Journey steeped in fog of myth

An ancient Greek vase featuring a scene of Heracles slaying the Hydra, the multiheaded snake. THE J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM IN MALIBU The snake in the Garden of Eden, which tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, is traditionally viewed in the West as a force leading humanity to question and defy God's command. By eating the fruit, Adam and Eve claimed the divine prerogative, asserting the right to define good and evil for themselves rather than trusting in God's wisdom. In fact, the snake's connection to the Tree of Knowledge is tied to its role as a guardian — of kings and gods, temples and tombs, treasures and knowledge — as well as its mysterious and ancient nature, which has long been associated with wisdom. In the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament of the Bible, Saint Matthew, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ who's credited as the text's author, encouraged the believers to be discerning while maintaining moral purity.