Symbolic snake
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The Symbolic snake, alternatively Symbolic serpent, is a metaphor, symbol, and often an image, associated with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, employed by antisemites, to represent Jews as proceeding to encircle Europe, and subsequently, by 1920, as conquering or proceeding to dominate the world (See Anti-globalization and antisemitism). Sometimes the image used is that of an ouroboros.
The source of this image is the so-called Protocol III of said antisemitic text. It is available online and allegedly derives from at least the 1921 fifth edition of this text, i.e., published by The Britons, of 62, Oxford Street, London, W.1. The 3rd Protocol, in this imprint, is translated from the Russian language as follows:
: PROTOCOL III. 3.1.
- Today I can assure you that
- we are only within a few strides
- of our goal. There remains only
- a short distance and the cycle of the Symbolic Serpent
- — that badge of our people —
- will be complete.
- When this circle is locked,
- all the States of Europe will be enclosed in it, as it were, by unbreakable chains.
The 1934 imprint, by The Patriotic Publishing Co., derives from a different translation of the Russian text, and reads as follows:
: PROTOCOL NO. 3
- The Symbolic Snake and its significance. ...
- To-day I may tell you that our goal is now only a few steps off.
- There remains a small space to cross and the whole long path
- we have trodden is ready now to close its cycle of the Symbolic Snake,
- by which we symbolize our people.
- When this ring closes, all the States of Europe will be locked in its coil as in a powerful vice.
In fact there is nothing in Judaism or history to support this idea of The Protocols. There is a snake or serpent in Judaism, namely the Biblical serpent who tempted Eve into eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. In that regard, this creature is associated with Evil.
