Definition

Noun: 1. A deity associated with snakes: A supernatural being, often depicted as or connected to serpents, worshipped within certain religious traditions. 2. A voodoo deity: Specifically, a god originating from African religious traditions, venerated in syncretic faiths like Haitian Vodou or Louisiana Voodoo, often symbolized by or possessing the qualities of a snake.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ceremony was dedicated to the snake god, asking for protection and wisdom.
  • In the local folklore, the snake god is both a creator and a trickster figure.
  • Devotees believe the snake god can bring healing or cause illness.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Context: The term is most precisely used in an anthropological or religious studies context to describe deities like Damballa (or Damballah Wedo), a primary loa (spirit) in Haitian Vodou who is represented as a great serpent and associated with creation, wisdom, and the sky.
• Mythological Context: More broadly, it can refer to any mythological figure from various world cultures where a deity takes a serpentine form or has dominion over snakes, such as certain Nāga kings in Hindu and Buddhist traditions or the Feathered Serpent deities (e.g., Quetzalcoatl) of Mesoamerica.

Variants and Related Words

• Serpent deity: A more general synonym.
• Ophidian deity: A formal, academic term using the Greek root for snake ().
• Loa: In Vodou, the term for a spirit or deity that may be served; some loa, like Damballa, are snake gods.

Synonyms

• Serpent deity
• Ophidian god
• (In specific contexts) Damballa, Aida Wedo

Related Phrases

• To serve the snake god: To perform rituals or make offerings to this deity.
  • The houngan prepared to serve the snake god during the ritual.
• Symbol of the snake god: Often a staff, serpentine imagery, or the colors white and blue (associated with Damballa).
  • The veve drawn on the ground was a symbol of the snake god.

Noun

1. a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies