The serpent is a creature of the Earth, close to the ground. The circle is a symbol of completion and spiritual perfection, and in this sense, the ouroboros demonstrates a union of opposites, Heaven and Earth working in harmony.
The circle and the serpent are both symbols that are potent with mystical meaning, and they come together in the ouroboros. The serpent that constantly revolves, swallowing the end of its own tail, most commonly forms the circular or oval shape of the ouroboros. However, sometimes the symbol is constructed of a dragon rather than a serpent, or a pair of snakes that swallow one another's tails.
From the: The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols;
Hello Thedosians and welcome back to my channel/blog, today we are talking about the enigma behind the ouroboros, and what other lore in the real world can bring about in the story behind Dragon Age. For those who are new here, this contains many spoilers of comics, books, and all the games in Dragon Age, regardless, I hope you enjoy the video.
We see this symbol time and time again in the Dragon Age universe, and yet never seem to look upon it until the new Netflix show Dragon Age: Absolution.
What's behind the symbolism, and what theories could implicate the destruction of the veil, the hidden rituals of immortality, and how even the magisters use this in Tevinter? All of this will be answered here.
Definition -
Let's start with the history of the ouroboros:
One of the oldest symbols of great antiquity is the ouroboros. Though it first appears in Ancient Egypt around 1600 BC, it is likely to be even older.
It is named after the Greek ouroboros, which means "tale/self-devourer." The ouroboros is a symbol of motion, continuity, and self-realization. Even though the name is Greek, the concept of the ouroboros appears elsewhere.
In Norse myth, Jormundgandr, the giant serpent, is so large he can grasp the end of his tail in his teeth even as he hugged the planet.
And in Hindu mythology, the serpent Goddess, Nahusha, also appears as the creator of the world.
It also hints at the image of the Cosmic Egg that a spiraling snake surrounds.
Of course, the Cosmic egg is a historical spiritual men-made creation of the complexity of our world as a whole, theologians even partake in this belief that we are in a cosmic egg starting at the real story of the world (original creation of the world/cosmos) and then our collective story on this earth, to ending with our what people call our 'personal bubble' our simple life of what we do, how we live, etc.
And this is a great example of Dragon Age too because we ourselves are still learning about the 1st layer of the Cosmic egg in this universe and how it came into creation, who started Thedas? Is the Dalish belief of Mythal and Elgar'nan creating the world true? Or are there still elements to learn from the next upcoming game that change the next course of ancient history in Thedas. The writers are known to not give up the puzzle pieces of the creation of the waking world and the Fade so easily...
That is the abridged version of the cosmic egg, but of course, the serpent is around this belief and that's where we lead to the definition of the ouroboros:
The ouroboros symbolizes the cyclical nature of time and seasons, as well as rebirth's eternal cycle. With the snake's habit of shedding its skin, it makes sense that it would be a symbol of rebirth and renewal. According to Gnostics, the ouroboros represents eternity. Meanwhile, it acts as a reminder of our material existence, as well as an aspiration to a higher existence.
With that aside, we know the history and meaning behind the Ouroboros, but what does that lead us to? Here are some conclusions as to where this symbol lingers at.
Tevinter & Old God religion -
Let's start with the simplest theory, the ouroboros symbol is a ritual derived from Tevinter and has been existing in use for centuries by the Magisters. The Magisters perform this typically for magical purposes, which are still unknown until we read the comics.
In the comic 'Until We Sleep', there is a device that Magister Aurelian Titus uses this magical device which is powered by the blood of those who have the blood of great dragons. That person was former King Maric Theirin, Alistair's father.
A Magrallen is known in Tevinter to be an ancient Dreamer device, it's unknown whether mages use other creatures in this device, (like an actual great dragon) but so far we see the clear symbol of the ouroboros on this page of the comic.
This Tevinter device could potentially make anyone a Dreamer in the Fade. Which is the highest class a mage can receive in Tevinter, with Tevinter's caste system, being 'Somniari' was a privilege and at times you were higher than the Archon or considered of high importance to become Archon. Ah yes, the political importance of power-hungry tyrants in Tevinter isn't a surprise anymore.
It is also noteworthy, or it can be theorized, that since this device is considered blood magic, there may be some sort of mind control involved here as well. The device must be able to specifically regulate human behavior in order for him to be able to shape the souls of every human being in Thedas. To turn all non-mages in Thedas into obedient slaves unto him so that he can rule with impunity.
In addition, it was shown in the comic that by destroying this device that somehow connected to the Fade through the blood of Maric, it connected everything around it to the Fade once it was destroyed.
So a dreamer creation device, a large connection to the Fade, the use of great dragon blood, and potentially a massive mind-control pool of all beings in Thedas.
That leads us to a question, why is there an ouroboros?
The ouroboros can also represent the idea of primordial unity related to something existing from the beginning with such force or qualities it cannot be extinguished.
So let's look into something primordial -
It's summarized that the Neromenians who created Tevinter at the beginning of their old god religion, specifically the Old God Dumat. Was in charge of whispering the ideas of blood magic to the high priest Thalsian in -1595 Ancient.
The theory can be that the primordial beings are the first of the dragons in Thedas, which might be the Great Dragons or even before them. And thus, the Neromenians harnessed the power through a magrallen, and became known as the new Somniari, the ancient dreamers.
That would also explain the reminder 'higher-consciousness' symbolism from the ouroboros, that once they left the material world into the Fade, they knew there was more than just Thedas.
But of course, I will add this was not the only way the Neromenians entered into the Fade, Dorian says they also had Orbs like the one we see in Inquisition called Somnaborium. So no, not every mage did the barbaric style of the magrallen as one might think...
Dorian: They were depictions of a time long before the magisters. The ancient Dreamers, perhaps.
Dorian: The texts called those orbs "somnaborium"--"vessels of dreams." Could they be the same thing?
Solas: Perhaps. The humans of ancient times took much from the elves.
Nonetheless, as we have already seen, the Tevinter Imperium borrowed many ideas from cultures already present in ancient Elvhenan, and scholars believe it may have been from this source that Tevinter mages learned how to use the Fade to their own binding will through their elven slaves.
Ancient Elvhenan -
Oh of course we are going to have to talk about the elvhen empire, specifically the ancient gods of Arlathan, the Evanuris.
Ouroboros in some cultures, though, a dragon or a pair of snakes may be depicted as the symbol, rather than a serpent.
Mythal is represented in dragon shape on several occasions and a dragon is basically a serpent. Lore additionally says that Mythal becomes born from the sea, which is interesting,
It was at this moment that Mythal walked out of the sea of the earth's tears and onto the land. She placed her hand on Elgar'nan's brow, and at her touch, he grew calm and knew that his anger had led him astray. Humbled, Elgar'nan went to the place where the sun was buried and spoke to him. Elgar'nan said he would release the sun if the sun promised to be gentle and to return to the earth each night. The sun, feeling remorse at what he had done, agreed.
— From The Tale of Mythal's Touch, as told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalishelves
However, Mythal is also depicted as becoming a serpent for Andruil to hunt her since she became mad when hunting the Forgotten Ones.
Andruil put on armor made of the Void, and all forgot her true face. She made weapons of darkness, and plague ate her lands. She howled things meant to be forgotten, and the other gods became fearful Andruil would hunt them in turn. So Mythal spread rumors of a monstrous creature and took the form of a great serpent, waiting for Andruil at the base of a mountain.
— Codex Entry: Elven God Anduil: Translated from ancient elven found in the Arbor Wilds, source unverified
Also, the serpent could be seen as a symbol of Mythal, fitting with her role in the elven pantheon. The snake's real-world symbolism includes many characteristics we could readily associate with Mythal, such as:
Fertility and rebirth (the All-Mother)
Guardianship (the Protector)
Vengefulness (the judging, dark side of Mythal)
The serpent is also known as a symbol for depicting the dual nature of things: that everything has both a good and bad side. This, I believe, applies equally well to Mythal.
Inquisitor - 'There are varied accounts of Mythal?'
Morrigan: 'In most stories, Mythal rights wrongs while exercising motherly kindness...'
Morrigan:'Other, paint her as dark-vengeful, pray to Mythal and she would smite your enemies leaving them in agony'
I'd also bring up the biblical serpent, who tempts Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in Genesis chapter 3.
Serpents are usually associated with trees in mythology, and Mythal's vallaslin is essentially a tree. And I thought I would never be comparing Mythal to Lucifer, but alas, it finally happened.
Of course, we know Flemeth is Mythal's vessel, but what makes this even more bizarre is that during Inquisition she and Morrigan's kid, Keiran, are confined inside a blood-sketched Ouroboros. Keiran is showing Flemeth the Urthemiel wisp beneath the very item we believe is intrinsically tied to Mythal...
And that's where this leads to my next theory:
Immortality:
I have a video that discusses effective immortality and the various potential processes required to achieve this feat. I'll tag it and link to its description for those who want more information, but I believe we've discovered another clue to immortality through the ouroboros symbolism.
Ouroboros, like the Phoenix, is often interpreted as a representation of the perpetual cyclic renewal of life and infinity, the concept of eternity and the eternal return, and represents the inherently cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, leading to immortality.
It is very close to the origin of the infinity symbol, providing us with yet another representation of immortality, living forever. Perhaps Mythal is using Keiran in this ritual to recreate her immortality cycle after she died at the hands of her own brethren. By using the Old God's souls for her own power, she was able to recreate the cycle of an eternal life that she had during ancient Arlathan.
There also appears to be a recurring theme of using blood for the Ouroboros, which suggests that this could be related to blood magic rituals and the power of immortality, dreaming, and possibly changing the thread of Thedas.
Conclusion:
I'd like to add that Thedas, after the events of Trespasser, will be the representation of the Ouroboros, a perpetual cycle of life and death that is ever-changing due to Solas' plan to destroy the Veil.
The ouroboros demonstrates a union of opposites, Heaven and Earth working in harmony. Perhaps we are seeing the nostalgic hope that the waking world and the fade will one day become harmonious once again.
Essentially in this Netflix series, I trust that we will see a greater amount of this item and what it addresses in the lore of Dragon Age. That the ramifications of this item are related to blood enchantment and the beginning of Tevinter itself if conceivable.
When Thedas is at a 'precipice' of change, threatened to come to an end, and restart the cycle of life and death, the Ouroboros is our closest indicator to a foreshadow of the plot of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.
So I want to leave you all with one provoking question:
Is Thedas' foundation really coming to an end? Or will we stop this cycle?
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Again, thank you for watching, and I will see you in the next video.
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