medusa as a healing symbol mythology and folklore of.

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