Snake is considered a bad sign in many cultures . A snake is a symbol of something evil and unpleasant. Perhaps the basis of this attitude towards the reptile is Christian history. After all, the serpent became the adversary of Adam and Eve, thanks to which the ancestors of the human race were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Therefore, the phrase "underwater snake" is offensive. And in more detail we will talk about this in this article.
Where does the beginning come from?
Before considering the expression mentioned above, we propose to turn to images from the mythology of different countries. Then it will become more clear where the biased attitude towards these reptiles begins:
- In Sumerian-Semitic mythology, the snake is a symbol of chaos and destruction. This is the cunning and perversity that the god of the sun destroys.
- The Scandinavians have their own attitude towards snakes. According to their legends, a snake named Nydogg is a symbol of evil in the universe. She lives at the roots of the cosmic tree and leaves no attempt to gnaw them.
- Hinduism also does not like snakes. Here they are a symbol of fiery chaos.
- As for the attitude of Jews towards snakes, it is even more hostile than that of Hindus. The snake here is a symbol of depravity, passionate sex drive, sinfulness.
- In Christianity, as mentioned above, the serpent is a symbol of temptation. This is Satan, who is the main enemy of God and Christians. It was the serpent that seduced Eve to taste the fruit of the tree of good and evil, which led to the fall of not only her, but also Adam, the wife of Eve.
Based on the foregoing, we can understand why the phrase "underwater snake" is used in abusive form.
Why exactly "submarine"?
With the snake it’s clear - she is a reptile and a temptress. And why is she underwater? The fact is that this adjective comes from the word "deck", which means a log with a hollowed core. Such a trough was used as a tub for feeding livestock. Snakes have a habit of falling asleep in a secluded place with the onset of cold weather. And one of these places they served as a deck. According to one of the assumptions, reptiles climbed into the stable to winter there. And they fell asleep under a heavy warm trough of logs.
There is another version. According to her, snakes never crawled into the crib. It is too noisy for them and unsafe. They were looking for secluded places in the forest, which included logs with "holes". Our ancestors knew about such features of snakes and were ready for the fact that the reptile could attack from the named shelter if it was disturbed by a dream. In the cold season , snakes pose a special danger, because they attack sleeplessness without warning. Hence the expression "submarine snake."
What is the insult?
In the expression "underwater snake" the meaning is precisely connected with treachery, unexpected meanness. So called in the old days a man who can stick a knife in the back. An insidious traitor, a woman - a temptress and a lover, just a vile and evil person - all of them, according to our ancestors, were underwater snakes. Now this expression has almost disappeared from speech. It can be found in classical literature, but it is almost impossible to hear. If only from elderly relatives or among villagers.
By the way, snakes are not insidious at all, despite this they are compared with insidious and vile people. So, if you encounter a reptile in the warm season, it will warn of its attack, frozen in place and hissing menacingly. And then, only if there is no other choice - the person does not want to leave her alone. If the biped does not pose a threat to the snake, then it will quickly creep out of its path.
Conclusion
“A gruel has tormented me, an underwater snake” - who does not know this folk song? In the people, this expression has already become a household word, as we know. Meanwhile, the snake is not such a terrible creature, as it is painted.