The pythoness at Delphi in a mantic fury, clasping at the snakes from which her power is derived. Snakes have been used from very ancient times for their power to confirm divinatory insights, as well as for incubatory sleep-healing, in the Aesclepian hospitals. Perhaps this reptilian power is derived from the same earthly sources as are tapped and traced by the diviners. MAGIC - The Greek Pythia, from P Christian's Histoire de la Magie (undated, but mid 19th century)