Book and Snake
Book and Snake or The Society of Book and Snake is a secret society for seniors at Yale University.[1] It was established in 1863 and is the fourth-oldest secret society at Yale.[2][1]
Book and Snake
November 17, 1863
Sheffield Scientific School, Yale College
Senior secret society
Independent
Active
Local
1
Cloister
Cloister Club
Sigma Delta Chi Society
145 High Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06511
United States
Symbols and traditions[edit]
Book and Snake uses a mix of ancient and esoteric symbols with meanings known only to its members.[2] Its Tomb is said to be "the perpetual attempt of establishing an official perfect order on earth, a sort of platonic reflection of heavenly secret societies."[9]
In the Sigma Delta Chi era, the group's symbol was a jawless skull that was chained to a cross.[17] The Book and Snake's original badge was an open book displaying the Greek letters ΣΔΧ surrounded by a coiled serpent.[18] It was worn on the member's tie.[10] The modern version of this pin is an open book with an ouroboros on top, and no Greek letters.[17][2][19] It is made of gold and is 1⁄2 by 1⁄2 inch (1.3 by 1.3 cm) in size.[19]
Each member of Book and Snake has a pewter or glass tankard that hangs on a hook in the Tomb's dining room, ready for whenever they return.[19] When a member dies, their tankard is broken or pierced through its bottom.[20][19]