ERPENTARIUM MUNDI is a specialized iconography compendium, dedicated to a ubiquitous, intrinsically polysemantic, and often controversial artistic subject: the snake (serpent) and its manifold derivatives (e.g. dragons). It catalogues representations of real and imaginary ophiomorphs and their collaterals (e.g. lizards) in the visual arts of Old World civilizations from 3000 BC to 650 AD.

● The compendium's contents are divided into six specialized volumes, organized according to artistic medium or object function. Each volume is divided into six specialized chapters, based on the type of iconographical subject and the context.

● The expansion schedule and article updates are listed on the Content page.

● The main historico-geographical regions that provided most of the iconographic material catalogued in the com-pendium and their chronological periodization are listed on the Context page.

● The locations of the museum collections, archaeolo-gical sites, and religious complexes that provided most of the iconographic material catalogued in the compendium are listed on the Sources page.

● A selection of influential specialized works on ancient ophidian mythology, symbolism, and iconography in various cultural contexts, as well as more general reference works, is listed on the Bibliography page.

The creator and curator of the compendium, Alexei Alexeev, PhD.

Work on the Serpentarium Mundi began in February 2013. Its current pilot online version was launched on the 10th of January 2016. All work on the database (research, photography, scanning, downloading, sorting, graphics editing, writing, concept UX/UI design, web development, testing, uploading, maintenance, communication) is being done by the curator using his personal resources.

The growth of the Serpentarium Mundi as a non-profit educational initiative depends heavily on the consistent patronage of academic institutions, foundations, commercial enterprises, and private individuals through grants and donations.