Copper Snake

📍Mineral Wells, TX

From Church of St. Lawrence @ Lohja; Al-secco painted Lion of St. Mark, Copper snake, liberation of Israel from slavery, Cross, Spear, Redeemer's pierced heart and Deluge (2017)

Yurlungur Also known as the Rainbow Serpent, it is the creator god in the myths of Aboriginal Australia, and one of the oldest surviving continuous religion figures in the world, taking the form of a copper snake which shines in the colors of the rainbow. It came to earth in the form of a shooting star, and whenever it goes life and water are said to be abundant. In the arid conditions of Australian hinterlands, water is essential for life, especially the ones from the deep holes, which never run dry thanks to the power of the god. It is said that when a rainbow shines in the sky, it's a sign that Yurlungur is moving from one waterhole to another, which then starts to glow with the colors of the rainbow, and is thus considered sacred. It is also considered a deity of fertility in all senses, and while the god itself doesn't have a specific gender in the myths, or any at all, it is also considered a phallic symbol of sorts, which many legends allude to, being able to turn a young man into an adult. In the most famous stories it devours the sibling deities, the Wawalag sisters, after one of them starts giving birth and her blood attracts the serpent's attention. It is then bitten by an insect and regurgitates them, creating the region of Arnhem Land in the process. Legends also say the god is capable of impregnating woman with the "spirit-children" he leaves on ponds where they swim. It is also noteworthy that say the deity itself is a force of nature, being able to cause disastrous floods if ever angered.