Auteur(s) : Liliane BODSON (Liège, Belgique)
Titre : Les Grecs et leurs serpents. Premiers résultats de l'étude taxonomique des sources anciennes
Revue : L’Antiquité Classique
Volume : 50
Date : 1981
Pages : 57-78

Abstract :
Ancient Greek herpetology is often assumed to be unrelated to the criteria and classification of modern science. The snakes have been stated to be unidentifiable from their characteristics and description as given in the ancient tradition, and therefore most of them have been declared “mythical” or fabulous”. Yet, when combined with the evidence available in modern herpetology, the ancient date from Greece both in texts and archaeological pieces are found to be more reliable than formerly expected. It is possible to identify the genera and even the species, in some well-documented cases. The examples developed in this article deal with the non-poisonous snakes (Colubrids) involved in the daily life and in the religion of ancient Greeks. The snakes related to deities such as Asclepios, the god of medicine, are especially involved in his cult and symbols: Elaphe quatuorlineata and Elaphe longissima.