Why is Satan symbolized by a snake in the Garden of Eden and not another animal? What is the meaning behind this?
Everyone knows the story of Adam and Eve, and how their initial sin led to them, and any future generations, being expelled from the Garden of Eden. Whose fault was it? Well, most people blame the serpent. After all, had the serpent not tempted Eve, none of this would have happened. But why the serpent? Out of all the animals in the garden, why that creature?
Well, there are a variety of reasons.
Why is Satan Symbolized by a Snake in The Garden of Eden?
The most obvious reason might be to teach a simple lesson; snakes are dangerous. In fact, snakes are so dangerous that they are one of the few things feared across the spectrum. A cat's hiss is meant to imitate a snake, because it will intimidate a foe. So, at its core, the symbolism of the snake teaches that these creatures should be hated, feared, and distrusted, which is a practical lesson for those who might try to interact with them. However, it's also important to keep in mind that serpents are commonly used symbols in many other mythologies. By depicting the serpent as the devil, it allowed Christianity to state in a more subtle way that the gods of other nations (and especially those gods with a serpent motif, like Egypt's Set) were not to be trusted.
It is also important to remember that snakes do not have a single, universal symbolism in Christianity. When Moses raised a serpent, it was as a symbol of salvation, for example. Depending on the book, the passage, and the implications, a serpent is not always the devil. Still, it's important not to handle snakes, lest ye be bitten.
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