cerastes

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun highly venomous viper of northern Africa and southwestern Asia having a horny spine above each eye

From Ancient Greek κεράστης (kerástēs).

Hydras of brilliant green begirt their waist; 40 Snakes and cerastes for their tresses grew, And these were round their dreadful temples braced. — The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: The Inferno, Dante Alighieri
Where in an instant I beheld uprisen At once three hellish furies stain’d with blood: In limb and motion feminine they seem’d; Around them greenest hydras twisting roll’d Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound. — The divine comedy, Dante Alighieri
This fen, which a prodigious stench exhales, Encompasses about the city dolent, Where now we cannot enter without anger.” And more he said, but not in mind I have it; Because mine eye had altogether drawn me Tow’rds the high tower with the red-flaming summit, Where in a moment saw I swift uprisen The three infernal Furies stained with blood, Who had the limbs of women and their mien, And with the greenest hydras were begirt; Small serpents and cerastes were their tresses, Wherewith their horrid temples were entwined. — Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Hell, Dante Alighieri

horned viper, sand viper, horned asp, Cerastes cornutus

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