Whether you love or fear snakes, these reptiles have been steeped in symbolism across numerous cultures throughout history.

Snakes and snake shapes often show up in decorative arts. They are among the oldest, most common symbols in history, standing for concepts like wisdom, healing and renewal.

pre-Christian Western civilizations also regarded the snake as a positive symbol of wisdom, healing, regeneration and protection. In ancient Greece, the serpent was a sacred creature wrapped ...

The caduceus, a staff with two snakes coiled around it, has been the symbol of the medical field for centuries, going back to ancient Greek mythology where the God of Healing Asclepius would use ...