Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

Serpent-like destroyer at the threshold

serpent_like_destroyer_at_the_threshold

A motif of the Serpent and Serpent Guardian family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


roman

  • The Aeneid of Virgil BOOK FIRST / THE COMING OF AENEAS TO CARTHAGE / BOOK SECOND / THE STORY OF THE SACK OF TROY; lines 1149-1237 confidence: high

    Pyrrhus stands at the doorway in shining arms and is compared to a snake emerging after winter. With Periphas, Automedon, and Scyrians, he throws flames on the roof and breaks open the brazen-plated doors, exposing Priam's halls and chambers.

    Pyrrhus appears at the palace doorway and is explicitly compared to a snake emerging into daylight before he breaks through the doors.

    read in the book