History Main / WiseSerpent

[-[[caption-width-right:350:He may be a venomous snake, but he is also a knowledgeable teacher.]]-]

* Myth/EgyptianMythology: {{Zigzagged}} as, while the actual god of wisdom is Thoth (half-monkey, half ibis) and the most important snake deity, [[SnakesAreSinister Apep/Apophis]], {{avert|ed}}s this trope by embodying primordial chaos, there are some straight examples found in minor deities. Curiously enough, they are also protection deities as well, thus hinting at the ancient Egypt's general philosophy that wisdom and knowledge are amongst the best tools to protect people.

* In a Korean cycle of tale type ATU 425, "The Search for the Lost Husband", titled ''Baemsillang'', ''The Serpent Scholar'' or ''The Snake Scholar'', a snake is born to a human old woman. One day, three sisters see the little animal, and the third sister recognize him as a "snake scholar". Some time later, the snake marries the third sister and takes off the snakeskin to reveal himself as human (sometimes described as a "scholar" in the text). He then tells his wife he will go to some public/civil servant examinations and leaves his snakeskin with his wife.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Prince Oberyn Martell "[[RedBaron The Red Viper]]" as well as being a skilled warrior of much acclaim (to the point of even founding and leading his own Sellsword company until he grew bored) is likewise renown as a [[WarriorPoet poet]] and scholar, he traveled the world gaining much knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, trained at the Citadel to the point of managing to forge six rings on his chain and nearly qualified to be Maester, and boasts to [[MasterPoisoner know more about poisons]] than anyone alive.

* In the EasternZodiac, the snake is held as the most enigmatic and intuitive sign. The people born under it are said to be witty and possess great wisdom about themselves and their environment, what with having AwesomenessByAnalysis as their signature virtue. Villanous examples are quite capable of enacting long-term revenge.

* Kaa from ''Animation/AdventuresOfMowgli'', instead of a bumbling antagonist seeking to devour Mowgli like the animated Disney adaptation, is a mentor of the title character, and a figure revered by the likes of Baloo and Bagheera.

* ''Literature/TheJungleBook'': [[CreepyGood Kaa]] is a gigantic Rock python, being over [[TheGreatSerpent thirty feet long]] and over a hundred years old. He is feared and respected throughout the entire jungle, known by all as one of the wisest and most powerful beings to the point of it being claimed he is [[TheOmniscient all-knowing]]. He serves as a key friend and mentor to Mowgli, teaching him many important lessons about the nature of the jungle.o

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Prince Oberyn Martell "[[RedBaron The Red Viper]]" as well as being a skilled warrior of much acclaim (to the point of even founding and leading his own Sellsword company until he grew bored) is likewise renown as a poet and scholar, he traveled the world gaining much knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, trained at the Citadel to the point of managing to forge six rings on his chain and nearly qualified to be Maester, and boasts to [[MasterPoisoner know more about poisons]] than anyone alive.

* The white snake deity that is featured in a local village legend in one case arc of ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles'' is certainly knowledgeable, being the one to inform the villagers via a dream to the village chief's daughter-in-law about the hidden spring that would help them turn a desolate landscape in the village area into arable farmland. It also lacks the manipulative cunning one might expect from such an entity, as the only caveat it issues to the villagers is more of a warning that applies only to those harboring impure characters.

*** Sasuke was already fairly smart before training under Orochimaru. After that, he develops a plethora of ninja techniques that make him very versatile in battle. He masters two [[ElementalPowers nature transformations]], signs two summoning contracts, and even creates his own jutsu. His cunning in combat also improves, using genjutsu (illusionary arts) far more efficiently to trick his opponents.