Ophiophagus hannah.



There are only few snakes with a name and reputation as infamous and shrouded in stories as the King Cobra - and rightfully so, as there are so many unique and exceptional things to be found about this snake.



Although it is not a "real" cobra per se, to many people the King probably is the embodiment of what the word "venomous snake" evokes. The King Cobra, in fact, is the longest venomous snake in the world, reaching almost 6 metres in length (easily placing it in the same league as the world's longest snake altogether, the Reticulated Python) and able to raise a third of its upper body for defensive display. It is thought by many to be one of the most intelligent snakes (again, like the Reticulated Python), as it is noted to be the only snake to actually build a nest and actively protect its clutch of eggs against predators.



Other features unique to this serpent are an additional pair of head scales that is only presented in this species and, perhaps one of the most wellknown characteristics, its deep-frequented hiss that resembles a growl. Combining this growl with its huge size and aggressive demeanour (when agitated), the King Cobra is a truly scary yet awe-inspiring presence, that is very often used as the climax of almost any show of every snake farm that can be found in Thailand. The stories and accounts on its aggression are mostly exaggerated, and yet, this serpent without a doubt a powerful force to be reckoned with. While not being the most venomous snake in the world, it is noted to deliver huge amounts of venom with one single bite, being able to kill a fullgrown elephant within a short range of time.



Its latin name Ophiophagus hannah derives from the Greek "ophiophagus", literally translating to snake-eater which refers to its habit of preying on other snakes, while "hannah" being an alternate short form of "Hamadryas/Hamadryad" (a dryad from Greek mythology), an old name the King Cobra was once also called. It is, for example, still called by this name in the novel "Anaconda" by Horacio Quiroga and also addressed as such in "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers.











Get prints, shirts and co. with the King Cobra here

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EDIT: (I feel that after years of the original upload and seeing into what it has come to, there is a need for some more text)



Initially, this never was intended as a series. Back then, i just finished my Bachelor Thesis (a Thailand-Snakes-themed Tarot Deck) which was about to be presented in public and for this, i envisioned some poster that would draw the eye to the project a bit more. Some kind of teaser poster, so to speak. So i drew a King Cobra. There was no real idea or plan; i didn't even know how i'd colour it while i was still sketching the snake. But it would all come together during the process and i ended up liking the result so much that i wanted to do more. This, surprisingly, is the usual way for me how most personal projects of mine would get started and eventually take off.



One can still see that this is the first of them all, if watched closely. Many imperfections here and there. Many times, i debated whether i should overwork this one and it is kind of a push and pull for me. The inner perfectionist drives me nuts when seeing all those tiny details were i've been sloppy with the colouring and outlines, this picture; but then again, it was the one that kickstarted every other snake that followed in that style until it would grow into a whole series (and also become one of the many heart projects that this inner passion of mine thrives on) and thus, i hold it very dear to me.









งูจงอาง.