What is Ouroboros? The Symbol of the Snake Eating Its Tail

It is believed to represent the perpetual renewal of the universe. When evaluated through spiritual practices and knowledge of geometry, the symbol's depth becomes apparent.

Universally, it symbolizes rebirth, continuity, and infinity. This concept derives from the Greek words ouro (tail) and boros (eating).

Table of Contents

• The Origins of the Ouroboros Symbol
• History of the Ouroboros Symbol
• Ouroboros and Alchemy
• Meaning and Significance of the Ouroboros Symbol

The Origins of the Ouroboros Symbol

The symbol's historical roots appear across various mythologies. In Ancient Egypt, the Ouroboros symbol, associated with the Sun God Ra, represents the cycle of life and death.

In Greek mythology, the Ouroboros represents cosmic cycles. The symbol also has a counterpart in Hindu mythology, symbolizing the eternal renewal of the universe.

History of the Ouroboros Symbol

Research indicates that the symbol's origins trace back to Ancient Egypt. Bearing the meaning of infinity, the symbol also conveys the continuity of life and death. The image of a snake consuming its tail is considered the source of the infinity symbol.

The symbol was believed to have been first depicted around 1300 BC, and the oldest known representation is found in a golden temple in Tutankhamun's tomb.

Over the years, extensive research has been conducted on this symbol, and many meanings have been attributed to it. Today, the symbol continues to retain its mystical allure. In his work Timaeus, philosopher Plato, a student of Socrates, describes Ouroboros as follows:

"The first living thing in the universe was a self-consuming circular being. An immortal, perfectly formed creature… As there was nothing to be seen outside of it, the living creature did not need eyes or ears, as there was nothing to hear… There was no air surrounding it to breathe, nor could it use organs for nourishment and expelling wastes, as nothing was entering or exiting it, so there was nothing outside of it. In its creation, the design allowed it to feed itself, and all it did or endured came from within itself, for a self-sufficient being would be far more perfect than one lacking nothing. As it needed nothing to take or defend itself against, the creator deemed that it should lack hands or feet or any walking apparatus. Still, the movement aligned with its spherical form was allotted to it, the one among the seven that most accords with intelligence and thought, created to rotate within its limits in a circle. Since this circular motion required no feet, the universe was created without feet or hands."

Ouroboros and Alchemy

In alchemy, the Ouroboros symbol is often depicted not as a snake but as two dragons consuming each other's tails. This representation, akin to the first use of the symbol in Ancient Egypt, also conveys the message of complementary opposites, similar to the yin-yang symbol.

The most outstanding work in alchemy is the inner work one performs on oneself. A person must confront their shadow side and transform. The conclusion is that, like the

Ouroboros consuming its tail, a person must integrate and accept all their opposites.

Meaning and Significance of the Ouroboros Symbol

The symbol signifies infinity, cycles, self-sufficiency, rebirth, unity, and wholeness. These meanings are elaborated as follows:

• The beginning and the end are one whole, interconnected. The universe exists in a continuous cycle.
• Self-sufficiency, or the ability to be complete within one's existence, is one of the meanings associated with the Ouroboros symbol.
• Consuming the old to birth the new expresses the renewal process symbolized by the Ouroboros.
• All beings and the universe are one whole.

"Everything goes, returns, endlessly spins the wheel of being. Everything dies, Everything blossoms again; eternally runs the year of being."

– Friedrich Nietzsche

The cyclical and infinite meanings within the Ouroboros carry profound messages about the human connection to both the inner self and the universe. Embark on your inner journey, understand your cycles, and delve into the world of symbols with Bitely. Our content in philosophy, psychology, and personal growth will help you renew yourself and deepen your inner journey in a continuously evolving cycle. Join Bitely now to discover yourself and the world from a different perspective!