So, its an intriguing parallel that the earliest ouroboros symbol was discovered in China, a place where there is a long history of dragon lore. In the article we read: "They point out the closed form of the ritual, which is seen as a closed circle, a snake biting its own tail" Also, the concept of a snake closing upon its own tail is seen in the Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad to symbolize Kundalini energy, which is sitting, like a coiled serpent, at the base of the spine. This vision of the ouroboros in atom form inspired Kekule to continue working out his equations until he was able to prove the form of the benzene. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ouroboros. Yet the Greeks saw it as a reflection of the eternal cycle of death and rebirth which is what the alchemists sought to be free from. Some historians believe the Chinese ouroboros could have been inspired by dragons, which represented strength, great power, and good luck. In fact, the name ouroboros is derived from Greek words oura, which means tail, and boros, which means eating. Literature. Pronunciation by Kirstyn (Female from Australia) The ouroboros is an ancient symbol that depicts a serpent eating its own tail. There are many references in mythology to the serpent of light that supposedly lived in the heavens. The shrine is dated to 1300 BC. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Thanks for visiting UniGuide. They believed that Ra was born every morning. Samanantar My name is Kristen and I started UniGuide as a tribute to nature, animals, and spiritual exploration. Jrmungandr was one of the Norse god Lokis three children. that will help our users expand their word mastery. A concept that has been illustrated in the 20th century by artists through the imagery of never-ended staircases, Mobius strips, and the Droste Effect, in painting or photos in which the image recursively reproduces itself. Within Gnosticism, an ancient religious sect that challenged the belief that a benevolent God created the world, the Ouroboros took on a new meaning where it was seen to represent the infinite cycle of death and rebirth. It is also a symbol that appears in many cultures. The book mainly describes Ra and his partnership with Osiris in the underworld. This was most often the god Shiva a fitting choice. The snake that tempted Eve is taken to be Satan and so serpents are synonymous with the devil. Cleopatra wasnt the only alchemist to reference the ouroboros in her work. quotations What could be more ouroboric than members of the media who specialize in blaming the media. The two serpents that appear in the text hold their tails in their mouths. While dreaming, he explored the image of atoms working together and eventually appearing to move and writhe like snakes. It was adopted as a symbol in Gnosticism and Hermeticism and most notably in alchemy . The Ouroboros has been interpreted in a plethora of ways and has been used by countless cultures to represent the most difficult questions in life. Hahubas body encircles the world, which is a giant disc that floats in the never ending sea. But the ouroboros shows us that studying the seekers of wisdom from the past can give us new insights into ourselves and where we might be going in the future. Omissions? Cybernetics theory can be applied to psychology, biology, anthropology, computer science, engineering, and other fields.18. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Updates? The word ouroboros itself, however, comes from the Greeks. It is also used to represent the symbol of destruction. There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project. They express death and rebirth, creation and destruction, and eternity in general. The Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra is a famous alchemical text that was written by an Egyptian philosopher, author, and alchemist. mythologian.net Ouroboros derives from a Greek word meaning "tail-devourer." The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Archaeologists believe the text on the shrine was purposefully cryptic so as not to reveal secret formulas.2 Hence, they referred to the writings as the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld.. Combined, they roughly translate to tail eater.. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. However, some Christians give the Ouroboros a less ominous interpretation, preferring to see it as a symbol of new life. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates? The ouroboros is also a popular tattoo and internet icon as personal symbol for rebirth. Suddenly, one of the snakes grabbed its tail in its mouth prompting Kekule to awaken. In the Greek school of thought, Hermeticism, the Ouroboros is taken as a reflection of the cyclic nature of death and rebirth, of destruction and creation, of transformation as illustrated in the article Hermeticism and Cosmic Cycles which states: As a symbolic illustration of this passage point, one can use the example of the Ouroboros, the snake swallowing its own tail and whose mouth is simultaneously a place of destruction and a source of generation. These three symbols were themselves surrounded by an ouroboros. Its an ancient circular symbol, dating back to 5000 BC, which depicts a snake or dragon eating its tail. The Niasians call the serpent Pane na Bolon, the underworld serpent. So, Quetzalcoatl shares symbolic meaning with the ouroboros in other cultures in that he symbolizes higher wisdom. She holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and Education, and has also studied Political Science, Ancient History and Literature. What does that have to do with Ouroboros? Its also becoming a popular option as a tattoo as the Ouroboros serves as a reminder of the cyclic nature of life and that everything is in a constant flow of creation, destruction and recreation. According to Roman philosophy, Saturn connected one year to the next. In another part of the world, the Vikings told tales of a giant serpent named Jrmungandr who guarded Midgard, their name for Earth. The ouroboros figured prominently in Egyptian culture. Eventually, the ouroboros symbol made its way across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece. The ouroboros symbol doesnt depict a deity. QED or uroborus However, the figurative meaning of the snake eating its tail in the ouroboros symbol most likely dates back to ancient mythologies about a giant serpent that encircled the world. The snake is an ouroboros and most likely a signature of the sender. Ouroboros is an emblematic serpent of ancient Egypt and Greece represented with its tail in its mouth, continually devouring itself and being reborn from itself. In South America, the Kogi People of Colombia and the Shipibo-Conibo People of the Peruvian Amazon share a similar story of a giant black serpent named Hahuba, or the Snake of Being. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Indeed, the Vikings would have certainly observed the Northern Lights. ros yur--br-s variants or ouroboros or less commonly Uroboros or uroboros 1 : a circular symbol that depicts a snake or dragon devouring its own tail and that is used especially to represent the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth 2 Its a reminder that all things are connected and will come full circle. n. A symbol in the form of a snake biting its own tail, used especially in ancient Egypt and in Hermetic philosophy as an emblem of eternity. The society was known to take an alternative approach to spiritualism and studied many mystic and occult practices. Where storms that occur on Earth will hit obstacles and subside, on Saturn, there are no such obstacles. Do you have a word in English or another language that you'd like us to cover? In fact, he feared the world would fall apart and into the sea. In the 19th century a vision of Ouroboros gave the German chemist August Kekule von Stradonitz the idea of linked carbon atoms forming the benzene ring. Luckily for Ra, Mehen the Enveloper accompanied him on his journeys across the sky and into the underworld. Yet another Gnostic interpretation of Ouroboros sees it as symbolizing the demarcation points between Earth and Heaven, while other Gnostics saw it as a representation of the devil who made this world and bars anyone from escaping it. It is a combination of oura which means tail, and bora which means food. Thus, archeologists and historians cant trace it back to one single source. In speech and writing, the ouroboros is often called the self-eating snake, used as learned term or metaphor for infinity, cyclicality, or some other kinds of loop phenomena, often self-destructive in nature. They suggest that the ouroboros symbol may have been inspired by auroral rings. While the ouroboros is simple and predictable, human beings are not. Corrections? For the ancient Egyptians, the ouroboros (and snakes in general) symbolized eternal life. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Hindu cosmology features an ouroboros as helping to prop up the Earth. A Storm on Saturn In a strange example of synchronicity, an actual storm that occurred on the planet Saturn had an ouroboros effect. If you found this video helpful, please give us a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more pronunciation guides in various languages: https://www.youtube.com/@HTPronounce?sub_confirmation=1 Make sure to click the bell icon to get notified when we upload new videos, so you can continue expanding your pronunciation skills. Their basic theory is that inputs create outcomes and those outcomes are used as inputs for further actions. A gnostic and alchemical symbol, Ouroboros expresses the unity of all things, material and spiritual, which never disappear but perpetually change form in an eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation. Let us know in the comments section below!Happy pronouncing and keep exploring new languages! The name comes from the Greek word gnosis, which translate to knowledge or knowing.12 Essentially, Gnostics believed that we have a direct relationship with God, or a Higher Power. There are mobile apps, online tools, dictionary websites to help you as well, but this dedicated channel is you go-to directory to improve your diction, voicing elocution, enunciation, and intonation.Juliens instructional and educational videos make pronunciation easier as I detail the correct pronunciation as fluent speaker many languages such as French, English, Spanish, or Italian, and curious student of world idioms such as Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, or Russian.-If you found this video helpful please like the video to support my work.-If you would like help with any future pronunciations, be sure to subscribe!-Thanks for Watching How To Pronounce with Julien and happy pronouncing.#EnglishWithJulien What does this word/name mean? This creature was a self-eating and circular being. Indeed, its a symbol that has endured the test of time and which still intrigues us to this day. We may suffer, but joy is soon to come. The article The Development of the Vedic Canon and its Schools: The Social and Political Milieu mentions Vedic rituals within certain sects of Hinduism that are seen to be analogous to a snake consuming its own tail. It is used as an emblem for the cyclical nature of time and for the cyclical nature of life. It symbolized the ancient Egyptians views on immortality and the cycles of nature. Ancient Mesoamerican cultures depicted a feathered serpent deity on their temples and in other artwork. Check out the pronunciation, synonyms and grammar. We do so when we reach a state of total enlightenment, called Moksha or Nirvana in Buddhism. While it might seem like a nightmare-inducing scenario, sometimes snakes do eat their own tails. From Jungs perspective, humans can become whole when we integrate our shadow selves, or the unconscious aspects of our personalities, with our conscious selves.17, Mathematicians, technologists, and philosophers have applied the ouroboros to the field of cybernetics. Very thorough and thoughtful. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Engraved on a gilded shrine in honor of the young King Tut were two ouroboroi along with obscure text (not normal hieroglyphics) and illustrations. Norse legend tells of the great serpent, Jrmungandr, who encircles the earth and bites its own tail. As the first, it was the most perfect because of its self-sufficiency. There are those who wonder if the connection of this symbol to space means that our ancestors were able to answer questions that still hold mystery for many today. The earliest record of the ouroboros was found in the 1600 BC in ancient Egypt. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. (The other two were the goddess Hel and the wolf Fenrir.). Nothing is ever by accident. It is also thought to represent many other ideas and theories. Master the pronunciation of 'Ouroboros' Ouroboros - which means : A snake or dragon eating its own tail - with this quick and clear tutorial by How To Pronou. While the origin of the ouroboros symbol is mysterious, its a fact that snakes, on rare occasions, do eat their tails. Despite of its self-eating nature, however, it had no organs that would allow it to digest for there was nothing that could come into its system that existed outside of itself. Also, the concept of a snake closing upon its own tail is seen in the Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad to symbolize Kundalini energy, which is sitting, like a coiled serpent, at the base of the spine. The giant serpent (or crocodile) Apep was always trying to create chaos for him. Ras daily journey across the sky in his boat wasnt not without its challenges, however. How to say Ouroboros in English? Mehen, whose name means coiled one, was a snake god who protected Ra during his journey.4. The Theosophical Society was founded in New York City on November 17th, 1875. The Ouroboros is a highly recognizable symbol, featuring either a snake or dragon consuming its own tail, thereby forming a circle. Whether you're learning English for travel, business, or just for fun, our guide will help you perfect your pronunciation in no time. There are many legends that incorporate the ouroboros into their oral traditions whether directly or figuratively. I would love to see your tapestry when its ready! Today, we dont know the exact origins of the ouroboros symbol. Ouroboros in Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism, http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/enigmatic.htm, https://medieval.nd.edu/assets/186467/ucb_ouroboros_cfp.docx, http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/history.html, https://www.britannica.com/topic/alchemy/The-chemistry-of-alchemy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_consurgens, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_the_Alchemist, https://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-saturnian-equivalent-of-the-ouroboros/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga-kundalini_Upanishad, https://www.facebook.com/hotspotyo/posts/the-divine-power-kundalini-shines-like-the-stem-of-a-young-lotuslike-a-snake-coi/2421785694522233/, http://jungcurrents.com/a-jungian-shaggy-snake-story, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics, Crocodile Symbolism & Meaning & the Crocodile Spirit Animal, Butterfly Meaning & Symbolism & the Butterfly Spirit Animal. Geomythology is the study of how pre-scientific cultures explained astronomical events and other natural phenomena through creation stories and legends. For example, a 15th century manuscript called the Aurora consurgens, contains an illustration of the ouroboros.9 And even earlier, a 1st century document entitled the Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra, written most likely by a group of Greek alchemists and philosophers, contained an ouroboros with an inscription that said, One is All and through it is All, and by it is All, and if you have not All, All is Nothing.10. Starting at the root chakra at the base of the spine, it flows up to the crown chakra, creating a more enlightened state of consciousness. She works as the chief editor of Symbol Sage but also takes the time to write on topics that interest her. Since its appearance, the Ouroboros has gained a variety of interpretations, including modern interpretations signifying that the symbol represents the Antichrist, eternal love between two people and infinity. So ouroboros loosely translates to the tail devourer. For the philosopher Plato, the ouroboros symbolized self-reliance a perfect being that needed nothing but itself. For the Gnostics, the ouroboros symbolized a unity with the divine. The ouroboros is also frequently referenced in art, literature, and music,from the 1922 fantasy novel The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rcker Eddison to the 2012 song Ouroboros by psych-rockers Ruby the Hatchet. According to Fon creation stories, when the creation of the world was complete, the Creator realized that it was too heavy with animals, mountains, rivers, and trees. Words meaning, dictionary definition, explanation, information.Information \u0026 Source: The ouroboros or uroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. Archaeologists discovered the oldest known example of an ouroboros on a jar that is possibly . In Hinduism, the ouroboros symbolizes kundalini, or primal, energy. The authors real name has been lost to history, but it is known that she is not the same person as Cleopatra VII last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Literature Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. Yet in both Hinduism and Buddhism, the goal is to get off of this wheel (or ouroboros.) Learn the definition of 'Ouroboro snake'. Indeed, while the Leviathan is sometimes described as created by God, at other times he is portrayed as Gods arch enemy. Master the pronunciation of 'Ouroboros' Ouroboros - which means : A snake or dragon eating its own tail - with this quick and clear tutorial by How To Pronounce! So, he created a giant serpent that would wrap itself around the world, holding its tail in his mouth to hold it all together. As for the oft-mentioned representation, Jung also defined the relationship of the ouroboros to alchemy: The alchemists, who in their own way knew more about the nature of the individuation process than we moderns do, expressed this paradox through the symbol of the, What is interesting in this image is not that the All- Seeing Eye is representing God or that the Holy Spirit is the bird, but that Jesus is represented by a, The imagery of the twining serpent is connected to the hoop or wheel through the, Eternity is often symbolized by the image of a, Until disbelief will attack itself, like the, He said that he had discovered the ring shape of the benzene molecule after having a reverie or day-dream of a, Mal'akh studied the sacred patch of virginal skin, which was enclosed by the crownlike circle of an, Malakh studied the sacred patch of virginal skin, which was enclosed by the crownlike circle of an, To illustrate the continuous self-regulation process, we have chosen the ancient image of an , The other is that this doodle also works out for. Authors Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs and Anthony L. Peratt published another theory in the Journal of Folklore Research. The ouroboros originated in ancient Egypt then found its way to Greece. The earliest record of the ouroboros was found in the 1600 BC in ancient Egypt. Archaeologists discovered the oldest known example of an ouroboros on a jar that is possibly 7,000 years old. One of the most famous is the Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra. The earliest known ouroborossymbol comes in a 14th-century BCE Egyptian religious text found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Variations of the Ouroboros can be seen in different cultures and contexts, but the symbol is associated with Egypt. It appears that the symbol is used throughout many cultures in ancient history who looked to the serpent figure as a way of explaining the vastness and interconnectedness of the universe. Eventually, it grows so large that it encircles the girls home. The oldest example of the symbol was found in China on a jar that dates to 5000 BCE. From Ancient Greek (ourobros, tail-devouring), a compound of (our, tail) + - (-bros, -devouring), which is derived from the verb (bibrsk, to eat up). Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a snake or serpent eating its own tail, variously signifying infinity and the cycle of birth and death. The only one of the senses that this creature was given was the ability to move and writhe in its circular nature that represented the essence of its being. As mentioned earlier, archaeologists discovered the earliest known ouroboros symbol in China. The ouroboros entered Western tradition via ancient Egyptian iconography and the Greek magical tradition. The Zohar, which is a foundational piece of Kabbalistic literature, describes the Leviathan as an ouroboros a circular serpent holding on to its tail. OpenSubtitles2018.v3 So the ouroboros represented the old year turning into the new in an infinite cycle. Learn more on About UniGuide. Shiva is known to mirror the symbolism of the circle he often appears inside. The Aztecs called their serpent god Quetzalcoatl. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It belonged to the neolithic Yangshao People, who lived along the Yellow River in what is now eastern China. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. And getting closer to God was not a matter of sinning and repenting for our sins, but a matter of not living in illusion and becoming more enlightened. The alchemists main pursuit was liberation from the limitations of the human body a concept that was embodied by the ouroboros. 2023 UniGuide Media LLCAll Rights Reserved. We are capable of moving in all matter of directions, which can mean moving forward and progressing or flailing and wasting energy.5, Some historians compare the ouroboros to the Greek myth about Sisyphus. A drawing of the ouroboros can be found in one of the earliest alchemical texts, The Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra, from the 3rd century CE. These often come in the form of an animal halo that circled around something. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ouroboros. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Hahubas body contains the essence of life and her breathing regulates the tides.16, The psychologist Carl Jung saw the ouroboros as an archetypal symbol of the human psyche. Rich with historical meaning, the ouroboros symbolizes rebirth, immortality, eternity, protection, self-reliance, unity, and nature's cycles. The ouroboros has enduring symbolic meaning, as the symbol itself is ancient. (CORRECTLY) Meaning & Pronunciation Julien Miquel 687K subscribers Join Subscribe 18K views 2 years ago More PROBLEMATIC WORDS pronounced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyncG. It is unlike many other cultural representations of snakes, such as in Christian tradition, which have distinctly evil associations. Some historians and archaeologists theorize that the ouroboros motif is based on mythologies about a world serpent, which is a giant snake that encircles the world. For them, it symbolized the dual nature of existence, marked by life and death, male and female, light and dark, mortality and divinity, or Earth and heaven. Shiva was known to represent the duality in life, much like the ouroboros itself. The ouroboros or uroboros ( / jrbrs / [2]) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon [3] eating its own tail. In this case, the snake eats its own tail (destruction) and regrows from it (generation) in an endless cycle. In addition to Jormungandr, Norse mythology also gives us the story of a King who gave his daughter a small lindworm (a serpent monster) as a gift to his daughter. Pronunciation [ edit] IPA ( key): /urbrs/, /urbrs/ Audio (UK) 0:02 enPR: oo-rb-rs, oo-r-br-s Noun [ edit] ouroboros ( plural ouroboroi or ouroboroses ) ( mythology) A serpent, dragon or worm that eats its own tail, a representation of the continuous cycle of life and death . WikiMatrix Jung was well aware of the ouroboros symbol in alchemy and how it represented wholeness and unity. Yet where did this strange symbol come from and what does it represent? In this video, we'll guide you through the correct pronunciation of 'Ouroboros' in English, using native speaker examples and easy-to-follow phonetic breakdowns. Informing as well as thought provoking.inspiring me creatively which is what brought me here to begin with .I feel I understand the ouroboros symbol with a deeper wisdom and a spiritual longing to depict this symbol in the tapestry I am creating to a fullness that is captivating and moving to those who view it. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a snake or serpent eating its own tail, variously signifying infinity and the cycle of birth and death. Socrates said that human beings are the opposite of the ouroboros. To the believers of Gnosticism, they cyclic nature of the serpent symbolizes the concept of eternity and the very essence of the world itself. Ouroboros, emblematic serpent of ancient Egypt and Greece represented with its tail in its mouth, continually devouring itself and being reborn from itself. The symbol appears in a passage about the origin of the sun god Ra through a union with the death god Osiris, meant to illustrate creation through destruction. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Pronunciation [ edit] ( US) enPR: r--br'-k IPA ( key): /bk/ Audio (US) 0:01 Adjective [ edit] ouroboric Self-referring, self-reflexive, self-consuming; recursive Relating to the Ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail. UniGuide is dedicated to nature lovers, spiritual seekers, and mythology fans. Fast forward to 1865, when the ouroboros was reportedly the inspiration for German chemist August Kekul von Stradonitz in his discovery of the linked carbon ring structure of a benzene molecule. noun a representation of a snake or dragon eating its own tail, originating in Ancient Egyptian and Greek iconography and used as a symbolic representation of wholeness, eternity, or death and rebirth. a circular symbol of a snake or dragon devouring its tail, standing for infinity or wholeness. The enduring interest in this symbol and its cross-cultural presence is incredible. The fact that the ouroboros was used in this text is not coincidental nor is its relevance fleeting. It is also thought to represent many other ideas and theories. On the one hand the ouroboros explains the concept of karma that everything you do has an effect, which will eventually circle around and come back to you. The world serpent appears in Norse, Hindu, Australian Aboriginal, African, and other mythologies. ouroboros translation and audio pronunciation. Ancient Egyptians also used the ouroboros to symbolize the flooding of the Nile, which occurred in seasonal cycles and was of great importance to ancient Egyptian agriculture and society. Some historians believe he is based on Apep, the Egyptian snake deity who battled the sun god Ra. While serpents have negative associations in many cultures, the ouroboros symbol holds positive connotations. Dictionary.com Unabridged Cybernetics is the study of circular causality or feedback loops. Herpetologists theorize the behavior is a stress response or a reaction to the snakes body temperature becoming too high. The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tailNo matter how many tricksused by our modern alchemists, aka central bankers, they cannot alter cyclicality of credit that simple. Khepera bent over himself is a, First, the snake has not caught its tailthe, https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=ouroboros&oldid=72917593. Rich with historical meaning, the ouroboros symbolizes rebirth, immortality, eternity, protection, self-reliance, unity, and natures cycles. For alchemists, the ouroboros symbol fit in well with their belief in the interconnectedness of the Universe, transmutation, and cause and effect. This story is often referred to by those who reflect on the mysteries of the ouroboros in modern day. Late 19th-, early 20th-century psychiatrist Carl Jung considered the ouroboros a psychological archetype, representing the subconscious desire to consume oneself and continually be reborn. It was also taken to be a symbol of fertility, as the tail of the Ouroboros was interpreted as a phallus and the mouth the womb that receives the seed. The Kundalini energy lies dormant at the base of the spine, coiled up and waiting to be awaken. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Later, Ragnar is known to have had a son by another woman. And then at sunset, he would die and join Osiris in the underworld. Sign up for writing inspiration in your email. The far Right is becoming a parody of itself, an ouroboros of Internet trolling and irony. Its not a bad symbol and is interpreted positively. One of their main beliefs is that salvation can only be found by overcoming ignorance, and the ouroboros is a step in the right direction. Its been associated with a variety of philosophies and religions, including Gnosticism, hermeticism, alchemy, Christianity, and Hinduism, to name a few. Originating in ancient Egyptian iconography, the ouroboros entered western tradition via Greek magical tradition and was adopted as a symbol in Gnosticism and Hermeticism and most notably in alchemy. I donate 1% of UniGuide's profits to animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and environmental charities. As the myth goes, when it lets its tail go, then Ragnarok, the cataclysmic end of the world event, would unfold. His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project. In Norse mythology, Jormungandr was the World Serpent that surrounded the world and grasped its own tail much like an ouroboros. Off the western coast of Sumatra, the local people on the island of Nias also told tales of a giant serpent who encircled the world holding his tale in his mouth. Eventually, the feat is completed by Ragnar Lodbrok, who goes on to marry the princess. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Ouroboros was adopted by the Alchemists, whose overall aim was to change base metal into precious gold. ouroboros synonyms, ouroboros pronunciation, ouroboros translation, English dictionary definition of ouroboros. ) A circle that the alchemists sought to be freed from. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023. a representation of a snake or dragon eating its own tail, originating in Ancient Egyptian and Greek iconography and used as a symbolic representation of wholeness, eternity, or death and rebirth. The serpent is half white and half black. ouroboros (plural ouroboroi or ouroboroses), a serpent, dragon or worm that eats its own tail, The alchemists were fond of picturing their, Khepera eating his own seed is a model of Romantic creativity, where the self is isolated and sexually dual. pronunciation. The ouroboros was specifically adopted by Gnostic philosophers in the 2nd century BCE. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Today, we associate the aurorae with the extreme northern and southern latitudes. Gnostics also saw the extreme ends of the Ouroboros as the symbol of the two distinct parts of humans: the spiritual and the earthly. Additionally, it surrounds text that translates to the all is one. This is symbolic for the interconnectedness that is evident in life. One has to wonder if auroral rings that may have inspired the Chinese dragon also inspired the Vikings depictions of the dragon-like Jrmungandr. Ouroboros Symbol Meaning, Interesting Facts and Origins, Ouroboros Depictions in Other Cultures and Contexts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owNp6J0d45A, 13 Spiritual Hand Symbols and Their Meanings. The symbol was used to document the Egyptians understanding of the sun and was said to represent the travels of the sun disk. The ouroboros symbol also made its way to India. Ouroboros is a circular or snake figure symbolizing infinity. In addition, the Chinese ouroboros symbolizes the idea of unity, as it does in other cultures. In 1922, the archaeologist Howard Carter and his team found an ouroboros in the tomb of Tutankhamun. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He also creates thunder, lightning, and ocean waves. However, there is evidence that a number of unusual solar storm events that occurred hundreds of years ago could have made the aurorae visible at times in other parts of the world.1 In fact some geomythologists believe that fire-breathing dragons were inspired by green auroral rings. This is because the act of eating/digesting is both destructive and generative depending on the perspective one takes. He was a creator deity who ruled the wind, air, and knowledge. This serpent resembles the ouroboros and the location is an obvious reference to the galaxy. In some cases, he had his tail in his mouth like an ouroboros. . The figure was most likely King Tut, or possibly the sun god Ra, or an amalgamation of the two. However, Jormungandr wasnt eating its tail, it was simply holding on to it. The ouroboros had no eyes because outside itself there was nothing to be seen. Today, we may feel like we are worlds apart from the Yangshao People, the ancient Egyptians, or the early alchemists running experiments in their workshops. More PROBLEMATIC WORDS pronounced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyncGi5eWz0\u0026list=PLd_ydU7Boqa2TWjHeVDMd_w6b4bDlwA2- Listen how to say this word/name correctly with Julien (English vocabulary videos), \"how do you pronounce\" free pronunciation audio/video tutorials.Learn how to say words in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and many other languages with Julien Miquel and his pronunciation tutorials! Like a circle that is seen consuming itself, the Ouroboros was a great symbol for the Alchemists belief in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. UniGuide participates in affiliate programs.Please see my Disclosures for details. Within Christianity, serpents are given a bad reputation. Dani Rhys has worked as a writer and editor for over 15 years. The first known appearance of the ouroboros motif is in the Enigmatic Book of the . In addition, they associated the symbol with the god Saturn, who ruled time and the cycles of the year. In their engravings and other artwork, Nordic artists depicted Jrmungandr as a giant serpent who has his tail in his mouth and encircles the world. Some of the meanings include rebirth, infinity, protection, self-reliance, and unity. Cleopatra the Alchemist was known to have published the Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra and drawn the famous ouroboros that is associated with it. When i first came across the name Ouroboros it was in Fullmetal Alchemist referring to the tattoos that the Homunculi; I was watching the Dub so it was pronounced in English as Or-Ro-Bo-Ros. The Egyptians believed the image of Ouroboros covering Ra-Osiris was a symbol for the beginning and end of time. The group was founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, and William Quan Judge. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros NASA scientists observed a storm on Saturn that traveled around the entire planet unabated until it hit its tail end and sputtered out.11. For the Romans, the ouroboros symbolized infinity. The ouroboros, or a snake eating its own tail. The Aboriginal Australians have a creation myth about a giant rainbow serpent who crosses the sky, provides water, and is a protector of people and crops. UniGuide will never share or sell your personal information. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. . This depiction also makes some wonder if it is somehow connected to the yin-yang symbol. [oor-uh-bohr-uhs]. It is often thought that the ouroboros was invented as a reference to the Milky Way Galaxy and the connection that it has to many of lifes answers that we seek. It had no ears because there was nothing outside itself to listen to. Ouroborosderives from a Greek word meaning tail-devourer. While the word is not attested in English until the 1940s, the concept of the ouroborosis very ancient, used across many cultures as a symbolof cosmic harmony, eternity, and the cycle of birth and death. In the article we read: They point out the closed form of the ritual, which is seen as a closed circle, a snake biting its own tail. In his work, Timaeus, Plato refers to the ouroboros as the first living creature in existence. Obviously, this can have both positive and negative connotations. Gnosticism is a system of ancient religious ideas that deal with knowledge and the spirit-realm, so its no shock that they took up interest in the ouroboros. The sun rising and setting every day was the center of the ancient Egyptians world. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They sometimes do this as a way to cope with stressors, hunger, hypermetabolism, or thermoregulation.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owNp6J0d45A. Frustrated, he eventually took a nap by his fireplace. It is possible that they are somehow also responsible for conveying the cyclic nature of life with no clear beginning and no end. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Nonetheless, what they did understand is that the ouroboros symbols, along with the text and drawings, depicted how the ancient Egyptians viewed human immortality and its interconnection with the cycles of nature. While the word Ouroboros has its origins in the Greek language, representations of the symbol itself have been documented as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries BCE in ancient Egypt. anything that resembles or calls to mind a snake or dragon eating its own tail: The arguments and debate about transcendence can all too easily become an Ouroboros of circular logic. The Hebrew Bible references a sea serpent called the Leviathan a number of times. Spanning. In fact, the planet Saturn rules the astrological sign of Capricorn, which connects December, the last month of the year, with January, the first month of the following year. It was founded to serve as an unsectarian body of seekers after Truth, who endeavor to promote Brotherhood and strive to serve humanity.. The ouroboros is perhaps most intriguing in its many connections to mythology. The ouroboros engravings on the shrine appeared as snakes wrapped around the head and the feet of a mummy figure. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The King promises his daughters hand in marriage to anyone who is able to kill the beast. The oldest depiction of the Ouroboros was found in Tutankhamuns tomb, portrayed in The Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld, a funerary text discovered within the tomb. Alchemists possess a belief in the transmutation of the soul. A serpent, dragon or worm that eats its own tail, a representation of the continuous cycle of life and death. The Ouroboros serpent is meant to be a positive symbol that represents unity and the natural eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation. rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of ouroboros A friend and translator of Jung, English psychiatristHelton Godwin Baynes introducedouroborosinto English with his 1940 study of schizophrenia: Theuroborus symbol represents our psychic continuity with the immemorial past.. A picture or symbol representing this. However, the symbol also appears in artifacts from ancient Egypt, Scandinavia, and Greece. Then the next morning, he would rise again. New Age spirituality, alchemy, and astrology may use the ouroborosin discussions of the cycle of life and death and of cosmic harmony. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This son is born with the image of a white snake in his eye that is circled around the iris and is biting its own tail. And, as the Ouroboros enclosed upon itself, it was taken as an emblem of the union between these two diverse aspects of ourselves. The ouroboros symbol appears in the artifacts of a number of cultures around the world. It also lacked the ability to breathe for similar reasons. In more contemporary times the Ouroboros has again undergone reinterpretation with it being seen as a symbol of infinity. Define ouroboros. This is a phenomenon that occurs when aurorae the northern lights (or aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis) form ring-like patterns in the sky. When the energy is stirred, it uncoils itself and stretches along the length of ones spine. Where does ouroboros come from? Back in Victorian times, Ouroboros jewelry was worn during times of mourning as the circular style of the symbol could be seen to represent the eternal love between those who had passed away and the ones left behind. However, it also incorporated other philosophical beliefs of the times, including medicine, spirituality, magic, and astrology.8, The ouroboros symbol appears in a number of ancient alchemical manuscripts and other artifacts. Jormungandr was a serpent also known as the Midgard Serpent who grew to be so large and powerful that he was able to encircle the entirety of Midgard and grasp his tail between his teeth. The head represented God, the Higher Power, or the spiritual realm and the tail represented human beings and the physical world. In alchemy, a Chrysopoeia is a word that indicates that a base metal had undergone transmutation into a noble metal like gold. A gnostic and alchemical symbol, Ouroboros expresses the unity of all things, material and spiritual, which never disappear but perpetually change form in an eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation. And surrounding this massive assemblage is a gigantic snake holding his tail in his mouth. Ouroboros, the snake consuming its own tail, OpenSubtitles2018.v3. There are many different interpretations of the ouroboros in mythology, but one of the most obvious is the tale of Jormungandr from Norse mythology. The symbol was used to document the Egyptians understanding of the sun and was said to represent the travels of the sun disk. Pronunciation of Ouroboros with 8 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning, 4 translations, 1 sentence and more for Ouroboros. The ouroboros originated in ancient Egyptian iconography. The Fleur-de-Lis: Origins, Symbolism and Meaning, Dreaming about a Car Being Stolen Meaning and Symbolism. In contemporary culture, the termouroboros is used by scholars and academics when formally discussing ancient mythology, history, and religion. The ouroboros symbol has appeared on temples, artwork, and ancient artifacts from an array of cultures around the world, including Egyptian, Greek, Nordic, Indian, Amazonian, and others. Alchemists notably used the ouroboros, too, to represent the element Mercury, believed to permeate and unite all matter. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It's an ancient circular symbol, dating back to 5000 BC, which depicts a snake or dragon eating its tail. OpenSubtitles2018.v3. Alchemy is best known for the practice of trying to turn metals, like copper or lead, into gold. The symbol of the Ouroboros is a snake biting its tail, or a snake swallowing its own tail. We may fail, but success is on its way. Its simply a representation of a variety of concepts, including infinity, the cycle of death and rebirth, destruction and regeneration, and so on. Another potential source of inspiration for the ouroboros is full rainbows spanning the sky. This concept is directly connected to the pursuit of the philosophers stone a substance associated with immortality and rejuvenation. This is not meant to be a formal definition of ouroboros like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is The son was therefore named Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. The structure of the compound benzene was supposedly discovered by a chemist named August Kekule when he was earnestly studying atom structure in an attempt to find an answer. This was thought to hold the world together. According to the Zohar, the Leviathan is a symbol for the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment or enlightenment to defeat ignorance. The Ouroboros eventually slithered out (pun intended) from Egyptian culture and into the world of the Greeks where it was given new interpretations. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Ouroboros is a gnostic and alchemical symbol that expresses the unity of all things, material and spiritual, which never disappear but perpetually change form in an eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation. There are often references to the strange symbol in Indian culture as well. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I love hearing this. He wrote a medical treatise entitled, A Letter to a Friend. In it, he reflected on the tiring cycle of life and death and the connection of these principles to the ouroboros. The symbol is used in numerous ancient myths, such as the Egyptian myth of the creation of the world by . The ouroboros is a symbol that can be found in the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld. This book was a funerary text that was found in the tomb of the young King Tut in the 14th century BC. opensubtitles2. According to Hindu mythology, the world is held up by four giant elephants who stand on an enormous turtle. quotations She has a wide range of interests ranging from ancient cultures and mythology to Harry Potter and gardening. Nonetheless, the two are interconnected in unity and for eternity. Some view the Ouroboros as a symbol of the false lies spread by the devil as well as a representation of the coming Antichrist. Alchemists also sought to understand how the cosmos affected all matter, including in the human body.7, Essentially, early alchemists were obsessed with the idea of transmutation and taking the state of something and making it better. Sheela Na Gig The Original Feminist Symbol? Finally, the ancient Egyptians associated the ouroboros with another natural phenomenon the run rising and setting every day, which you can read more about below. Hello. ParaCrawl Corpus However, historians believe it was inspired by real snakes, lizards (like the armadillo girdled lizard), or even pangolins, all of which curl up to protect themselves. People from a number of diverse cultures, including Egyptian, Greek, Arabic, Indian, and even Taoist monks in China, began experimenting with alchemy hundreds of years ago.
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