Page "Mongoose" Paragraph 17

According to Greek historian Diodorus Siculus ( 1. 35 & 1. 87 ), Egyptians venerated native mongooses ( Herpestes ichneumon ) for their ability to handle venomous snakes and for their occasional diet of crocodile eggs.

The Buddhist god of wealth Vaiśravaṇa, or Dzambala for Tibetans, is frequently depicted holding a mongoose that is spitting jewels from its mouth.