In Roman times the snake was not seen as a symbol of evil but quite the opposite- of good fortune and longevity. Everywhere you look in Pompeii you will find decorations featuring snakes receiving offerings- in this case a pine cone and what looks like a fig, sitting on top of an altar. They are part of the decoration of a lararium, the small household (or even business- they are found in many of the town's restaurants) shrine where ancestry and family rites were celebrated.
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