Ceramic Snake Tile from Cocullo Snake Festival

Overview

Ceramic tile depicting one of the snakes associated with the Festa di San Domenico in Cocullo, Italy. Acquired directly during the festival in May 2026, the piece functions both as a devotional display object and as a physical artifact tied directly to the Italian serpent rites.

Acquired / Origin

Acquired during the Festa di San Domenico in Cocullo, Abruzzo, Italy, May 2026.

Use

Designed for wall display, tabletop display, or inclusion within religious and ethnographic collections connected to serpent symbolism and the Cocullo festival.

Description

This ceramic tile depicts a coiled snake beneath the name “Cocullo,” directly referencing the serpents used during the annual procession of San Domenico di Sora. During the festival, local serpari (snake handlers) collect non venomous snakes from the surrounding mountains of Abruzzo and place them onto the sacred statue of the saint as it is carried through the town.

The serpent ritual is associated with San Domenico’s role as a protector against snake bites and venomous animals, while also preserving elements widely understood to descend from older pre Christian pagan serpent traditions once practiced in the region.

Specs

• Material: Ceramic
• Shape: Square Tile
• Approximate Size: 2 inches