Animal Kingdom’s Jade Serpent Isn’t Just an Indiana Jones Snake Joke

Once again, Joe Rohde is dispensing wisdom on Instagram. Earlier this week, he made his case for why Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto belongs in Animal Kingdom’s upcoming Tropical Americas.

Today, he explained the importance of snakes in Maya culture and, specifically, why Imagineers didn’t have to invent the idea of a giant serpent for Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.

“Back at D23 a week ago, I’m sure visitors to the Imagineering booth would’ve noticed the big jade-colored, serpent-like creature who will be featured in the new attraction, Indiana Jones and the myth of the Jade Serpent.

“But what exactly is the myth of the Jade Serpent? Well, much like the myth of the yeti at Expedition Everest, it is not something the team made up. Like all Disney’s Animal Kingdom teams, Joan Hartwig’s team has done their homework. This ‘Jade Serpent,’ called Tsukán, is a real living, contemporary Maya myth, in exactly the same way that the yeti is a living Himalayan oral tradition. And like the yeti, this creature is another kind of environmental protector, defending the sanctity, purity, and fertility of the cenote, and the water contained within.”

Rohde went on to explain why snakes and heavenly things are “conflated” in Maya culture.

“The original word for snake and heavens sounds almost identical — Kaan,” he wrote. “So you will often see stylized snakes represented in Maya art, where no snake is intended. Instead, the snake is supposed to represent the sky or the heavens in some way.”

Those “heavenly snakes” will even be represented on the head of the attraction’s Audio-Animatronic serpent.

Many of us naturally assumed Imagineers chose a giant serpent because of Jones’ famous line: “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” Rohde acknowledged that connection but said Imagineering’s choice has a deeper meaning.

“While there is, of course, the superficially humorous juxtaposition of Indiana Jones versus a giant snake, there is, as with everything at Animal Kingdom, much more to be learned, and a richer, more culturally and environmentally relevant story to be told.”

Rohde closed by urging guests not to rush when boarding the ride: “Do not rush to be first in line, walk very slowly … looking closely at every detail.”

I will absolutely be doing that.

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