Serpent Collection (#69)

Serpent Talisman
SERPENT TALISMAN The serpent is emblematic of wisdom and eternity, and the talisman which incorporates it should bestow the first and promise the second

Fantasy Seamonster
A sea monster looks at a sailing ship

Valhalla Serpent
Marine creature observed by naturalist M J Nicoll from the Valhalla off Pava

Don Sea Serpent
This impressive creature was seen by several aboard the Royal Mail steamer Don in the Atlantic, and sketched by a witness

Gosse Serpent Theory
Naturalist Philip Henry Gosse suggests that the reports of sea serpents could relate to an Enaliosaur, a supposedly extinct sea creature

British Banner Serpent
Marine creature sighted from the British Banner; the Master reported that the creature shook the bowsprit with its mouth and seemed about 100 metres long

Boston Sea Serpent
The sea-serpent seen at Gloucester Bay, Boston, Massachusetts, on several occasions

Sea Serpent Greenland
Spouting sea-creature sighted by Hans Egede off the coast of Greenland

Spouting Sea Monster
A spouting marine monster with a spiny mane, seen in the Mediterranean

Sea Serpent Norway
A giant polyp - is it meant to be a squid ? - grabs a sailor by his arm off the deck of his ship

Sea Serpent Hydra
The seven-headed HYDRA seen at Venezia (Venice) in 1530 Date: 1530

German alchemist at work
An allegorical portrait of a German alchemist at work, with various symbolic items -- Sun and Moon, Flowers and Furnace, and a lion swallowing a serpent

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In the vast tapestry of human history and mythology, the serpent has slithered its way into countless narratives, leaving an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. From ancient tales to modern depictions, this enigmatic creature continues to captivate our imagination. Kipling's "Just So Stories" introduces us to a mischievous serpent in "The Elephant's Child, " whose curiosity leads him on a transformative journey. Similarly, Caravaggio's masterpiece "Head of Medusa" portrays the terrifying visage of a Gorgon with serpents for hair, striking fear into all who gaze upon her. The Novgorod Icon "Last Judgement" depicts a biblical scene where sinners face divine retribution while Asclepius, represented as a statue in ancient Rome, holds his staff entwined by serpents as a symbol of healing and medicine. The infamous encounter between Adam, Eve, and the serpent in the Garden of Eden forever changed humanity's course. This fateful interaction represents temptation and knowledge intertwined—a pivotal moment that shaped our understanding of good and evil. Dmitriy Stakhievich Moor's poster from 1919 titled "Death to World Imperialism" features an imposing serpent coiled around Earth—an allegory for oppressive power structures being challenged during times of revolution. On the Pergamon Altar stands Athena battling Alcyoneus—a giant defeated only through her cunning strategy. The presence of snakes adds another layer to this epic struggle between divinity and chaos. President Andrew Jackson is depicted destroying the Bank of United States in an influential lithograph cartoon from 1828. Symbolizing corruption and greed within financial institutions, it showcases how even leaders can be seen as serpentine figures when their actions are questioned. Gustave Doré's depiction of Leviathan reveals an immense sea monster with scales akin to those found on serpents—representing the untamed forces of nature and the depths of human fears.