Sometime back in 2000 shortly after the release of Goblet of Fire Jo Rowling stated that Snake Mythology was important to the stories. This can be evident on the House Slytherin with it's Snake affiliation, to the Basilisk in the Chamber and Nagini as Voldmort's last Horcrux to be destroyed.

Here are some links to various sites about Snake Mythology:

Snake Mythology

Wiki Snake Mythology

From the above links there are mentions of Snakes being connected with Immortality, The Underworld and Water. These are important elements to the specific Hero's journey laid out for Harry Potter.

Snakes also have the duality of being revered and feared at the same time in various cultures. In the European countries there is the legend of St. Georg versus the Dragon. In South America there is the Snake-God Quetzalcoat, The plumed Serpent.

How significant is it that Nagini is the last Horcrux to be destroyed, even after Harry himself. Is Neville St. Georg?

In the grand scheme of things, I find it ironic that the one intentional Horcrux that was naturally mortal (despite the mythological beliefs of some cultures) was the last one to be destroyed. All of LV's other Horcruxes were "immortal" so to speak, save for physical destruction; Nagini, as a living organism, was bound to - at some point in time - die of natural causes, and therefore did not need to be destroyed in the long run (although Neville's way was certainly much better ).

I also like the connection Jo makes in the series between LV and the snake in the Garden of Eden. This may not have been intentional, but LV - who is obviously closely associated with snakes - has the very same character traits as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Both character figures were known for their ability to lure people to the Dark side (or Sin), and both eventually lost something important (LV lost his Horcruxes, and the Serpent lost his legs). I also notice that these losses could be interpreted as a morality tale: no matter what power evil seems to have that makes it difficult to overcome, there is still a way to overcome that power through good, ultimately weaken that particular evil for good.

I find it interesting that snakes are connected with immortality as this concept brings a very important facet to my interpretation of the HP series as a reader. The symbolism of snakes; and how Voldemort was a Slytherin and the fact that he chose a very dangerous snake as his one and only living Horcrux. Voldemort has always been obsessed with his own immortality; could this fear of dying be related to the fact that his mother Merope, a witch, succumbed to death? Did Nagini symbolize Voldemort's being the true Slytherin heir?

I really like your sentiments above, harrypottergeek2 and I am very much in agreement. I too believe that there is a connection between Voldemort and the snake in the Garden of Eden. This brings to mind that in many churches we see the statue of the Virgin Mary standing upon the serpent. This, in my opinion, symbolizes Lily and how she sacrificed herself for the love of her son. She gave Harry a lingering protection that ultimately caused Voldemort's downfall, the serpent who was crushed and defeated.

Excellent points, Lirene!

I think Tom had always had a certain fear of death growing up in the orphanage, but it wasn't very pronounced until he found out he was a wizard. Notice his logic when trying to figure out which of his parents were muggles: he assumed that it was his father, thinking that his mother would have been able to save herself - at least from a death from giving birth - if she was a witch. I think it wasn't until he realized that it was in fact his mother who was magical that his quest for immortality began. He may have began pondering how magic could keep him alive forever as soon as he found out he himself was magical, but I don't think it was until he found out about his parentage that his desire to conquer death consumed him.

As for his choice of Nagini as his only (intentional) living Horcrux, I think there are several reasons: he may have chosen a snake to represent the Slytherin blood that literally flows through his veins, but I don't think that was his main reason, as he already had the ring and locket for that (as a side note, does anyone understand how the diary was proof of his Slytherin heritage? That never really made sense to me). I think Nagini was chosen for two main reasons:

1) he wanted a mortal being as a Horcrux to further establish his conquering of death. By immortalizing one being (or rather, protecting one being from death for as long as possible; Nagini wasn't actually immortal - as far as I know, anyway), he was immortalizing himself as well.

2) his gift for speaking Parseltongue was incredibly unique, so by chosing a mortal being that represented/symbolized this uniqueness, he felt he was empowering/enhacing that aspect of himself.



Interesting... I never noticed that before. Just goes to show how often I go to church, I guess .

Bringing up the Tempter in Eden reminds me of what the Locket does to Ron. So it seems that Voldemort does have a "corrupting" quality. Even his physical features take on snake like aspects.

I found the water connection to be interesting because I was never sure before the Memerson interview what elements the houses would be. So now we know, does the water aspect refer to the "slick" and "silvery tongue" ways of how Tom Riddle gets what he wants? Why are Snakes so entwined with Water?

I think snakes are associated with water because Snake Symbolism has much to do with the Feminine, and Water is one of the Feminine "elements" (Earth being the other, while Fire and Air are typically Masculine). Earth absorbs Water, and indeed, without Water, Earth cannot be fertile - they are complementary to each other. Fire and Air are also complementary elements, but too much air can fuel and spread the destruction which fire always has the potential to render. Both Earth and Water temper Fire, and Air is necessary to organic life - so as long as they remain in balance creation can take place.

Snakes regularly shed their skin (our snake sheds hers almost monthly) which corresponds to the feminine creative cycle, allowing the potential for growth and renewal, yet also signaling an end to a cycle already completed. This closure can mark new beginnings, or cripple us in regret and longing for the Past. That the Final Horcrux is Nagini the Snake , signaled to me that Voldemort wanted a source of constant renewal, anchored in the Past, particularly his past - but in form that was dependent upon him, and therefore did his bidding as he wanted. He enslaved Nagini and assumed a superior position, yet without her, his final link to who he thought he was could not go on.

As has been said the snake or rather serpent was present in The Garden of Eden. It is the serpent who tempts Eve with fruit from the Tree of Forbidden Knowlege. Do not Horcruxes and use of The Dark Arts in the quest for immortality constitute forbidden knowlege? So it is symbolic of this that Voldemort would choose the snake, Nagini, as his familiar.