It’s known as both a benevolent protector and as a punisher of law breakers. Some say it replenishes water stores, others say it stops rainfall. It creates land and diversity for the Aboriginal people, but causes chaos if disturbed.

The Rainbow Serpent is one of the most common and well-known Aboriginal myths, with the earliest drawings of the creature dating back over 6,000 years ago. Even today, the Rainbow Serpent has an annual music festival held in its honour in Victoria.

In some Aboriginal funeral ceremonies, the bones of the deceased are placed in a hollow log coffin to represent the Rainbow Serpent, who then ‘swallows’ the spirits of the dead, releasing them during initiation ceremonies in which young boys are transformed into men.