Snake [symbol in Arabia]

Symbol of fertility and prosperity widely distributed in Arabia and in the nearby regions (Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran) from the 4th-3rd mill. BCE onwards. In Arabia, the snake symbol developed in particular during the end of the 2nd and the 1st mill. BCE.

In Southeast Arabia, the symbol of the snake (see Symbols and representations) was largely represented during the Iron Age (1300–300 BCE) in the shape of small figurines in copper and appliques on pottery used in ritual contexts (gatherings including banquets, offerings in small sanctuaries, ceremonies involving processions, see Rituals). Dozens of these small figurines and appliques have been collected at several sites in the United Arab Emirates and in the Sultanate of Oman interpreted as ritual complexes, or ceremonial places (Salūt and Mudhmar in Oman, Bithnah, Masāfī, al-Qusais and Sarūq al-Ḥadīd in the UAE) (Benoist 2010; Benoist et al. 2013; Gernez et al. 2017; Karacic et al. 2017; Degli Esposti and Condolucci 2018) (figs 1–2).

In Eastern Arabia, rituals involving snakes are also recorded at the site of Qalʿat al-Bahrain during the late Dilmun period (6th-4th cent. BCE). Bowls containing snake skeletons generally associated with a few beads or pearls were found buried in the floor of two cultic rooms in the Palace of Ouperi (fig. 3). These snakes - most often represented by rat snakes or sea snakes - were probably buried alive in a textile bag placed in the bowl (Glob 1957; Lombard 1999).

In South Arabia, snakes are represented with other motifs on the pillars of the Banat ʿAd temples at al‑Sawdāʾ, Haram, Kamna, al-Bayḍāʾ, Maʿīn (Benoist et al. 2013). The snake was considered there as a symbol of the god Wadd, whose name is sometimes associated with the representation of a serpent, e.g., on the Minaic inscription M 244 from Yathill, commemorating the building of a temple of Wadd and in inscriptions from the Sabaean sanctuary of Wadd dhū-Masmaʿim.

In Northwest Arabia, snake figurines have also been found in Iron Age contexts, for instance in the temple of Taymāʾ (Hausleiter 2013).

Anne Benoist

References and suggested reading

• Benoist, A. 2010. Authority and religion in South East Arabia during the Iron Age, in A. Avanzini (ed.) Eastern Arabia during the first millennium BC. (Arabia Antica, 6): 109-143. Rome: “L’Erma” di Bretschneider.
• Benoist, A., M. Skorupka & S. Pillault 2013. Rituels associés au symbole du serpent en Arabie orientale au cours de l’Age du Fer (1200-300 av. J.-C.). L’exemple de Bithnah (Émirat de Fujairah), in I. Sachet (ed.) Dieux et déesses d’Arabie. Images et représentations: 381–429. Paris: De Boccard.
• Degli Esposti, M. & C. Condoluci 2018. Ḥuṣn Salūt in the Iron Age, in A. Avanzini & M. Degli Esposti (eds) Ḥuṣn Salūt and the Iron Age of South East Arabia (Arabia Antica, 15): 33–61. Rome: “L’Erma” di Bretschneider.
• Gernez, G., M. Jean & A. Benoist 2017. The discovery of a new Iron Age ritual complex in central Oman. Recent excavations near Adam. PSAS 47: 101–116.
• Glob, P.V. 1957. Snakes sacrifices in Bahrain’s ancient Capital. Kuml: 114–115.
• Hausleiter, A. 2013. Divine representations at Taymāʾ, in I. Sachet (ed.) Dieux et déesses d’Arabie. Images et représentations: 299–338. Paris: De Boccard.
• Karacic, S., M. Boraik, H. Qandil & H. David-Cuny 2017. Snake decoration of the Iron Age pottery from Saruq al-Hadid. A possible ritual centre? PSAS 47: 139–150.
• Lombard, P. 1999. Bahrain. La civilisation des deux mers. De Dilmoun à Tylos. Catalogue d’exposition présentée à l’Institut du Monde Arabe, 18-29 août 1999, Paris.