Biography of snakes and snakes in Arab history

Arab history is filled with fascinating tales and folklore that have been woven into the fabric of society for centuries. Among these stories is the chronicle of the snake, a narrative that holds a prominent place in Arab cultural heritage. In this article, we embark on a journey through time to unravel the mysteries and significance of the snake in Arab history. Delving into its symbolism, representation, and legacy, we explore the enduring impact of this enigmatic creature on Arab society and identity. Join us as we uncover the secrets and lore surrounding the snake, shedding light on its role in shaping the cultural landscape of the Arab world.

Snakes and serpents in human mythology

Snakes and serpents have always had a special place in myths and tales of different times and civilizations, but also in the environments that contain those legends. In those myths, the serpent was often associated with the meanings of evil, darkness, or what aroused fear and terror in the souls. Despite that, the myths in which the serpent or the snake appears were not limited to this evil meaning only, there are some civilizations that gave them the character of sanctity and reverence and that they have a good meaning of protection and giving strength, as was the case in the ancient Egyptian civilization, which gave serpents a great place of reverence and reverence they did to high places, such as always being on the foreheads of kings and on their crowns in order to protect them from any danger or any enemy that may face them. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the Egyptians always loved snakes and snakes. There was another example, but a snake and not a snake was the biggest enemy and the biggest danger that they are always afraid of and try to be good in life so as not to face it with its anger and evil

Snakes and snakes in the Arab countries

The Arabian Peninsula abounds in different types, some of which are rare in existence of snakes and serpents, and this is what made the Arabs begin to weave legends and tales whose heroine is alive or a snake, and one of those rare species is the Arabian Gulf snake, which lives under water most of its life, and this type is characterized especially by severe toxicity, its distinctive yellow color and its broad black lines.

Another newly discovered type of snake was named Hijaz snake because of its discovery in Saudi Arabia, and despite its bright yellow color, length of up to thirty meters and terrifying shape, it is one of the snakes that are classified as original and non-toxic snakes.

The um Janib snake is native to the Levant, Iraq and possibly southern Iran, which is one of the types of snakes horned or that have horns and is usually active at night and desert areas.

Snakes in Arabic mythology

And those three examples of their strangeness, they are a point in the sea of reptile species that abound in our Arab countries, and this is what made them tell tales and legends about them, for example, in the Kingdom of Sheba, snakes had a role in protecting and punishing sinners more, so the frankincense trees, which are the most important source of the Kingdom of Sheba, were based on it in trade with neighboring civilizations, these trees had a guard of snakes protecting them from any attempt to steal, and there were other types, including winged snakes that pounce on sinners and hold them accountable for their mistakes.

As for the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era, for the tribes that inhabited the Arabian Peninsula, they feared white snakes more strongly than black or even colored snakes in general, because they were surprised by them and did not find enough time to get rid of them or even avoid their venom, so they usually associated them with sudden death and punishment more than they saw them as a protector like other civilizations. But they saw in it another kind of value with which they saw it, such as its resemblance to the moon in renewing itself every period of time by tearing it off its old skin and coming out with a new skin and look, as the moon does at the beginning of each month with its birth and reappearance.

The legends of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era about snakes did not stop there, as they said that they were the ones who seduced Adam - peace be upon him - and his wife Eve to eat from the tree that God forbade them and they came out of Paradise for this reason, but they also said about her that she was trying to prevent Ibrahim and Ismail, peace be upon them, from rebuilding the Kaaba.

This is a direct indication of the perspective that was seen by serpents, snakes and snakes in the Arab culture, so they used to associate them with all the evils, ruin and problems, whether material or even moral, that afflict them or surround them, and they have always associated them with magic and sorcery and that they help magicians to communicate with the jinn and transfer help to them and spread havoc and evils on earth.