10 Most Famous Snakes in Mythology from Around the World

Throughout human history, snakes have slithered their way into myths, legends, and sacred stories across the world. Often representing power, danger, and transformation, these creatures embody both creation and destruction. From divine guardians to fearsome world-enders, snakes in mythology symbolize the dual nature of life — both its potential for renewal and its lurking peril.

Here’s a list of the most fascinating snakes in mythology that have captured human imagination for millennia.

1. Nāga (Hindu and Buddhist Mythology – India & Southeast Asia)

Nāgas are divine serpent beings revered in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. These half-human, half-snake entities dwell in the netherworld and are considered protectors of water sources like rivers, lakes, and oceans. In Hindu mythology, Shesha — the king of all Nāgas — supports Lord Vishnu as he rests upon the cosmic ocean. In Buddhism, the Nāga Mucalinda famously sheltered the Buddha from rain while he meditated, symbolizing divine protection and enlightenment.

2. Jörmungandr (Norse Mythology – Scandinavia)

Known as the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr is one of Loki’s monstrous offspring. This colossal sea serpent encircles the world, biting its own tail — a motif that symbolizes eternity and the cyclical nature of existence. According to prophecy, Jörmungandr will release its tail during Ragnarök, the end of the world, rising from the sea to battle Thor in a final apocalyptic clash.

3. Python (Greek Mythology – Greece)

The great serpent Python was a guardian of the Delphic Oracle before being slain by the god Apollo. Its death marked Apollo’s conquest of chaos and his establishment of divine order. The slaying of Python was commemorated in the Pythian Games, one of ancient Greece’s major festivals. Python’s story reflects the ancient association of snakes with oracles, prophecy, and the transition from primal nature to divine order.

4. Apep (Egyptian Mythology – Egypt)

Apep, also known as Apophis, was the embodiment of chaos and the eternal enemy of the sun god Ra. Each night, as Ra traveled through the underworld, Apep attempted to devour the sun and plunge the world into darkness. Priests in ancient Egypt performed daily rituals to ward off this monstrous serpent, ensuring the sun’s rebirth at dawn. Apep represents darkness, destruction, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos.

5. Quetzalcoatl (Aztec Mythology – Mesoamerica)

Although not purely serpentine, Quetzalcoatl — the Feathered Serpent — is among the most revered deities in Aztec and Mesoamerican mythology. He symbolizes wind, knowledge, and creation. Unlike many snake figures, Quetzalcoatl represents benevolence and wisdom rather than evil. His name and imagery merge the serpent’s earthly power with the bird’s divine flight, signifying the union of heaven and earth.

6. Basilisk (European Mythology – Medieval Europe)

The Basilisk, often called the “king of serpents,” is a mythical snake so deadly that its gaze or breath could kill instantly. In medieval bestiaries, it was depicted as a serpent crowned like a monarch, symbolizing absolute power and corruption. The creature’s myth spread across Europe, often serving as an allegory for sin, pride, and the dangers of forbidden knowledge.

7. Kukulkan (Mayan Mythology – Central America)

Kukulkan, closely related to Quetzalcoatl, is the Mayan version of the Feathered Serpent god. He was associated with rain, wind, and fertility — forces vital to sustaining agriculture. The temple of Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá was designed so that during the equinox, sunlight casts a shadow that resembles a giant serpent descending the pyramid steps. This striking illusion shows the profound cosmic symbolism of snakes in ancient architecture and worship.

8. Tiamat (Mesopotamian Mythology – Sumer and Babylon)

Tiamat, the primordial goddess of the sea, often took the form of a massive dragon or serpent. In the Babylonian creation epic Enuma Elish, she is slain by the god Marduk, who uses her body to create the heavens and the earth. Tiamat embodies the chaotic waters of creation — a mother of gods whose serpentine form represents both origin and danger.

9. Rainbow Serpent (Aboriginal Mythology – Australia)

The Rainbow Serpent is one of the most enduring symbols in Aboriginal Australian mythology. It is believed to have shaped the landscape, creating rivers, mountains, and valleys as it moved across the land. Often associated with rain and fertility, the Rainbow Serpent embodies life’s creative and destructive cycles. Its vibrant imagery connects the spiritual and natural worlds in a uniquely harmonious vision.

10. Gucumatz (K’iche’ Maya Mythology – Guatemala)

Similar to Kukulkan and Quetzalcoatl, Gucumatz is the K’iche’ version of the Feathered Serpent, featured prominently in the Popol Vuh, the Mayan book of creation. He is depicted as a god of wisdom, creation, and the wind. Gucumatz helped form the first humans from maize, a sacred plant in Mesoamerican culture, linking the serpent once again to life and renewal.

Symbolism of Snakes in Mythology

Across all these stories, snakes represent transformation, knowledge, and the cyclical rhythm of nature. They shed their skin, symbolizing rebirth and immortality. In some traditions, they are divine protectors; in others, they embody chaos or deceit. Whether feared or worshipped, snakes have always mirrored humanity’s fascination with the mysteries of life and death.

From the Nāgas of India to the Jörmungandr of the North, snakes in mythology remind us that power often slithers in paradox — at once sacred and deadly, wise and wild, creator and destroyer.