Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently i was looking at some Aztec codexes - many of the representations of serpents are tricolors (the other major theme being rattlesnakes). Also in Hopi iconography tricolor, or banded, serpents appear frequently --- i guess it is only normal that early americans found these serpents to have praeternatural qualities and attributes considering their beauty -- do you know of any other references to tricolors in art or iconography --- or any stories of milk snakes:

I heard the story of farmers thinking the milk snakes were drinking milk of their cows,... also how in Mexico they believed the snakes would find suckling babies and put their tails in the babies' mouth to keep him busy while they suckled the mother.... anyone heard of any other myths or legends surounding tricolors?

"in Mexico they believed the snakes would find suckling babies and put their tails in the babies' mouth to keep him busy while they suckled the mother"

LOL!!,..yes, that one was always good for a great laugh of course.

I can't think of any others though regarding tricolors specifically.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I've heard a few people tell me they've seen adders, which I later found out were "milk adders" or eastern milk snakes. Apparently even a non-mimic can be mistaken for a venomous snake.

I can't see the resemblance between eastern milks and copperheads or timber rattlers. I know some people think they're exactly alike, I suppose that's why some people claim they are in fact a species of adder.

In a lot of paintings of Adam and Eve in Eden, a tricolor is used to depict Satan in the form of a snake. Probably a coral snake, though. I suspect many cultures viewed the milk snake as "deceptive" or "cowardly" because it mimics a coral snake.

crocacutus