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Art Show: Creation Myths

Ouroboros Mythologies

by Julie A Smith

Banner for Creation Myths art show

Art: Ouroboros Mythologies by Artist Julie  A Smith

Dragon Creation Myth:

Cultures worldwide have their dragon tales and many relate to the creation of life, as well as, the destruction of life. These beasts vary in their characteristics: winged and unwinged, snake-like and serpent-like, horned and unhorned, air-borne and sea-faring, male and female, kind and wicked, intelligent and fierce.

According to Wikipedia, Ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a dragon eating its tail which symbolizes the cycling of life through creation through destruction. Life is this infinite circle. "Plato described a self-eating, circular being as the first living thing in the universe — an immortal, perfectly constructed animal" (para. 3). Ouroboros symbology can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt.

This painting depicts the Welsh dragon, Dewi, a Celtic God except he's got a longer tail to wrap around to be an Ouroboros, as previously cited. He is a large, flying red dragon that has an arrow for the end of his tail as well as for his tongue. Usually he stays away from humans, but this is not the scenario many Westerners have grown up to acknowlegde in folk lore. Here is the epitome of the dragon situation: the sacrificial virgin and the slaying dragon warrior. This Celtic dragon represents fertility as well as highness. It is the official emblem of Wales. Many European coat-of-arms utilized the dragon symbol to showcase strength and royalty.


Detail Images


Detail Image for art Ouroboros Mythologies

Red Dragon

Detail Image for art Ouroboros Mythologies

Dragonslayer

Detail Image for art Ouroboros Mythologies

Virgin Sacrifice

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