The Serpent biting its own tail is first seen as early as 1600 years BC in Egypt. From there it moved to the Phonecians and then to the Greeks, who called it the Ouroboros, which means devouring its tail.

V838 Monocerotis: Hubble Space Telescope/NASA
(February 8, 2004)

The serpent locked on its tail represents immobility and yet coils around the earth demonstrating perpetual movement. It represents the confusing message of your end being your beginning, your disintegration becoming reintegration. It is death before the spark of creation. It is believed to be the representation of the grand eternal cycle.