Angitia

Angitia (the Latin name of the Oscan Anagtia), is an Oscan healing and snake Goddess who was especially revered by the Marsi, a warlike tribe of people who lived to the east of Rome in the Apennine Mountains (sometimes called after them the Marsian Hills) and who spoke a Sabellan dialect. She was famed for Her ability to heal those who had been poisoned, especially those bitten by snakes, and She was said to have the power to kill serpents through spoken charms. The Marsi themselves shared in Her reputation as healers, magicians, and snake-charmers, and in fact to this day the Serpari, or snake-catchers of the area are held in high regard. In Rome of the 1st century CE, the Marsi were reputed to be healers and fortune-tellers, and their land was considered a hotbed of witchcraft.

Angitia was famous for Her knowledge of healing herbs, and was honored with both a grove, the Silva Angitia or Lucus Angitiae, and a temple (complete with treasury) on the south western shores of Lake Fucinus. Fucinus was a large lake (more than 30 miles in circumference) that had no outlet and that was prone to overflow onto nearby towns after the spring rains, which may be why it was drained in the 19th century. Umbro, a legendary priest and seer of the Marsi, was said, like Angitia, to have been a snake-charmer and healer who could cure their bites; according to the Aeneid, Lake Fucinus was said to have wept for him when he was killed in battle.

Angitia's name is believed to be derived either from angere, "to trouble", referring to Her ability to kill snakes, or anguis, "snake" or "serpent". Some inscriptions mention Angitia in the plural as a group, the Angitiae (much like Sulis and the Sulivae), and in one inscription, She is mentioned with Angerona, the Goddess of Silence and the Winter Solstice. According to Servius, Angitia was the name given to the witch Medea, who fled to Italy after her plot to poison Theseus was discovered. Medea is much associated with sorcery and serpents or dragons, and so she was identified with the native Marsian snake and magic Goddess.

Today - Serpari

The Serpari (snake-catchers) are traditional, expert snake handlers in Cocullo, Abruzzo, Italy, who catch harmless snakes in the weeks leading up to the May 1st feast of Saint Domenico. During the festival, they adorn a statue of the saint with the snakes and parade it, honoring a saint believed to protect against snakebites before releasing the animals safely.
Key Details About the Serpari and Festival

• The Ritual: The Serpari catch, study, and care for local, non-venomous snakes (like Grass snakes and Four-lined snakes) and place them on the statue of Saint Dominic during a special procession.
• Significance: The ceremony blends Catholic faith with ancient pagan traditions, celebrating the saint's protection against toothaches and poison.
• Conservation: The snakes are treated with care, often monitored and treated for parasites by researchers before being released back into their exact, original habitats shortly after the event.
• Location: The event takes place annually in the medieval village of Cocullo, Italy.

The Serpari are integral to maintaining this unique cultural, historical, and religious festival, acting as both custodians of local folklore and protectors of the local snake population.

see also

Medea