رمزية الثعبان في الفن القبطي و الإسلامي : القرن الثاني-القرن السابع عشر الميلادي

Abstract EN

The snake is considered an important symbol of creation and good in Ancient Egyptian civilization; however, it sometimes even symbolized evil.

Furthermore, this symbol was used by Coptic artists in many paintings, sculptures, and applied arts.

The snake appeared in many pictorial presentations derived from religious stories.

This pattern was still in use during the Islamic era.

The snake appeared in many miniatures that tell Adam and Eve's story, the Devil temptation, and their expulsion from heaven along with the snake, the peacock, and the Devil.

Despite that symbolism of evil and temptation to disobedience, the snake's representation played another role when it appeared in the Islamic hospitals as a symbol of healing, and on other occasions, as a symbol of protection stinging away evils and pests.

The research aims to study snake symbolism in Coptic, Byzantine, and Islamic periods contemporary to the Renaissance in Europe and Shed light on snake symbolism in various forms of art, such as painting, miniatures, sculpture, and applied arts.