Ron:

The example that comes to mind was a line in Aristophanes' comedy "The Clouds".

Strepsiades is being sent into a dark place by Socrates and he says: "Brr, it's as dark as a snakepit down there. Give me a honeycake to throw to the snakes, Socrates, or they'll eat me alive." (William Arrowsmith's translation).

I work in the pharmaceutical industry and of late snake venom has become a tool used in some purifications. So I think you're right, there is a modern echo to the dualistic feelings toward snakes and their attributes.

But if I switch my longissima from mice to honey cakes I fear they may eat me alive.

Best regards

John

[ Hide Replies ]

• Aesculapine Snake - Ophiophthalmos, Tue Feb 15 11:14:03 2005
• RE: Aesculapine Snake - nechushtan, Tue Feb 15 13:55:27 2005
• Ron: - jfirneno, Tue Feb 15 18:43:28 2005
• Ignore accidental post right above this one... - jfirneno, Tue Feb 15 18:46:08 2005
• RE: Aesculapine Snake - Ophiophthalmos, Thu Feb 17 12:48:32 2005
• RE: Aesculapine Snake - nechushtan, Thu Feb 17 15:45:52 2005
• RE: Aesculapine Snake - jfirneno, Sat Feb 19 17:24:17 2005
• Hellenic thought - nechushtan, Sun Feb 20 10:42:17 2005
• RE: Hellenic thought - nechushtan, Sun Feb 20 17:30:38 2005
• Ron, you have definitely immersed yourself in the literature... - jfirneno, Sun Feb 20 22:32:10 2005
• Aelian "On the Nature of Animals" - Nechushtan, Mon Feb 21 11:44:25 2005
• RE: Aelian "On the Nature of Animals" - jfirneno, Mon Feb 21 12:37:35 2005
• Maybe me...... - sjohn, Fri Feb 18 11:47:45 2005
• Excellent Scott ! NT - jfirneno, Fri Feb 18 20:36:05 2005