what does snake means in Ancient Greek mythology?
Answer Hello, In ancient Crete, i.e. in ancient Greek mythology, there was the so-called Snake Goddess, perhaps an Earth Goddess who was represented holding two snakes in her outstretched hands, sometimes to her sides, sometimes in front of her, and sometimes straight up in the air. Reportedly the snakes were believed to symbolize immortality by the fact that they shed their skins and regularly renew themselves. Therefore the snake was also symbol of the underworld deity, as the Snake Goddess was related to chthonic aspects. Moreover we know that Asclepius(or Asklepios), the Greek god of medicine and healing, had a staff with a snake wrapped around it. In honour of Asclepius, snakes were often used in healing rituals. In fact non-poisonous snakes were left to crawl on the floor in dormitories of the temple of Asclepius where the sick and injured slept. So, the snake was the attribute of Asklepios, probably due to its knowledge about the herb of rebirth, resurrection and eternal youth.
