Serpentum et Draconum Historiae

AFurthermore, it is taken by Hesychius for a fish, and among Aratus it is read as a star, Serpent; there is a riddle of this kind: "What things are the same in the sky, on earth, and in the sea?" and there, fish; and the answer is returned: Serpent, Bear, Eagle, Dog, and Hare; and Reusner, alluding to this, speaks in his Poetic Paradise in this manner concerning the star:

Serpents, Hares, Bears, Eagles, and Dogs,
The Earth possesses, as do the Sea and the Ether.

Moreover, ophis signifies a certain affliction of the head, which is otherwise explained in the schools of physicians as ophiasis: it happens when the hair first becomes thinned, and afterwards falls out at certain intervals in the likeness of a serpent, which affection must be referred to alopecia. Among Caelius Rhodiginus, ophis is read as a pericarp, a bracelet, or an arm-ornament, and not without reason, since it binds the arm in the manner of a circle or a serpent. Finally, ophis designates a feminine head ornament, because the hair is piled up in a slippery intertwining in the manner of serpents, which ornament Statius Papinius called a "suggested" head of hair.

B

SYNONYMS, AND THEIR ETYMOLOGY.

Large ornamental woodcut initial H featuring a figure and foliage.

THIS animal borrowed the name "Serpent" (Serpens) from the hidden approaches by which it creeps, since it does not proceed with open steps. Festus, however, derives this word from the Greek verb herpein, such that in the Latin version the letter S is added for the aspiration; just as hex, which word is explained in Latin as sex (six). This name (Serpent) encompasses all living creatures, both of masculine and feminine gender, which creep without the use of feet, or which have feet so small that they seem to creep rather than walk on feet; although lizards and other beasts of this kind, creeping on their belly and chest, should not be called Serpents, but rather creepers (repentes). Formerly, the Serpent was called Serpula by the ancients, if Festus has attained the truth. Otherwise, it is also called Coluber (snake), because it glides into slippery tracks with sinuous coils: for anything that slides easily while being held is called slippery (lubricum). Others deduce the etymology from the Greek verb kolobouros. Yet this name is not read in classical authors: for it signifies that which is mutilated in the tail, and if anything must be said concerning the origin of this word, it must be pronounced that one could have deduced Coluber from the chelydrus or chersydrus serpent, without much change of letters. Others nicknamed it Coluber from "cultivating shadows" (colendis umbris), which etymology Virgil regarding, sings thus:

C

Serpent: a name of common gender.

Etymology of Coluber.

Or the Snake accustomed to slink into a roof or shade.

L. 3. Georg.

The same Battista Mantuanus repeats this in this verse:

In Bucol.

Often the Snake lies hidden under the soft shade of the grass.

Although many of the ancients accepted Coluber for Serpent, and conversely Serpent for Coluber: others, however, understood Coluber as a peculiar species, namely the domestic serpent; others, above all, understood it as the water serpent. And therefore Theophrastus wrote that the water-snake (hydrus) withers when pools are dried up, and Theodorus Gaza translated hydrus as coluber. Ponzettus, also speaking of this, related that the Coluber is more cunning than many others; for it approaches the waters in order to cool itself and deposit its poison. Besides this name (Coluber), Colubra is read in approved authors, which is used for the female serpent. Victorius, however, understood by the "blind colubrae of the belly" not Serpents, but intestinal worms. To the aforementioned synonyms is added anguis (snake), since the Serpent is so nicknamed when it is as if "angled" (angulosus), almost always folded, and is never seen straight. And it is of common gender, just like Serpent, though it is more often used in the masculine gender, sometimes in the feminine by Varro. Indeed, in the ablative case, it is inflected as angue or angui. It is also a general name no less than Serpent; and although Servius drew this word only to serpents living in waters, yet it is said of terrestrial ones as well. Furthermore, Celsus attests that Serpent and anguis are the same animal with these words: The bites of serpents also require a treatment not too distant from—

D

Lib. 2. hist. plant. cap. 6.

Etymology of Anguis.

Lib. 5.