In covering symbolism in Middle Eastern belly dance, one would be remiss if not mentioning another important animal. Snakes, especially cobras, have played an integral part in dance. Their reticulating, sensuous movements are copied in so many dance movements.

As with camels, snakes are part of life in the Arabian Desert.  It is no wonder their slithering undulations have been mimicked by dancers. As with camels, they are misunderstood creatures.

I will cover dancing with snakes in a future article. In this I will cover cobras, their characteristics and why they play a role in belly dance.  They are not the type of snake one would ever dance with!

In Egypt, the Egyptian Cobra or Asp is one of the most common found in Africa. It was made most famous by Cleopatra who chose “suicide by snake bite” as her last act. The Pharaoh in Egypt wore an emblem with a wide-hooded cobra as a symbol of protection. In the Egyptian “Book of the Dead,” the cobra is a symbol of the earth.  The famous Ouroborus sign shows a snake swallowing its tail as a sign of the circle of life. The cobra is also the distinctive emblem of the Kingdom of Lower Egypt in the Egyptian royal house. The snake goddess of Buto or Pe, an ancient sanctuary on the Nile delta was Wadjyt, a fertility goddess. Another snake goddess of the Nile delta was Wazel.

Snakes, serpents, cobras have attained a rather unsavory and unwarranted reputation throughout history, especially in Biblical history. In the Book of genesis, the snake represents deceit in the downfall of Adam and Eve. In the Book of Revelation, Satan is depicted as a serpent.

Yet, in non-Christian cultures in India and Southeast Asia, the snake is revered. Hindus consider snakes the manifestation of Shiva, the god of destruction and regeneration.  Buddhists believe that a massive cobra spread its hood over the Buddha to protect him from the sun as he meditated. The images of cobras guard the entrances to many Hindu and Buddhist temples. On the Hindu’s annual lunar holiday of Nag Panchamij, Hindus refrain from plowing and field work out of respect for cobras.

King Cobras have been worshipped as sun deities and have been associated with rain and thunder.

Snakes also play an integral role in Cambodian, Greek, Nordic and Native American mythology. Snakes represent wisdom, knowledge, protection, sensuality, creativity, fertility and are phallic symbols.

The most sensuous moves of the dance are those that take their inspiration form the snake.In belly dance, head glides and cobra slides copy the movements of a hooded cobra. Rib articulations mimic the undulations of snakes as they move about the ground. Floorwork puts dancers in contact with the earth and many of the floor moves are snake-like. Dancers often hiss at other dancers in approval of the snake-like belly rolls, ribcage glides and head slides. Using the veil as a hood replicates the mystery of the cobra when a cobra stands and rears its head hooding itself (called uraeus) in a natural defensive posture, a warning signal to its enemies.

There are hundreds of types of cobras.  They are venomous, not poisonous cold-blooded reptiles. Though they spew a deadly venom, they are edible to predators. The King Cobra is the largest and most venomous snake in the world. Found is most of Africa and Southern Asia, the cobra adapts to life in cultivated areas and villages. Though feared, when encountered they usually try to escape and avoid confrontation.

Cobras can not only bite but inject venom toward an enemy (usually aiming for the eyes). A King Cobra bite is the more serious than any other cobra species. Though about 45% of bites are blank (without venom), once bitten the mortality rate is about 10 out of 35. One bite can inject enough venom to kill an elephant. Men are bitten more than women, since more men handle snakes as a rule. A cobra bite cause immediate pain to the area bitten, tissue swelling, an altered mental state, nerve dysfunction, salivation, nausea, vomiting, paralysis of neck and jaw muscles, shortness of breath and chest pain. If antvenin (made from cobra venom) is not administered quickly, one would die. If one is spit in the eye, one suffer permanent vision problems or blindness.  

Yet, there are still snake charmers who use cobras as a form of entertainment and income. Originally part of religious ritual, snake charmers were priestesses who dealt with women’s issues like fertility, menstruation (like a snake shedding its skin to begin anew) and conception. The figure of Minoan, a snake goddess, is depicted with hooded snakes in both her hands. Snake charming is now a handed-down profession, usually with men as charmers. The profession originated in India as a form of magic. Charmers understand the cobra and their behavior. They can predict a bite. Some cheat by illegally removing the fangs or venom sacs from their snakes for safety. When the lid to the basket is removed, the snake is essentially startled and takes on a defensive stance, the hooded cobra that we are most familiar with. They do not “hear” the music of the flute but react to its vibrations and mimics the moves of the charmer. In the US it is illegal to keep a cobra as a pet.

Cobras are intelligent, learn quickly, can “hear” through ground vibrations, are not blind and see very well at night and have superior smelling ability. They eat birds, fish, frogs, toads, lizard eggs, chicks from chicken coops, rats, rabbits and other snakes. They generally stay away from humans, realizing that humans are too large for them to swallow and digest. A large Kind Cobra can weight 35 pounds. They live 20 years and beyond.

The King Cobra is the only snake in the world that builds a nest for its young, on the ground. The female lays 20-40 eggs with an incubation period of 60-90 days. The male stays with the female and assists with nest duty, guarding and hunting. The “hatchlings” have enough venom to kill. The cobras only predators are man and the mongoose.

Isn’t it fascinating to learn about the symbols that helped create the magical art form of Middle Eastern belly dance?

Camels are known as “ships of the desert” for good reason. They move both legs from the same side of the body at the same time. Thus, they mimic the slow rolling motions of a ship at sea.

The Arabic camel, the Dromedary (one hump not two) is found in the Middle East. It’s not surprising that the undulating motion one experiences while riding atop a camel is the same as that used in Middle Eastern belly dance. In our dance form, we call the undulation, surprise of surprises, the ‘camel walk.” There are different versions of the “camel walk” we will cover in future articles. Camels have become symbols of belly dance.

Interestingly enough, giraffes also have the same method of walking as the camel. If the dance originated in Kenya, belly dancers would probably be dancing the “giraffe walk.”  Camels, however, are fascinating and misunderstood creatures.

Contrary to what most think, camels don’t spit. They do “throw up” when they feel threatened. They do moan and groan, bleat, bellow and roar. Most times, though, they are rather quiet. They are also rather docile. They seek attention, are inquisitive, affectionate but can be a bit emotional and unpredictable.

A Dromedary camel stands about six-feet tall at the shoulder, seven-feet tall at the hump. The hump rises about thirty-inches from the body. They weigh between 1,000 and 1,600 pounds.  Camels can run 65mph in short bursts but can sustain a speed of 25mph.

These hot-climate camels are adapted to harsh, dry desert conditions. Their eyes have a thin membrane that’s like a clear inner eyelid that protects the eye from blowing sand yet allows in enough light for the camel to see. Double rows of long eyelashes and bushy brows also keep out the sand. They can close their nostrils to keep out sand as well.

Camels are basically herbivores but have been known to eat fish. They have large, tough lips adapted to pick up dry vegetation, including thorny plants. Each half of their split upper lip moves independently to help it grip short grass from the ground. Like cows, they regurgitate food back up from their stomach to chew it again.  Their stomachs are divided into three sections for this purpose.

Large, broad feet do not sink into the sand. Broad, flat leather pads with two toes on each foot. Though they do not have cloven hooves, they are not considered kosher. Camel milk is low fat. Though they are mainly beasts of burden their meat is eaten their skinned tanned into leather, their fur used as wool and their dung used as fuel. A camel can carry 200 pounds for 20 miles in a harsh desert without food or water. Camels have been domesticated for over 3,500 years.

Camels can go a week or more without water and several months without food. When they do drink they can drink 30 gallons of water in 13 minutes.

The Bedouins, desert nomads, used to rely on camels for transportation. These days, four-by-fours serve the purpose. Camels used to be a sign of wealth. The more you owned, the richer you were.  This is part of a joke in Egypt. As a side note, my husband was asked by an Egyptian, “How many camels would you take for your wife?” Too many! 

Symbolism has become a very popular topic since author Dan Brown’s novels have been adapted to the silver screen. Through the centuries, symbols have fascinated humankind.

It is not surprising that symbols are found in Middle Eastern dance. In future articles, I will be covering a few of the more important symbols in depth. In the meantime, here are a few of the most popular found in belly dance:

The Belly: Like the hillside, the naval of the earth, the whole body rotates around it.

Long Hair: To the Bedouin nomads, the seat of the soul.

Isolations and Contractions: Like those used in labor and childbirth. They celebrate women’s power to give life. The abdominal muscles and thighs are integral in childbirth. An earth dance.

Bare Feet: To be at one with and grounded with the earth.

The Drum:  Like the heartbeat. Life itself.

The Veil: Mystery. Modesty. Used to keep desert sand away from one’s face and body.

Coins in Costuming: Poor girls in Greece danced for their dowry and sewed coins to a scarf at their hips. A “saving’s account.” A “dowry dancer.”

Tassels: Found as part of the tack used on camels as they traverse the desert. Colorful.

The Snake: In Egypt, the symbol of immortality. In Roman and Victorian times a sign of good luck. The sinuous movements of the cobra are an integral part of belly dance.

The Camel: The undulations created when riding a camel are emulated often in belly dance.

Canes/Sticks: Were used by warriors to prepare for battle. Women watching incorporated them into their dance.

Swords: The same as for canes/sticks.



  

I am often asked about the different styles of belly dance. Styles seem to be ever-evolving where the word "authentic" seems to not exist. "Authentic" depends upon the part of the world where the dance is perf