Cyrene Serpent (Libyan Guardian Snake)
The Cyrene Serpent is a mythical guardian serpent from Libyan folklore, associated with the ancient Greek colony of Cyrene (modern Shahhat) in the Jebel Akhdar region. According to legend, the city of Cyrene was founded when the hero Battus followed a great serpent to the site of a sacred spring. The serpent was the guardian of the spring of Apollo and was known for its wisdom. In Libyan folklore, this serpent is said to still inhabit the caves of Jebel Akhdar. Libyans believe it is a protective spirit of the Cyrenaican mountains. The serpent is associated with the oracle of Apollo at Cyrene,