The serpent was depicted being clasped in the Tudor monarch's fingers in the original version of the work - but it was painted over at the last minute and replaced with a more decorative bunch of roses.

Deterioration over time has meant the snake has revealed itself once more, with its outline now visible on the surface.

The portrait was created by an unknown artist in the 1580s or early 1590s.

A serpent was sometimes used to reflect wisdom, prudence and reasoned judgment, but the scaly creatures are also linked to notions of Satan and original sin.

The gallery suggested the snake's removal may have been due to the ambiguity of the emblem.

An artist's impression has been created of what the snake could have looked like, with infra-red technology revealing the changes in the initial design.

A statement from the gallery said: ''The snake is mainly black but has greenish blue scales and was almost certainly painted from imagination.'

I wonder where IMAGINATION comes from ...

READ HERE - Aug 24: ETEMENANKI UPDATE

Posted: 9:42:08 AM  

The Spanish EU Presidency, backed by France and Germany, announced that it is going to propose the creation of an EU European Public Prosecutor next month using powers under the Lisbon treaty.
The move is regarded as "extremely worrying" and is seen as a further attempt to transfer powers from London to Brussels.

The news comes after The Daily Telegraph disclosed how the European Union is drawing up plans for its first direct tax with a "green" levy on petrol, coal and natural gas that could cost British consumers up to £3 billion.

Posted: 9:37:06 AM  

Posted: 9:32:37 AM  

Methane bubbles in Arctic seas stir warming fears

Large amounts of a powerful greenhouse gas are bubbling up from a long-frozen seabed north of Siberia, raising fears of far bigger leaks that could stoke global warming, scientists said.

Posted: 9:24:11 AM