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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