The serpent is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols. In some cultures snakes were fertility symbols; they represented fertility, transformation, and rebirth. In others the serpent is believed to symbolize sexual passion and desire, wisdom, and power.

Throughout much of history the serpent was often considered one of the wisest creatures on earth, connected to the afterlife and immortality. It was been revered by many occultists as a creature representing hidden knowledge. The serpent is chosen as a symbol of wisdom for various reasons. It glides secretly, and for the most part unseen, on the surface of the globe just as wisdom, whether revealed from on high or inborn, is a concealed power potent either to illumine if rightly employed, or to destroy if misused.

• Amethyst (protection)

Widely used in ancient and modern literature, the serpent is revered as a character that is cunning, wise, and sometimes wicked. In Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Cask of Amontillado, Poe uses the symbolism of a serpent on the coat of arms to signify Fortunate's shady character as a snake, who then is stepped upon by Montresor. And who could forget the Slytherin house of JK Rowling's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Founded by Salazar Slytherin, the house is traditionally home to students who exhibit such traits as cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition.