As the coils of the Indian cobra on which Vishnu sleeps contain what was and what may be, the Syrian god of times stands encircled by a snake and the seven eggs within the seven coils become the seven planetary spheres of the soul in its ascent towards perfection. This circular ascent is repeated in the images of the Mithraic Aion, the lion-headed god of boundless time who marks the course of the sun in its movement through the heavens by the serpent coiled about his body.
 

[aras-image:3Sb.012,,10,,,Figure 25 Serpent wrapped around Vishnu.]

[aras-image:3Sb.015,,10,,,Figure 26 Mithraic deity Kronos.]