Coin Snake

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Snakes on Coins - Play Poki Games Online
Snakes are often pictured on coins and other ancient art. They may represent the forces of darkness, but they also represent the forces of life. In ancient times, snakes were revered as deities. It is not surprising that they are depicted on many Greek and Roman coins. However, these ancient figures are sometimes shown in a distorted, unnatural way, such as on the gold coin of Septimius Severus.

The snake and eagle motif was very common in ancient art. Throughout the early and medieval period, a human-headed snake, Glycon, was seen as a puppet. His cult spread throughout the Greek-speaking regions of the Roman Empire. He appeared on many coins, as well as on many local coins.

The snake is sometimes portrayed as a relic of the god Dionysos. He is represented as a serpent in a basket, and is thought to be related to the god of agriculture. This image is also found on the bronze coin of Amyntas III, the grandfather of Alexander the Great.

Another mythic figure was Asklepios, or Aesculapius. He was the assistant of Apollo. Aesculapius was often shown clothed, though he might have worn bare to the waist.

The snake, along with the eagle, was a popular motif on the coins of Chalcis. A silver drachma from this city sold for $30 000 USD at a recent Swiss auction.

Several different Roman provincial cities are known to have used the cista mystica design, with snakes in baskets surrounding a bow case or ivy wreath. The cista mystica is similar to the ritual basket of snakes, which was used in initiation ceremonies. These rituals usually involved the use of snakes and ivy to protect and sanctify a person.

During the famine of 496 BCE, Sybilline books of prophecy were read. The book said that the snake was the "guardian of the earth." This prompted Marcus Aurelius to look to the snake god for prophecy.

Similarly, the snake appears on many eastern Roman provinces. Coiled snakes on these coins are often unnatural, and they may indicate the supernatural origin of the deity. But, as symbolism evolved, these depictions became less realistic.

For example, the serpent on the Plautilla coin is shown with a beard and a flickering tongue. Although these snakes are not naturalistic, the snake on the Philip II coin rears its head above a short torch.

There are many other snakes on coins. The king cobra, for example, is one of the more deadly types of snake. The red-bellied black snake is a venomous relative of the king cobra. It is a common sight in woodlands and swamplands, hunting frogs and small mammals.

Other common images of the snake on ancient coins include the eagle attacking the snake, or the snake coiling around a branch. Depending on the context, snakes are usually viewed as a representation of fertility, healing, or the forces of darkness. Sometimes, snakes are depicted as guardians of the earth, as on the Asklepios the Saviour coin.

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