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 . [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. Before the soul can reach Jaaniiw in order to reincarnate (cii in Serer[4]), it must transform into a black snake. Candia-Iraklion, Arheologik Mousso. I mean, what is a dragon but a very large snake? Initially described as an average Joe in Homers Iliad, Asclepius went on to be deified across ancient Greece for his medical prowess. There are three different ways you can cite this article. The dualism that she embodies is powerfully concretized in her image: her face is of two fanged serpents and her skirt is of interwoven snakes (snakes symbolize fertility); her breasts are flabby (she nourished many); her necklace is of hands, hearts, and a skull (she feeds on corpses, as the earth consumes all that dies); and her fingers and The Snake Goddess prior to restoration by Evans, from Angelo Mosso, The Palaces of Crete and Their Builders (London: Unwin, 1907), p. 137 (University of Toronto Libraries), The Snake Goddess prior to restoration by Evans, from Angelo Mosso, The Palaces of Crete and Their Builders (London: Unwin, 1907), p. 137 (. Snakes were associated with wisdom in many mythologies, perhaps due to the appearance of pondering their actions as they prepare to strike, which was copied by medicine men in the build-up to prophecy in parts of West Africa. Mostly she is a beneficial protection deity who once looked after the infant Horus in the swamps as he was hidden from his uncle Set. 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. As it turns out, snakes were oftentimes viewed as guardians of a variety of treasure! In Egyptian myth, every morning the serpent Aapep (symbolising chaos) attacked the Sunship (symbolizing order). 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. The Egyptians had temples with snakes and also a temple for cats. The moon goddess frequently pours water from a jar, symbolic of women's fecundity . The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. 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. Their genealogy is shared with other sisters, the Graeae, as in Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound, which places both trios of sisters far off "on Kisthene's dreadful plain": Near them their sisters three, the Gorgons, winged 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. It is possible that the worship of the Minoan Snake Goddess was in some context the rebirth, resurrection, or renewal of life. Gorgon Medusa. In 1940, Sigmund Freud's "Das Medusenhaupt (Medusa's Head)" was published posthumously. Posted 3 years ago. Naturally, these creation stories varied from People and respective Nations who have their own name for the life-giving snake. Through many of her iterations, Medusa pushes back against a story that seeks to place the male, Perseus, at its center, blameless and heroic. ", "The Timeless Myth of Medusa, a Rape Victim Turned Into a Monster", Online version at the Perseus Digital Library, Online version at Harvard University Press, "Medusa in Myth and Literary History" English.uiuc.edu, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medusa&oldid=1150343121. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. Whereas they were respected and worshipped for their apparent immortality and symbolism of rebirth (shedding skin does wonders, folks), they are also incredibly feared as omens of death and illness. He is often seen as the son of the snake goddess Renenutet. The Court of Maat was a compilation of 42 minor gods that aided Osiris in passing judgment with the Weighing of the Heart. Greek cosmological myths tell of how Ophion the snake incubated the primordial egg from which all created things were born. 2002 Aug;83(Pt 4):895911. Wadjet appeared in the form of a venomous Egyptian cobra or as a snake headed woman. Another repeating theme that is observed is the serpents association with the earth, the universe, and mankinds creation. The anthropomorphic basis of many myth-systems meant snake-gods were rarely depicted solely as snakes. (Pythian Ode 12). Worshippers bathe in and jump from the ledges into the pools as a way to honor them and ensure that they provide things like fertility of the land and its people, and protection from the poisons (wrath) of its bite. 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. The image of a woman taming one or more snakes is entirely unique to the Temple Repositories. In some cultures, eels (which spend their early lives in freshwater before returning to the sea as adults) were regarded as magical creatures. The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help. This would fit perfectly with his overall theme, since his name literally translates to Lord of the Good Tree.. "[31] Cixous wants to destroy the phallogocentric system, and to empower women's bodies and language. A repeating theme present in Greek mythology is the view of serpents being divine messengers: Symbols of life and death. There is a belief that Manasa protects the people from snake bite. In ancient Indian myth, the drought-serpent Ahi or Vritra swallowed the primordial ocean and did not release all created beings until Indra split the serpent's stomach with a thunderbolt. "[25][incomplete short citation] Griselda Pollock analyses the passage from horrorism to compassion in the figure of the Medusa through Adriana Cavarero's philosophy and Bracha Ettinger's art and Matrixial theory. Since Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal, Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Coatlicue was a goddess that played a number of roles in the Aztec pantheon. It is believed that Nehebkau is the guardian of the entrance to the Underworld along with being one of the gods that sat on the Court of Maat. They are revered as beneficial deities, though they have proven themselves to be formidable foes throughout mankind in Hinduism. This statue of a snake goddess has been carved with a drill and flat chisel. Serpent Deities and Monsters of Mesopotamia: Ningishzida and Mushussu, Aztecs Feathered Serpent God: Quetzalcoatl, Hinduism and Serpent Worship: The Five Nagas, Ancient War Gods and Goddesses: 8 Gods of War from Around the World, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? In Minoa, the Snake Goddess was addressed as A-sa-sa-ra-me and was related to the Hittite Ishassara, the Khmer Apsara and the Canaanite Asherah. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. This symbol has come to be known as the Ouroboros. Author Sibylle Baumbach described Medusa as a multimodal image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness," citing her seductive contemporary representation, as well as her dimensionality, as the reason for her longevity.[28]. He shuns facts from his infancy. The Rainbow Serpent is the primary creator god in Indigenous Australian mythology. [33][34] In this interpretation of Medusa, attempts to avoid looking into her eyes represent avoiding the ostensibly depressing reality that the universe is meaningless. No, the job of the Midgard Serpent does not sound like fun at all. 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. Corrections? Kaliya was known to reside in a river so jam-packed with poison that humans and birds could not go near it. Totally different ritual objects of the Snake Goddesses came from sanctuaries of the Post-Palace period (1400-1100 BCE). Their name roughly translates to Venomous Snake and they seem to represent rebirth, death, and mortality. "[31], Medusa has sometimes appeared as representing notions of scientific determinism and nihilism, especially in contrast with romantic idealism. [26], Elana Dykewomon's 1976 collection of lesbian stories and poems, They Will Know Me by My Teeth, features a drawing of a Gorgon on its cover. The Gorgons of Greek myth were snake-women (a common hybrid) whose gaze would turn flesh into stone, the most famous of them being Medusa. [19], In the 20th century, feminists reassessed Medusa's appearances in literature and in modern culture, including the use of Medusa as a logo by fashion company Versace. [37][incomplete short citation]. 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. Edward Burne-Jones' Perseus Cycle of paintings and a drawing by Aubrey Beardsley gave way to the twentieth-century works of Paul Klee, John Singer Sargent, Pablo Picasso, Pierre et Gilles, and Auguste Rodin's bronze sculpture The Gates of Hell. In Egyptian mythology, the snake was a personification of the goddess Kebechet, who personified the purification of water in the funeral cult, and the snake was a protector of the pharaohs after death. Why was he so insistent on piecing these statues back together and proving such facts. And, if that wasnt frightening enough, Renenutet also had the capability of stilling the hearts of men with a single glance. The two unslain sisters are mere appendages due to custom; the real Gorgon is Medusa. Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. None. In ancient Rome we can also observe the tradition of snake worship, as the name of Marsian goddess Angitia origins from the word "serpent", and she was the goddess of snake-charmers, snakes and witches. The lower part has been restored with plaster. Hygieia's primary attribute was a large snake, which was one of her father's symbols as well. The Snake Goddess is a provocative image, but its restoration and interpretation are problematic. The serpent plays an active role in Dogon religion and cosmogony. Updates? In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. The Horned Serpent appears in the mythologies of many Native Americans. With a name that means Furious Snake, you can imagine that this serpent spirit was not one to back down from a challenge. Snake Goddess (Mythic) In 1903, Sir Arthur Evans, excavating at the palace of Knossos on the island of Crete, discovered fragments of faience statuettes depicting female figures holding snakes. Actually this one is both. Browse 465 goddess of snakes photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. The Secret of the Snake Goddess: Directed by Christian Bauer, Nikos Dagiadas. Their symbol, a snake, is often mixed with the other sacred signs consecrating horns or birds. If it is the action of snake-wrangling that makes her a goddess, this is also a problem. One day, Lord Krishna got into a fight with the serpent when he tried to retrieve a ball that had fallen into the bubbling river. The Biblical story of the fall of man tells of how Adam and Eve were deceived into disobeying God by a snake (identified as Satan by both Paul and John in II Corinthians and Revelation, respectively). Snakes, for some reason or another, have always held a prominent place in myths and religions the world over. [9][10] The Dogon believe that Lebe is the very reincarnation of the Dogon's first ancestorwho was resurrected in the form of a snake. Also, all those tales of dragons hoarding treasure? In India, snake worship has a longstanding tradition, as "nagas" are ranked high in Hindu mythology. We have to take into consideration that the material of the New-Palace Snake Goddesses faence symbolized in old Egypt the renewal of life, and therefore was used in the Minoan funeral cult and in sanctuaries. The Aztec underworld, Mictlan was protected by python-trees, a gigantic alligator and a snake, all of which spirits had to evade by physical ducking and weaving or cunning, before they could start the journey towards immortality. Manasa was a tribal goddess. This anthropomorphic serpent goddess was worshipped to heal and prevent snakebites, as well as for fertility and prosperity. 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/. When a person dies, the Serer believe that their soul must make its way to Jaaniiw (a place where good souls go). As a result, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden and curses the snake. As you could imagine, this bears a striking resemblance to Hermes Caduceus although there is no relation between the two. Other depictions of the goddess has her wearing the Red Crown (also known as the deshret) of Lower Egypt, the land surrounding the Nile delta, thus establishing her as being one of the patron goddesses of the region. This interpretation of Wadjet can likely be tied in with her relation to Egypts pharaohs, and relate either to her unwavering ward, or the pharaohs role to protect and lead the realm. Snake deities can either be nice or nasty. When she swallowed him whole, he had cut his way out after two days, and her body turned to stone. Evans found the sculpture of the Snake Goddess in a secondary exploration of the complex he called a palace at Knossos. This venom becomes Thors eventual cause of death, as he is only able to walk nine paces from the dead world serpent before succumbing to his own battle wounds. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body.[11]. The coiled snake headdress is worn by Ix Chel in her moon goddess aspect, associated with women's menstrual cycles and resultant fertility. Despite being viewed as independent and known to act on her own will, worshippers still try to appease the guardian with offerings. Etruscan, from Italy, 6th century BC. Few scholars additionally speculate if the tree in Ningishzidas name could instead reference a vine, since the god is also closely linked to alcohol (similar to the Greek Dionysus). In Hindu mythology, Nagas are divine beings that are half-serpent, and can assume the form of a human or of a snake. Not only did Astika turn out to save Takshaka, one of the King of Nagas and a companion of Indra, but he also successfully petitioned the king to end the prosecution of snakes throughout the realm. [23] Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and thunder. [13] In a similar manner, the corals of the Red Sea were said to have been formed of Medusa's blood spilled onto seaweed when Perseus laid down the petrifying head beside the shore during his short stay in Ethiopia where he saved and wed his future wife, the lovely princess Andromeda, who was the most beautiful woman in the world at that time. The classical symbol of the Ouroboros depicts a snake in the act of eating its own tail. Her associations are depicted in various images of Manasa, which show her seated upon a lotus with a child in her lap. It was over the wine in Mouquin's. More like a hundred headed serpentine dragon, actually. It is believed that the serpent occupied bodies of water, therefore establishing it as representing the significance of water as well as the changing seasons. In one interview after another we were told that Medusa is 'the most horrific woman in the world' [though] none of the women we interviewed could remember the details of the myth. She is a deity in the form of a giant cobra. Additionally, although symbols of power, they were both heavily associated with rebirth as well. Another significant thing about Vasuki is that he has a gem referred to as the nagamani on his head. But the snake also had negative role as an originator of the death and as an avenger in the company of mythical creatures. Besides the ritual function, they are among the best examples of Minoan art with its dominant features naturalism and grace. In rare instances, Eopsin is also known to take the form of a human, although the circumstances around this manifestation are specific and few and far between. "[25][incomplete short citation], In issue three, Fall 1986 for the magazine Woman of Power an article called Gorgons: A Face for Contemporary Women's Rage, appeared, written by Emily Erwin Culpepper, who wrote that "The Amazon Gorgon face is female fury personified. Seelig BJ. This Egyptian goddess has quite a few alternating looks. Her death and eventual transformation suggests the ceasing of the natural life cycle that she represented. In Egyptian myth, the state of existence before creation was symbolized as Amduat; a many-coiled serpent from which Ra the Sun and all of creation arose, returning each night and being reborn every morning. She is called also Household Goddess due to her attribute of the snake, which is connected with the welfare of the Minoan household. Less well-remembered was the goddess's association with snakes. Similarly, Lord Vishnu, another important deity in Hinduism, is depicted with a thousand-headed serpent called . Afraid that he would grant man immortality, Zeus killed Asclepius. Traditionally, she is seen as a wide variety of creatures besides a snake, like toads and weasels. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Several early classics scholars interpreted the myth of Medusa as a quasi-historical "based on or reconstructed from an event, custom, style, etc., in the past",[15] or "sublimated" memory of an actual invasion. Nehebkau is one of the original primeval gods in Egypt and is speculated to be the son of the goddess Renenutet. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Ra and Atum ("he who completes or perfects") became the same god, Atum, the "counter-Ra", associated with earth animals, including the serpent: Nehebkau ("he who harnesses the souls") was the two-headed serpent deity who guarded the entrance to the underworld. 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. 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. Now, we all know that Ireland had never had snakes. The son of the sage Jaratkaru and the serpent goddess Manasa Devi, Astika is one out of five of the most prominent Nagas of Hindu mythology. The Medusa story has also been interpreted in contemporary art as a classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess Athena. However, Saint Patrick is credited with driving the snakes from Ireland. Through the lens of theology, film, art, and feminist literature, my students and I map how her meaning has shifted over time and across cultures. Besides being the guardian of the home and worldly possessions, Eopsin is also a mother to seven other Korean goddesses according to the Chilseong Bonpuli. Jr, also called Fjrgyn and Hlodyn, was in Norse mythology seen as the goddess of nature and earth and often depicted as a beautiful woman with long hair and a gentle face. "[12] In the Odyssey xi, Homer does not specifically mention the Gorgon Medusa: Lest for my daring Persephone the dread, That is to say, there occurred in the early thirteenth century B.C. "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). There are no recorded instances of Medusa turning a woman to stone. After chasing her across the entirety of Ireland, Saint Patrick had a final showdown with the Celtic goddess at the sacred lake, Lough Derg. Ancient Egyptians believed that Apep was around before the creation of the world, and that he was a creature of darkness and disarray. This article was most recently revised and updated by, IndiaNetzone - Manasa Devi, Hindu Goddess. Medusa is widely known as a monstrous creature with snakes in her hair whose gaze turns men to stone. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Medusa Greek Goddess T-Shirt Smoking A Joint Snakes Ancient Greece Mythology at the best online prices at eBay! In fact, in their final showdown, the two end up killing each other. Zahhak - an evil serpent creature, originating in Persian mythology and folklore. [29] Beyond that, Medusa's story is, Johnston argues, a rape narrative. Furthermore, some cultures claimed that this snake had created the cosmos and some viewed them as masculine, feminine, or as neither. 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. The Snake Goddess was one of the Minoan divinities associated closely with the snake cult. In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. Much like snakes, crocodiles were feared and revered. 2. 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). The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. 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. Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess and was later taken over by the Greeks. One of the most forgotten goddesses of the Celtic pantheon, Corra is the embodiment of life, death, fertility, and the earth itself. "Medusa's Head". 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