As a result, they've been dubbed "Ballantine rings" at times. The Borromean rings have also been used by some artists as a representation of eternity. There are many ways to interpret this symbol. However, one can conclude that it is an image that captures the essence of unity and diversity within existence. The three circles are distinct but also work together because there would be no point in having all three if any one was missing. Sometimes these rings are called "interlocking rings" to distinguish them from other shapes that may use the same diagram but not necessarily as powerfully or effectively as these rings do. For example, some artists may use the rings as a visual pun on the word "infinity" by depicting three circles instead of two. But while such images are fine representations of their meaning, they aren't actually Borromean rings because only three circles are shown here rather than all six. The phrase "three interlocking circles" has been used in various contexts over time to describe similar but not identical images. This symbol was originally used by British artist William Blake to illustrate the spiritual connection between humanity, nature, and God.