I think the cleopatra thing is a myth, although I have seen that here and there. But the Whydah peoples worshiped them for sure. If you killed a royal (hehehe) the penalty was death. Even today the Nyala-Krobo peoples of Africa will not harm, touch or molest in any way a Ball python. To the extent if one goes onto a road they stop all traffic until it moves on it own they will not move it or allow anyone else to do so. One field study on Royal pythons was refused entrance in the tribal area as they intended to disturb the snakes. This is likely where the Royal came from.