Serpentum et Draconum Historiae

EThe Ancients varied much in this matter, so as to prescribe individual methods of treatment for individual kinds of snakes. Let us add to these the opinion of Wotton, a most learned man, who took Serpens (serpent), anguis (snake), and ὄφιν (ophin) as synonyms, and not without reason; for many others have established that anguis, serpens, and coluber (adder) are synonyms, relying on the authorities of the most illustrious men. Indeed, Virgil, in the second book of the Aeneid, when he had named them angues there, a little later called them serpentes. The same author, in the seventh book of the Aeneid, recounting the fury Alecto, who had cast a serpentem into the bosom of Amata, first called her an anguem, and then a colubrum. Aristotle also, in his books on the history of Animals, where he names ὄφις, Theodorus Gaza translates as angues, and some ancient interpreter explains as serpentes.

What Thyrus denotes.Furthermore, a serpent is also called a Thyrus, and although Thyrus chiefly signifies a viper, as many suppose, nevertheless, Thyrus is read everywhere in Albertus simply for a serpent; and the reason is (as we suppose) because θηρία (theria), according to Dioscorides, are called venomous beasts which leave behind venom by bite or sting. Hence θηριακὰ φάρμακα (theriaka pharmaka) are medicaments which heal the bites of venomous animals by banishing the virus; whence θηριακὴ (theriake)—that is to say, an antidotus (antidote) effective against all poisons, which is prepared from many simples and the flesh of vipers. It is also called echydna, which word properly indicates a female viper. But Ovid used it for the hydra killed by Hercules in these verses:

F

Lib. 3. fast.> The blood of the Lernaean Echydna mixed

With the blood of the Centaur gave no aid in any time.

The same Ovid used this word for any serpent whatsoever when he wrote:

L. 9. metamor.> Thou also, Lernaean serpent, shalt be one of the Echydnae.

Finally, Draco (dragon) is also read for any serpent whatsoever among authors not to be despised. In Greek it is ὄφις, and today among the Greek common people, with the true name corrupted, it is pronounced ὀφίδι (ophidi). This name is derived παρὰ τὸ ὄπτω (para to opto) or ὄπτομαι (optomai)—that is, I see—either because a serpent sees most acutely among other living creatures, or because it takes sleep with its eyes open. The Cretans (as Hesychius reports) called the ὄφιν (ophin) δίφατον (diphaton). Otherwise, according to Hesychius, what ἀργάς (argas) or ἄργας (argas) is.

What Arges is.What ἄργας (argas) is, and not without reason, for the Dorians, and most especially the Argives, designated the snake as ἀργᾶν (argan). Some have wished for this to be an epithet of a serpent, since ἀργὸς (argos) is explained as white, sometimes sluggish and idle, and sometimes swift by antiphrasis. Timarchus the Rhodian, however, does not deem it to be so called according to the language, but that it is a certain kind of serpent. Truly, it is the case that among some authors ἀργᾶς (argas) or ἄργης (arges) is reported to be a certain species of serpent, but afterwards it is not explained what it is, and what conditions it enjoys. Hippocrates also mentions a serpent which is called Arges in these words:

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Lib. 5. de morb. popul.> A certain youth, having drunk much undiluted wine, was sleeping on his back in a certain dwelling. A serpent called Arges entered his mouth, and when he had felt it, and could not speak, he gnashed his teeth, and devoured the serpent, and was held with great pain, and held his hands outstretched, just as one who is being strangled, and he died in convulsions.

Nevertheless, from this discourse of Hippocrates, it cannot be elicited what species of serpent is to be understood by Arges. It will be better, therefore, to attest from Pausanias that this name is general and comprehends any serpent whatsoever; for he himself called Mercury Argiphontes (slayer of Argus), because he was ὀφιοκτόνος (ophioktonos)—that is, a serpent-killer. To the aforementioned, let us add that Demosthenes was nicknamed Argas, because he had serpent-like manners far above all others. Besides the fact that many Greek authors write ἄργην (argen) for ὄφιν (ophin), serpents are finally called κνώδαλα (knodala) among Nicander; the scholiast, however, reports that it is said there abusively, if indeed κνώδαλα in their proper meaning are called τὰ θαλάσσια (ta thalassia)—that is, maritime animals—παρὰ τὸ κινεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ ἅλι (para to kineisthai en te hali), that is, because they move in the sea. The other Greek poets, however, have also used this word for a terrestrial beast.

Why Mercury is called Argiphontes.

In Theriacis.

H

Hebrew names.The Hebrew words Nachasch and Schephiphon designate a serpent, although some write that schephiphon is a species of serpent so called from hissing. Leviathan, however, is explained by some as an aquatic serpent. Otherwise Thaninim in Hebrew and Thaninaiah in Chaldean indicate dragons and serpents, which word Moses is said to have used when he changed his staff into a serpent before Pharaoh. In Arabic, and especially in Avicenna, Haie is read for serpent. Andreas Bellunensis confirms this when he establishes Haie or Hadare as names common to serpents. In Spanish, Sierpe. In French, un Serpent. In German, Ein schlang, perhaps a name distorted from anguis.

C. 7. Exod.