Viper

The Viper in Ancient Egypt


 * Egyptian Name:**

//Fy// or //Neck//


 * Hieroglyphics:**



Vipers such as the Sahara Sand Viper, Painted Saw-scaled Viper, and the Horned Desert Viper were greatly feared in ancient Egypt, and many protective spells and amulets attest to their deadly venom. The Duat was thought to be guarded by viper demons of many kinds, some winged, others standing up on human legs, some spitting fire, and others armed with knives. These demons were some of the many hazards that the deceased had to face on their journey to the Afterlife.

The gods Atum and Amun were associated with the horned desert viper, which, because of its ability to shed its skin, was thought to have regenerative powers. Horned vipers were occasionally mummified, and numbers of them have been found at Thebes.

The Papyrus Insinger quotes a number of sayings concerning poisonous snakes:

"He who is bitten by a snake is afraid of a coil of rope."

"The hissing of the snake is more effective than the braying of the donkey."

"The snake on which one steps ejects a strong poison."

"A snake that is eating has no venom."

"The poison of a snake is in its mouth; the poison of an evil man is in his heart."

"Do not kill a snake and then leave its tail."

"Better a serpent in the house than a fool."

"Death comes to the snake because of its love of biting."

"The small snake has poison."

The Reptiles and Amphibians of Ancient Egypt

Plea to a Snake