In ancient Greek culture, snakes were deeply intertwined with religious and spiritual beliefs, often associated with both protective and chthonic forces. They were considered sacred creatures connected to deities such as Asclepius, the god of healing, and the chthonic gods like Hades and Persephone. The serpent’s shedding of its skin symbolized renewal and immortality, making it a potent emblem in rituals and mythology.

One of the most prominent associations was with Asclepius, whose sanctuaries often housed sacred snakes. These non-venomous serpents were allowed to roam freely in healing temples, where the sick came to seek cures through incubation rites. Patients would sleep in the temple, hoping for dreams in which Asclepius or his snakes would reveal remedies. The snake, as a symbol of medicine and rejuvenation, remains immortalized in the Rod of Asclepius, a symbol still used in modern medicine.

Snakes also featured prominently in the worship of household deities and hero cults. Many homes had altars dedicated to agathos daimon (“good spirit”), often depicted as a serpent. These protective spirits were believed to bring prosperity and safety to the household. In hero worship, snakes were often linked to the spirits of the dead or the heroes themselves, symbolizing a connection between the living and the underworld.

The chthonic aspect of snakes tied them to the earth and fertility. They were often depicted alongside Demeter and Persephone in their roles as agricultural and underworld deities. In the Eleusinian Mysteries, sacred rites dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, snakes may have played a symbolic role, representing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth inherent in the myths of these goddesses.