400 CE) describes the ouroboros as a twelve-part dragon surrounding the world with its tail in its mouth. In Gnosticism, a serpent biting its tail symbolised eternity and the soul of the world. Gnosticism and alchemy Early alchemical ouroboros illustration with the words ἓν τὸ πᾶν ("The All is One") from the work of Cleopatra the Alchemist in MS Marciana gr. The jar belonged to the neolithic Yangshao culture which occupied the area along the basin from 5000 to 3000 BCE. China Īn early example of an ouroboros (as a purely artistic representation) was discovered in China, on a piece of pottery in the Yellow River basin. The 4th-century CE Latin commentator Servius was aware of the Egyptian use of the symbol, noting that the image of a snake biting its tail represents the cyclical nature of the year. The symbol persisted from Egyptian into Roman times, when it frequently appeared on magical talismans, sometimes in combination with other magical emblems. The ouroboros appears elsewhere in Egyptian sources, where, like many Egyptian serpent deities, it represents the formless disorder that surrounds the orderly world and is involved in that world's periodic renewal. Ouroboros swallowing its tail based on Moskowitz's symbol for the constellation Draco The whole divine figure represents the beginning and the end of time. Both serpents are manifestations of the deity Mehen, who in other funerary texts protects Ra in his underworld journey. The ouroboros is depicted twice on the figure: holding their tails in their mouths, one encircling the head and upper chest, the other surrounding the feet of a large figure, which may represent the unified Ra-Osiris ( Osiris born again as Ra). The text concerns the actions of the Ra and his union with Osiris in the underworld. One of the earliest known ouroboros motifs is found in the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld, an ancient Egyptian funerary text in KV62, the tomb of Tutankhamun, in the 14th century BCE. Historical representations First known representation of the ouroboros, on one of the shrines enclosing the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun Ancient Egypt The snake biting its own tail is a fertility symbol in some religions: the tail is a phallic symbol and the mouth is a yonic or womb-like symbol. The ouroboros is often interpreted as a symbol for eternal cyclic renewal or a cycle of life, death and rebirth the snake's skin-sloughing symbolises the transmigration of souls. The term derives from Ancient Greek οὐροβόρος, from οὐρά oura 'tail' plus -βορός -boros '-eating'. Another wild rat snake was found having swallowed about two-thirds of its body. One captive snake attempted to consume itself twice, dying in the second attempt. Some snakes, such as rat snakes, have been known to consume themselves. It was adopted as a symbol in Gnosticism and Hermeticism and most notably in alchemy. The ouroboros entered Western tradition via ancient Egyptian iconography and the Greek magical tradition. The ouroboros or uroboros ( / ˌ j ʊər ə ˈ b ɒr ə s/ ) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The most recognizable and iconic depiction of the panther in tattoos is probably in its stalking or crawling position.For other uses, see Ouroboros (disambiguation).Īn ouroboros in a 1478 drawing in an alchemical tract Trying to decide on what the perfect panther tattoo will look like for you? To them and their peers, it’s a symbol of strength, courage, and determination. Regardless of what the reasons were for these panther tattoos rising in popularity during that time, it was well suited to the incredibly brave men in the military, putting their lives at risk for their country. Many also believe that the icon crawling panther tattoo made a great cover-up for the pin-up girl tattoos that were later banned in the military. World War 2 saw a boom in the tattoo industry, with many soldiers opting for the eye-catching, boldness of the traditional panther tattoo. When people get a panther tattoo, there’s often something in this set of qualities they want for themselves. In tattoos, the panther generally symbolizes the characteristics that someone admires for themselves such as bravery, boldness, strength, and grace.Īccording to most myths and folklore, a panther tattoo can symbolize: In South America, the panther is often depicted as a symbol of nobility and religious practices with Shaman and Mayan Priests wearing their fur to express their power and fierceness. The panther tattoo has many different meanings depending on where you are in the world.
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