The ouroboros, an ancient and mysterious symbol, continues to spark interest and questions in contemporary culture. Originating from ancient Egyptian civilizations, the ouroboros has spanned millennia of history and has spread into many different cultures and traditions around the world. But what does this enigmatic symbol really represent?
Origins and Meanings
The ouroboros is depicted as a serpent or dragon biting its own tail, thus creating an endless circle. This image evokes concepts of cyclicality, eternity and infinity. In ancient Egyptian civilizations, the ouroboros symbolized eternity and the cycle of life, death and rebirth. This concept then spread to other cultures, such as Greek, Roman and Nordic, where the ouroboros was associated with divinities linked to time, fertility and the cycle of nature.
Global Diffusion
Ouroboros is found in many forms and variations in different parts of the world. It is present in the art, mythology and symbolism of cultures such as Chinese, Indian, African and pre-Columbian. This global diffusion demonstrates the universality of the concepts of eternity and rebirth represented by the ouroboros.
Fascinating curiosities
Alchemy : In medieval European alchemy, the ouroboros represented the concept of "coniunctio oppositorum", the union of opposites, such as male and female, heaven and earth, good and evil.
Oroboros in Modern Art : The ouroboros has inspired many modern artists, including the famous Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, who used it in several works to represent eternity and the interconnection of all living beings.
Symbol of Psychology : The ouroboros has also found a place in psychology, where it is used to represent concepts such as self-sufficiency and the process of self-analysis and self-renewal.
The ouroboros continues to be a fascinating symbol that crosses cultural and linguistic barriers, connecting the past with the present and offering insights into the cyclical nature of life and the universe.