The ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail, represents cycles of destruction and renewal, infinity, and the unity of opposites. It appears across ancient Egyptian, Greek and alchemical traditions as a symbol of eternity and self-sufficiency. People choose it to mark a personal cycle completed, a fresh start, or an interest in the concept of endless return.

Where it sits

This is a tight, closed circle, which suits round or curved body areas like the forearm, upper arm, back of the shoulder, or calf. The wraparound shape also works well on a wrist or ankle where the curve of the limb echoes the loop of the snake. At small sizes the scale detailing and open jaw would blur together, so avoid shrinking it onto fingers or behind the ear.

Making it yours

Ask an artist for any of these.

  • Enlarge it to 5 or 6 inches to preserve the scale detail
  • Drop the stippled shading for a pure line-only version
  • Add colour, such as green or copper tones on the scales
  • Remove the forked tongue for a simpler closed-mouth version
  • Pair it with a small moon or sun inside the open centre
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