National treasure 'Snake dagger holding elephant's leg' at Nghe An Museum

This dagger is considered by archaeologists to be a unique original artifact, one of a kind, found underground, from the Dong Son culture period. Not only is it a valuable artifact, it also has profound spiritual and religious significance, demonstrating the authority of the head of the tribe in the ancient Vietnamese community. This is also one of the particularly interesting discoveries about the image of the snake - an animal often chosen as a popular totem of the agricultural residents of Southeast Asia.

This artifact stands out with its sophisticated structure, unique design, and aesthetic criteria that reach the level of demonstrating the pinnacle of bronze casting techniques. This is not only one of the ancient and unique artifacts in Vietnam but also an important evidence of the development of Dong Son culture. The dagger is currently being preserved and displayed atNghe An Museum, as a proud historical and cultural symbol.

The 12.3 cm long snake-holding-an-elephant-leg dagger is exquisitely crafted with two main parts: the blade and the handle. The blade is 5.5 cm long, thin, shaped like an isosceles triangle, with a sharp tip. The two ends of the handle are designed with butterfly whiskers, creating a unique and elegant decorative accent.

The handle of the knife is 6.8 cm long, featuring the image of two round snakes tightly wrapped around each other in a graceful posture. The snakes' mouths are wide open, their eyes are bulging and lively, tightly holding the four legs of an elephant. The elephant is described in detail, from its long trunk to its back carrying a wide saddle, with a ligament connecting the neck to the elephant's tail. On the saddle is a round cylinder, slightly constricted in the middle, with a shape reminiscent of a bronze drum - a familiar symbol of Dong Son culture.

In terms of age, this dagger has existed for more than 3,000 years, demonstrating the rich craftsmanship and spiritual beliefs of ancient Vietnamese people.

The custom of snake worship, considering snakes as totems representing a cultural class, is a primitive form of belief originating from the time when humans lived in clans, when all activities, from eating to living to traveling, were closely connected with nature.

According to scientific research documents, paleontologists have determined that snakes appeared on Earth about 200 million years ago. This is a reptile with a unique and mysterious shape and living habits, from appearance to movement: snakes hibernate, appear a lot in the rainy season, most can swim in water and live long on land. It is these mysterious characteristics that have strongly impacted the perception and life of primitive humans in the journey of adapting and conquering nature. Perhaps that is why snakes are considered sacred animals, becoming totemic symbols of many peoples in the world, including the Vietnamese.

For ancient Vietnamese people, agricultural life was closely linked to the water element - an indispensable source of life. From there, the worship of water gods, including the snake god, was formed as a strong cultural mark. Water not only ensures irrigation, bringing bountiful crops, but also potentially causes great disasters such as floods and natural disasters. Water has two aspects: it is both a source of life and a destructive force, but at the same time it is also a symbol of resurrection. In the Vietnamese mind, water is synonymous with the nation ("Earth + Water"), and is revered as "Mau" - mother of water, expressed through proverbs such as "First water, second fire" or "First water, second fertilization".

The psychology of both worshiping and fearing, wanting to control and submit to water is the foundation for the formation and development of snake worship. The image of the snake, symbolizing water, has profound symbolic meaning and is closely associated with the life of rice-growing residents, becoming a characteristic of Vietnamese culture from primitive times to the present.

Comparing with the image of the snake on the dagger excavated in Vac village, it can be seen that the belief in worshipping the snake - symbolizing water - has been associated with the agricultural life of the ancient Vietnamese people for a long time, at least more than 3,000 years. For the rice-growing farmers, the snake is not only a common animal but also considered a sacred symbol, representing spirituality, religion and authority. The snake is worshiped as a supreme god, a symbol of strength, which no force can control. This is clearly shown through the unique image on the dagger: a small snake but can hold tightly onto the four legs of a giant elephant.

Moreover, the image of two snakes entwined together also symbolizes the harmony of yin and yang, expressing people's desire for fertility and bountiful harvests. This is also an affirmation of the nation's strength of unity - the strength that helps them overcome nature, wild animals and enemies.

The dagger with the handle of a snake statue holding an elephant's leg in its mouth in Vac village has all three elements to become anational treasure: a unique original artifact, unique in form, and of special value in reflecting the history of building and defending the nation. This is not only a testament to the long-standing and flourishing wet rice agricultural culture of Southeast Asian residents, but also contributes to affirming the spiritual meaning and totem beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese people. The snake, considered a sacred animal closely associated with the lives of residents, has become an everlasting symbol, deeply imprinted in Vietnamese culture and beliefs from the past to the present./.