Masonic Miscellanies – The Symbol of the Serpent 

The brass serpent (Nehushtan) constructed by Moses and set on a pole so that “if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived” (Numbers 21:9). Painting by William Blake.

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Among the Egyptians it was the symbol of Divine Wisdom when extended at length, and the serpent with his tail in his mouth was an emblem of eternity.

Ancient Egyptian Serpent – symbol of eternity. By Djehouty – Own work,

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The winged globe and serpent symbolized their triune deity. In the ritual of Zoroaster, the serpent was a symbol of the universe.

In China, the ring between two serpents was the symbol of the world governed by the power and wisdom of the Creator. The same device is several times repeated on the Isiac table.

By Giuliano Zasso – Armenian History in Italian Art – Հայոց Պատմության Էջեր,

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Higgins (Anacol. i, 521) says that, from the faculty which the serpent possessed of renewing itself, without the process of generation as to outward appearance, by annually casting its skin, it became like the Phoenix, the emblem of eternity; but he denies that it ever represented, even in Genesis, the evil principle.

Faber’s theory of the symbolism of the serpent, as set forth in his work on the Origin of Pagan Idolatry is ingenious.

He says that the ancients in part derived their idea of the serpent from the first tempter, and hence it was a hieroglyphic of the evil principle.

But as the deluge was thought to have emanated from the evil principle, the serpent became a symbol of the deluge.

He also represented the good principle; the idea being borrowed from the winged Seraphim which was blended with the Cherubim who guarded the tree of life — the Seraphim and Cherubim being sometimes considered as identical; and besides, in Hebrew, means both a seraph and a serpent.

But as the good principle was always male and female, the male serpent represented the Great Father, Adam or Noah, and the female serpent represented the ark or world, the microcosm and the macrocosm.

Hence the serpent represented the perpetually renovated world, and as such was used in all the mysteries.

Eve receives the forbidden fruit from a serpent in the shape of a woman; the angel expels Adam and Eve from paradise. Engraving by A. Capellan, 1772, after Michelangelo.

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Dr. Oliver brings his peculiar views to the interpretation, and says that in Christian Masonry the serpent is an emblem of the fall and the subsequent redemption of man.

In Ancient Craft Masonry, however, the serpent does not occur as a symbol.

In the Templar and in the Philosophic degrees— such as the Knight of the Brazen Serpent, where the serpent is combined with the cross — it is evidently a symbol of Christ; and thus the symbolism of these degrees is t closely connected with that of the Rose Croix.

The Serpent and Cross

A symbol used in the degrees of Knights Templar and Knight of the Brazen Serpent. The cross is a tau cross T, and the serpent is twined around.

Its origin is found in Numbers xxi. 9. where it is said, “Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole.

The Hebrew word Nes, here translated “a pole,” literally means a standard, or something elevated on high as a signal, and may be represented by a cross as well as by a pole.

Indeed, Justin Martyr calls it a cross.

Knight of the Brazen Serpent

’25th Degree: Knight of The Brazen Serpent’, page 361, ‘The Book of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry’ (1884), Charles T. McClenechan.

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The French name is Chevalier du Serpent d’ Airain.

The Twenty-fifth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The history of this degree is founded upon the circumstances related in Numbers ch. xxi. ver. 6-9:

“And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned; for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray unto the Lord that he take away the serpents from us.

And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

In the old instructions the Lodge was called the Court of Sinai; the presiding officer was styled Most Puissant Grand Master, and represented Moses; while the two Wardens, or Ministers, represented Aaron and Joshua.

The Orator was called Pontiff; the Secretary, Grand Graver; and the candidate, a Traveler. In the modern ceremonial adopted in the United States, the Council represents the camp of the Israelites.

The first three officers represent Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, and are respectively styled Most Puissant Leader, Valiant Captain of the Host, and Illustrious Chief of the Ten Tribes.

The Orator represents Eleazar: the Secretary, Ithamar; the Treasurer, Phinehas; and the candidate an Intercessor for the people.

The jewel is a crux ansata, with a serpent entwined around it. On the upright of the cross is engraved the Hebrew word, khalati, meaning I have suffered, and on the arms, nakhushtan, a serpent.

The French ritualists would have done better to have substituted for the first word, khatati, I have sinned; the original in Numbers being, kathanu, we have sinned.

The apron is white, lined with black, and symbolically decorated.

There is an old legend which says that this Degree was founded in the time of the Crusades, by John Ralph, who established the Order in the Holy Land as a military and monastic society, and gave it the name of the Brazen Serpent, because it was a part of their obligation to receive and gratuitously nurse sick travelers, to protect them against the attacks of the Saracens, and escort them safely to Palestine; thus alluding to the healing and saving virtues of the Brazen Serpent among the Israelites in the wilderness.

Text source: Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, vol. 2, 1929

Cagliostro’s Serpent Seal

Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, an 18th century Italian alchemist and Freemason used a serpent pierced by an arrow as his personal seal.

Nineteenth century occult writer Eliphas Levi has this to say regarding this emblem:

As explained by the cabalistic letters of the names Acharat and Althotas, it expresses the chief characteristics of the Great Arcanum and the Great Work.

It is a serpent pierced by an arrow, thus representing the letter Aleph, an image of the union between active and passive, spirit and life, will and light. 

The arrow is that of the antique Apollo, while the serpent is the python of fable, the green dragon of Hermetic philosophy.

The letter Aleph represents equilibrated unity. This pantacle is reproduced under various forms in the talismans of old magic. . . .

The arrow signifies the active principle, will, magical action, the coagulation of the dissolvent, the fixation of the volatile by projection and the penetration of earth by fire.

The union of the two is the universal balance, the Great Arcanum, the Great Work, the equilibrium of Jachin and Boaz.

The initials L.P.D., which accompany this figure, signify Liberty, Power, Duty, and also Light, Proportion, Density; Law, Principle and Right.

The Freemasons have changed the order of these initials, and in the form of L.’.D.’.P.: . they render them as Liberte de Penser, Liberty of Thought, inscribing these on a symbolical bridge, but for those who are not initiated they substitute Liberte de Passer, Liberty of Passage.

In the records of the prosecution of Cagliostro it is said that his examination elicited another meaning as follows: Lilia destrue pedibus: Trample the lilies under foot; and in support of this version may be cited a Masonic medal of the sixteenth or seventeenth century, depicting a branch of lilies severed by sword, having these words on the exergue: Talem dabit ultio messem – Revenge shall give this harvest.