uroboros [jʊərəʊˈbɒrəs] n. also ouroboros, uroborus.
1.) The symbol, usually in the form of a circle, of a snake (or dragon) eating its tail (O.E.D. 2nd Edition).
Etymology: adaptation of Greek οὐροβόρος, devouring its tail (frequently connected with δράκων, dragon).
"At times, I found myself marvelling at the way that HBO has solved the riddle of its own economic existence, merging "Hookers at the Point" with quasi-Shakespearean narrative. In the most egregious instance so far, Littlefinger tutored two prostitutes in how to moan in fake lesbianism for their customers, even as they moaned in fake lesbianism for us—a real Uroboros of titillation." (The New Yorker, Emily Nussbaum, 2012).
(Eternity Seated by a Fire, Holding a Tablet with the Ouroboros in Her Left Hand, Her Right Hand Leaning on a Sphere, as Wisdom Stands Nearby Leaning on a Staff Encircled with a Scroll Inscribed Rerum Magistra, Arnould Houbraken, ~1690)
7 comments:
Glad to see you back!
I haven't read a more complicated description of the ever-talked-about sex scenes of GoT before.
I've been reading parts of a manga a while back, called "ouroboros". It didn't have much to do with snakes/dragons biting their own tales, apart from the occasional illustration inbetween scenes, and the fact that the two main characters refer to themselves as "the twin dragons". I never finished it, so I don't know how the story developed further.
Anyway, enough about manga. What does it mean? Endless cycle? Or is that too easy an explanation?
Hello and welcome back! It's been a while!
Very interesting word - and that's quite a quote from Emily Nussbaum!
RYC: I ran out of plates. :P
I have learned two things today. I have learned what a snake with its tail in its mouth is called, and I have learned that "uroboros" is a word I really like the sound of.
I didn't know that there was a word for that. Is it a variation of a "dog biting its own tail"?
And thank god someone else acknowledged how totally unasked for that scene from GoT was. Very awkward to watch!
I was watching a guy play "ni no kuni" on youtube, and one of the creatures he had to fight was an uroboros. Made me think of you :P
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