Snake Collection (page 16)

Wheel of Fortune on a tarot card
The Wheel of Fortune, as depicted on a tarot card. Date: 1926

Golden tree snake (Chrysopelea ornata) male, Patong Beach, Phuket Island, Thailand. Controlled conditions

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) females and newborn young at maternity site. Pennsylvania, USA. August

Eyelash pit viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) (Viperidae: Crotalinae). Distictive yellow / orange oropel form. Arboreal species resting on wild ginger flower in mid-altitude rainforest under storey

Sumatran pit viper (Trimeresurus sumatranus) juvenile on tree trunk, in tropical rainforest. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) tasting air, Julatten, north Queensland, Australia

Eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) female, Yarra River corridor in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in mid-summer

Parrot snake (Leptophis ahaetulla) in aggressive pose with mouth open. Costa Rica

Close view of a Green anaconda, (Eunectes murinus) underwater, Formoso River, Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Adult Eyelash Pit Viper or Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) (Viperidae: Crotalinae). Distictive yellow / orange oropel form

Clarion Island Whip Snake (Masticophis anthonyi), IUCN Critically Endangered, Clarion Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage

Grass snake(Natrix natrix) coiled round eggs, Alsace, France

Ball / Royal python (Python regius) coiled with tongue extended

Cameroon bush viper (Atheris broadleyi) captive occurs in West Africa

Beautiful pit viper (Trimeresurus venustus) captive occurs in Thailand

Chinese cobra (Naja atra) in threat stance, Shek Pik, southwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

Chinese cobra (Naja atra) in threat stance, Shek Pik, southwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

White-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) with tongue extended, flicking, tasting the air, Costa Rica

Beautiful pit viper (Trimeresurus venustus) captive occurs in Thailand

Calabar burrowing boa snake (Calabaria reinhardtii) in defensive ball, captive, occurs equatorial rain forest of West and central Africa. Head and tail are very similar

Fer-de-lance (Bothrops lanceolatus) captive, endemic to Martinique

Royal python (Python regius) Togo. Controlled conditions

West African tree viper (Atheris chlorechis) on branch Togo. Controlled conditions

Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja), Karnataka, India

King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in strike pose with mouth open, tongue out and glottis (hole like structure in mouth) clearly visible. Malaysia

King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) with head raised up and hood expanded, near Ouarzarte, Morocco

Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) waiting on Heliconia flower (Heliconia lankasteri) to ambush hummingbird prey, Golden colour morph La Selva, Costa Rica

Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) sunbathing, Bozeman, Montana, USA

Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) underwater, flicking tongue, Formoso River, Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) on twig, Canande, Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Green jararaca / Two striped forest pit viper (Bothriopsis bilineata) on branch, Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Peru

Juvenile of Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulanus) in defensive position. Yasuni National Park, Orellana, Ecuador

Sumatran pit viper (Trimeresurus sumatranus) female in rain forest understorey. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo

Adder (Vipera berus) basking amongst bracken fronds. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. April

European Adder (Vipera berus) portrait of a female and a male. Aberdeenshire, Scotland, May

Male Adder (Vipera berus) tasting the air. Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, UK, October

Emerald tree Boa (Corallus batesii) close up portrait of juvenile whilst hanging on a branch. Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Peru

Peringueys adder (Bitis peringueyi) sidewinding in Namib desert, Namibia

Caucasus Viper (Vipera kaznakovi) Georgia, September

Fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper) camouflaged on the rainforest floor, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

RF - Eyelash Pit Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) Costa Rica

Red tailed boa constrictor (Boa constrictor constrictor) juvenile, portrait, with tail wrapped round head, Cuayabeno, Sucumbios, Ecuador

Original Sin: The Fall of Adam and Eve, c1467-1468 (1956). From the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. A print from Ideas, a volume about the origin and early history of many things

The Snake and the Frog, 1898. Artist: Kawanabe Kyosai
The Snake and the Frog, 1898. Plate taken from The Studio magazine, volume 15, no 67 (London, 15th October 1898)

The ancient Greeks and Romans worshipped Apollo as the god of music, healing, light, and prophecy

A snake charmer handles his snake on a street in Rawalpindi, Pakistan February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

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"Exploring the Mystical Serpent: A Journey through Cultures and Symbolism" Embark on a captivating journey into the realm of snakes, where ancient beliefs intertwine with modern fascination. From the sacred Wheel of Life in Nepal's Kopan monastery to the mythical Yggdrasil of Norse mythology, these serpents have left an indelible mark across continents. Intriguingly, artist A Gilbert's masterpiece "The Athlete Wrestling with a Python" captures both the physical struggle and metaphorical representation of life's challenges. Just as this artwork portrays, snakes symbolize transformation and rebirth within the wheel of Samsara. Venturing further into Africa, we encounter the formidable Black Mamba snake—its sleek elegance concealing deadly venom. This creature embodies resilience and adaptability amidst harsh environments. Drawing inspiration from Norse legends once again, Yggdrasil emerges as a potent symbol representing interconnectedness between realms. It reminds us that all living beings are intricately linked to one another—a reminder echoed by Novgorod Icon's Last Judgement painting. Delving deeper into symbolism, we find Roman statues depicting Asclepius—the god associated with healing and medicine—holding a serpent-entwined staff known as Caduceus. The Royal/Ball Python also holds significance in its association with royalty and divinity throughout history. As we traverse diverse landscapes, rattlesnake warning signs serve as reminders to respect nature's creatures while appreciating their place in ecosystems worldwide. In Brazil’s lush rainforests resides the mesmerizing Rainbow Boa—an embodiment of vibrant beauty amidst biodiversity hotspots. Even art has been utilized to convey political messages; Dmitriy Stakhievich Moor’s poster "Death to World Imperialism" depicts a coiled snake ready to strike against oppressive forces—an emblematic call for liberation and justice. Through these glimpses into cultures past and present, it becomes evident that snakes have transcended mere reptilian existence.