Snakes have long been seen as spiritual and mythological symbols in many cultures and religions around the world. Their limbless, slender bodies and ability to shed their skin have associated them with transformation, rebirth, healing, and immortality. Here we will explore some of the key spiritual meanings and symbols of the snake throughout history.
Snakes in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, the snake was seen as a powerful spiritual symbol. According to Egyptian mythology, before the world was created, there was only chaotic water called Nun. The sun god Ra emerged from this water in the form of a snake or serpent. Ra then created the world and all living things. As such, the snake was worshipped as an ancient god and creator. Specific symbolic snakes in Egypt included:
- The cobra, worn on the crown of the pharaohs, symbolized divine royalty and protection.
- The viper, associated with the Eye of Ra, represented femininity, power, protection, and regeneration.
- The two-headed snake represented duality and guardianship of the afterlife.
Overall, snakes symbolized royalty, deity, protection, immortality, and transformation in ancient Egypt. They were featured heavily in Egyptian mythology, art, architecture, and relics.
The Serpent in the Bible
Snakes play various symbolic roles in the Bible. The most famous is the serpent in the Garden of Eden. According to Genesis, the serpent tempts Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, causing sin to enter the world. The serpent is associated with temptation, trickery, and evil in this context. However, serpents also served as healing symbols in the Bible, represented most famously by Moses’ bronze serpent on a pole:
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. (Numbers 21:9)
Here, the bronze serpent represents healing, protection, and salvation. Jesus also compares himself to the serpent when he says “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14). Overall, serpents have a complex duality in Biblical symbolism, representing evil, temptation, poison, rebirth, medicine, and salvation.
The Ouroboros
The Ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail, originated in ancient Egyptian iconography but has appeared in numerous cultures and spiritual systems. The Ouroboros embodies infinity, eternity, and the cyclic nature of life, death, and rebirth. Because the snake sheds its skin, it represents transformation, renewal, immortality, and resurrection. Eating its own tail creates a constant cycle of regeneration and wholeness. The Ouroboros has been featured in alchemy, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and other esoteric studies seeking spiritual enlightenment and higher consciousness.
The Nāga in Hinduism and Buddhism
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Nāga is a semi-divine race of serpent-like beings that live in an underground aquatic realm. Nāgas symbolize fertility, protection, and above all, wisdom and enlightenment. The cobra in particular is seen as sacred and honoured as divine in both traditions. In Hindu iconography, the major gods Shiva and Vishnu are often depicted sheltered by the many hooded cobra, representing their power and omniscience. In Buddhist art, the historical Buddha is likewise shown shaded by the cobra’s hood, showing his spiritual mastery.
Key Symbolic Meanings of the Nāga
- Guardianship
- Fertility
- Protection
- Wisdom
- Enlightenment
- Immortality
Overall, Nāgas represent divine protection and sacred wisdom in these traditions.
The Double Serpent Caduceus
The double serpent caduceus, two snakes entwined around a rod, originated as the staff of the Greek god Hermes, messenger of the gods. However, it became best known as a medical symbol in the 19th and 20th centuries. The two intertwined snakes represent the balance between polar opposites, synthesizing duality into unity and harmony. Specifically, the duality includes:
- Masculine and feminine
- Active and passive
- Fire and water
- Sun and moon
The rod represents spiritual authority and the wings intellectual aspiration. As such, the double serpent caduceus stands for the holistic balance of mind, body, and spirit leading to enlightenment and transcendence.
The Horned Serpent in Native American Traditions
The horned serpent appears in many Native American myths, often as a guardian spirit or deity. The Piasa Bird of Illinois, Mishi-ginebikoj of the Ojibwe people, and Uktena of the Cherokee are some well-known horned serpents. While they can sometimes represent danger, more often the horned serpent symbolizes:
- Fertility
- Wisdom
- Power
- Guardianship
The horned serpent frequently protected tribal shamans or heroes who befriended it. It demanded respect and communicated sacred knowledge to spiritual seekers. Overall, it represents the mystical power of nature and the elements.
The Rainbow Serpent in Australian Aboriginal Culture
The rainbow serpent is one of the most important creator deities and spiritual beings in Australian Aboriginal mythology. This giant, colorful snake rose from beneath the ground andcalled the tribes and landforms into being, then returned to sleep underground. The rainbow serpent symbolizes:
- Fertility and reproduction
- Water and life
- Wisdom and psychic insight
- Divine protection
It is a benevolent, powerful force that can potentially be harnessed for magical and healing purposes. Australian rock art and rituals pay tribute to the rainbow serpent to this day.
Quetzalcoatl – the Feathered Serpent God of Aztec and Mayan Culture
The winged, feathered serpent deity Quetzalcoatl was of supreme importance in Aztec and Mayan culture and mythology of Central America. Quetzalcoatl created mankind, brought wisdom and knowledge, and created a calendar system. However, he was also unpredictable, fickle, and mischievous at times. Key symbolic meanings of Quetzalcoatl include:
- Creator deity
- Divine wisdom and knowledge
- Death and the underworld
- Magic and alchemy
While Quetzalcoatl could be vengeful if disrespected, he ultimately sought to provide prosperity, knowledge, and meaning for human existence. His serpent and bird natures unified the heavens and the earth.
Conclusion
Across cultures and faith traditions worldwide, the snake has carried profound, multifaceted religious symbolism. While sometimes representing temptation or danger, more frequently snakes represent healing, wisdom, protection, immortality, and rebirth. Their ability to periodically shed their skin has associated them with transformation, renewal, and transcendence. From ancient Egyptian gods to the Rod of Asclepius to Rainbow Serpents, spiritual snakes embody the endless cycle of life, death, and resurrection.