--- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> 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.
>
>
> Piotr
>
We were told in school that there are two kinds of snakes in Denmark,
the adder (to be recognized by said two yellow spots), and the viper
(to be recognized by a zig-zag line down its back). Bur isn't it
strange that a snake should choose to have the symbol of snakeness,
the zigzag line, on its back (or is it the other way round)?
Torsten