Another echo of Edenic history in Egyptian religious beliefs involves the serpent. To be sure, their view of it was corrupted by demon influence. The Egyptians regarded the serpent as a symbol of wisdom, and they worshiped it. Artistic representations of it were part of the headdress of the Pharaohs and adorned monuments, temples, tombs and statues of gods. How such worship ties in with Eden becomes clear to us when we recall that Satan the Devil presented his lies to Eve through a serpent. In so doing, he made himself appear as a source of higher wisdom from whom she could gain greater knowledge.​—Gen. 3:1-5.

[Picture on page 19]

Heads of serpents adorning the temple of Quetzalcoatl give evidence of Aztec serpent worship in Mexico

As for the serpent, many North American Indian tribes hold it in veneration as did the ancient Egyptians. In fact, serpent worship has infected peoples in every corner of the globe. Each group worships a particular snake indigenous to their land.