The ouroboros is a circular symbol of a snake or dragon biting its tail, found in ancient cultures worldwide. It can represent unity, cyclical nature, and the union of opposites. Its meaning varies, from eternity and resurrection to the confines of this world. It is often used in popular culture as a symbol of the occult.
Ouroboros is a symbol used in ancient cultures around the world. It consists of a snake biting its tail, forming a circle and, like other circular motifs, can symbolize the unity or cyclical nature of many aspects of life. The image is found in the cultures of ancient China, ancient Egypt, and the Americas, as well as some cultures in Europe and West Africa. Plato described it as the first living creature on Earth. Sometimes, the animal is depicted as a dragon instead of a snake.
While the ouroboros symbol is widespread, its meaning is not universal. Sometimes, it is meant to symbolize the union of opposites, similar to yin-yang, and suggests that opposites not only coexist but are also related in a cyclical way. In this context, the image is sometimes depicted as half light and half dark. It was also used as a symbol of alchemy in the Middle Ages, as the goal of the practice was to unite the conscious mind with the unconscious.
Ouroboros can be a symbol of eternity, infinity, and even resurrection, like many ring symbols. On the contrary, it may be a symbol of the confines of this world, and when it was adopted in some regional sects of Christianity, it was used in the latter sense. It came to suggest a separation between the world, within the circle, and the infinite divinity outside. The serpent’s “self-devouring” nature has also been interpreted as negative, self-destructive, and transient rather than infinite. Whereas in earlier interpretations, cyclicality was a selfless observation about the nature of the world, in Christianity it has become more of a limited “vicious circle” that could only be broken through spirituality.
The image of a snake biting its own tail is a mysterious symbol that many people find compelling, even though its meaning is open to interpretation. It is often used in popular culture as a generic symbol of the occult, most often in the science fiction and fantasy genres. The ouroboros appeal also seems to transcend culture and religion, as it was such a widespread symbol in the ancient world. Much of this appeal seems to stem from the symbol’s ability to represent many different things to different people.
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