Serpent

 
The serpent is a universal and complex symbol. It can represent death, destruction, evil, a penetrating legless essence, and/or poison. In the Christian tradition, Satan (in the guise of the serpent) instigated the fall by tricking Eve into breaking God’s command. Thus the serpent can represent temptation, the devil, and deceit. The snake is phallic, but also can be seen as androgynous. The snake can have positive implications, too; when intertwined with the tree of life (Christian) it represents good, and it can also be associated with healing and/or rebirth; as it sheds its skin.

(Related entry: ADAM AND EVE).

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