Re: [tied] Ophiolatry [There was a crooked snake]

The "green" snake in question (Lith. z^altys, actually ranging from dark grey to greenish olive) is the common-or-garden European grass snake, _Natrix natrix_. I suppose it was the bright orange-yellow markings on its neck (two crescents forming something like a golden ring) that inspired solar associations. Meeting a grass snake used to be regarded as a good omen and I don't think the creature has ever been suspected of having any kind of destructive power.

The evil aspects of *zmIjI are strongly associated with the adder (<zmija> or a related term in all Slavic languages) and no doubt have everything to do with its being the only venomous snake in these parts. The general term *o~z^I (Russian uz^ etc.) is quite neutral in terms of emotional association.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: Sergejus Tarasovas

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 6:42 PM

Subject: [tied] Re: There was a crooked snake

--- In cybalist@......, markodegard@...... wrote: > > Shouldn't someone comment about the place of those pet green snakes of > of the Balts? > And the Slavs as well. I suppose they (snakes, not the Balts and SLavs) were connected to the earth in the minds of their Slavic worshippers (cf. Slavic *zmIjI 'snake' < *(dH)gYHem- 'earth, ground' and an underground cave as home of the mythical giant snakes in Russian folklore). Balts, on the other hand, rather connected snakes with water (snakes in folklore often live in sea). Lith. gyva~te. 'snake' is 'vivid, nimble' (*gWi:w-) etymologically. Sergei