Serpent Temple

«Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?» muttered the renowned adventurer Indiana Jones. This cowardly archaeologist was more terrified of snakes than I am of Endermen during my evening strolls. Yikes!

However, returning to Indiana, it’s important to note that he was mistaken because snakes are truly fascinating creatures! While many people fear them, there are also plenty who adore them. Some individuals even keep snakes as pets, like corn snakes or ball pythons. Just don’t consider gifting Dr. Jones one for his next birthday unless you want a whip across your face.

A grand tribute to giant snakes has been created by the Argentine builder in the world of Minecraft – Bodha. Recently, he constructed the Temple of Snakes, an enigmatic island featuring ancient structures dedicated to this species. However, the project initially began as something entirely different.

“The reason I wanted to build a snake temple stemmed from my niece, whose vivid imagination always inspires me with ideas,” explains Bodha. “She told me to create a snake, so I decided to make it into a statue.”

Well, the statue project evolved into something much more ambitious. It transformed into an entire island adorned with marble columns, dozens of statues, and buildings resembling delicate constructions, meticulously arranged among the island’s hills. For the final touch, Bodha drew inspiration from Chinese architecture, specifically the Temple of Heaven from the Ming Dynasty. The rest is all about snakes and history.

This mysterious reptilian worship site was crafted in Minecraft, accompanied by some intriguing tales of its creation.

“The story behind this temple is that a civilization once lived on the island and shared it with giant snakes, building a temple in their honor,” says Bodha. “At some point, Kujulaxuka the Wanderer attempted to seize the land of this civilization but was forced to retreat thanks to the saviors—the snakes.”

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, depending on your perspective), the giant snakes now seem to have vanished. Or are they merely waiting beneath the island, biding their time to awaken once again? No one knows, as those brave enough to venture to the island have mysteriously disappeared. How promising!

If you don’t believe us, just take a look at the shipwreck near the island in Minecraft PE. It’s essentially the equivalent of Brazil’s snake island, Ilha da Queimada Grande!

The ship appears to float above a massive map.

Even though the architectural design of maps constitutes a significant portion of the island’s geographical landscape, “I believe that introducing something new makes a design stand out. Even when using common themes, there’s always a way to innovate. Sometimes you come up with ideas that make you think, ‘I don’t think this idea is very good’ or ‘This is quite rare,’ and those ideas fascinate me the most.”

As if the stars aligned for this specific project to be realized in Minecraft PE, Bodha discovered Minecraft in 2013—according to the Chinese zodiac, the year of the Water Snake.

“It was all thanks to my cousin,” explains Bodha. “He would show me the game every time I visited him, and since I enjoyed it so much, I eventually decided to download it myself.”

Since then, Bodha has utilized the game as an outlet for his wild ideas and projects, helping him escape daily troubles and focus instead on what’s fun. The Temple of Snakes in MCPE is no exception. Although it was clear from the start that it would feature snakes, the construction grew, developed, and morphed into something else over a 24-hour creation period.

“Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Just try things out and learn from your mistakes; join building communities. It’s a really exciting way to learn how to build alongside others, whether they have more or less experience!”