Editing Ouroboros (section)

== Name and interpretation ==
The term derives {{etymology|grc|{{noitalics|οὐροβόρος}}}},<ref>{{harvp|Liddell|Scott|1940|loc= [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dou%29robo%2Fros {{lang|grc|οὐροβόρος}}]}}</ref> from {{lang|grc|οὐρά}} ''oura'' 'tail' plus {{lang|grc|-βορός}} ''-boros'' '-eating'.<ref>{{harvp|Liddell|Scott|1940|loc= [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dou)ra%2F {{lang|grc|οὐρά}}]}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Liddell|Scott|1940|loc= [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dbora%2F {{lang|grc|βορά}}]}}</ref>

The ''ouroboros'' is often interpreted as a symbol for eternal cyclic renewal or a [[Eternal return|cycle of life, death and rebirth]]; the snake's [[Sloughing|skin-sloughing]] symbolises the [[Metempsychosis|transmigration of souls]]. The snake biting its own tail is a fertility symbol in some religions: the tail is a [[Phallus|phallic symbol]] and the mouth is a [[yonic]] or womb-like symbol.<ref>{{cite book|author=Arien Mack|title= Humans and Other Animals|publisher= Ohio State University Press|year= 1999|page= 359}}</ref>