The Golden Chain of Homer (Aurea Catena Homeri)
It consists of two dragons fighting, each biting the tail of the other, one with wings and the other wingless. Between them is a “Star of David” with planetary and Elemental symbols assigned to various points. In addition, placed in the center are the Three Principles of Alchemy – Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury.
The “dragon with wings” can be interpreted as our Interior Master, or Holy Guardian Angel, and the dragon “without wings” as our ego, or “little King”. They need each other in order to express the power of Creation and its expression through the Elemental and planetary forces. Yet, they are often in combat with one another, instead of in harmony. Only when the “Superius” (higher) becomes “Interius” (interior) and the interior becomes the higher do we see the Elements (of either a material or psychic nature) return to their primordial source. The Fire, or creative power, returns to the center of the earth, or the “Secret Fire” of Malkooth. In the end, the two dragons are killed by each other, and in their combined “death” they are united in a more perfect expression of cosmic power.