Discover the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol of rebirth and eternity from Egyptian history, and its significance in culture, art, and alchemy.
The Ouroboros symbol is one of the oldest ancient Egyptian symbols in history. The symbol was assimilated into several beliefs and cultures. It was in the shape of a serpent or often a dragon biting its own tail. It represented the ideas of rebirth, perpetuity, immortality, repetition, and cycles.
The name Ouroboros means "Devouring its Own Tail" or "All is One" since 1600 BC. It is symbolic of the cyclic nature of time & the universe when creation begins after destruction and life from death. The symbol was originally made in ancient Egypt and entered the Western world via some Greek Magical Papyri.
The ancient Egyptians sought to understand the meaning behind every single natural phenomenon, like the snake that changes its skin, which the ancient Egyptians explained as the beginning and end of time, depicting eternal cyclic renewal and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Ouroboros Symbol first appeared as one the oldest known motifs that appeared in the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld, which stands as a funerary text from the 14th century BC Tutankhamun's tomb that showcases the union between Ra and Osiris in the Underworld. It symbolizes the cyclical union of Ra and Osiris in the underworld, with two serpents representing the deity Mehen.
The ancient Egyptians are able to represent formless disorder in the middle of the world's periodic renewal. In Roman times, in the 4th century AD, the symbol was used as a magical talisman that signified the cyclical nature of the year. The religious text Gnosticism was a twelve-part dragon that symbolizes eternity and the soul of the world. In the field of Alchemy, the 3rd century Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra features an ouroboros with the inscription "The All is One" possibly representing a Gnostic duality akin to the Taoist yin and yang plus it was linked with the philosopher's stone.
The symbol first appeared in the tomb of Tutankhamun as part of the Book of the Netherworld in the 14 century BC. In the Book of the Dead, there are images of a serpent related to the creator god Atum, who rose from the waters of creation. The snake is believed to renew itself every morning.
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Read MoreThe ouroboros symbol is depicted holding its tails in its mouth, one encircling the head and upper chest while the other surrounding the feet of a large figure, which may represent the unified Ra-Osiris. The double loop of the snake eating its tail depiction became common in fantasy art & literature.
The ouroboros has several meanings as the lower part of the symbol showcases the destructive force of nature, night, earth & even Yin, while the upper half represents the generation and creative force, day, heaven & yang. The Ouroboros symbol was featured a lot in the field of Alchemy, like Cleopatra the Alchemist, who was the first to feature the symbol for the first time in the 10th century, which became linked to the Alchemist's Opus, the philosopher's stone.
The symbol was very popular during the Roman times as it appeared on magical talismans & emblems. The ouroboros acts as the mathematical equivalent for infinity and a representation of the idea of primordial unity related to something existing or preexisting before any beginning by any sort of force. The symbol is featured in religion & mythology and can be associated with Gnosticism and hermeticism.
The ancient Egyptian artifacts are absolute wonders; each symbol has its own unique allure, which transforms the mind and soul into a different time of greatness. The cities of Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan are calling for you, so answer the call and explore these immortal miracles with our Egyptian private tours.
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Ouroboros is an international symbol associated with ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures. The symbol becomes very famous in the Western world through ancient Egyptian iconography and the Greek magical tradition. The ouroboros is deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian mythology as it is connected with the sun god Ra, who renews himself by eating his tale, which symbolizes death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life. The ancient Greek philosophy described the symbol as a self-eating circular being that stands for eternal return or cyclical time.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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