One time my wife's cat, Mitsy, was toying with a baby
snake outside while we watched her, and when the
snake finally gave up, to my shock, Misty grabbed it in her mouth and started to carry it to us. I literally threw my wife between me and the
snake and
ran inside. I'm not proud of that, but I would do it again. That's how afraid of snakes I am!
So here are my snakes:
AE 18,
Elagabalus, Markianopolis, ca. AD 203-222,
Obv: AYTKMAYPANTWNINOK;
Rev: MARKIANOPOLITWN around
snake emerging from basket, VF.
Moushmov 636, Hristova/Jekov No.6.26.5.11
var. (different
bust).
MYSIA, Atarneos. Circa 400 BC. Æ 11mm. Laureate
head of
Apollo right / Forepart of
horse right,
serpent above.
SNG France 129;
SNG Copenhagen 25.
And my favorite, with
Asclepius:
MYSIA,
Pergamon. Circa 133-27 BC. Æ 16mm, Demetrios, magistrate.
Obv: Laureate
head of
Asklepios right.
Rev: Serpent-entwined staff of
Asklepios.
SNG France 1828 ff.
Apparently the use of snakes in healing practices to the
Bronze Age, and probably earlier.