Show serpent big figure in mythology and history considering that the serpent alone among the lower creatures can travel with speed upon land or upon water can climb trees swallow other creatures of much greater girth than itself go without food for incredibly long per periods lods has eyes protected by a very strong horny substance so BO that it can squeeze itself into stony crevices without damaging its eyesight possesses the ability to fascinate birds and small animals so that they are helpless to make their escape can inflict death by a bite etc it Is not to be wondered at that it figures largely in ancient mythology and history as also in biblical lore egypt india africa found place for it among gods at one period in their history the israelites also paid it divine honors 11 II 11 kings in tropical countries where it Is found in greatest number and widest variety it Is the dread and curse of the countryside and fear Is often an elementary ingredient of natural religion mesopotamia the original home of the human race Is especially infested with serpents sometimes in numbers almost incredible the mouth of the euphrates in some flood seasons being a great moving mass of the horrifying creatures |