Ouroboros is an ancient symbol that depicts an image of a serpent eating its own tail, therefore creating a continuous loop (Fig 1). The word comes from the amalgamation of the two Greek words, ouros (ουρος) meaning tail, and boros (βορος) meaningeating. Traditionally, it has been used in iconography to symbolise concepts of eternity, return, and rebirth. For example, it can be seen as a representation of the endless cycle of being, orof self-sufficiency, since the snakesustains itself by eating its own body.
The relationship between ouroboros and the gods is significant in the cultures of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In Greek mythology, ouroboros is portrayed by the power of Apollo, the god of prophecy, sun, and music. In this instance, ouroboros symbolises the sun by evoking its cycle of rising and setting. It can also be related to Kronos who was the leader of the Titans and the father of the Olympian gods. He was known for his association with time and his role in the cyclical nature of the universe. The relationship between Kronos and the ouroboros is primarily based on their shared symbolism of time and eternity. In some depictions, it shows Kronos holding a serpent with its tail in its mouth which is remarkably like the ouroboros.
The term ouroboros held a similar meaning for the Egyptians. According to Egyptian mythology, Atum, the creator, or the god of the midnight sun, was believed to have created himself and given birth to the divine couple. During this process, ouroboros was used to represent Atum’s self-creation and his emergence from the water of chaos. It is also related to the Egyptian god Osiris, the god of the afterlife. Similarly, to Kronos, Osiris was frequently linked to serpents, which were believed to possess regenerative and protective abilities. The snake was viewed as a symbol for the cycle of death and rebirth because of its propensity to shed its skin and reappear refreshed and renewed. Other Egyptian gods linked to ouroboros, are Wadjet and Apep. Wadjet, a goddess of serpents and the Nile River, is also a protector of the kings of Egypt. As shown in Fig 2, she is often portrayed as a cobra which surrounds the sun. Likewise, Apep, the god of Chaos, is described as a gigantic dragon having its tail in its mouth.
The ouroboros is also acosmogramin Hinduism. Fig. 3 depictsthe earth, three elephants, a turtle, and surrounding it, the ouroboros, signifying that existence is a continuous flow of life, death, and rebirth.
Relevance in Modern Times
The ouroboros still stands as a significant symbol of eternity in modern times.An example would be the jewellery of the Victorians. Some marriage rings were created in the form of the ouroboros to signify thatthe love between the two people wouldlast forever. The famous artist Escher, known for his bizarre, illusion drawings, was also inspired by the ouroboros, such as in his famous works, "Spirals" and "Dragon" (Fig 4 & 5). The German organic chemist, August Kekulé, realised the chemical structure of benzene, after having a vision of ouroboros. Benzene is widely used in factories, as it is the starting material of many chemicals to make plastics, resins, drugs.
References:
Read, John (1957). From Alchemy to Chemistry. pp. 179-180. ISBN 978-0486-28690-7 Wadjet (no date) Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topicmadjet (Accessed: March 10, 2023).
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