Long before temples rose in stone, people in Egypt already watched the creatures that shared their land. Among them was the snake. A child might see it glide through the dust near a house wall, or a worker might find one curled in the shade of a rock. No story was needed to explain its power — the sight alone was enough to stay in memory.
With time, these small moments turned into belief. The serpent was painted on crowns, carved on walls, and whispered about in prayers. It was not described only as a threat or a blessing, but as a living sign that the world held secrets beyond what the eye could see.
The ancient Egyptians chose snakes to play an important role in the ancient Egyptian belief, and this role was imagined by the Egyptians through the nature of snakes, it is known that snakes, every year, change their skin, and this process caught the attention of the ancient Egyptians, because it symbolizes a form of renewal that is equivalent to the renewal of time, and through this, snakes in ancient Egypt, especially the cobra snake, became associated in ancient Egypt with royalty.
According to ancient Egyptian belief, the ancient Egyptians called the cobra snake (jꜥrt) meaning raised or rising, and this may symbolize the shape of the Kubra snake's rising or rising body, because it is as if it were standing.
With time, these small moments turned into belief. The serpent was painted on crowns, carved on walls, and whispered about in prayers. It was not described only as a threat or a blessing, but as a living sign that the world held secrets beyond what the eye could see.
Snakes in Ancient Egypt: Why They Became Sacred Symbols
The ancient Egyptians chose snakes to play an important role in the ancient Egyptian belief, and this role was imagined by the Egyptians through the nature of snakes, it is known that snakes, every year, change their skin, and this process caught the attention of the ancient Egyptians, because it symbolizes a form of renewal that is equivalent to the renewal of time, and through this, snakes in ancient Egypt, especially the cobra snake, became associated in ancient Egypt with royalty.
According to ancient Egyptian belief, the ancient Egyptians called the cobra snake (jꜥrt) meaning raised or rising, and this may symbolize the shape of the Kubra snake's rising or rising body, because it is as if it were standing.
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| Snakes in Ancient Egypt Symbols of Power, Protection, Rebirth |
| Aspect | Snake Symbolism | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal | Snakes shed their skin each year | Seen as a sign of time, rebirth, and continuity |
| Royalty | Cobra (Uraeus) placed on crowns | Symbol of kingship, divine fire, and protection |
| Deities | Linked with goddesses like Wadjet, Hathor, and Isis | Represented motherhood, guardianship, and magical power |
| Afterlife | Snakes guarding gates of the underworld | Protected the sun god and the souls of the dead |
| Duality | Feared for venom, revered for strength | Symbolized both danger and divine protection |
The Uraeus Cobra: Royal Emblem of Fire and Protection
The ancient Egyptians envisioned that these snakes, especially the cobra snake in particular, would rise on the head of the god's crown to shoot flames out of its mouth, burning the god's enemies if they approached him in the ancient Egyptian belief.
Goddess Wadjet: The Cobra Protector of Lower Egypt
The ancient Egyptians also expressed the snakes associated with royalty with many symbols, the most important of which was the Wadjet snake, which means the green snake and also means the prosperous snake, and this word expressed by the ancient Egyptians for the oldest goddess of royalty in ancient Egypt, the green or prosperous goddess Wadjet, whom the ancient Egyptians considered the protector of the lower crown of Egypt and is responsible for caring for this crown and crowning the king and protecting him with her magical power. This serpent always adorned the royal crown worn by kings in ancient Egypt.
Infographic — Sacred Serpents in Ancient Egypt
👑 Uraeus Cobra
Royal fire on the king’s brow; spits flame to repel enemies.
🟢 Wadjet
“The Green/Prosperous One,” cobra patron of Lower Egypt and the Red Crown.
♻️ Renewal
Skin-shedding read as time’s renewal and the promise of rebirth.
🌞 Night Voyage
Sun boat passes through a cosmic serpent; coils = hours of the night.
🚪 Afterlife Gates
Serpents guard gates in netherworld books; breathe fire at intruders.
🧿 Magic & Protection
Spells/“Horus cippi” used against bites; serpent power turned to defense.
© historyandmyths.com — Educational use
Snakes in the Afterlife: Guardians of Time and the Dead
Because snakes were changing their skin every year, the ancient Egyptians imagined snakes expressing time, so in the religious books in ancient Egypt, we find that snakes symbolize, in the folds of their skin and their severe twisting, this time that is constantly renewed, and we find that in the journey of the sun god's boat in the sky, he must enter the body of a snake from its end in order to come out of the mouth of this snake.
This body that the sun god enters is the time that the sun god travels in the other world, so the ancient Egyptians imagined that the twists in the snake's body are equivalent to the cycle of time in ancient Egypt.
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| Symbolism of the serpent in the journey of the sun god |
Since snake's spew venom, the ancient Egyptians envisioned snakes as protectors of the gates and entrances to the other world. For example, in the Book of Gates, we find that each gate or otherworldly region is protected by a large serpent, and this large serpent breathes flame and fire to burn the bodies of enemies. In order to burn the bodies of enemies, and the bodies of those who enter this area, to do evil or for an evil purpose, and to protect the gods who dwell in this place.
Snakes in ancient Egypt were associated with goddesses specifically, and we found that this association has a reason, which is that snakes were laying eggs, and these eggs in ancient Egypt are a symbol of motherhood, and a symbol of femininity in general, and that is why all goddesses are depicted in the form of snakes, such as Hathor, Isis, Wadjet and others, and these goddesses may be depicted as decorated snakes in the other world responsible for caring, feeding and protecting the deceased in the other world.
These snakes appear in otherworldly books and serve as protectors of the bodies of the deceased in the afterlife. Therefore, we find that the deceased god in the form of Osiris, for example, or in the form of the sun god, is surrounded by a large, multifaceted snake. This snake's role or function is to protect the god with his weak body as he goes through the experience of entering the other world, protecting him from any danger or harm. This is why snakes protect the sacred body in the next world.
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| the deceased god in surrounded by a large snake |
In order to punish sinners, these sinners are placed in a burning furnace of fire, and this fire is ignited by goddesses in the form of snakes that breathe flames to burn the bodies of these enemies who attacked ancient Egypt, so the snake in ancient Egypt symbolizes the powers of good as depicted in many goddesses, and also symbolizes the power of these goddesses when they express their anger towards sinners, and also symbolizes the evil forces that must be eliminated or controlled in the next world.
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| snakes that breathe flames to burn the bodies of these enemies who attacked ancient Egypt |
Snake Symbolism in Egyptian Mythology and Magic Spells
The serpent also represents a state of danger and a state of harm. Magical spells must be recited to protect people from snake bites, as seen, for example, in the paintings known as the Horus Paintings, in which spells are recited to protect people from the bites of snakes, scorpions, and others. Thus, the snake symbolizes good on the one hand and evil that must be controlled on the other hand, in this world or in the next world.
Key Takeaways
- Snakes signified renewal and time through skin-shedding, a model for rebirth and continuity.
- The Uraeus cobra on royal crowns embodied divine fire, kingship, and protective power.
- Wadjet—the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt—guarded the Red Crown and legitimized rule.
- In afterlife texts, great serpents guarded gates and protected the sun on its night voyage.
- Magic against bites (e.g., Horus cippi) turned serpent power from threat into protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Egyptians link snakes with renewal?
Annual skin-shedding suggested cyclical time and rebirth.
What is the Uraeus?
A rearing cobra emblem on royal crowns signifying fiery protection and kingship.
Who is Wadjet?
Cobra goddess of Lower Egypt, patron of the Red Crown and royal legitimacy.
Did snakes guard the afterlife?
Yes; netherworld books depict serpents guarding gates and burning intruders.
How are snakes tied to the sun’s journey?
The sun boat passes through a cosmic serpent; coils mark night hours.
Were snakes seen as purely evil?
No. They embodied both danger (venom) and divine protection (apotropaic power).
What are Horus cippi?
Healing/ protective stelae with spells against bites and stings.
Which goddesses appear as serpents?
Wadjet, Hathor, and Isis can be shown as protective cobras.
Why do crowns show a rearing cobra?
To signal the king’s divine authority and the goddess’s vigilant defense.
Is the word “Uraeus” Egyptian?
The emblem is Egyptian; “Uraeus” is a later Greek term describing it.
How did people seek protection from snakes?
Through spells, amulets, and ritual water poured over Horus cippi inscriptions.
Do serpent symbols vary by region/period?
Yes; forms and emphases differ, but protection and renewal remain core.
References
- Wilkinson, Richard H. The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, 2003.
- Hornung, Erik. Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many. Cornell University Press, 1982.
- Teeter, Emily. Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt. Cambridge University Press, 2011.
- Pinch, Geraldine. Egyptian Mythology. Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Quirke, Stephen. Exploring Religion in Ancient Egypt. Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.
- Ikram, Salima. Divine Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt. American University in Cairo Press, 2005.
- Hart, George. A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Routledge, 2005.
- Allen, James P. Middle Egyptian. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Written by H. Moses — All rights reserved © Mythology and History
