"Ophiolatry" redirects here. For the band, see Ophiolatry (band).
See also: Serpent symbolism
The Caduceus, symbol of God Ningishzida, on the libation vase of Sumerian ruler Gudea, circa 2100 BCE.
Snake worship is devotion to serpent deities. The tradition is nearly universal in the religions and mythologies of ancient cultures,[1] where snakes were seen as the holders of knowledge, strength, and renewal.[2]
^Moorehead, W. G. (1885). "Universality of Serpent-Worship". The Old Testament Student. 4 (5): 205–210. ISSN 0190-5945.
^Smart, Ninian (10 November 2020) [26 July 1999]. "Polytheism: Animal and human forms". Encyclopædia Britannica. Edinburgh: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021. Just as plants can be seen as divine forces, so can types or species of animals. For instance, the cult of the snake is widespread and is especially important in the Indian tradition. The serpent is vital in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) story of Adam and Eve and appears in the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh as one who knows the secret of rejuvenation. The snake has a fertility aspect because of its possible phallic significance and because it lives in holes in the life-giving earth.
Snakeworship is devotion to serpent deities. The tradition is nearly universal in the religions and mythologies of ancient cultures, where snakes were...
the mount of Vishnu. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vasuki. Snakeworship Manasa Shesha Handa, Om Chanda (2004), Naga Cults and Traditions in...
Two Minoan snake goddess figurines were excavated in 1903 in the Minoan palace at Knossos in the Greek island of Crete. The decades-long excavation programme...
recognized by her cobra (Shesha) Snakeworship Look up snake goddess in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Media related to Snake goddesses at Wikimedia Commons...
नागपञ्चमी, IAST: Nāgapañcamī) is a day of traditional worship of nagas (or najas or nags) or snakes (which are associated with the mythical Nāga beings)...
The Worship of the Serpent is an 1833 study, written by the clergyman John Bathurst Deane, of snakeworship and specifically the snake mentioned in the...
Goddess often had snakes as her familiars—sometimes twining around her sacred staff, as in ancient Crete—and they were worshipped as guardians of her...
land of snakes and is steeped in tradition regarding snakes. Snakes are worshipped as gods even today with many women pouring milk on snake pits (despite...
for Satan Rimmon—Syrian devil worshipped at Damascus Sabazios—Phrygian origin, identified with Dionysos, snakeworship Sammael—(Hebrew) "venom of God"...
Manasa (Sanskrit: मनसा, romanized: Manasā) is a Hindu goddess of snakes. She is worshipped mainly in Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand, South Assam and other parts...
told Parasurama to start worshipping Anantha the king of snakes. Parasurama did so and Anantha advised him to start snakeworship in Kerala and provide some...
Nagavanshi (IAST: Nāgavaṃśī) refers to any of the several Indian Kshatriya dynasties or ruling groups claiming descent from the mythical Nāgas. Along with...
songs are related to worship, ritual, custom and exorcism. The Pulluva art is expressed in the background of snake-worship, ghost worship and magic. The Pulluvar...
sustain themselves. The Kalbelias are Cultural Hindus and practice snakeworship; they worship the Nāga and Manasa, and their holy day is Naga Panchami. The...
and in the Americas (Thomas 1911, p. 52). In India snakeworship refers to the high status of snakes in Hindu mythology. Over a large part of India, there...
battalion in the Indian Army. The serpent is worshipped by Nair families as a guardian of the clan. The worship of snakes, a Dravidian custom, is so prevalent...
the snake gods and thereby to bring prosperity to the family. Snakes and Snakeworship, primarily the cobra and associated sub species of snakes have...
people of Nagavanshi descent, thus maybe snakeworship was popularised by them. Though most rituals of snakeworship are done by Brahmins, there is not a...
Narayana Ningishzida Ophites Protoevangelium Rod of Asclepius Serpent seed Snakeworship Staff of Moses Graf, Fritz (2018). "Travels to the Beyond: A Guide"...
century the Ophites reportedly handled snakes during their services, and also worshipped the serpent. The practice of snake handling first appeared in American...
region by snakeworshipers, an example of which is the Vasuki temple in Than. In and around Thane are found temples in the form of the god of snakes. Their...
Fijians also believed in a serpent-god called Degei. Naga Kingdom Naga Snakeworship Brahmavaivarta Purana Sri-Krishna Janma Khanda (Fourth Canto) Chapter...
fertility come to worship here, and upon the birth of their child come to hold thanksgiving ceremonies here, often bringing new snake images as offerings...
were worshiped were depicted in the form of some sort of snake or snake-like being: In the ancient China of the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), worship of...
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...
was a devout member of the orgiastic snake-worshiping cult of Dionysus, and he suggests that she slept with snakes in her bed. After her son's death, Olympias...
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