Altered Carbon - The origins of Takeshi Kovac's Ouroboros Tattoo | Spirit Manual Impact Carbon Paper

March 03, 2018 - 7 years ago

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you'll be familiar with Netflix's hit series Altered Carbon. The show explores a reality where digital consciousness exists, giving people the power of immortality. It follows Takeshi Kovacs, whose consciousness is uploaded into a new body by order of millionaire Laurens Bancroft to solve his own murder.

You may recall the tattoo scene in episode one, where Kovacs is tattooed with a dragon that appears to eat its own tail. This tattoo is actually an Ouroboros symbol, derived from Greek words 'Oura' (tail) and 'Boros' (eating). It represents an infinite, cyclical process, analogous to the life, death, and rebirth themes in Altered Carbon.

A shot from the tattoo scene in Altered Carbon. (Note: TV shows often overlook proper tattoo hygiene for dramatic effect.)

Ouroboros Tattoo Variations

Ouroboros tattoos have existed for a long time and vary greatly in style. These two examples caught my eye for their unique compositions:

• Galaxy style: Soft and amiable, featuring matching designs with a celestial theme.
• Black work style: More traditional and stark, similar to Kovacs’ tattoo in Altered Carbon.

Altered Carbon Premiere

As a former Philosophy student, I find the concepts of digital consciousness and artificial intelligence in the show fascinating. The protagonist, Takeshi Kovacs, is played by Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman, whose wife Cleo Kinnaman is a tattoo artist herself. It would be interesting to hear her perspective on Kovacs’ Ouroboros tattoo.

Joel & Cleo Kinnaman at the premiere of Altered Carbon

Ouroboros Symbol Meaning

The Ouroboros tattoo represents infinity and cyclical processes, whether depicted as a snake or a Lemniscate-style infinity symbol. These tattoos remain popular and may gain even more attention due to the show. If you’ve tattooed an Ouroboros symbol, we’d love to see it—leave a comment below.

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Blog & Image Credits:

• Tattoodo
• Tattoo Me Now
• Yahoo News Singapore