“In some places, such as Nri, the royal python, éké, is considered a sacred and tame agent of Ala and a harbinger of good fortune when found in a home. The python is referred to asnne ‘mother’ in areas where the python is revered, it is a symbol of female beauty and gentleness. Killing of the python is expressly forbidden in these places and sanctions are taken against the killer including the funding of expensive human sized burials that are given to slain pythons.” (x)
“A public levy is made for giving elaborate burial rites when the python dies from natural causes. Every python has a human soul within it; this must be liberated by ritual after the death of the reptile. Any offence against the snake is an offence against the ancestor.” (x) p15
THAT’S. SO. SWEET.
Okay, want to know the practical reason for this:
What do ball pythons eat?
Rodents.
Ball pythons are sacred in central Africa for the exact same reason cats are in north Africa and the middle east.
They are guardians of the granary.
That and they’re docile. They curl up into a ball when scared rather than biting or feinting biting. (While constrictors aren’t venomous, some may behave like a viper and mock strike to drive off threats if startled). While they can bite, accidental bites are less common, they’re not going to strike you for accidentally reaching or stepping too close.
So they not only protected granaries, but they didn’t pose a threat to people as compared to other sorts of snakes which may bite or in the case of venomous ones, pose a threat to people and live stock.
So they fulfill the two key things humans like in other animals
1) Helpful to us 2) Not harmful.
They were called “Royal Pythons” because they’re calm enough that you can wear them like jewelry, which some royalty did. It’s human nature to like animals that let us touch them, hold them, use them as we see fit and don’t hurt us. Even among Christian Igbo the snakes are seen as a positive animal, a gift from god, because humans tends to see animals as “good” or “bad” based on if they pose any threat to us.
And that actually is fairly practical for humans to do, to distinguish ‘dangerous’ from ‘non dangerous’ and develop negative prejudices against ‘harmful’ and positive feelings towards “non-harmful/helpful” animals.
Music apprecciation day for HS11th; tried to set up a somewhat track-art for Pipeorgankind. Usually would have spent more time for a serious track-art but those are mostly for practice.
Its no secret that the oracles games are my favourite zelda adventure. The subplot about Queen Ambi and Cap’n is by far one of the most touching ones in zelda, right up there with the lovers mask. I just felt the urge to draw them. no world ending. no looming threat or chaos. Just two people that had been separated and longed to reunite.
still on my oracle kick. I mean, how would YOU react if you found out your grandpa was an undead pirate
I am Silver Tongue, I am an artist. I have many characters and you can check out my art in the art tag. I occasionally practice witchcraft though I don't do anything too complicated. I am girl 2 and don't know what else to put here.
