Snake Mountain (television)

Snake Mountain is a location in the He-Man series, located on the fictional planet of Eternia. It is located on the Dark Hemisphere of Eternia and is home to the villainous, skull-faced Skeletor. It is later revealed to have once been home to the Snake Men. Its defining feature is its snake-like shape, hence the name.

Introduction into the franchise
Snake Mountain was not introduced until some way into the MOTU franchise. Previously, Skeletor's hideout had been described as "amongst the catacombs deep under Eternia", while the bible for the Filmation series listed his base as being Point Dread, located in the middle of the ocean.

Filmation
The exact age of Snake Mountain is unclear, although in the season 1 episode "Golden Disks Of Knowledge" we learn that Skeletor built Snake Mountain with wisdom he learned from the Golden Disks Of Knowledge, which he stole from Zanthor, a member of the Council of the Wise.

The episode "Masks Of Power" reveals that many centuries ago, the Sword of the Ancients was thrust into a boulder of pure quartz, deep beneath Snake Mountain, and forgotten. According to the Sorceress, it is the most powerful weapon on Eternia, next to He-Man's Sword of Power.

The She-Ra: Princess of Power spin-off series reveals in the episode "Reunions" that during the invasion of Hordak & the Evil Horde, Snake Mountain was used as a Horde base. Eventually the Evil Horde was defeated by the Eternians. Skeletor, at the time was a member of the Horde and a pupil of Hordak, betrayed Hordak, forcing the Horde leader to flee Eternia and abandon Snake Mountain.

Skeletor would then take Snake Mountain and assemble a roster of evil warriors for his own evil purposes.

Mike Young Productions
Snake Mountain was formed long ago, during the war against the Snake Men. The Council of Elders used their power to bind Serpos, mighty serpent god of the Snake Men, to a mountain on Eternia's Dark Hemisphere and turned it to stone.

During modern times, Skeletor took Snake Mountain for his own evil purposes.

1980s cartoon
In the original 1980's Filmation series the mountain is in the shape of a snake coiled around a mountain with its mouth open as if to strike. Lava flows between the two peaks, and fog forms at its base.

New Adventures of He-Man
Snake Mountain appears in the first episode only, looking very similar to the Filmation version.

2002 cartoon
In the 2002 series the mountain looked more like a snake carved from the rock, lava flowing out of its open mouth, though it is later revealed that Snake Mountain is actually the petrified body of Serpos, the god of the Snake-Men, which was imprisoned by Eternia's rulers, the Council of Elders. King Hiss released Serpos from his prison, in order to conquer Eternia and Castle Grayskull. He-Man managed to destroy its physical form and its spirit was re-imprisoned as Snake Mountain by the power of the Elders.

1987 film
Only two mentions of Snake Mountain are made in the 1987 motion picture, and both are by Gwildor. No physical description is made, nor image ever shown.

Toy
The 1980s toy version of Snake Mountain looks little like its Filmation appearance. It is a purple mountain, with its most notable feature being a demon-like face on one side. There is a trap-door inside the gate, which is operated by a switch underneath. The toy also included a removable echo microphone, with the head of a snake near the top. The microphone stored inside the toy, with the head of the snake showing out the right side of the mountain. The demon face also had a lever located on the inside of the castle which allowed the user to operate the mouth of the face. This action combined with a user speaking into the echo microphone gave the appearance that Snake Mountain was talking in a frightening voice.

The 2002 toy-line did not release a Snake Mountain toy.

Cultural reference
Swedish SID-metal band Machinae Supremacy referenced Snake Mountain in a song Return to Snake Mountain from its 2004 album, Deus Ex Machinae.