Near East Snake worship
ancient mesopotamians , semites believed snakes immortal because infinitely shed skin , appear forever youthful, appearing in fresh guise every time. sumerians worshipped serpent god named ningishzida. before arrival of israelites, snake cults established in canaan in bronze age, archaeologists have uncovered serpent cult objects in bronze age strata @ several pre-israelite cities in canaan: 2 @ megiddo, 1 @ gezer, 1 in sanctum sanctorum of area h temple @ hazor, , 2 @ shechem.
in surrounding region, serpent cult objects figured in other cultures. late bronze age hittite shrine in northern syria contained bronze statue of god holding serpent in 1 hand , staff in other. in sixth-century babylon pair of bronze serpents flanked each of 4 doorways of temple of esagila. @ babylonian new year s festival, priest commission woodworker, metalworker, , goldsmith 2 images, 1 of shall hold in left hand snake of cedar, raising right [hand] god nabu . @ tell of tepe gawra, @ least seventeen bronze age assyrian bronze serpents recovered.
christianity
contemporary christian culture identifies snake symbol of evil , of devil himself. snake handling religious ritual in small number of christian churches in u.s., characterized rural , pentecostal, particularly church of god signs following. practitioners believe dates antiquity , quote bible support practice, using references such (mark 16:18) , (luke 10:19).
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