Face Your Fears: Ophidiophobia

A fear of snakes is perfectly normal. Since time began, the snake has been man's mortal enemy, tricking him to eat from the forbidden tree and getting him cast out of the Garden of Eden.

Greek mythology tells of a gargoyle called Medusa who could turn even the strongest of men into stone with a single look. Instead of hair, she had a head of snakes, each one lashing and thrashing, eager to strike fear into the heart of man.


Modern famous films like Indiana Jones, Snakes on a Plane, Anaconda et al. have also fuelled this fear of snakes, reinforcing one of the world's greatest phobias of this slithering serpent.


With so many negative references towards serpents spanning throughout history, it's hardly surprising that we are, on the whole, incredibly scared of snakes. As hard as I have looked, I haven't found a single story where the snake is the hero. It just doesn't happen - the snake is always the bad guy. Lodged firmly in the world's top ten most common phobias, ophidiophobia, or snakephobia as it is often known affects millions of people around the world. However, unlike other common fears, such as the dark, rejection and terrorist attacks, encounters with snakes can be reduced to a minimum Ñ especially here in the UK.


In Britain, there is only one deadly snake that you need to be wary of Ñ the Vipera berus, or adder as it's more commonly known. Part of the Viperidae family, it has long fangs that allow for a deep bite and a deadly venom that, in large doses, can kill.


Once injected, the venom from a viper causes immense pain, strong local swelling, blood loss and disruption to the blood clotting system. Death from a viper bite is caused by collapse in blood pressure.
If you are reading this in a warmer country than England, or you're preparing to go on holiday to snake-infested lands, there are many more deadly snakes you need to steer clear of.


The fierce snake, or inland taipan resides in central Australia, is brown or olive in colour and has distinctive black markings on the head. This snake could almost be considered a mass murderer as a single bite contains enough venom to kill 100 adult humansÉ Take that, human centipede!


Another incredibly deadly snake, the black mamba almost matches the inland taipan for deadliness. Growing up to 4.3 metres in length, it is indeed Africa's deadliest snake and commands one of the most potent venoms known to man. The mortality rate is nearly 100% and victims can be dead within 20 minutes of being bitten. What makes this particular breed so terrifying is the ferocity of its attacks, as it quite often strikes repeatedly.


Biting isn't the snake's only form of attack. The constrictor family can be just as deadly by squeezing the life out of its victims, slowly and really rather painfully.


The Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world and can grow up to 6 metres in length. And while this particular fiend doesn't have a venomous bite, it's gargantuan girth will squeeze you and squeeze you until you die.


So there you have it; a few freaky facts about snakes. Think you can face your fears? Then come visit The Snake Pit in The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs. We won't bite, I promisssssssss...