The Reflections of Serpent-Like Monsters in Greek Mythology: The Case Study of Archetype Theory
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Abstract
This article was aimed to 1) examine serpent-like monsters in Greek mythology and 2) explore the reflection of serpent-like monsters in two aspects: their appearances and their roles. The theoretical framework applied in this study was Carl G. Jung’s Archetype theory. The results revealed that 21 types of serpent-like monsters were identified, consisting of monsters in the form of extremely large serpents and those composed of more than one type of living being. Regarding the roles of these monsters, five distinct roles were identified, namely 1) servants 2) creators 3) victims 4) enemy killing tools 5) punisher. Furthermore, a symbolic analysis of these roles revealed that serpent-like monsters embody various symbolic meanings, including strength, death, resurrection, procreation, and deception. The findings of this study can be commercially utilized as inspiration for character design, backstory development, or plot creation in fantasy online games, movies, or novels.
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