amphisbaena - Appearance, Abilities, Uses, References in heraldry

A reptile native to South and Central America, Africa, SW Asia, and SW Europe; body worm-like with encircling rings; no legs or only front legs present; small eyes covered by skin; the only truly burrowing reptile; eats small animals; also known as worm lizard or ringed lizard. (Order: Squamata. Suborder: Amphisbaenia, 140 species.)

Amphisbaena (pronounced: /ˌæmfɪsˈbiːnə/, plural: amphisbaenae), Amphisbaina, Amphisbene, Amphisboena, Amphisbona, Amphista, Amphivena, or Anphivena (the last two being feminine), a Greek word, from amphis, meaning "both ways", and bainein, meaning "to go", also called the Mother of Ants, is a mythological, ant-eating serpent with a head at each end. According to Greek mythology, the mythological amphisbaena was spawned from the blood that dripped from Medusa the Gorgon's head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert with it in his hand. The amphisbaena has been referred to by the poets, such as Nicander, John Milton, Alexander Pope, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the amphisbaena as a mythological and legendary creature has been referenced by Lucan, Pliny the Elder, Isidore of Seville, and Browne, Sir Thomas, the last of which debunked its existence.

Appearance

The earlier descriptions of the amphisbaena depict what looks basically like a snake (perhaps an Indian Sand Boa), but with a head at either end.

Abilities

regenerative abilities - if the amphisbaena is cut in half, the two parts can rejoin venomous fangs - the amphisbaena is venomous, as Pliny the Elder indicates: "The amphisbaena has a twin head, that is one at the tail end as well, as though it were not enough for poison to be poured out of one mouth." efficient duplicity - the amphisbaena's heads can handle more than one task at once. speed - according to some accounts, the amphisbaena can slither (or run) very quickly, and, in the case of the limbless amphisbaena, it can slither in either direction, as Isidore of Seville indicates: "It can move in the direction of either head with a circular motion." rolling - by locking the jaws of its two heads or holding the neck of one in the mouth of the other, the amphisbaena can roll like a hoop, as depicted by medieval artists warmbloodedness - unlike most serpents, the amphisbaena was apparently unperturbed by the cold, as Isidore of Seville indicates: "Alone among snakes, the amphisbaena goes out in the cold."

Uses

pregnancy - pregnant women wearing an amphisbaena around their necks would supposedly have safe pregnancies; in accord with this, women in power would wear bracelets in the shape of amphisbaenae arthritis - wearing a dead amphisbaena or its skin would cure arthritis chilblains - wearing the skin of an amphisbaena will reduce this swelling of the hands caused by cold cold - wearing a dead amphisbaena or its skin is a cure for a cold woodcutting - nailing the skin of an amphisbeana to a tree before cutting it down will make it easier to fell the tree and keep the lumberjack warm

References in heraldry

As well as a legendary creature referenced by ancient historians and a monster from Greek mythology, the amphisbaena is a heraldic creature.