Introduction
Before there was Zelgadis, Amelia or even Gourry, there was Naga the Serpent....much to Lina's dismay. Known for her horrible laugh and barely-there outfits, Naga is an arrogant, self-confident and greedy sorceress who sees herself as Lina's 'greatest and most powerful rival.' Of course, she's wrong about that, but the truth of the situation has never quite sank into her delusional attitude of superiority. That's one of the things which make Naga who she is. As she joins the young Lina Inverse on some of her earliest adventures, Naga the Serpent holds her own with sorcery, greed and an apetite to match even those of the Dra-matta.

Name
The word 'Naga' is Sanskirt in origin and means 'serpent.' It is tied to Hindu mythology and folklore; the term 'Naga' is a name for an ancient mythical race. 'Saapento' means serpent. 'Shiro' is Japanese for the color white and 'hebi' is Japanese for serpent or snake.

Color
Purple is a color closely associated with Naga. Not only it is the color of her long tresses, it is also echoed in her clothing and jewelry. Traditionally, purple is a color associated with royalty and high birth. This is due to the expense of purple dye in the ancient Near Eastern world, which meant only the very wealthy could afford it. Phoenicia, a tiny country on the coast of Near Asia, held the monopoly on it and gave its name to the color. Purple also symbolizes sorrow and suffering and one who is associated with this color has been through much in their lives. The color represents the meeting and blending of the mind and spirit, and people related to this color are very spiritual, as well as being people who are always trying to better themselves. With Naga, the royal connection with purple as well as the need to better herself are both linked to her mysterious family background. The spiritual aspect may be related to her primary use of shamanist magic for attacks, magic which is concerned with calling upon the spirits of nature. She also knows a variety of white magic spells which is also very 'spiritual.'

« back