Beware the Serpent

harasha

This is one of my earlier acquisitions. I did not think about it too much until a vendor I respect offered a version on eBay. Mine is much nicer, I think. The vendor seemed to think this medal to be rare. I am not showing the reverse as it is one of those oak and laurel leaves wreath; otherwise blank.
I believe that the medal depicts the consequences of having compassion for an entity that deserves none. (I personally have nothing against snakes). Anyway, as the story goes, a peasant finds a snake nearly frozen to death. Having compassion on the snake, he takes it to his home to warm up. Once the snake thaws out, it immediately attacks its benefactor and his family.

Swampboy

Moral. No good deed is left unpunished.

harasha

Rather, I think the moral is that compassion is wasted on those without.

Boosibri

Very cool

element159

Interesting. I am pro-reptile personally, so I do not really approve of the anti-snake imagery, but the medal is sure nice looking. Cool to already have something that is rare!