Is this the reference you refer to:

"The people of Epirus sacrifice in general to Apollo, and on one day of the year they celebrate to him their chief feast, a feast of great magnificence, much reputed. There is a grove dedicted to the god, with a circular enclosure, within which are snakes -- playthings, surely, for the god. And they are approached only by the maiden priestess. She is naked, and she brings to the snakes their food. These snakes are declared by the people of Epirus to be descended from the Python at Delphi. And now, if when the priestess approaches them the snakes are seen to be gentle, and if they take to their food kindly, that is said to mean that there will be a plentiful year and free from diease; but if they frighten her and do not take the honey cakes she offers, they protend the reverse."



I agree that perhaps this all is a bit too off topic but the stories facinate me... The whole idea that these incredible creatures that are so villified were once so venerated rivals to me the Grail mysteries which are so in vogue now...

Out of curiousity, when you read the new breakthroughs in medical research on venom don't you just wonder about the whole Gilgamesh story with the serpent who steals the herb of immortality, or the same story applied to Aesculapius. I know what the convential (and perhaps likely) interpretations are, but just maybe they (our ancestors) knew something we are just learning... Or perhaps I'm just demonstrating my talent for bulls**t. Vale, Ciao, etc...
-----
Amor et Lux,

Ron



"The gods tolerate the human race for no other reason than our talent for [bleep]. It's the only thing about us that doesn't bore them to tears" Tom Robbins "Villa Incognito"

[ Show Entire Thread ]