The Ouroboros symbol is among the oldest of all ancient Egyptian symbols. In Greek, Ouroboros means “Devouring its Tail” or “All is One,” which signifies the circular nature of time and the universe, whereby creation evolves from destruction. Later found in Greek and Roman cultures, it originated in ancient Egypt around 1600 BC and was related to magical talismans, Gnosticism, and alchemy.
The symbol first appeared in the Enigmatic Book of the Underworld, depicting the union of the gods Ra and Osiris in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Additionally, it also represented the cyclical nature of the year in Roman times and the philosopher’s stone in alchemy. Nowadays, ouroboros is used to symbolize infinity, primordial unity, and the balance of creation versus destruction in fantasy art and literature.
