Dragons of Fame

King of Snakes (Serbian)

Type/Species: Snake
Origin: Serbian Folklore

History: There once was a shepherd tending his flock who heard the hissing of a snake. Curious, he walked towards the hissing to see what was going on. He then saw that the snake was near a forest which was burning. The snake was hissing at the flames, by which he was surrounded.The shepherd watched because he was interested in what the snake would do.

The snake looked up and said, "For GOD's sake, save me!" So the shepherd reached out the crook of his staff, and the snake slithered on to it. The snake then slithered over the man and around his neck, and he was fearful because he believed the snake was going to kill him. The snake, however, told the man to take him to his father, the king of snakes, who would reward him. The shepherd worried for his flock, but the snake assured him that they would be all right.

So the shepherd carried the snake to the king of snakes, whose palace gates were covered in snakes. But they openned as soon as the snake spoke to them. The snake then told the shepherd, "My father will grant you anything, from silver to gold to jewels, but ask instead for the gift to speak to animals. He will hesistate, at first, but then he will grant it to you."

So the shepherd came before the king of snakes with his son, whom the snake was glad to see. The king of snakes then asked the man how he could repay him, and the shepherd asked for the ability to understand the language of animals. The king of snakes refused, telling him that it would not be wise for a human to have such a gift; after all, should he tell anyone he had it, he would die. The shepherd refused all other gifts and turned to leave. The king of snakes resigned himself and gave the man the ability to understand the language of animals.

When he returned to his flock, he overheard ravens reporting that there was much gold under the earth where he tended the flock. He send for his master and told him; his master dug it up yet let the shepherd keep it. With this, the shepherd became rich, married, and had his own shepherds to tend his flock. One evening, he told his servents to feast while he watched his own flock. He heard wolves howl and speak to the dogs. They told the dogs that, should the dogs allow them to kill a sheep, the dogs would feast with them. All the dogs but one old dog agreed, but the old dog shouted out, "As long as I live, you will not harm my master's property!"

The next day, the shepherd ordered his servants to kill all but the old dog; this confused the servants, who thought it was folly. He commanded them again, and they did it. Then, the shepherd and his wife went out riding. The shepherd's horse was keeping ahead of his wife's, which was a mare. The stallion turned back and said, "Why do you keep so far behind?"

The mare said, "It is easy for you, for you carry the weight of one. I carry the weight of three!" And the man laughed. His wife demanded to know why he laughed, and he told her that if he told her why, he would die. She did not relent. He resigned himself to his death, having a coffin made, and he then told his wife that he would tell her why he laughed and that he would die. The old dog was there, whining. The cock came, too, looking for food. The dog glared at him and said, "You think of nothing but food? Do you not know that the master is dying?" And the cock then laughed and said that he ruled hundreds of wives by pecking them, yet the master could not rule a single one! How foolish this master must be! Upon hearing that, the man looked at his wife and picked up a stick. Seeing that she was going to be beaten, she retreated and never asked him again.¹

Symbolism: This story is obviously a story about a good man being rewarded as well as outlining some roles of family as well.

Physical Description: The king of snakes was a snake.

1. Serbian Folklore by Madam Csedomille Mijatovies

For more information about footnotes and references, please see the bibliography.