What does a snake represent in Aboriginal art?

Snakes are indigenous to all parts of Australia and feature strongly in the Creation stories held by Aboriginal people and in their paintings and carvings. The snake has been used as a symbol of strength, creativity and continuity since ancient times across many societies.

What does the serpent represent in Aboriginal culture?

The Rainbow Serpent (Serpant) dreaming in Aboriginal society represents one of the great and powerful forces of nature and spirit. Connected to water, the Rainbow Serpent is the great life giver, and protector of water, which is his spiritual home.

What does the snake symbolize?

Fertility and rebirth Historically, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. As snakes shed their skin through sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing. The ouroboros is a symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life.

What does a serpent mean spiritually?

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.

Why did Aboriginal people use animals as symbols?

And therefore these animals were the ones they turned to for use as symbols in art and story legend. At the heart of many Dreamtime stories and images in Aboriginal art are the wide range of Australian animals from land and sea.

What does the Snake symbolize in Navajo culture?

The historic tribal lands of the Navajo are the habitat of many types of snakes including poisonous rattlesnakes. The Navajo snake symbol associates these creatures with speed, danger and lightning. Communities that inhabit poisonous snake territory treat the reptiles with caution.

What are some of the Native American rattlesnake stories?

How Glooskap Changed Saucy Indians into Rattlesnakes: Passamaquoddy legend about rude men being turned into rattlesnakes. How the Rattlesnake Learned to Bite: Pima Rattlesnake story about the origin of death. The Snake Husband: Peoria legend about a careless woman who was led astray by a rattlesnake.

What kind of art do Aboriginal people use?

The rock art sites show the history of the environment and the changes that have taken place over millenia, as recorded by Aboriginal artists. Aboriginal paintings from the northern areas of Australia tend to be more figurative, showing a realistic image of the animals. Sometimes they also show the animal from the inside, using the x-ray style.