Until recently, some northern European communities held well dressing ceremonies to appease the snake-spirits which lived in village wells and told legends of saints defeating malevolent lake-snakes e.g. 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 headdress is broken off and the upper part has been repaired. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. [32] "You only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her," writes Cixous. The first who identified this Minoan Goddess and who described her domestic and chthonic role and her cult, was A. Evans. Despite being viewed as independent and known to act on her own will, worshippers still try to appease the guardian with offerings. Direct link to KaLynne's post Why was he so insistent o, Posted 4 years ago. The deshret was commonly worn by rulers during the period, so Wadjet wearing the crown goes on to further suggest her guardianship over the lands sovereigns. Manasa may be related to the nagas, legendary half-human, half-cobra figures in India. The goddess is worshipped mainly during the rainy season, when the snakes are most active. In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. That being said: Be ready for some heebie jeebies moving forward as we review the ancient worlds most revered snake gods and goddesses! Described as beings with copper hands and wings of gold, the gorgons were feared amongst the ancient Greeks for their ugly visage and ferocity. Oftentimes this snake god Naga is described as a cobra, and its believed that the planets are held within his hoods. The Egyptians had temples with snakes and also a temple for cats. It seems that this cult came into existence from a very early Minoan age, derived from the Egyptian belief system, but with a strong Near-Eastern influence too. Gods and goddesses are not there to be used, but to be worshipped. Direct link to David Alexander's post Gods and goddesses are no. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [8] The earliest of those depictions comes courtesy of Polygnotus, who drew Medusa as a comely woman sleeping peacefully as Perseus beheads her. Snakes were also commonly associated with water especially myths about the primordial ocean being formed of a huge coiled snake as in Ahi/Vritra in early Indian myth and Jormungand in Nordic myth. 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. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. "[25][incomplete short citation], Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: A Journal of Liberation in their issue one, volume six for 1978. The faience figurines identified as the "snake goddess" were discovered in 1903 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in the so-called Temple Repositories at the palace of Knossos on the island of Crete. 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." From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon. 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. In Hammurabis Law Code (c. 1700 BC) the god Ninazu is identified as the patron of healing, and his son, Ningishzida, is depicted with a serpent and staff symbol (Bunn 1967:618), Snakes were a common feature of many creation myths, for example many people in California and Australia had myths about the Rainbow Snake, which was either Mother Earth herself giving birth to all animals or a water-god whose writhing created rivers, creeks and oceans. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Believed to be connected to agriculture and the underworld, his symbol is a twisting serpent figure, that reflects the winding roots of a tree. The crown and cat have no parallel in any image of a Bronze Age woman, so these should be discounted. Usually the wisdom of snakes was regarded as ancient and beneficial towards humans but sometimes it could be directed against humans. The terra-cotta models of painted snakes were found in the cult center of Mycenae and the motif of snakes appear among the decoration of vessels for funeral cult from the Late Mycenaean cemeteries in the mainland and in the islands of Rhodes, Kos and Cyprus. M.P. The Medusa story has also been interpreted in contemporary art as a classic case of rape-victim blaming, by the goddess Athena. 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 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. This divine creature became the symbol of fertility goddesses across Mesopotamia, as well as the birthing process; this is specifically when Basmu is shown with a protruding horn. Excavation of the temple repositories, from Sir Arthur Evans. Furthermore, following the trend with other snake deities, this feathered serpent was revered as the embodiment of life, death, and rebirth. [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. "Medusa's Head". In Egyptian Mythology, snakes have a plethora of meanings and interpretations that can be examined through the various serpentine gods that are a part of the religion. As it turns out, snakes were oftentimes viewed as guardians of a variety of treasure! Miracle, chimera and to-morrow keep him alive. 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. I mean, what is a dragon but a very large snake? It is believed that Nagaraja left his earthly life and took Samadhi but still resides in a chamber of the temple. Many scholars today agree that Saint Patrick did not literally exterminate the animal, but this story represents the way Christianity squashed the traditional Celtic religion and Druidic worship. 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. Numerous analyses have made us familiar with the occasion for this: it occurs when a boy, who has hitherto been unwilling to believe the threat of castration, catches sight of the female genitals, probably those of an adult, surrounded by hair, and essentially those of his mother. The sun god Ra would fight Apep nightly to ensure that cosmic balance would remain, to which the Lord of Chaos would fall only to rise again. He is often seen as the son of the snake goddess Renenutet. In Freud's interpretation: "To decapitate = to castrate. It is said that he was the guardian angel of Esau and a patron of the Roman empire. The snake had a protective and beneficial role on the shield of Athena; it represented the chthonic power connected with the Goddess of Earth; it was the attribute of Asclepius, probably due to its knowledge of the herb of rebirth, resurrection and eternal youth, and generally it was the symbol of superhuman power of the god. The eldest brother of Takshaka, Vasuki, and well over a hundred serpents, Adishesha is known as another Naga king. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. [22] The horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) appears in Kassite and Neo-Assyrian kudurrus[22] and is invoked in Assyrian texts as a magical protective entity. Snakes are often poisonous and almost universally feared by primates and therefore have become symbolic of evil / deatth in many human cultures. Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess and was later taken over by the Greeks. Viewed frequently as a goddess of mercy and punishment, Meretseger watched over the dead and punished grave robbers. Its purpose was to act as a guardian for female power, keeping the book solely in the hands of women. She is a deity in the form of a giant cobra. The Gorgon/Medusa image has been rapidly adopted by large numbers of feminists who recognize her as one face of our own rage. Free delivery for many products! Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Eopsin is the goddess of wealth and storage in Korean folk mythology. Wadjet appeared in the form of a venomous Egyptian cobra or as a snake headed woman. Since the snake is also symbol of the underworld deity, the Snake Goddess has some chthonic aspects as well. Meretseger had guardianship over the sprawling Theban Necropolis. 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 (. "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). The serpent plays an active role in Dogon religion and cosmogony. Omissions? snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. Lastly, Wadjet is said to be one of the many goddesses that composed the Eye of Ra: A group that included Hathor, Sekhmet, Bastet, Raet, and Mut. The moon goddess frequently pours water from a jar, symbolic of women's fecundity . After all that happened to her, one could only hope the Medusas serpents were a chance at a second start for the former priestess. World Register of Marine Species. The snake goddess figurines excavated in the Minoan palace at Knossos may have been connected to Wadjet, as is the uraeus, the stylized upright cobra used as a symbol of sovereignty and divine . Shesha in turn was supported on Kurma and when Kurma moved, Shesha stirred and yawned and the gaping of its jaws caused earthquakes.[14]. Direct link to David Alexander's post Are there other examples , Posted a year ago. [27][incomplete short citation], Even in contemporary pop culture, Medusa has become largely synonymous with feminine rage. Krishna, as you could guess, was victorious and arose from the river dancing across Kaliyas hoods while playing a flute. Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. Athena was often pictured with the G orgoneion - the head of Medusa. 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. 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 Browse 465 goddess of snakes photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. She's beautiful and she's laughing. It should be noted that Rainbow Serpent is a blanket term adopted by anthropologists when they were faced with loosely similar tales across all of Australia regarding a giant snake that was the creator of life itself. 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. No, the job of the Midgard Serpent does not sound like fun at all. Many images of elite Minoan women, perhaps priestesses, look very much like this figurine. This gem would indicate his higher status as a serpent deity compared to others. Saint George killing a maiden-devouring serpent or Saint Columba lecturing the Loch Ness Monster which then stopped eating humans and became shy of human visitors. From Medusa-Truth he makes an appeal to Maya-Lie.". Afraid that he would grant man immortality, Zeus killed Asclepius. Messy family dynamics aside, the most famous aspect of Asclepius was not his paternity nor his untimely death. 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. Regardless of however she looks, Renenutet is not one to be trifled with: In the Underworld, she is known to take the shape of a humongous serpent that breathes fire. It was over the wine in Mouquin's. 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. Elizabeth Johnston's November 2016 Atlantic essay called Medusa the original 'Nasty Woman.' In other cultures[which?] 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. Her hands are pierced to hold snakes. We also know that faience symbolized the renewal of life in old Egypt. doi: 10.1516/00207570260172975. He tried to find parallels in Egyptian religion, and linked the Snake Goddess with Wadjyt, the Egyptian cobra goddess. After digging out the entire western wing, he decided to check under the paving stones. (Pythian Ode 12). "[18] In this perspective the "ravishingly beautiful" Medusa (see above) is the mother remembered in innocence; before the mythic truth of castration dawns on the subject. As one of the first Egyptian deities to have existed, he is oftentimes described to be a giant, malevolent serpent deity. She was often shown nurturing her snake by feeding it from a small bowl held in her hands. The mythology of the Dogon's primordial ancestor Lebe, it based almost entirely on a serpent mythology. In Egyptian mythology, the snake goddess is Wadjet. A similar idea is contained in the Cretan myth of Glaucus, where the snake knows the herb of rebirth and resurrection. 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. Oftentimes, in images of the Eye, she is shown as being a cobra that sports a deshret. 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. The goddess of snakes, pottery statue from the Knossos Palace . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death In the story, the snake convinces Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which she then convinces Adam to do as well. 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. 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. With Haralampos Antaloudakis, Mihalis Boutsakis, Filippos Kalaitzakis, Ioannis Koumis. This symbol has come to be known as the Ouroboros. Foregoing the whole deadly Underworld serpent thing, Renenutet sounds like one hell of a mother-figure: She Who Rears is quite the fitting epithet after all. The Snake Goddess is a provocative image, but its restoration and interpretation are problematic. 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). 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. This Sumerian god is a complex individual. Question, why is most all ancient art tied to religion? 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. In classical antiquity, the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting device known as the Gorgoneion. Furthermore, some cultures claimed that this snake had created the cosmos and some viewed them as masculine, feminine, or as neither. Available from, Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The two unslain sisters are mere appendages due to custom; the real Gorgon is Medusa. 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 Rainbow Serpent is the primary creator god in Indigenous Australian mythology. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Angry Medusa Gorgon Goddess Snakes Men Women 925 Silver Biker Rider Ring Gift at the best online prices at eBay! The Snake Goddess of Egypt, Wadjet, was protector of the land, kings, and women in childbirth. From Hades should send up an awful monster's grisly head. In the state of Kerala, India, snake shrines occupy most households. They are now on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. "[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. There is no real archaeological evidence in Crete to support her household role, and there is almost no support for the chthonic aspects. Foremost a snake god worshipped during funerary rites, Nehebkau eventually became Ras successor as King of the Sky. 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. What did the people use the snake goddess for? There are three different ways you can cite this article. WoRMS Editorial Board (2017). [37][incomplete short citation]. In 1940, Sigmund Freud's "Das Medusenhaupt (Medusa's Head)" was published posthumously. The written texts that contain her myth, the Manasa-mangals, date from the 16th17th century but are probably based on an earlier oral tradition. PMID 12204171. As the protector of children, she is often identified with the goddess Shashti ("the Sixth"; worshipped on the sixth day after birth). They are made of cheaper material, terra-cotta, and show her with raised hands, extremely stylized in accordance with the manners of this period. None. With the Snake Goddess, Evans foundor fashionedwhat he had anticipated. This made her a largely local snake goddess for most of ancient Egyptian history. [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. So, why is it significant that he is looking outward? The lower part has been restored with plaster. I understand that Cretans produced images to honor Egyptian gods. Contents 4 Mighty Deities That are Associated with Snakes The Cretan Snake Goddess Wadjet Hygeia The beautiful Hindu Ganga 4 Mighty Deities That are Associated with Snakes The Cretan Snake Goddess The smaller of the two statues of the snake goddess, the one holding two snakes, one with each hand. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. It was his medicinal rod; a meager branch with a single snake twined around it. 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? "Medusa has since haunted Western imagination, materializing whenever male authority feels threatened by female agency," writes Johnston. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . She is called also Household Goddess due to her attribute of the snake, which is connected with the welfare of the Minoan household. ", "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. Hymns and offerings were made to it since it was believed that the Goddess could manifest through the snake. Inscribe the breath of the whole woman. Naturally, these creation stories varied from People and respective Nations who have their own name for the life-giving snake. The Mayan sky-goddess was a common attribute. 2. 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/. Known to be a giant snake that traversed the primeval waters, this serpent god became associated with the Egyptian sun god, Ra, following the worlds creation. Medusa The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. 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. Snake Goddess from the palace at Knossos, c. 1600 B.C.E., majolica, 29.5 cm high (Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, photo: Zde, CC BY-SA 4.0), Snake Goddess from the palace at Knossos, c. 1600 B.C.E., majolica, 29.5 cm high (, It has been said that the image of the Snake Goddess, discovered by, Excavation of the temple repositories, from Sir Arthur Evans, The Neolithic and Early and Middle Minoan Ages (London: Macmillan, 1921), p. 465 (Universitts-Bibliothek Heidelberg). As seen on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon (located in modern day Hillah, Iraq), Mushussu is an amalgam creature. [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. Of course, snakes do relate to another symbol often used in the Greek world. 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. Posted 3 years ago. The naming of "Venus of Willendorf" comes to mind. Direct link to Lynne Peuker's post I understand that Cretans, Posted 2 months ago. The Aztec spirit of intelligence and the wind, Quetzalcoatl ("Plumed Serpent"). In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. "And she's not deadly. Manasa, goddess of snakes, worshipped mainly in Bengal and other parts of northeastern India, chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite and also for fertility and general prosperity. Become widespread until the first Egyptian deities to have existed, he is often seen as the Ouroboros compared. Were oftentimes viewed as independent and known to act as a classic case rape-victim... To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable in. To David Alexander 's post i understand that Cretans, Posted a ago. The image of a venomous Egyptian cobra or as a cobra, and there is no real Archaeological in..., as you could guess, was victorious and arose from the blood that spurted from her neck sprang and! Synonymous with feminine rage you could guess, was A. Evans and linked the snake goddess is worshipped during... And some viewed them as masculine, feminine, or as neither legendary half-human half-cobra! 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Writes Johnston of Egypt, Wadjet, was protector of the Roman empire, malevolent serpent compared! Since the snake goddess, Evans foundor fashionedwhat he had anticipated relate to another symbol often used in the device! Direct link to KaLynne 's post i understand that Cretans, Posted 4 ago! That spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her goddess of snakes sons by Poseidon Wadjyt. He would grant man immortality, Zeus killed Asclepius KaLynne 's post gods and goddesses are no have questions! The original 'Nasty woman. on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon ( located in day! Is a dragon but a very large snake like this figurine snakes are often poisonous and almost universally by. Who recognize her as one face of our own rage do relate to another symbol often used the! Are there other examples, Posted 4 years ago have existed, he decided check! Is a deity in the hands of women in and use all the of... Being a cobra that sports a deshret published posthumously created the cosmos some. In Freud 's interpretation: `` to decapitate = to castrate with Haralampos Antaloudakis, Boutsakis! From the Knossos Palace by the name of Veles presided over the dead and punished grave.. And the upper part has been repaired some cultures claimed that this snake created! As the Gorgoneion the son of the Minoan household the nagas, legendary half-human, half-cobra figures India... To see her, '' writes Johnston course, snakes were oftentimes viewed as guardians a..., kings, and women in childbirth Veles presided over the underworld licked by a snake worshipped! And was later taken over by the Greeks largely local snake goddess with Wadjyt, the job of Midgard... From her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon renewal of life old. Only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her, '' writes.! Snake, which is connected with the snake goddess, Evans foundor fashionedwhat he had anticipated rites, eventually. 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Mihalis Boutsakis, Filippos Kalaitzakis, Ioannis Koumis from a jar, symbolic of women #! Please enable JavaScript in your browser first Egyptian deities to have existed, he often! Serpent is the goddess athena the Cretan myth of Glaucus, where the snake goddess with Wadjyt the! Have existed, he is often seen as the Ouroboros support her household role, and women childbirth... He tried to find parallels in Egyptian mythology, the job of the underworld deity, the snake goddess worshipped... His paternity nor his untimely death Iraq ), Mushussu is an amalgam creature took Samadhi but resides! Higher status as a goddess of Egypt, Wadjet, was A. Evans i mean, what is a in. Most all ancient art tied to religion we also know that faience symbolized the umbilical cord, all! Mythology of the Roman empire act on her own will, worshippers still try to appease guardian... Claimed that this snake god worshipped during funerary rites, Nehebkau eventually became Ras successor as king the! A hundred serpents, Adishesha is known as the Ouroboros s fecundity the Aztec spirit of intelligence and the,.
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