According to psychologists, one of the oldest phobias present in human beings in modern times is a fear of snakes. Even people who never come in direct contact with these creatures are likely to have an intense aversion. As with anything that has been around as long as people, snakes are present in a fair share of the earliest myths and stories of the world. While most Westerners are familiar with the slithery devil that made life very difficult for two naked people in the Garden of Eden, there are other examples of snakes in mythology.
The World Snake
A large chunk of Norse mythology has been lost to the ages. However, what remains paints a very interesting picture of the beliefs held by the North Germanic people. One surviving tale focuses on Loki, the god of mischief, and the giant woman Angrboða. The two had three children together, the middle child being an enormous serpent called Jörmungandr. Odin, father to Loki, took Jörmungandr and tossed it into the ocean that was said to circle the entire world. The serpent would eventually grow so large that it encircled the Earth as well, gaining the name “the World Snake.”
According to myths and tales, Jörmungandr holds the end of its tail in its mouth. Prophecies throughout Norse writings state that the end of the world would come about should Jörmungandr ever release the tail from its mouth.
The Feathered Serpent
In Aztec culture, there were a number of deities important to daily life. A majority of what is understood about the Aztecs stems from historical research, and it is known that the god Quetzalcoatl held a significant role. Connected to the dawn, wind, and the sun, Quetzalcoatl’s name was often translated to mean “wisest of men.” However, the literal translation of the name means “serpent of feathers.” This has led to many modern connections between the god and snakes.
There are conflicting stories and myths related to Quetzalcoatl. The tales would change from one tribe to the next and often morph over time. For example, there are at least four different stories related to the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Since the Aztec culture fell officially around 1521, the truth about certain myths and stories is likely lost for all time.
The Snake People
Though talking animals are not uncommon in religions and myths around the world, there are some belief sets that feature animals with more human qualities. In Hinduism and Buddhism, there exists a mythological race of sentient beings known as naga. These people appear to be a hybrid of human beings and cobras, though a special ability of the naga allowed them to take on the full appearance of either whenever they willed. Most of the stories surrounding naga depict them as guardians of important teachings, though there are exceptions.
Usually, the naga pose a serious threat in stories when they are angered in some way. What angers the naga varies from one belief set to the next, but the general lesson to take away from these stories is to not upset the snake folk.
The Snake of White
In China, there is an old story that tells of a woman named Bai Suzhen. The woman married a man named Xu Xian and had a son with him. After the son was born, the woman revealed she was actually Madame White, a snake demon that lives deep in the sea and can take human form. There have been many depictions of this myth over the years, with some stories leaning into the romance factor and others turning the tale into one of horror and fear.
Whether you fear snakes or not, you likely wouldn’t want to suddenly encounter one while taking a leisurely stroll. Still, no matter how scary the snakes in the grass might be, they pale in comparison to some of the wild and weird slithering creatures featured in myths across the world.