The snake and the agrarian

rituals
Iharka Szucs-Csillik, Zoia
Maxim
From Symbol to Signs. Symbol, signs and rituals in sanctuaries
International Symposium, Museum of Bucovina, Suceava, 11-13
September

Introduction

We present the results of a study of the snake symbol, sign in rituals and
representations.
In most of mythologies the snake is considered sacred with supernatural
powers. The meander-spiral movement of the snake is considered a sign of
eternal evolution.
The snakes life circle is dual, half a year under the Earth, and half a year at
level with the ground.
As a constellation symbol, Serpens is unique among the constellations, being
split into two non-contiguous parts.
The Serpens constellation appearance on the sky is correlated with the agrarian
calendar, and with the snake life circle on the Earth.
We analyses this correlation and we conclude that the snake had a very
important place in the Neolithic agrarian calendar:
At spring plowing (Agrarian Begin) the Serpens appear at the night sky (east)
and the snake come out from the ground, and vice versa, at autumn plowing
(AGRARIAN END) the snake get in the ground and disappear the Serpens on the
night sky (west).

The snake
Snakes are elongated, legless, carnivorous reptiles
of the suborder Serpentes, that can be
distinguished from legless lizards, by their lack of
eyelids, and external ears.
Living snakes are found on every continent except
Antarctica, and on most smaller land masses.
Most species are nonvenomous and those that
have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey
rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom
potent enough to cause painful injury or death to
humans.

Origin of snake

The oldest preserved descriptions of snakes can be found in

the Brooklyn Medical Papyrus (450 BC).
The earliest known snake fossils dating to between 143 and
167 million years ago.
The snake and the serpents word have the same
etymology, it means to creep, to crawl.
The origin of snakes remains an
unresolved issue. There are two main
hypotheses
competing
for
acceptance:
There is fossil evidence to suggest
that snakes may have evolved from
burrowing lizards, such as the
varanids.
The ancestors of snakes were related
to mosasaurs extinct aquatic
reptiles from the Cretaceou.

Behavior of the snake

In regions where winters are colder than snakes can tolerate while remaining active, local species
will brumate. Brumating reptiles are awake but inactive.
The snake movements are Serpentine movement (S), Caterpillar or reticular movement,
Sidewinding movement and Concertina movement.
We know that the snake is different from the other animals, because it has not limbs however it
can move very sprightly and fast.
It hasn't ears but it pays attention to the least noise.
The snake is the only living being who can open its mouth in 90 o. The elasticity of its skin also
helps the snake to swallow large animals.
Snakes are cold-blooded animals, and are found chiefly in the tropics and in temperate regions.
The snake can detect and strike a warm-blooded animal at some distance.
All snakes have forked tongues.
In cooler climates, snakes usually mate in the spring.

Serpent symbolism - 1

First of all, the snake represents the force of life, of regeneration and of procreation (seminal and phallic symbol).
The snake have many good and evil symbols. Its important symbol is that the snake represents the creator of the
life on Earth. Because of this, in most of mythologies, the snake is considered sacred. This sanctity comes from the
energy created by the meander-spiral movement, which in philosophy is considered a sign of eternal evolution by
the cyclic return.
In mythology the snake is considered a mysterious being, which existed before the creation of the Earth. As such
being "non-created", it was given supernatural powers.
The snake occupies a primary role with the Nile cobra adorning the crown of the pharaoh in ancient times. It was
worshipped as one of the gods and was also used for sinister purposes: murder of an adversary and ritual suicide
(Cleopatra). The symbol of the snake can be found on the cave walls, objects of bone and stone, pots, jewelers,
cloths, and even on statues that represent gods. On the old Neolithic pottery in Europe, the theme of the serpent is
the most developed around the years 5000 - 3000 and then in the Iron Age (Romans, Etruscans, Greeks, Romans)
is known as the "art of the serpent" (Gimbutas p. 121).

Serpent symbolism - 2

In Greek mythology snakes are often associated with deadly and dangerous antagonists, but this is not to
say that snakes are symbolic of evil; in fact, snakes are a chthonic symbol, roughly translated as
'earthbound'.
Three medical symbols involving snakes that are still used today are Bowl of Hygieia, symbolizing
pharmacy, and the Caduceus and Rod of Asclepius, which are symbols denoting medicine in general.
India is often called the land of snakes. Snakes are worshipped as gods even today with many women
pouring milk on snake. It is believed that snakes are symbols of fertility. There is a Hindu festival called Nag
Panchami each year on which day snakes are venerated and prayed to.
The snake in the shape of a circle, representing the cycle of life, death and rebirth, leading to immortality.
The snake is seen as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.
The symbolism of the snake is very complex, as well as its representations in the Southeastern Europe
Neo-Eneolithic, ranging from the most realistic to the most abstract. Such symbols are present in the
Sesklo, Dimini, Karanovo, Starevo-Cri, Vina, LBK, Gumelnia, Lengyel, Cucuteni-Tripolie, Slcua
cultures, as well as in others. In the Europian Neolithic ceramics the snake subject is the most
developed between years 5000-3000 BC and in the Iron Age (Gimbutas, 1989).

The snake in Romanian

Mythology

In Romanian mythology exists snakes, which protects the house. The guardian serpent living below the
household and, in the sole or in the walls of the house. The residents of the house put milk to near the
threshold for snake, who will protect de house from bad.
The snake symbolizes a cord between two unknown world underground and heaven (axis-mundi), due to
the snakes life circle.
In Oltenia, the snake is represented as a string twisted on the wooden gates, with the wolf tooth and the
sun. The snake and the wolf tooth are the heritage of native culture archaic. Dacian having the wolf's head
with snake tail on the Dacian Draco.
In Romanian mythology, the snake is often a symbol of evil, in such situations occurring on fairy tales,
ballads, carols or incantations. It is believed in most popular beliefs, the snake must be killed by cutting
the head, because there are tight powers of his. At 9th March or Blagovestenia (March 25), the snake
is thawing. In these moments there, according to tradition, a series of prohibitions: not to utter his name,
the house and its garden surround themselves with ashes and make fire, to prevent the snake entry in
household or to give for snake a piece of polenta at the root of a tree to not worrying of all summer.
Common to Romanian mythology, with the other mythologies, is the idea of fecundity associated to the
htoniene beings. On the Romanian territory the archaeologists found many snake symbols.

Serpens constellation

Serpens is a constellation in the northern hemisphere and is the only constellation that is divided into two
sections, Serpens Caput ("the serpent's head") and Serpens Cauda ("the serpent's tail"). The constellation
Ophiuchus, the Snake Holder, lies between the two.
The brightest star in Serpens is the red giant star Alpha Serpentis, or Unukalhai, in Serpens Caput, with an
apparent magnitude of 2.63.
Part of the Milky Way's galactic plane passes through Serpens Cauda, which is therefore rich in galactic
deep-sky objects. Serpens is the second-largest snake in the sky, the largest being Hydra, the water snake

Agrarian calendar

The Serpens constellation appearance on the sky is correlated with the agrarian calendar, and
with the snake life circle on the Earth. In agriculture, the snake appearance has a positive (to
cure, messenger) and negative (poison, dead) meaning too.
The changing seasons coincide with the spring equinox. On the sky as well as on the Earth,
the Serpens constellation has the same behavior as the snake life circle: at the beginning of
spring, it appears on the European sky. At its height (in June) the reptile lays its eggs. In the
fall, the constellation disappears from the European sky. This cosmic and terrestrial cycle has
been noticed from the dawn of time and used as an agricultural clock, especially for growing
plants (wheat, first of all). The appearance of the snake on the Sky and on the Earth means
the beginning of the Agricultural Year, and of certain fertility, fecundity and healing rituals, both
for the family and for the community. For this reason, the farmers of the Neolithic and the
Eneolithic have given great attention to this divinity.

Serpent Caput and Serpent

Cauda

- Astronomically, we studied the Serpens constellation,

which is divided in two by the Ophiucus constellation
(sometimes considered as the 13th zodiacal sign): the
head (Serpens Caput) and the tail (Serpens Cauda).
- We investigated the direction of the Serpent's head in
March, June and September at 4000 BC. We know that
the snake appeared over ground in March, lay eggs in
June and disappeared into earth in September. If we look
with attention to the Serpens constellation, we find that
it had a w shape and it moves on the sky like the snake
on the earth. The forefathers search for connection
between animals on the earth, with symbols on the sky
(constellations).

Conclusion

To create a New World must be destroyed the old (Chaos), materialized through ritual death and
descent into hell, followed revival and cosmic order (Eliade 1994, p. 69). Cosmic order is
continually disturbed by the Great Serpent, first as a threat to reduce the world to chaos (by
defects of people) demand to be atoned and purified by various rituals (Summer), leading to
regeneration processes and recreational occurs at new Year celebrations (in Sumerian-ki-til)
means "the force that makes the world live again" (Eliade, 1994, p. 62-63).
The world is a mixture of the two forces: the primacy of chaotic, demonic and creativity, presence
and divine wisdom.
The snake symbol is very complex. This study of Serpens constellation shows the significance of
the snake symbol in the ancient people life.
We conclude that the snake was a natural warning signal for the Neolithic age people.

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