The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Coiled Snake [ARK00031]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Bronze double headed snake in 14 - 15 tight coils. Some cultures regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. Snakes were also associated with immortality because they were observed biting their tails to form a circle and when they coiled they formed spirals. Circles and spirals were seen as symbols of eternity. "Item, a brass wreathed snake, in circles, having a head at both ends; dedicated to Eternity".]